Evening journal., 1911-01-18
226 Council Of Union American
CONGREGATIONS Being Held
in New York
DISTINGUISHED RABBIS
AMONG THE SPEAKERS

Kohler, president of the Hebrew
Union College of Cincinnati, Ohio, and
by Max j. Kohler.
The Rev Dr. Kohler speaking on
american Judaism said in part
Aims OF the Union.
There is no room for Ghetto Juda-
ism in America. Look at any of the
creeds and churches in our free land!
They are all more tolerant, more lib
eral. more humane and sympathetic
in their mutual relations than those
i'm Europe. Our free institutions, our
common school education our onlight-
oning press and pulpit with their APP
peal to common sense, enlarge the
mental and social horizon and rem
der progress the guiding maxim. Least
of all could Judaism retain its med
ieval garb. its alien form, its secm- |
siveness in a country that rolled OIL /
the shame and the taunt of the CEN |
turies from The shoulders of the wan- !
dering jew. to place him, the former |
pariah OF the nations, alongside OF
the highest and the best. according TO
his worth and merit as man. AT first,
the Union aimed at bringing all but
the ultra-OrthodOX congregations to-
gether for the purpose of creating
centre of Jewish learning IOi Jne
training of rabbis and the preserva-
tion of the ancestral faith in the new
country. IN this spirit of common
obligation and a common solidarity OF
interest the Union was founded IN
1873 and the college opened in 1875,
and when ON April u, 1881, the pres
ent edifce was dedicated by Dr. Wise
the immortal founder and President
of the college. and by the venerable
President of the Board. Mr. Bernhard
Bettmann. whom a benign Providence
had spared to us To witness the 1ur-
ther progress of the institution, there
was but one progressive American
Israel and ono Judaism, constituting,
as Dr. Wise said, neither race nor
nation but "A religious denomina-
ton all realizing the need OF Amer
ican-brcd rabbis. because the gen
Grafton born ON this soil is intensely
American. and realizes the need OF
enlightened rabbis.
"m our camp the way was paved
for the Introduction of the Union
Prayer Book which, based on En-
horns inimitable German work of
genius, kindled new religious ter-
vor i'm young and old and became .
insniration to tens of thousands to
whom the old Ritual remained, and
will ever remain. a sealed book BY
adopting tho same. the well-ngh two
hundred congregations of the Union
placed themselves on the side OF re-
form. indorsing the fundamental
principle that not in a restoration of
the Palestinian State and Temple, but
in building up a universal kingdom
of righteousness and peace, TO which
all lands aud ages. all the great ones
ON earth. contribute their share, VIII
Israels mission be fulfilled.
"For the Union, the opportunity
came somewhat later to place itself
ON record as advocating the reform
principle. when in 1898, i'm view of
the Zionistic movement, it declared it.
self TO be unalterably opposed to po-
litical Zionism and declared America
70 be the home and the Zion of hope
of the American Jew, Judaism's mis-
sion being spiritual, not political.
small and humble in its begin
nines. the Union has grown into a
mighty instrument in promoting and
b spreading the teachings of progressive
Judaism throughout the length and
breadth of the land BY doing aud
encouraging systematic work i'm be-
half of religious education. by its
svuagogues and school extension work
and the generous support of other
educational efforts besides the college,
II has strengthened the feeble rallied
the scattered and created centres 0f
religious life i'm remote parts of the
land. It has become an efficient force
i'm defending the cause of the Jew and
his civic rights the world over. to
make the name of the American Jew
and of American Judaism respected
an0 honored near and far
Jewish Enumeration.
Max J. Kohler spoke on Jewish i'm
migration as follows
With respect TO the enforcement OF
our immigration laws, as in all other
respects. the Jews OF the United
States want our laws enforced.
IN the very able reDOrt of Hon.
Simon Wolf chairman of the Board of
Delagates of this organization, who
has been for many decades the best
friend the poor Jewish immigrant has.
valuable statistical information is
given as to Jewish admissions and
exclusions. which I will not attempt
TO repeat here. Let me content my
self by merely pointing out that the
percentage of Jewish exclusions 20
Jewish admissions has increased as
follows during late years: During the
fiscal year ending June 30. 1907. Il WAS
S4-10O per cent. fo~ 1903 It was 65-1On
per cent. for 1909 It was 6-1OO per
cent. and It has now increased for
the past fiscal year, TO $1,000 per
cent, move than three times as great
as in 1908. 1867 Jews having been
excluded this yea- out Of an army of
34.210 debarred of all races. During
the past few weeks even these figures
have greatly increased The general
percentage Of exclusions Is even
greater having been during the last
year 32-t00 per cent. Of exclusions
60 admissions OF all races, showing
that the Jews constitute an appreci.
ably better class OF immigrants thar
the average. In these figures an an.
preciahle number Of denortations after
admission are not included. amounting
90 2S2 during the past fiscal year
Seyenty-seven per cent. OF all our
INN -fertss a..