The Denver Jewish news., 1920-06-09
PREPARATIONS BEING MADE To
AFFORD JEWS ON FARMS AND
OUTLYING DISTRICTS RELIC.
IOUS APPLICATION.
Part Of Program Of Union Of American
Hebrew Congregations Sy nsgog and
School Extension.

An extensive synagOg and school
building program, involving eypendi-
ture of half million dollars, has been
embarked upon by the Union of Amer
lean Hebrew Congregations. The pur-
pose of this elaborate building pro.
ject Is to afford Jewish families in
outlying farming districts an oppor-
tnnity for religious practises and edu-
cation. The venture is one of many
activities characterizing the Unions
ten-year program of expansion to in
sure the survival of Judaism in Amer
lea.
1t is estimated by the Union that
there are 5000 families and 12.Om
children on farms strangers to Juda-
ism. To afford these every oppor-
tunity Of religious expression and
training schools and synagogs will he
erected in the various communities
that are now cut off from the tradi-
lions of the House of Israel. In the
Jews in isolated farming districts thru
travelling rabbits, hut it was found that
the great weakness Of this system was
the lack of meeting places and schools.
J. Walter Freiberg. president of the
Union. when talking of conditions in
rural communities, said:
"Why make good farmers out of
Jews il the process makes poor Jews
out of farmers. The synagog in the
rural district represents problems that
will tax our utmost ingenuity. But
this program of building must he cont
pleted in order to keep under the in
fluence of the House Of Israel those of
us who today are entirely without re-
ligious instruction. and opportunity to
Participate in religious observanees."
A correspondence school. giving
trimming to 1900 children. was in
stituted, but 1t was pointed out that
altho much good has resulted from
its activities yet 1t had not been ade-
gnate to cope NTH the situation IL
was further found thar the cores
pOndence school could not be made to
take the place Of the synagog or school.
A corps of three thousand religious
teachers and rabbits has been assem-
bIed. and as schools and synagogs arc
completed enough teachers or rabbis
will be sent to them to start work i'm
mediately.
Nanny Strauss, chairman of the
Advisory Committee, who has been ac-
tive in the affairs of the Union many
years, and who has contributed lib
eally to the success of its work. said:
1--WE have received pledges aGgre-
eating three-quarters of million dol
lars to date. This amount is payable
in ten years.
.-rhe encouraging thing about sub
scriptions received thus far Is the
Ia rye number of men anu women from
all walks in life who have made coli
rributions. The real purpose of the
campaign is to build up n great army
of followers. Size of individual sub
scriptions are meaningless in so far as
the purpose OF the campaign is con-
cerned. We are trying to serve the
great mass of the Jews turnout III"
length and breadth of the United
States, and the only effcctual way IN
which this can be done is to have as
many as possible represented in TIC
fund in material way.
Two million dollars of the $4,000
600 sought is to go to Hebrew Union
College. Board of Delegates on civil
Rights, and the Department of Synngoe
and School Extension. One million
dollars will be devoted to the work
of the Pension fund while 500 900
10 IN 90 to the Building Loan Fund