The Denver Jewish news., 1920-03-10
u. A. H. c. Undertakes
Large Propaganda
GREAT INCREASE IN JEWISH
POPULATION IN LAST DECADE
SHOWS NEED OF AMERICAN
JEWRY.

tllfeS nave an
lation of more than 10000. A number
of cities of the size of Newark have
10000. Detroit has more than doubled
its Jewish residents within the past
ten years and has many more than
10000. New York is now the largest
Jewish city in the world, while Chi
cago, Philadelphia. Baltimore, st.
Louis. Boston and Pittsburgh. approach
the 100000 column and exceed it.
These facts are the more interesting
when one realizes that there has been
10 immigration tor the past five years
Heretofore, the ranks of our Jewish
population have been recruited by vast
armies of European immigrants who
for one reason or nnother-chiefly for
political liberty and economic better
Incnt--have sought our shores as thell
haven of refuge from oppression ana
economic misery.
In this revelation of the increasing
number of Jewish people concentrated
in our large cities, the gratifying 1act
is not so much the increasing num-
Ler of Jews living there, but that an
ever larger percentage of them nave
Lecome identified with the cause and
movements born of the aspiration and
ambition of Judaism.
The explanation for this Identified
ton of larger number of Jews with
the Jewish cause is probably found III
the Jewish needs of our day. The
cry of distress echoing IRON Europe
has been the prime motive for or
ganizing the Jewish people and unit
ing their activities.
Nature is peculiar and often para
doxical. The appalling shadows thar
have rested OH the world during tine
past few years might have enveloped
the entire globe in gloom, darkening
mems perspective as well as bunting
.hrir sensibiiIties. Prolonged Tdsers Z
can enter the soul and break the
spirit of man. On the other hand tne
, presence Of misery may serve as an in
centive to men and women to do heroic
deeds of sacrifice. Misery ennobier
as well us degrades, but as roses often
grow in waste and unkempt places. $"
in the besetting anguish of Europe
American Jewry found its glorious OPP
port,inity to feed the hungry, clothe
the naked and let the oppressed Z"
free.
The munificent sums Of money. col
lected in this country for the stricken
L ,t.NI nf H.
rope. Is the answer of the Jew OF
America to the cry of distress. NOV
only have they come to the rescue OF
their brethren, but they have them
selves gained by the very generosity
they practiced. The consciousness THAI
favored by fortune, they were aoie
10 succor their brethren gave them IL
finer conception of Jewish ideals than
= they had heretofore entertained. There
hurst upon them the consciousness or 4
common treasure of ideals which their
ancestors, united in one bond Of NUT
nal endeayOr had striven to attain for
centuries.
There is not local or national or
,anjzation in America that is not en-
riched by the experiences Of recent
wears. The Jewish people of this couh-
irv have taken to heart the meaning
and intent of their religion and are
now acting on the appeal of its ideal
ism and the ultimate trir'uph OF hui
man good for all mankind.
The officers of the Union of Ameri-
can Hebrew Congregations are in n
position to note the remarkable III
crease in the number and strength OF
The congregations thruout the country.
We're materialism the dominant phil
osophy of the age, as it is often alleg-
ed congregations would not spring up
nor synagogs be built. The evidences
of this growth in congregations are I'M
mistakable and are sure index of
the spread if idealism among the Jew
ish people of the United States.
National Advisory Board.
Under the stimulus of this awaken
ing, the Union of American Hebrew
Congregations is preparing to carry
religious propaganda into remote places
Ut will not endeavOr to do this by rails
ing huge funds, such as is the prac-
tice, among other denominations whose
communicates do not exceed the num-
Der of our own coreligionists. The
propaganda the National Advisory
Board will undertake is an endeavor
TO reawaken the Jewish communal
conscience.
The task assigned to the National
Advisory Board is to become acquaint-
I'd with the local Jewish problems as
they present themselves, and to strive