The Jewish monitor. (Fort Worth-Dallas, Tex.) 191?-1921, 1920-04-23
Two
UNION OF AMERICAN HEBREW
CONGREGATIONS.
Five Hundred Thousand Dollars Rails
ed by Jews for Survival of Juda-
ism in America.


nationwide campaign of the Union Of
American Hebrew Congregations to
insure the survival of Judaism in
America has been raised according to
announcement made by Nanny Straus,
chairman of the Advisory Board.
Pledges totaling that amount and pay
able in ten years have been received at
headquarters of the Union. The cam
paign will last thirty-fve weeks and
an effort will be made to raise fund
Of $500, 900, to be devoted to ten
year program of expansion.
This sum represents contributions
from Jews throuhout the nation. Its
realization marks the first definite
step taken by the Committees in the
actual work Of the campaign.
In many cities organization work is
still going and on it will probably be
another week before returns are re-
ceived from these centers. Scores of
municipalities have still to complete
the preliminary work of the campaign,
but assurances received from chair
men in metropolitan centers in the lat
ter category are to the effect that the
work of money raising will be en-
barked upon before the expiration of
the current week.
Mr.. Strauss, when discussing pro-
gress of the movement to date, said:
1--WE have reached the first milestone
in the campaign. In fact it would be no
prophesy at this time to venture that
we are going to reach our goal without
any difficulty whatsoever. This sum
represents only few of the larger
cities that have started upon the actu-
al business of money raising. Reports
received thus far indicate that we were
not over optomistic as to the way the
movement would be received by Jews
throughout America.
Letters coming in show that a keen
spirit Of rivalry has sprung up be-
tween the various cities and one is de-
termined to Guido the other. In Cincin-
natl the work is going on apace and
according to recent reports, it is well
out in the lead in the race for the
goal"
According to ]. Walter Freiberg,
President of the Union, there are ap-
proximately 100000 Jews in Ameri-
ca, Of which number only 100000 have
had the advantages Of religious in
struction. He pointed out that there
are only one thousand synagogs with
an average seating capacity of 200.
This situation is one of many, equall-
ing distressing to leading Jews in
every section of the nation, with
which the Union will endeavor to cope
through its program Of expansion.
1t is also estimated that there are
from 10000 to $4,000 Jewish men and
women in colleges and universities,
who are being permitted to get along
without Judaism. Through neglect, it
was said, touch with these had been
lost. An effort will be made to reach
every college and university in the
United States where there are groups
OF Jewish students. Contact will be es-
tablished through travelling secretar-
les. The duty of the latter will also
be to create relationship between
Jewish students and neighboring Jew
ish communities.
The three major branches Of the U.
A. H. c. under the jurisdiction Of
which these activities will come are:
Hebrew Union College, Board Of Dele
gates on Civil Rights and the Depart