The Denver Jewish news., 1920-11-10
Proceedings Of the Ninth
Tflennial Convention
Continued from Page Three. }

fighting Ahti.Senitisfn-is the Coun
Gil doing ITS share to enable Israel
to win in the unequal, unjust a:id un-
fair struggle.
..Symptomatie of the fact that the
Council has not reached the goal Sc,
FOR II by its founders by not having
always lived up to the ideals which
inspired them, is the following ques-
tion brought up by Mrs. Beer. of New
York, at the Triennial in Chicago. on
which she desired Information and di-
rection This was, in effect, that
many of our people are growing lax IN
Jewish observance. some are turning
from Judaism to other beliefs. many
are of the opinion that charity or So
cial work can and does take the place
of religion, so that they are them
selves losing the beauty of Judaism
and depriviag their children of their
heritage. 1t was felt that Mrs. Beer
voiced fear that had been vexins
very many earnest Council workers
and special chairman. Mrs. Leo
schwartz. of Nashville. was appointed
10 gather opinions ON the subject. a
letter was sent to every Board Mem
ber and the replies We're turned over
TO me with permission to send out
further communications to leaders OF
Jewish thought all over the country
and if possible come to some con-
clusion as to what service the Coun'
oil could render to better conditions.
After giving the matter considerable
Thought. your chairman decided. let
us hope not presumptuously. that
such correspondence would be OF lit
tie avail. The answer seemed to hef
not far to seek and she gives 1t mere
hased on (1) the Report Blanks which
have been returned to her and t2'
on personal interviews with a number
of the leading members OF the Cen
trail Conference ofIAmerican Rabbis.
What do the report blanks show:
OF the 75 Sections that have made
nuy report, less than half have study
circles and with but few exceptions,
ten at the most. these are maintained
only with the greatest effort.
should say that only about GOO of the
more than $4,000 members of the
Council can find an hour week for
fhe study of their religion. What does
it mean? Judaism is a religion based
OH knowledge in fact. the only word
we have in Hebrew for religion means
knowledge-for the Jew felt. and
rightly so, that out Of ignoraace come
Indifference and death My people die
for lack of knowledge. says the
prophet II this generation knows
little, the next will know less. 1t is
impossible for the committee on Re
ligion to offer solution that will fit
every community. but this we do know.
that every leader here must have
Council Study Circle (either directly
under its committee or by cooperation
with other religious organizations in
the city). Make it large and popular
if you can, but if not-God was will
ing to spare city If just ten righte-
Gus men could be found therein. and
50 the Council ca,l Justify its existence
if it brings together just small group
of earnest women for study.
1t is hopeful sign that of all the
responses to the auestion-'Is the gent
cral nature of your programs Jew
ishY''-only four replied in the mega
tive, making it evident that when the
year is over something Of Judaism
must have been gotten by all those
who attend Council meetings.
The report blanks show further that
while Sections are very active in bring
ing to the atteation of the children OF
Religious Schools the celebration of
the Holy days, very little is done to
make Council members appreciate that
neglect of the Sabbath and non-ob-
scrvance of Israel's feast and fast
days must mean the slow disinteSrn-
ton of Jewish life. 1t Is not enough
that We send Haaukah baskets to the
poor while we entertain our children
with Christmas trees. How sad it is
that we are willing to prepare Il Scd"r
for the men in the penitentiary and
the children in public institutions. bur
into our own homes we rush on Seder
night to sit with our own household
to a meal hastily and carelessly ar
ranged. so that our children forget the
great watch night of Israel and fai!
TO rchcarse the story of the slavery
and deliverance of our people.
And finally. there nre compa ratiVe-
ly few reports that shows in any way
the Sections affiliatio1 with the syna-
cog. the only evidence to the world OF
the Jews solidarity. With its fall in
America. even as with the restriction
.,r thc Tnnaaale in -.IprlISaInm, Will we