The New York herald., 1921-12-24
DRYSAIM TOSOFTEN
SACRAMENTAL wine
Officials Take Up Question of
Unfermented Juices in Re-
ligious Ceremonies.
OPPOSITION IS EXPECTED
Jewish Families Now Allowed
Ten Gallons q Year Each
Through Rabbis.

1t was learned yesterday that the
prohibition authorities have under
consideration plan to eliminate the
| use of fermentcd wines for sacramen.
tai purposes. That this plan has beer
talked over with representatives oi
the Jewish faith is definitely known
but it could not be learned last night
whether Roman Catholics or those oi
the Protestants who use sacramento
wines have as yet taken part in the
conferences.
That such a step is being consid.
cred is in a large measure due to the
leakage which has accompanied the
enforcement Of the existing regula.
tions. In recent investigation of the
use of wines by rabbis 1t was found
that many papers were being made
out In fictitious names and that some
of the rabbis had acted illegally.
A high prelate In one of the Protestant
churches declared last night that X the
prohibition authorities undertake to
make change as sweeping as this one
they will find themselves up against In
superable stumbling blocks. He said
the use OF unfermented wines at services
would be wholly against the principles
of both the Roman Catholic and the
Episcopal churches.
From another churctman it was
learned that there has been ruling
from Rome to the effect that only fer
mented wines may be used in the service
and that the new. regulations, II adopt
ed, would be considered as nothing less
than a form OF religious persecution.
According 70 rabbis, there Is nothing
I'm the Jewish faith which would pro-
hibit the use Of unfermented wines. The
tendency I'm most Protestant churches IL
toward the use of unfermented wines
although some use the other exclusively
In connection with the letter Of Louis
Marshall. chairman of tho American
Jewish Committee. who wrote to Com
missioner OF Internal Revenue Blair
Thursday. urging him to arrange new
regulations concerning sacramental
wines as speedily az possible In view OF
the abuse to which the existing regula-
tions are put, Ralph a. Day, state Pro-
hlbition Director, said yesterday:
The question of sacramental wine for
Jewish religious purposes has been given
great deal OF thought by the Federal
fTOnlDltlon DlrcCtOT. IL lb OHc Ol tie
most difficult problems in the admins
traton of the law.
THE best thought OF the Jewish wor-
shippers Is now engaged In formulating
recommendations TO be submitted to the
Commissioner through this office. which
1t Is hoped will result in regulations
which will prevent the withdrawal oi
wine for sacramental purposes by those
not entitled 10 do so but. pending any
revision of the regulations, this Office
has decided to accept the recommends.
tion OF four chief rabbfs as TO those rab-
bis who are entitled TO withdraw wine
for sacramentai purposes"
The four rabbis referred to who have
been acting In an advisory capacity are
Rabbis Joffee, Leventhal. Margolis and
Yudelavitch.
IL could not be learned if Archbishop
Hayes know anything OF the changes
proposed. Mgr. Javello said he had
heard nothing about II.
The rabbis arc permitted at present
to obtain ten gallons OF wine a year for
each Jewish family In their congregation.
There Is no fixed amount In the case OF
the Roman Catholic and Protestant
churches, whose needs arc considerably
less for the reason that the wine is not
used In the homes Of the church mem
bers.
It developed recently, during investi-
cations made while r. c. Yellowley was
In charge of New York prohibition head
quarters. that one rabbi on the East side
had asked for wine allowances for $500
familiea