The Denver Jewish news., 1921-06-01
The 9th Council of Union HebrelD
and 9TH Assembly of NATL Federation of Temple Sisterhoods
Report Proceedings President Walter
]. Freiberg and of Mrs Joseph Wesened, President
of the National Ssterhood #<1@s#H


Rahhis of the United States together
with the secular supporters of Tenn
pies and houses of worship turnout
the country. sat in serious discussion
grappling with the problems. internal
and external. which confront Ameri-
can Jewry in general and the Reform.
ed Jews in particular.
The 9th biennial convention which
opened in Buffalo on May 23rd ana
closed on Thursday evening. the 2Gth,
| styled. council. The hest minds aE!
most experienced men in the Reform
Wing of Jewry convened not merely
to listen to reports consisting of duh
figures. nor to speeches rcplete with
high-sOunding phrases, nor yet to pass
resolutions never to be needed. At
Buffalo, fundamental problems oc-
cupied most of tho time and most Of
the attention of the delegates.
Opening of the Convention.
The convention opened with services
at the Temple Beth-Zion in Buffalo.
DIR. y. l.. Meyer of San Francisco de-
livered the sermon. The delegates
were greeted by Rabbi Louis J. Kop-
aid, Minister of the congregation, after
which an informal reception was lend
cred the delegates. Reports by vnri-
Gus officers and committees showed
that the Union of Hebrew ConsreGa-
tiOns today consists of 22,i coiigrcga-
tions, having an individual member
ship of 35.392 which is an Increase of
- congregations and ,.S7 members
over last year. The Union published
and distributed during the year l?20-1 |.
1O2.027 pieces of religious literature.
$4,000 was collected from the an
nual subscriptions of the constituent
congregations.
One Tiso,nand Delegates Present.
According to the report of the Gre
dentials committee. 1000 delegates at
tended the convention, among these
were all the prominent Reformed Rab.
bis of the country and numerous lay
men representing temples in every
state of the United States. Among
the nom Rabbits present were Adolph
S. Ochs. publisher of the New York
Times, Congressman Henry NJ, Gold
fogel. Mr.. Simon hamburger Of New
York Mr.. and Mrs. Daniel Hays of
New York and Mr.. Simon Wolf of
Washington.
Shortage or Rabbis.
First came the question of the short.
age of spiritual leaders, the made
Guncy of the supply of Rabbis. Mr.. j.
Walter Freiberg. president of the I'm
ion of the American Hebrew Congre-
cations, stated in his annual report.
read at the opening session on Mon
day the 23rd, that there is a serious
shortage of Rabbis and rabbinical
students, Last year. the report said.
only II men were graduated from the
Hebrew onion College at Cincinnati.
! whereas 30 congregations applied for
Rabbis. This lack of spiritual lead
crs was given as one of the chief
reasons for the drift, now easily dis
cernible, away from the faith. Mr..
Freiberg recommended that steps be
taken to establish preparatory schools
as preliminary step for entrance into
the Hebrew Union College. for as he
explained, many persons, inclined to-
wards the Rabbinate. were not in n
position to take up their studies be-
cause of insufficient training in He
brew and Jewish history to warrant
their entrance into the Union College.
Campaign Among the Young.
More serious perhaps than the de-
crease in the number of Rabbis and
partly explaining it. is. according TO
| the opinion expressed by many Rabbis
at the convention, the drift of the
American young Jew. away from his
Judaism Mr.. Mamie Strauss read
| n deep-thO brief paper on this sub
| ject following which, he introduced
several recommendations. Prior to
| the convention. Mr.. Strauss. chairman
| of the Advisory committee of the In
| ion had convened conference of III
leaders of the Jewish communities in
large cities thrlOut the country with
whom he discussed this very problem
| of Israel's youth. At that conference
| it was thought advisable to begin n
nationwide campaign to gather young
Jewish men and women back into the
fold.
"The year, of 1922 is going to be II
young mems year." Mr.. Strauss said,
| "the younger man is coming into the
work of the synagog. bringing to it his
youthful ideals and enthusiasm. re-
vitalizing it. and making the faith of
! his fathers meaningful faith.