Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-12
Orthodox Jews
Policies Outlined

Vienna, Sept. 90 CA. p. bv MaiD-
The World Congress of Orthodo,
Jews, convened in this CITY 70 dco
| WIN everyday Jewish problems II
tne'r purely religious aspect. adopt-
ed siX resolutions at its closing SOS
SION winch. taken together, set fortl
the immediate tasks of the orsaniza
ton. These are:
10 regain. through organized eff
| lor.' spiritual contact with dispersed
| ana eStranGed JeWry, in particll,,r
the Jews of the west and the east.
The promotion on an eytensiyo
! scale Of the study of the Thora and
jewish education, especially in tho
countries where opportunities along
theSe lines are most lacking:
Inc ameliOration of the economic
situation of the Jewish masses in i'm
poNerlShed countries. and Palestine.
Inc organization and promotion Of
| the means of prompt succor in cases
OF emergency:
Inc promotion of the Jewish spirit
IN the daily press and in literature:
10 OBTAIN the recognition, as
authoritative spokesman for the en-
tire podN. OF Jews who consciously.
seek inspiration from the Thora and
VINO i've according to its preCepts
the "kenessio Gedauloh of the
Agudas Jisroel," was attended bv
45o delegates from % states. Most
Oh tnem came from central and east
ern Europe. They sat through three
sessions day Tor eight DAYS. and
listened with religious fervor to Tho
orations and exhortations of men
highly esteemed as leaders and stud
ents
The Agudas Jisroel was founded II
years ago. 1t was a practical express
sion OF the conviction that the
mechanical achievements of this
generation. such as fast travel, the
opportunities for the rapid ac-
cumulation Of wealth in distant
lands. and a host of other social
and economic factors. were isoIatiny
Jews into small groups in man
ner to make it more difficult for
their spiritual leaders to keep before
them the religious traditions and
past Ideals of the race. 1t was to
avert these dangers threatening
Jewry that the Agudas Jisroel was
organized.
The congress did not concern itself
with political matters. Even in the
question of the creation of q national
home for the Jews in Palestine, the
organization was less concerned with
the number of those taking up their
abode there each year, than with the
motive actuating the immigrant and
his spiritual attitude toward the land
of his destiny. The Chassidim-
Rabbi of Sokolow said much il
religion was observable among the
Jews in the Holy Land, and Rabbi
Acknowledgment Gerusalem> de
scribed the many difficulties against
which the Jews of the independent
orthodox group were compelled 10
fight.
AS proof of the sympathetic inter
est felt by the organization for the
Palestine movement. may be cited
the dispatch to Sir Herbert Samucls
of cablegram expressing warm
sentiments Of gratitude on behalf of
the Agudas ,JisrOel for his efforts in
the interest of Zionism.
But it is the strengthening of the
faith of those who have hitherto
taken their religious duties Lightly.
and the moral regeneration of the
Jews far removed from the stauncu
Thora adherents of the East, to
which the chief efforts Of the
organization are to he directed.
These Jews are to be taught that
every observance laid down in Tho
Law is an essential in the life OF the
believing Jew.