Intermountain Jewish news., 1926-10-21
100000 Deficit May
Curtail Reform
Program
OVERSEAS RELIEF
BLAMED FOR LACK
OF HOME SUPPORT
VOgelstein Appeals to American
Jews to Provide Sinews
of Reform Judaism
tJewlsh Teiegraphic Agency

tJewish Telegraphic Agency
New York-That American Reform
Judaism, after more than fifty years
Of continuous growth, is facing f.
nancial crisis which may De the turn
ing point of its development, was en-
phasized in a statement made public
by Ludwig Vogelstein, chairman Of
the Executive Board of the Union of
American Hebrew Congregations. Mr..
Vogelstein declared that the Confer
ence of Liberal Jews held recently in
London had given a decided impetus
to religious movements in America.
But at the same time, he said, the
Union Of American Hebrew Congre-
cations which gives direction and de-
velopment to Reform Judaism in the
United States is confronted with the
necessity for curtailing the budget
required for its activities because Of
the inadequacy Of funds.
The Unions Board of Finance, Of
which David A. Brown is chairman,
has hesitated to 20 before the public
70 raise the sum required to maintain
the Unions activities because of ur-
gent appeals for funds for relief and
reconstruction from their co-religion-
lists in many lands. Mr.. Voeelstein
stated.
May Check 50-Year Growth
Mr.. Vogelstein declared that the
Union had been able to carry on it's
large program which includes the
maintenance of the Hebrew Union
College at Cincinnati, two teachers
training schools at Cincinnati and
New York, the Hebrew Union College
library and museum, and Depart
ment of Synagogue and School Ex-
tension through the use of reserve
fund which has now been wiped out.
At the last meeting of the Executive
Board of the Union budget calling
for 100000 for the Unions activi-
ties was presented, and it was neces-
sary to cut this by 100000. The
wider field of development opened to
liberal judaism by the organization
of World Union, Mr.. Vogelstein de-
clared, and the imminent possibility
of detriment to the Unions present
work by curtailment of its budget,
make it imperative to call upon the
Jews of America to support this
work.
Added Effort Needed
"Up to the present time Reform
Judaism has made progress without
any unusual effort" Mr.. Vogelstein
declared. at has succeeded because,
in the nature of things, it is the ans
wer to those who are seeking way
of adjusting Jewish tradition to the
necessities of modern life. Reform
Judaism has developed an organiza-
tion which is complete in its outline,
but its leaders are now realizing that
the carrying out of this program re-
quires more than general interest.
Reform Jews have been content to
vote the Jewish ticket but now real
ize the necessity of organizing a Re-
form Jewish party which is to sup
ply the sinews of war for an aggres-
sive campaign.
Home Needs Biggest
"The unusual number of causes
calling for assistance in America" he
declared, "and especially the supreme
cause of Jewish suffering in foreign
lands, has for number of years
overshadowed the real problem which
faces the American Jew, namely, the
problem of providing for his self-pre-
servation, not only for the preserva-
ton of Jewish bodies but for the pre-
servation of the Jewish soul. The
time has come when adequate provi-
sion must be made for that part of
our heritage without which the pre-
servation of human bodies is apt to
turn into tragic thing" In detail
Continued on mage 81