Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-20
APPARENT SCH|SM
D|STURBS JEWRy
installation of Rabbi Bari
shansky Denounced by
Harry |. Carroll.

Installation yesterday Of Rabbi
Raphael NJ. Barishansky. formerly of
Russia, as "chief rabbi of Washing
toms combined jewish orthodox con-
gregations" has brought to light an
apparent schism in local Jewry. with
one group of congregations refusing
to recognize the new "chief" and the
other faction supporting him.
Harry l. Carroll, who says he is
president of the combined Jewish
orthodox congregations and organiZa.
tions of the District of Columbia and
the authorized spokesman for "all but
two or three minor congregations not
belonging thereto" today denounced
Rabbi Barishansky and his followers
in no uncertain tones. He declared
the installation ceremony was "spite
work" on the part of a former presi
dent of his organization. and asserted
that the recognized heads of orthodox
Jewish congregations in Washington
are Rabbi George Silverstone and
Rabbi Moses A. HorwitZ.
Statements Termed "Ridiculous."
Harry S. Chidakel. chairman of the
installation committee in charge of
the ceremonies yesterday afternoon at
Adas Israel Synagogue, Sixth and
streets, characterized Mr.. CARROTS
statements as ridiculous
Hes just trying to act funny"
Mr.. Chidakel said HE isn't president
of the combined Orthodox Jewish Con.
gregations. Morris Shapiro is presi.
dent. Mr.. Shapiro's orga IMITATION
represents 80 per cent of the Jewish
congregations and all of these recog.
nize Rabbi Barishansky as chief rabbi.
Mr.. Carroll and one or two others are
the only ones who are not supporting
Rabbi Barishansky."
1t was Mr.. Shapiro to whom Mr..
Carroll referred as "a former presi-
dent of the combined congregations.
The former, furniture dealer resid-
ing over his place of business at
North Capitol and II streets, could
not be located today.
Rabbi Regulates "Chief."
Rabbi Silverstone. who. Mr.. Carroll
said, has been, with Rabbi Horwitz,
one of the heads of the Orthodox jew
ish faith in Washington for the past
20 years. joined with Mr. Carroll in
repudiating the new "chief rabbi"
rabbi Horwitz and myself are the
heads of the congregations here"
Rabbi Silyerstone declared. There is
no chief rabbi in Washington"
Rabbi HOrwitZ was not at home to-
day, but his son concurred in Rabbi
SilverStone's statements.
Rabbi Louis Schwefel, in whose
synagogue the installation ceremony
was held. explained that his church
building was used by Rabbi Bari
shansky's followers merely because
1t was more spacious than some of
the others. The Adas Israel Congre-
cation. of which he is the rabbi, had
no connection with the services, he
said. Rabbi Schwefel disclaimed any
knowledge of the installation exer-
cises.
Says IS Oppose.
Mr.. Carroll declared that only three
congregations. "all of them small"
were supporting Rabbi Barishansky.
These, he said, are the Agudas Israel,
Shomel Shabbos and Har Zion Con-
gregations. Thirteen other congrega-
tons, he asserted, are opposing him.
Announcement in the press last
week of plans for installing Rabbi
Barishansky as "chief rabbi" and that
he would have supervision of kosher
meats brought forth a formal denial
from Mr.. Carroll, as president of the
Combined Congregations of Washing
ton" The statement. made public to-
day. pointed out that hte Combined
Congregations is legally established
by charter" and has been a corpora
ton since 1907; that the organization
is composed of duly appointed repre-
sentatives from all orthodox congrega-
tions and organizations in the District
of Columbia, with the exception of
those at AIS M street and Eighth and
street northeast; that Rabbits Silver
stone and HorwitZ are the duly re-
elected heads Of the faith in Washing
ton, and, finally, that Rabbi Barishan-
sky has not been selected or elected
as rabbi of Washington's Combined
Jewish Orthodox Congregations and
therefore as such will not be recog-
nized by our people, nor will he rule
as to kosher meats, without permits
sion.'
Served i'm Russia.
Rabbi Barishansky for 80 years
was rabbi in Russia. He is said to
have served several months in prison
for displeasing Soviet officials with
his religious views. Mr.. Carroll char
acterized Rabbi Barishansky as IA
radical whom we don't want here"
The installation program yesterday
was of an elaborate nature. There
was procession to the church, led
by a boys band. Rabbits from five
other cities participated. A banquet
followed the ceremony in the syna-
goSue.