Evening star., 1942-03-21

churchmen who believe 1t only fair
that government tax q certain
amount of church property which
serves no specific religious purpose,
especially If such property Is in
come-producing. Adherents Of this
viewpoint hold that certain church,
owned property should be taxed II
only for service rendered." such
as police protection, fire protection,
highway construction, etc.
Jewish Army Opposed.
Sixty-two American Reform rab-
bis issued a signed statement this
week opposing the formation of a
Jewish army to fight under its own
banner. The statement was given
to the press by Rabbi Samuel H.
Goldenson Of New York's Temple
Emanuel, the largest Jewish tenn
pie in the United States. The rabbis
opposed the Jewish army proposal
on the ground that 1t would lead to
further friction in Palestine, pre-
sumabily between Jews and Arabs
and that it would also cause mis-
understanding Of Jews the world
over.
The rabbis also declared that
American Jewish opinion is sharply
divided on the issue of a Jewish
army. In making this statement
the Jewish spiritual leaders called
attention to . dispatch from Lon
don relative to the sentiment In
America with regard to the creation
OF a Jewish army.
Although the nature of the dis
patch was not specified, it Is believed
to refer to a statement made In Lon
don by DR.. Abba Hillel Silver OF
Cleveland. vice chairman OF the
Zionist Organization of America
Rabbi Silver declared, upon his ar
rival in Britain for a speaking tour,
that the United States would well
come enthusiastically a British gov
ernment declaration favoring the
formation OF a Jewish army. He
added that the American people
could not understand why the Jews
were not allowed to form their own
military force like those Of the Free
French and Czechs.
The issue of Jewish army was
bitterly debated last month at the
annual convention OF the Central
Conference OF American Rabbis,
which includes the majority Of Re-
form rabbis in the United States.
In an unexpected action, a resolu-
ton was introduced favoring the
formation of a Jewish army. 1t was
passed by a vote Of 102 to 80 over
the protest of four past presidents
of the body.
German Soldiers Religion.
The Russian campaign has had
deep influences upon the religious
attitude of German soldiers, ac-
cording to Swiss account based
on authentic reports of Protestant
military chaplains.
At the beginning, according to
the report. things went so smoothly
that most of the soldiers had no
religious needs. But as the war
progressed. this attitude changed
Faced with the problem Of death,
of the beyond, OF the meaning or
lack OF meaning OF life, many SOL
diers recalled the forgotten faith
OF their childhood, and became re-
ceptive to the word OF the chaplain.
TT is striking how different the
position Of the chaplains among
the troops now Is" says the report.
in comparison with the period of
l93e-40. how much and how con-
tinually the respect for them is
growing. and how often they are
sought out even by men In good
health. The men who are experience
ing so many terrible things are
turning to what is beyond the
senses"
The report points out that there
is vastly different attitude among
the fighting S. S. men-the fanatical
Nazis. THE s. S. men hold fast
even at war, at the front, when
wounded and dying, to their own
Germanic NEUROLOGICAL, unchurchly
attitude. There is no priest or pastor
in the ranks OF the S. s. There Is
only the single faith in the Reich
and its Fuehrer. Seldom will an 8. g
man ask for religious consolation,
traditional prayer, the Bible"
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