PAGE FOUR

THE DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

New York; Herman Wile, Buffalo',
Albert Wolf, Philadelphia; William
If. Woollier, Peoria; A. L. Saltzen-
stein, Milwaukee.
The outstanding feature of the
gathering was the report of the pres-
ident, Mr. J. Walter Freiberg, of Cin-
cinnati, Ohio.
President's Message.
In his message, the president paid a
touching tribute to the memory of
Isaac M. \Vise, the founder of the
Hebrew L'inon College and of the
Union, the centenary of whose birth
occurred this March. Ile emphasized
the fact that the Union of Hebrew
Congregations as founded by Dr.
Wise represented a great step for-
ward in the democratization of Juda-
To insure publication, all correspondence and news matter must reach
ism.
this office by Tuesday evening of each week.
Mr. Freiberg likewise reviewed the
principal work of the past two years,
RABBI LEO M. FRANKLIN
Editorial Contributor
On Wednesday of the coming week thousands of Jewish boys and dwelling at length upon the rapid
The Jewish Chronicle invites correspondence on subjects of interest to girls will again pledge fealty to the faith of their fathers. To some few, growth and progress made by the
the Jewish people, but disclaims responsibility for an indorsement of the the ceremony of confirmation may prove to be an empty form ; but upon Hebrew Union College, and the great
war record made by the students. Al-
views expressed by the writers.
most of the boys and girls who shall formally accept the obligations though placed in deferred classifica-
which Judaism lays upon them, the ceremony is bound to leave a deep tion, nevertheless a large proportion
enlisted in various branches of mili-
and permanent impression.

THE DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

And this should be a sufficient answer to those of our co-religionists
who claim that the non-Zionist is out of sympathy with his suffering
MICHIGAN'S JEWISH HOME PUBLICATION
brethren who would seek refuge from their wrongs upon the hallowed
Published Weekly by The Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co., Inc.
soil of I'alestine. We wish to state as clearly as it may be stated, that
the liberal non-Zionist Jew deems it his duty to aid those of his co-
JOSEPH J. CUMMINS
President
religionists who wish to make their homes in Palestine to do so under
NATHAN J. GOULD -
-
Secretary-Treasurer
the most favorable of conditions. He recognizes the sentimental values
Entered as second-class matter March 3, 1916, at the Postoffice at Detroit, that attach to Palestine. But the encouragement of mere colonization
Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879.
in Palestine is something very different from the establistinent (i) f Jewish
statehood. If this were entirely clear to those who mistakenly call them-
OFFICES, BOOK BUILDING
selves Zionists, there would bea different line-up on this question. Cer-
Telephone Cherry 3381
tainly the Union bv its declarations has left no doubt as to where it
stands upon this important question, It were well if those representing
Subscription, in advance
$2.00 per year other views would lay down a platform that is equally clear and just as
incapable of misinterpretation.

Confirmation

At Last

At last the government of the United States has heard the cry of
the bleeding Jews and has taken a definite step toward ending his horrible
sufferings. On Monday of the past week the Senate of the United
States, by unanimous vote, called upon President Wilson to put an end
to the slaughter of innocent men, women and children for the crime of
being Jews. The resolution presented by Senator Calder of New York
State directing the Department of State to communicate reports of
outrages committed against the Jews to I'resident Wilson and requesting
him in turn to confer with the representatives at the Peace Conference
of the countries where such outrages and massacres are reported to
occur and inform them that the American people will not tolerate such
outrages in the future, was unanimously carried without debate. And
there is no question that the action of the Senate will be followed by
similar action on the part of the House at once.
We have no doubt that the resolutions passed by the Union of Amer-
ican Hebrew Congregations at its Boston meeting last week and similar
resolutions adopted by the Unitarian Conference in behalf of the suf-
fering Jews as well as the great protest meetings that were held in New
York and Detroit and elsewhere had much to do with the hastening of
this action on the part of the American government. While this action
has been taken all too tardily, we are yet deeply grateful for it. We
are entirely convinced that with the American government taking the
stand that it has, not only against Poland, but as well against Roumania
and with the definite assurance that the United States will enter into no
negotiations with any future Russian government, unless it is assured in
advance of a policy which will prevent pogroms, the greatest possible
protection will have been thrown around the downtrodden Jews of these
countries that have known neither mercy nor justice.
It is a pity when all is said and done, that such drastic measures as
the calling of protest meetings had to be resorted to by the Jews of this
country before our government could lie awakened to the horror of the
existing situation. But this course was inevitable and the results thus
far achieved have completely justified it. Nor can we refrain from
expressing our belief in this connection that had the public press properly
sensed the situation of world Jewry and had it courageously called upon
the powers of the world to put an end to the brutal atrocities of which
the Jew has been the victim, the government would have acted long
before this in the matter. After all, the law makers must have public
sentiment behind them before even the most necessary reforms can be
effected.
Moreover, it is heartening to note how effective the Jews in this
country may be when they speak with united voice. The massacre of
our brethren in Poland and elsewhere touches the deepest cords of
sympathy in no one group of Jewry but in all of us—Reform and Ortho-
dox, Zionist and non-Zionist alike. And in the word of protest that was
spoken, we all joined because the grief was common to us all And when
we spoke together, our government heard our voice. That is why ef-
fective action making for the relief of our suffering brethren has at last
been taken.

The Boston Meeting

1 1

Within the memory of the writer there has not been another gather-
ing of American Jews in which the ideals, the aspirations and the long-
ings of the Jews were so clearly voiced as in the meeting of the Union
of American Hebrew Congregations in Boston last week. Coming from
every part of the country, men and women representative in their own
communities, came together to discuss earnestly and seriously the prob-
lems confronting the Jews of America and of the world.
It was natural that at this crucial time in our history, the leaders of
Judaism should have been in serious mood. But it was a bit surprising
as it was intensely gratifying to find that the present and the future not
only of Jews but of Judaism were matters of vital concern not merely
to the preachers but as well to the leaders of the commercial and the
professional life of our time and of our country. To be sure, the atmos-
phere of the meeting was surcharged from first to last with a feeling of
bitter indignation at the outrages under which the Jews of Poland and
of Roumania were suffering. And the cable message, the earnestness of
which was unmistakable, which was sent to President Wilson, was but
the reformulation of many similar resolutions that had been prepared
by the delegates. The message to the President reads as follows:

"The 26th Biennial Session of the Council of the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations, comprising zoo congregations in 177 cities in the
United States and Canada, is stirred to expressions of horror at the
injustices and cruelties to which Jews in eastern Europe, notably in
Poland, are bei ,!q subjected. In lands where they have dwelt for gen-
erations and fa: which they have made every sacrifice in blood and
treasure throughout the war, they arc still made victims of countless
outrages.
The Union of American Hebrew Congregations enters a solemn pro-
test against these persecutions. In the name of justice and humanity—
the ideals for which America entered the war and in the vindication of
which America and the Allies have triumphed—we call upon the dele-
gates of the stations assembled in Paris to take steps immediately to put
an end to these outrages and to insist that enforceable provision be made
for civic and religious equality and protection everywhere."

But as intimated above, deeply stirred as were the men and women
at the Union meeting by the plight of their co-religionists, their interest
in the fate of their religion was manifestly intense and sincere. Nor
was it merely a professional interest such as alight have been expected
on the part of the rabbis. It is no reflection on the rabbinate to say that
the strongest words spoken for Judaism and for the present need of re-
vitalizing the faith of our fathers were spoken by laymen. One could
not have heard the stirring words by Daniel P. Hays and others and yet
have harbored in his heart the thought that Judaism in America was
doomed to perish. With deep conviction of its power to meet the
spiritual needs of this new day, men spoke for a militant Judaism with
emphasis always and only upon the religious mission of the Jew in the
world.
The attitude of the Union toward the question of a homeland in
Palestine was clearly and unambiguously stated. The meeting, speaking
for thousands of Jews, set itself definitely on record as against a political
interpretation of the Jewish mission and the re-nationalization of Jewish
life in Palestine. But conjointly with such declaration, it made clear the
fact that through its constituent membership it will do all that may lie
its power to further the rehabilitation of Palestine and other lands in
which any group cif Jews may choose to make their homes, always upon
the principle that Jews—like non-Jews—must be given the right to live
wheresoever they will upon absolutely equal terms with others. Re-
ligious freedom and civic equality the world over is the demand which
the Union makes for the Jews. Nothing less than that will satisfy.

fl

What needs to be emphasized, however, is that confirmation is a re-
ligious rite and not a social function. Unfortunately, in the minds of
many, confirmation has become comparable in the religious life of the
child to graduation from a secular school. The ceremony is therefore
surrounded with the same social functions; with gift giving, etc., as
attends such graduation. Against the continuance of this interpretation
of the confirmation ceremony, the rabbis stand in steadfast opposition.
They have so far as possible simplified the ceremony itself so that it
shall not be what it was in the beginning—something akin to an oratorical
contest on the part of the children, but on the contrary definitely a re-
ligious and even a ritualistic ceremony.
In the last years, in most communities, the *his have had the fullest
co-operation on the part of the parents and of the continuants its sim-
plifying the celebration of the child's attainment of its religious ma-
jority. Gift giving has been frowned upon and formal receptions have
been reduced to a minimum. Let its hope that front year to year this
process of simplification will go steadily forward to the end that the
religious significance of the occasion may be the more deeply impressed
upon the children of Israel's household,

Democratization in the Synagogue •

Another forward step looking toward the greater democratization of
the synagogue was taken by the Union of American Hebrew Associa,
tions in its endorsement of the unassigned pew system in the Jewish
house of worship. This, following closely upon a similar endorsement
at the hands of flue Central Conference of American Rabbis which in-
cluded the unassigned pew system in its recently adopted model consti-
tution for congregations, will have a tremendous effect in furthering the
introduction of this system in congregations where old traditions backed
by selfishness and stubbornness make even the most desirable reforms
difficult of accomplishment.
To those of us who have enjoyed the privilege of the unassigned
seating for well nigh two decades and who have experienced its tremen-
dous advantages, it seems well nigh absurd that the old arguments
against the introduction of so noteworthy a forward step in synagogal
regulations should still be brought forward. There are those who oppose
the unassigned system on the ground of what they call "sentiment," but
which in its last analysis is usually mere sickly sentimentality. If senti-
ment of this sort is to prevail, healthy progress will everywhere be
impeded.
There are those who stand in opposition to unassigned seating for
practical considerations having to do with the financing of the Congre-
gation. Though our experience indicates that these people are abso-
lutely mistaken, since the revenues of the Congregation increase rather
than diminish under the new scheme, we yet have more respect for their
arguments than for the others because of their obvious sincerity. As a
matter of fact, the experience of the Congregation to which we have the
privilege of ministering has been that with the introduction of the un-
assigned seating and the semi-voluntary assessment, the financial prob-
lem of the Congregation has been reduced to an absolute minimum.
Nor are the practical advantages of the unassigned seating system
merely negative. Under this system, people come to the place of worship
in family groups and well before the time set for the beginning of the
service, instead of straggling in toward its end. So far as the decorum
in the synagogue having this system is concerned, any one who has
worshipped in the congregations working under this scheme, recognizes
its eminent superiority. There is no pushing and crowding of those who
by chance have entered a pew, the ownership of which is vested in some
wealthy but ignorant member who insists upon his property rights even
in the house of Gout. There is no possibility of the stranger being in-
sulted or made uncomfortable when by chance he takes a seat to which
a late collier to the service claims ownership. But most and best of all,
the unassigned seating systell definitely does away with the rich man's
corner and the poor man's corner in the place of worship. And it
measures a man's contribution to the support of religion's cause not by
the actual amount of money which lie contributes but by the sacrifice
that he makes in giving even his mite.
In view of all these facts, it will not he surprising, now that the
Union has definitely endorsed the system which TeMple Beth El intro-
duced almost two decades ago, if it shall become generally accepted even
by those congregations in which tradition dies hard. If democracy in
the synagogue is to be encouraged, this is definitely the first step in that
direction.

tee of the Union for the ensuing term
were elected as follows:
Fred E. Itruml, Cleveland; Gustave
A. Efroymson, Indianapolis; Isaac
Goldberg, Detroit; Daniel P. Hays,
New York; S. M. Johnson, Cincinnati;
(Continued From Page 1.)
Adolph, Kraus, Chicago; J. W. Lilien-
abroad during the war was expressed thal, San Francisco; Max B. May,
by resolution.
Cincinnati; Henry Morgenthau New
The convention decided, after spir- York; Adolph S. Ochs, New York;
ited debate, to favor the establish- Simeon W. Rosenberg, Albany; Jacobi
ment of the unassigned pew in the H. Schiff, New York; Jacob Schna-
synagogue and the elimination of the dig, Chicago; Ludwig Vogelstein,
system of minimum dues.
Judge Daniel P. Hays expressed his
belief that the assigned pew system is
an evil, but recognized the difficulties
which sonic congregations would be
confronted in its adoption. He said
there must be an awakening of relig•
ions spirit, and that would be brought
about. "1 believe," he said, "that men
who own pews will have religious
spirit enough to give them up." .
lion. Simon Wolf referred to the
open doors of Catholic churches. and
their influence in building up that or-
ganization. Ile was applauded when
he said that he could not live in the
past but would move with the "boys."
A resolution reported by the com-
mittee on legislation, M. D. Rosen-
berg, of Washington, chairman, look-
'ng to the creation of a social service
lepartment in connection with the
synagogue was adopted without de-
bate.

Convention of American
Hebrew Congregations

The National Federation of Tem-
ple Sisterhoods, an auxiliary organ-

to about $350,0(X, in annual subscrip- Round Table discussions were led by
tions.
bliss Jeannette Goldberg, of Philadel-
phia, Pa.; Mrs. David Lefkowitz, of
Ex-President Taft Has Ovation.
Two important and significant feat- Dayton, Ohio; Mrs, B. M. Englehard,
tires marked the second (lay of the of Chicago, Ill.; Mrs. E. M, Cohen, of
Council. One was the fraternal visit New Orleans, La.; Mrs. Ferd Dil-
of former President -William II. Taft, sheimer, of Philadelphia, Pa.:, Mrs. T.
who had remained over following his Cohen, of Nashville, Tenn., and Mrs.
address, Monday night, before the Ada Goldsmith, of Cleveland, Ohio.

Unitarians, assembled there. The
other was the scholarly centenary ad-
dress on Isaac Mayer Wise, founder
of the Hebrew Union College and of
the Union, delivered by Dr. Louis
Grossman, of Cincinnati. The one
es oked the wildest enthusiasm, bring-
ing the assembly to its feet in his ref-
erences to Roumania's unjust Jewish
policy; the other was warmly ap-
plauded following a comprehensise
review of the life of the far-visioned
man who established a new and lib-
eral Judaism, and an energetic and
forceful plea for a more unified Jewry
and an effort to expand the moral
powers of the Church.
Mr. Taft, after graceful and humor-
ous response to the suggestion put
forth by A. C. Ratshesky, of Boston,
just elected president of the Twenty-
sixth Council, that it was possible that
he, Mr. 'raft. might again be elevated
to the highest position it was possible
for the American people to bestow on
any man, declared that he was glad
to be present to felicitate the Union
on its activities, its patriotism and its
public spirit, and on the record Jew-
ish boys have made in the great world
war.
In speaking of the League of Na-
tions he said: "In that League of Na-
tions we hope that there might he
some declaratiop which would enable
the League to insist, by securities pro-
vided, that religious freedom should
be guaranteed throughout the world:
and we doubt not that our represent-
atives were an xious to secure them.
I am glad to be able to say to you
that i have information from a most
authoritative source that provisions
with respect to those countries where
there has been great religious dis-
crimination and not alone discrimina-
tion, but the most heart-breaking out-
rages upon people because of their re-
ligious affiliations, are to he attended
to in specific provisions in treaties
with respect to those countries." He
then stated that there is a provision
in respect to Poland by which a treaty
is to he made between Poland and
the five great powers, by which the
rights of the religious minority are to
he respected. "Roumania." he said,
"is to receive what she does receive
out of Hungary, and therefore the
treaty as applied to her wmild natur-
ally he the Austrian treaty, or a sep-
arate treaty. and I have every reason
to believe that that is to he inserted
in that treaty and will be insisted
upon."

Address of Mr. Ratshesky.

At the morning session of the
Union, A. C. Ratshesky, of Boston,
was chosen as president; Judge Josiah
H. Cohen, of Pittsburgh, vice-presi-
dent; Rabbi George Zepin, of Cincin-
nati, secretary, and Rabbi A. Holtz-
berg, of Cincinnati, assistant secre-
tary. Mr. Ratshesky in his address

declared that "the first battle for
which we must fight is the liberty of
thought and speech. This is one of
the most fundamental of human
rights, and one which has caused
many revolutions in history. It is
inherent in all free peoples, and while
it has always been one of the bases of
Americanism it is being threatened
with annihilation at this very hour,"
He then deprecated the wave of
Bolshevism now sweeping the coun-
try, and suggested proper means of
combating it by removing the sources
of dissatisfaction. Of reform hula-

For the Wife and Kiddies

Executive Committee Elected.
Members of the Executive Commit-

National Federation of
Temple Sisterhood Convenes

ization of the L'Ilion of American
Hebrew Congregations, held its third
Biennial Council in Boston, May 19
to 22 inclusive.
Mrs. Abram Simon, of Washington,
I). C., the President of the N. F. T.
S., was chairman of the Convention.
Among the delegates present at the
tary and subsidiary service.
Sisfe•ilood convention were:
Mr. Freiberg emphasized the im-
.1iIrs. Abram Simon, of Washing-
portance of the work of the Depart- ton, I). C., president of the National
ment of Synagogue and School Ex- Federation; Mrs. J. Walter Frieberg,
tension, of the Board of Editors, and of Cincinnati, Ohio, the vice-presi-
of the Tract Commission.
dent, and Mrs. Ben Ke•enstein, of
Special stress was laid upon the Cincinnati, Ohio, the recording sec-
great nation-wide campaign just com- retary. Some of the members of the.
pleted for the raising of an annual Executive Board who attended the
fund for the furtherance of the varied convention are Mrs. Max J. Brand-
work of the Union. Through the ac- enburger, of Brooklyn, N. Y.; Mrs.
tive co-operation of Mr. Manny II. H. Mayer. of Kansas City, Mu.;
Strauss, the campaign was an over- Mrs. B. 11. Printz, of Youngstown,
whelming success, and When the re- Ohio; Mrs. Ilarry Sternberger. of
ports of several late cities will have Cincinnati, Ohio, and Mrs. our
come in, the total raised will amount Emptier, of Brooklyn, N. Y. The

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ism he said: "It has no problems
which are primarily or exclusivel y
Jewish. Our ideals are universal, em-
bracing the Jew of America and the
Jew of other lands. They embrace
in America, not only Jews as follow-
ers of Judaism, but Jews as American
citizens. And because we are Am-
ericans our duties as Jews go beyond
the confines of the Temple and enter
the broader field on national life."
Tuesday afternoon's session was de-
voted to the Centenary address on
Isaac Mayer Wise, which Dr. Louis
Grossman, of Cincinnati, Ohio, deliv-
ered.

11

.

11.1•■

Wit:''

Grown to 26,000 Members.

The Committee on Propaganda re-
ported that the National Federation
of Temple Sisterhoods had grown in

six years to over 26,1)00 members, rep-
resenting 196 organizations. Tile
Committee on War Emergency called
attention to the splendid work of the
various Sisterhoods in co-operating
with all the war agencies. They sold
millions of dollars of Liberty Bonds
and purchased Bonds and War Sav-

ings Stamps from their own treas-
uries. The Sisterhoods matte hun-
dreds of thousands of sewed and knit-
ted garments for the Red Cross, en-
tertained soldiers and sailors, carried
on Jewish War Relief campaigns and
aided the Allied victory by every war
activity open to women.
The Committee on Co-operation
pointed with satisfaction to the spirit
of helpfulness existing among the
Sisterhoods, which is furthered by
joint meetings, circular letters, pub-
lications and the like. The Commit-
tees on Religion and Religious
Schools reported that practically
every sisterhood is aiding the Tem-
ples and Religious Schools of its
community in promoting religious

T h e Committee o n Religious
Schools, of which Mrs. Joseph Kraus-
kopf, of Philadelphia, is chairman,
reported that seven Sisterhoods have
maintained Free Religious Schools
and that practically every society is
engaged in some activity connected
with Religious Schools.
'The H.•
terhoods have furnished rump-
mem and supplies for the school.,
have provided entertainments for the
pupils on the various holy (lays, have
co-operated with the parents and
teachers to increase the efficiency of
the schools and have greatly aided
religious education in other ways.

Anent the Peace Conference.

A throng of pallid, famished faces
with vacant stare
Into futurity cleaves the changeless
past,
I close my eyes to blot out the crim-
son glare
Of blood and curling flames that
marks my quest
For haunting, gruesome spectres of

our dismal fate.
0 cruelly relentless art thou then in-

satiate
With the holocaust of million lives'
Determined still to crush the will that
strives
To break the fetters and the yoke of
ages?
Servility, horn of darkness, yet frets
and rages
To undo what freedom. vouschafed
and acclaimed.
Humanity who tiled and bleeds has
verily not aimed
To make it but a mockery, a farce, a
vapid dream
Of seers, a morbid delusion, which
flickers and gleams
Comet-like mu the horizon of our des-
tiny and—dies?
Nay, it must not bel Have our tears

and sighs
Been in vain?

Have our hopes been
mere figments of our brain?

Nay, nay! Arise ye thousands slain

And like fiery darts of justice advance.
demand. compel,
To strike the hour to freedom and
servitude its knell!

J. DeCTIEVETTE..

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