First in a Series:
Dr, Solomon Schechter and
The Birth of. Conservatism
By special arrangement with the United Synagogue of America, the American Jewish
Press, the feature and news service of the American Association of English-Jewish News-
papers, is happy to be able to syndicate and serialize "Songs to Share" by Rose B. Gold-
stein. The piano settings are by Reuven Kosakoff. The illustrations are by E. Schloss.
This song is part of this fascinating book, "Songs to Share"—"Matnat Shir"—pub-
fished by the United Synagogue Commission on Jewish Education. Copies of the complete
book of 24 songs may be purchased from the United Synagogue Commission, 3080 Broad-
way, New York 27, N. Y.
In her preface t-(3 "Spngs to Share," the author calls attention to the fact that "reli-
gious Jews have always found support in song"; that "they chanted their prayers, sang
their Zemirot, and intoned their studies." Some of the melodies in her book are of her
own composition.
We share with the author the view that "mothers in the home and teachers in the
classroom will surely find these songs useful" and that "their appeal is not limited to small
children."
(Editor's note: This year
marks the 40th, anniversary
of the Conservative Move-
ment, the observance of which
will be celebrated in all states
on Feb. 20 to 22. In prepara-
tion for this observance, The
American Jewish Press Syndi-
cate has edited a series of ar-
ticles written by Rabbi Her-
bert Parzen, director, depart-
ment of programs, United
Synagogue of America, on the
"Builders of the Conservative
movement.")
*
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*
Conservative Judaism is a
unique religious movement—
unique in that it is committed
to reversing the prevailing pro-
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JNF Council Board Completed for 1953
Announcement was made this
week by the Jewish National
Fund Council that its executive
board had been completed for
1953.
William Hordes is president of
the Counci 1. Vice-presidents,
representing the Zionist organi-
zations included in the Council,
are: Mrs. Jules Kraft, M. B. Lew-
is, Mrs. Charles Robinson, Alex
28
—
THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, January 9, 1953
Schreier, David Silver. Abraham
Nusbaum is treasurer; Boris
Wise, financial secretary; Benja-
min M. Laikin, organizations
chairman; Daniel Temchin,
Philip St o 11 m a n, and Morris
Snow, synagogue co-chairmen.
Irving W. Schlussel is chair-
man of the executive board
whose members include the fol-
lowing:
Mrs. Irving Arlin, Maurice
Baker, Louis H. Cohan, Yitchak
Elbinger, I. M. Faxsteiri, Mrs. M.
Goldoftas, Morris Ginsburg,
Morris Glass, Miss. Jennie Gold-
man, Ben Harold, Morris Lach-
over, A. C. Lappin, Morris Lie-
berman, Nathan Linden, Mr. and
Mrs. Michael Michlin, Miss Betty
Morrison, Mrs. Irving Posner,
Mrs. Albert Prag, Harry Rosen-
thal, S. Rubin, Mrs. Morse Saul-
son, Harry Schume r, Yoel
Schwartz, Mr. and Mrs. Philip
Slomovitz, Isidore Sosnick, Na-
than Spevakow, Miss Annette
Stollman, Mrs. Phillip Stollman,
Zvi Tomkiewicz and Mrs. Milton
Winston.
PROF. SOLOMON SCHECHTER
cesses in modern Jewish history,
and, at the same time, it is seek-
ing to harness these very pro-
cesses in the service of Judaism.
While Conservatism recognizes
fully the role of the. Tradition
in Judaism, it rejects- the con-
cept that the Tradition is rigid,
iron-clad, hidebound. Moreover,
Conservative Judaism is deter-
mined to rekindle reverence for
the tradition to restore social
and creative functions to the
synagague and impress on them
the stamp of the synagague.
The organization which char-
acterizes the Conservative Move-
ment and its development is the
United Synagogue of America,
which was evolved from the Jew-
ish Theological Seminary when
Solomon Schechter assumed its
presidency in 1902.
Solomon Schechter was born
in Romania, in 188'7, and re-
ceived a traditional Yeshiva
education. In due - course he
became lecturer in rabbinics at
Cambridge University in Eng-
land.
While in this post, due to his
scholarship and industry, he dis-
covered the Cairo Genizah, a'
most valuable depository of old
Hebrew and rabbinic texts, in a
synagogue in Cairo, Egypt. In
1901, he agreed to come to New
York to assume the presidency
of the Jewish Theological Sem-
inary of AmeriCa, at the invita-
tion of Jacob Schiff and Louis
Marshall of New York, and
Judge Sulberger, Dr. Solis-
Caren and Dr. Cyrus Adler of
Philadelphia.
When he arrived on these
shores he was a distinguished
public figure and a mature
scholar with a world-wide repu-
tation. His views on contempor-
ary social problems and Jewish
affairs were on the record. He
consequently assumed the pres-
idency of the Seminary with his
convictions clearly established
and defined.
As a student of Jewish life he
was aware of the American
Jewish community and its prob-
lems: that the established Jew-
ish institutions were preponder-
antly Ref or m; that the old
Seminary had proved ineffectual
in stemming the tide of Reform;
that the new immigrants were
either anti-religious or deeply
immersed in their parochial con-
cept of Judaism.
Dr. Schechter instituted for
the Seminary a program of pub-
lic education to inform the Jew-
ish community about its ideals
and goals. In brief, this program
visualized the Seminary as the
Jewish institution which pro-
posed to conciliate all elements
comprising the synagogue in or-
der to •retain its catholicity and
unity.
He urged the adherents of Re-
form to re-study Jewish history
and the historical development
of Judaism in order to become
re-aligned with the main current
of Judaism. He did not deride
their viewpoint nor attack their
institutions; he rather sought to
persuade them to review their
position.
On the other hand, he
argued with the Orthodox to
abandon their parochialism
and the external garb of the
East European ghetto. He pro-
posed that they study Jewish
wissenshaft, that they regard
the English language on a par
with Yiddish; that they insti-
tute order, decorum and beau-
ty in their religious service;
that they select for their rab-
bis and teachers men who
have received a liberal educa-
tion as well as a scientific
Jewish education in order that
they may introduce modern
methods in their religious
school system.
This program of education he
called the Conservative tendency,
an effort to emphasize those as-
pects of Judaism which required
bolstering and strengthening.
This selective emphasis, he in-
sisted, did not signify that the
Conservative tendency is a sort
or half-way hOuse between orth-
odoxy and reform as many peo-
ple may still assume . even today.
It was rather a constructive
program to solve the religious
problems of American Jewry as
they existed.
At Dr. Schechter's call on Feb.
23, 1913, representatives of 22
congregations, Seminary-ordain-
ed rabbis, and outstanding Jew-
ish scholars estalished the
United Synagogue of America—a
"union of the Orthdox-Conserv-
ative forces" in this country, and
with this new creation the Con-
servative tendency was trans-
formed into the Conservative
Movement.
Thousands Acclaim Sinai Hospital on Opening Day
Continued from Page - 1
broken two years and eight days ago. He expressed
thanks for the cooperative spirit, which motivated
the collective work for the hospital.
Isidore Sobeloff, exceutive director of the Federa-
tion, joined in congratulating the hospital's adminis-
tration and wishing the 'agency "long life of
distinguished service."
Speaking in behalf of the City of Detroit, Act-
ing Mayor Louis C. expressed confidence
that Sinai Hospital will be a "monument to service."
He praised Detroit Jewry for previous efforts in
advancing the city's health and praised North
End Clinic for giving "the greatest amount of
service to the most underprivileged."
Dr. Harry C. Saltzstein, the hospital's chief of
staff, recalled that North End Clinic originally was
established in two stores on Westminstef Ave. and
expressed joy over the progress attained since then.
Ile expressed pride in the fact that several hundred
women already have enrolled as volunteers for the
\liospital and he spoke with confidence about the fu-
ture edutational program of the hospital, "When -100
more beds are added to the hospital, the educational
program will be more adequate," he stated.
Dr. Saltzstein, paying tribute to the memory
of Dr. Hugo Freund, proposed • the establishment of
a research fund in Sinai Hospital in Dr. Freund's
memory.
Declaring that he was thrilled by the cooperatiOn
he had received, Dr. Julien Prive•, director of the
hospital, pledged that the hospital will be conducted
in a manner to make the community proud.
In the principal address during the morning cere-
monies, Dr. J. J. Golub of New York, who was the
consultant for the hospital and who first conducted
a survey here in 1938, which resulted in recommenda-
tions in favor of a Jewish hospital, pointed out that
the hospital, designed for most proficient service r
readily lends itself to future expansion.
Dr. Golub said that Sinai will be one of 1,300
hospitals in the country with 200 or more beds and
that it will have to compete with them for high
standards. He stated that the 7010 Jewish doctors who
are graduated annually from American colleges (he
reported. that 7,000 doctors complete their studies
annually in this country) depend overwhelmingly on
Jewish hospitals for internesb.ips.
The benediction after the dedicatory service was
given by Dr. A. M. Hershman.
Prior to the guided tours, an outdoor ceremony
was conducted by the Jewish War Veterans who pre-
sented Sinai Hospital with an American Flag.
The hospital's floor plans include the following;
Ground floor: Kosher, general and diet kitchens,
pharmacy, laundry, engine room and main lecture
room.
First Floor: Administrative offices, medical libra-
ry, admitting office, X-ray and physical therapy
departments, record room, emergency services and
gift shop.
Second Floor: Delivery and maternity rooms, nurs-
eries and laboratories.
Third floor: Pediatrics, operating, special patients°
and central service rooms.
Fourth floor: Private, semi-private and four-bed
patients' rooms.
Fifth floor: Private, semi-private and four-bed
patients' rooms, solarium and sun deck. •
Sixth floor: Private and semi-private patients'
rooms, Women's Guild office and patients' library.
Seventh floor: Private patients! rooms,