The largest delegate assembly
of the Jewish Community Coun-
cil last week heard reports on
Council aetivities and guest
speaker Rabbi Morris Kertzer's
account of his visit to Russia.
Council President Samuel J.
Rhodes welcomed newly-elected
delegates. . Loins Rosenzweig,
chairman of the internal rela-
tion s- committee, discussed
"mushroom synagogues." He
reported a noticeable increase
in attempts to launch undigni-
fied, temporary and sometimes
store-front synagogues in the
.northwest part of the city dur-
ing High Holidays. He said that
a re-evaluation of the hereto-
fore accepted criteria for a
"mushroom synagogue" is now
in order, because of the newly
introduced concept of a branch
synagogue.
Dr. Samuel Krohn reported
that an institute for organiza-
tion presi4ents and delegates
will be held Feb. 10, where
several workshops will be dedi-
cated to major areas of Com-
munity Council work. An ad-
dress by Prof. Eli Ginsberg, of
Columbia University, and au-
thor 'of "Agenda for American
Jewry," will culminate the in-
stitute at a brunch at the Labor
Zionist building.
Mrs. Nathan Spevakow ac-
quainted delegates with pro-
grams and plans for the Jewish
.
Book Fair, on Nov. 17-19, at the
Davison-Jewish Center. Rabbi
Morris. Kertzer, head of the
rabbinical delegation to Russia,
then spoke on Russian Jewry.,
While investigating evidences
of religious freedom in Russia,
the rabbi noted a lack of religi-
ous education. However, at-
tendance in church and syna-
gogue services is permitted
there, he said.
Any purchase for religious
edifice must be approved by the
Russian Department of Cults.
The _state owns every hottse of
worship and leases it to a con-
gregation, he said.
Rabbi Kertzer felt a "prevail-
ing fear" among Russian Jew-
ry, which remembers • persecu-
tions during the Stalin regime.
Only thirty rabbis serve two-
and-a-half million Jews, the
rabbi cited. "There is approxi-
mately one prayerbook for 20
worshippers; prayerbooks , are
so out-of-date that Czar Nich-
olas II is still named in prayers
for the government."
these are ELEANOR ROOSEVELT'S own words \ on CIVIL RIGHTS:
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I have complete confidence that Adlai Stevenson will work for the
Tights of all minority groups. I have complete confidence that he will
carry out his policies in the spirit of my late husband, who
fought for human dignity, equality and freedom. Remember: It is
Stevenson who says and believes;•=antegration is the great
unfinished business of America."
(Signed) Eleanor Roosevelt
Sponsored by the Volunteers for STEVENSON-KEFAUVER, 2602 David Stott Building
WO 1-6110
, 17—TH E DETROIT JEWISH NEWS — Friday, NoveMber 2, 1956
Council Hears Report on USSR