Jewish Comminuted in France Will Get 50 Toraes from America; Ten from Navy Chaplains

Fifty Scrolls of the Torah will be sent to the Jews in France as result of pledges made at a dinner given last Sunday at the Plaza Hotel marking the dedication of the first Sepher Torah to be destined from America for the Jewish community in Paris.

The first Torah – a gift of Mr. and Mrs. Jules Bronert who resided in Paris formally presented at the dinner, inspired spontaneous, subscriptions for more Torahs among the several hundred guests present, the majority of whom are outstanding members of the French-Jewish community in New York. One donor, who preferred to remain anonymous, subscribed for ten Scrolls. Lt. Commander Joshua L. Goldberg, chaplain, USNR, U. S. Navy, offered ten Torahs on behalf of the chaplain corps of the U. S. Navy. Thirty more were subscribed for by individual guests.

Leon Meiss, president of Representative Council of Jews in France, who is now on a visit in this country, addressing the gathering, estimated that a minimum of 300 Torahs are needed immediately for the initial restoration of Jewish religious life in France. Many of the synagogues are in ruins, the Germans defiled the sacred books and desecrated Jewish houses of worship in various French cities, he declared.

Baron Edourad de Rothschild, president of the Jewish Consistory of France who presided at the dinner, called for a revival of Judaism. Other speakers included Edgar J. Nathan, Borough President of Manhattan; Rabbi Simon Langer; Rabbi Kaplan, Acting Chief Rabbi of France; Lt. Commander Joshua L. Goldberg, Chaplain Corps, USN; and Joseph Fither, Secretary General of the Representative Council of Jews in France.