Criticizes Failure of Reform Leaders to Enlist Adherents in Agency Work

The failure of the recent convention of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations held in San Francisco to include in its agenda discussion with regard to the extended Jewish Agency and Reform Jewry’s participation in the Agency, is criticized in an editorial in the “S. A. J. Review,” the organ of the Society for the Advancement of Judaism, of which Dr. Mordecai M. Kaplan is the leader.

Under the title, ” A Serious Omission,” the paper writes:

“Now that the Convention of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, in San Francisco is over, one must note the surprising fact that no room was found in its proceedings for mention of the enlarged Jewish Agency.

“It will be said that neither was the work of the Joint Distribution Committee, which is now also in a state of crisis, mentioned. But the validity of the United Jewish Campaign has never been a subject of dispute in Reform circles, which is not exactly the case with the United Palestine Appeal and the matter of the Jewish Agency. Toward the Agency the Reform attitude has hitherto been one of forthright opposition. In view of the recent developments which were interpreted as marking a change of heart on the part of the Reform groups, the present state of the Agency movement in America could properly be read as a responsibility devolving upon Reform. This was their crisis, and the Convention at San Francisco was an opportunity to meet it. But the same rabbis who in New York enlisted so enthusiastically in support of the Agency were in San Francisco altogether voiceless. The question naturally arises: will the expectations aroused by the Agency pact be fulfilled?

“One can be especially apprehensive in view of the action of the Association of Liberal Jews of Germany in definitely turning down the invitation of the World Zionist Organization to join the Agency. The German Reform have thus been consistent with their steadfast prejudice against Palestine, based on the fear that the Jewish national restoration might attack the Reform conception of Judaism as a purely ‘religious community’ But the American Reform have, to a certain extent, disavowed that prejudice, and one could reasonably expect better from them.

“It is clearly the duty of the vanguard of Reform to bring the masses of their constituents up to the point at which they (the vanguard) have presumably arrived in respect to Palestine.”

Samuel Rottenberg, who recently completed his tenth term in office as president of the Brooklyn Jewish Center, was tendered a testimonial dinner at the Center. Nathan D. Shapiro, was toastmaster and the speakers included Supreme Court Justice Mitchell May, Dr. Israel H. Levinthal, Rabbi of the Center; Bernard Semel, Isidor Fine, and Dr. S. Margoshes.