Tenth Annual Young Israel Conference Book, November 21-24, 1940

November 21 – 24 1940

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YOUNG ISRAEL CONVENTION JOURNAL
MESSAGE OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF YOUNG ISRAEL SAMUEL H. FROMBERG We have always considered our Mid-Western Young Israel branches as a sort of "line of defense" for the ideals which have motivated the movement since its in-ception twenty-nine years ago. After all, the perpetuation of traditional Judaism is not expected to be a very difficult task in a community like New York City which boasts more than two million Jews (ken-yirbu). With many Jewish activities hum-ming daily in every part of the city it was natural for Young Israel to grow by leaps and bounds through the past quarter of a century or so. The movement had to suc-ceed in the East because it was veritably surrounded by institutions of Torah, Yeshi-vas, active Synagogues and a generally warm Jewish atmosphere. But outside of New York where the Jewish communities were infinitesimal by comparison and where Jewish atmosphere amounted to a fractional part of that in New York—there in the outlying communities Young Israel was practically a mir-acle. Who dreamed that young men and women in "alien" surroundings and in an overwhelmingly non-Jewish environment could be so imbued with the pioneer spirit of traditional Judaism that they could overcome all these obstacles and yet establish a sizeable movement? And yet this miracle has come to pass by dint of unstinting labor and zealous devotion to the cause. Young Israel firmly established itself as a permanent contribution to Jewish progress in the cities of Cincinnati, Chicago, Cleve-land, Detroit, St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver and Los Angeles. We do not mention the Young Israel groups of the New England cities, in Canada, and in Eretz Israel; for these have long since made their mark in the Jewish world. We are inexpressibly proud of the achievements of our branches in the middle and far west. At every Convention whether in the east or in the middle west, the indomitable and dauntless courage of our mid-western brothers and sisters stands out in brilliant relief. On this occasion, the tenth annual Mid-Western Conference, I speak to you in the name of the entire Young Israel movement. I bring to you the greetings of your fellow members throughout the country and I express the prayer that the Almighty will bless you with continued strength and courage not only to live yourselves in ac-cordance with the Torah, but to join countless numbers of others to you, and together form greater and more numerous Young Israel branches.