Treasure from the Archives

I went in to the synagogue today to help Honeybee with library of archives having to do with the Jewish community of Central Jersey. We came across the minutes of the May 1936 Congregational committees meeting. By the end of it, we were on the floor. I record the salient parts here. First come some fairly normal reports from such committees as the executive committee and the finance committee. Then the Scout committee chair reported on a trip to NYC in an “auto trailer” donated by Dr. Joe’s grandfather, plus a pleasant hike, and concluded that “The roster of the Scouts now boasts of 25 registered accounts.”

Then the fun begins.

“At the conclusion of Mr. L’s report, Rabbi K. was recognized by the Chair. He objected strenuously of the fact that the Scout Chairman arranges hikes on a Saturday or Sunday while Sabbath School was in session, explaining, that the Sunday School semester was of but 32 weeks duration and it is absolutely imperative that each child attend these weeks, in order to carry out the religious work as outlined. If scout work were deemed more important than religious work, he suggested to cut the semester to 30 weeks or if the scout Committee thought it advisable that 4 Sunday hikes are necessary to cut the year to 28 weeks. All the Rabbi asked was that the Scout Committee advise him at the beginning of the year so that he might arrange his schedule so that it does not conflict with scout hikes.

Rabbi K. emphatically propounded the fact that when 11 boys are absent from Sunday School, it disrupts the routine of the whole class. It is necessary for the teachers to go over practically the same work twice thereby holding up the rest of the class, which was not fair to the class nor the teachers.

After 20 minutes of fiery objections on the part of the Rabbi, the Chair recognized Mr. J. L., Chair of the Scout Committee. Mr. L said he welcomed the fact that this issue had finally come out in the open, as this storm between the Rabbi and the Scout Committee had been brewing ever since the Scout movement was inaugurated two years ago.

Mr. L. emphatically denounced the attitude the Rabbi was taking in regards to these scout hikes. As it happens, the Scouts are progressing in their work and it requires boys to make hikes at certain times of the year in order to receive credits.

Mr. L continued, he oftimes asked the Rabbi to attend Scout Committee meetings, he being on the Scout Committee, in order to come to some amiable agreement over these contemplated hikes, but for some unknown reason the Rabbi continuously absented himself. He further explained it was not his intentions or anybody elses, to try to disrupt the Rabbi’s Sunday School, but he did want cooperation on the part of the Rabbi.

An instance of the Rabbi’s bitterness toward the Scout hikes was cited by Mr. L. When the Rabbi became aware of the fact that the Scouts were going on a hike on the past Sunday, he informed these boys that they would absolutely not be confirmed. Because a boy misses a class of Hebrew is it necessary for the Rabbi to threaten him with such statements. Such matters should be taken up with parents and not discussed in the Sunday School assemblage.

Various members gave their versions of the battle of Scouts vs Religion.

Mr. Harold S. was of the opinion that scout work, which builds character, was just as important for the boy as religion.

Mr. Harry S. was of the opinion, in answer to one of the Rabbis questions, is it necessary that Scouts go on hikes two Sundays of the year, answered they should go on hikes not only 2 Sundays but 22 Sundays in order to acquire to full benefit of Scout work.

Dr. R. was of the opinion, Scouts are a good organization and religion is also necessary and being these two conflicted religion should be paramount.

Mr. Al K. was of the opinion that one of the Scouts oaths was to respect Parents and the Rabbi, and when a Scout disobeys the Rabbi by going on hikes when the Rabbi specifically commands him not to, he is violating his oath. Mr. B questioned Mr. K. on this statement as to who comes first, the Parent or Rabbi and Mr. K. admitted the Parent, thereby defeating his argument.

Mr. D. was critical of the Rabbi in aiming his condemnations at Mr. L as he was only the Chairman of the Committee and his remarks should be addressed to the committee as a whole.

Mr. E. B. was of the opinion the opposition to the Rabbi was all wet.

Arguments became so heated that non-warring members asked the Chair to discontinue the discussion for the sake of the congregation, as it looked as though personalities were beginning to crop up and someone might become offended.

The Chair was deaf to their pleadings. He insisted these airings were good for the welfare of the Congregation, we were really getting somewhere when troubles aired in the open.

Mr. B was of the opinion that 2 Sundays of the School year could be allocated to Scouts for hikes and instead of 32 week semester to have but 30. But it should distinctly be understood that in case of inclement weather on the day which has been designated as a ‘hike Sunday’ the Scouts shall not be entitled to a postponement, but would just be out of luck.

Anyway, at 12:00 midnight, after the Chair had broken 2 gavels and as many tables, a motion by Mr. B., regularly made, seconded, and carried by a vote of 15 to 7, the following motion was spread on the minutes:

‘That it be the sense of Congregation that the Sabbath School semester for the next year be fixed at 30 weeks, and at the beginning of the school year the Chairmans of the Scout Committee, Sabbath School Committee, the President, and Rabbi, agree upon what dates Sabbath School are to be held.’

Sparks from the dying embers oftimes tried to ignite into a new conflagration after the motion had been passed but were put out by the gauntlet of our President.

ON WITH NEW BUSINESS

****

Upon hearing that a bill had been rendered for plumbing work in the Temple, Mr. Harry S. sprang to his feet, in the fighting spirit of the evening, and inquired, as a member for the past 19 years, why plumbing work or in fact any work whatever, was not given out indiscriminately. To his knowledge he had not done any work in years.

The Chair advised Mr. S. that hardly any hydraulic engineering work had been done in the Temple during his administration except for a few minor repairs and these had been done by D. Harris at cost and at times no charge for material. If Mr. S wished to emulate Mr. H, for him to get in touch with the Chairman of the House Committee, Mr. E. B., and he would gladly fulfill his desires….”

Honeybee, who attends the monthly meetings these days, says they are never like this and almost wishes they were.