The Jewish South. [volume], May 12, 1899, Image 2

About The Jewish South. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1893-1899

Image provided by: Library of Virginia; Richmond, VA

                
THE JEWISH SOUTH
Volume Xl—Number 18. RICHMOND, VA., MAY 12, 1899. Whole Number 276.
|V a vote of 28 ayes to 11 noes the Beth Ahaba
I Congregation has declared in favor of build
ing a new synagogue.
This action was taken at a special meeting (the
fourth of the present congregational year) last Sun
day night, which was well attended, many seathold
ers and others also being present.
It was 8:30 o'clock (half an hour later than the
time stated in the call) when President Julius Straus
took the chair and rapped lor silence. He proceeded
to state the purpose of the meeting, and said that
the report of the committee on the site for anew syn
agogue was the first business. This was read by the
Vice-President, Mr. Charles Hutzler, chairman of the
THREE QUESTIONS.
The report opened by stating that the matter had
resolved itself into three questions: (1) Is a new syn
agogue needed ? (2) Can a suitable site be obtained ?
(3) Are the means available? The questions were an
swered in detail: (1) The present quarters are not
adequate. (2) No less than twelve sites had been ex
amined by the committee, and its members are unan
imously of the opinion that the lot at the corner of
Grace and Madison, fronting 150 feet on the latter
street-and 101 on the former, is the best to be had.
The price asked is $18,500. (3) There are no insur
mountable barriers in the way of obtaining the
needed funds.
I committee submitted the following estimate
ost of the work:
ns, 1,500
sent Synagogue, . . 8,000
•scriptions and Bonuses, 25,000
plus now on hand, . 2,000
Debt created, . . . $23,000
>rovision was made for organ, pe»vs rind other
re, as thecommittee believes they will beforth
from friends.
Charles Hutzler suggested that Rabbi Calisch
d, but that gentleman asked to be excused for
UNDER DISCUSSION.
Leon Wallerstein moved that the report be
cl and adopted.
I brought Mr. S. W. Fleishman to his feet with
a motion to lay on the table indefinitely. Mr. Louis
Nachman seconded this. Mr. Fleishman, speaking
to his motion, said that out of a membership of
eighty or ninety not over twenty-five were present.
This was a small attendance, and the matter was
one that should not be decided by a few. He was
surprised that Mr. Wallcrstein had made the motion
to adopt.
Mr. Wallerstein explained that he had no wish to
force the adoption of the report. His motion had
been made simply to bring up the matter in business
shape before the meeting. It was possible that he
himself might vote to lay on the table after a discus
sion of the question.
Mr. Isaac Cohen opposed the postponement. The
committee had worked hard and wanted a fair show.
Mr. Fleishman disclaimed all intention of wishing
to cut off a discussion.
Mr. L. Z. Morris was also of the opinion that Mr.
Wallerstein's motion should have been to receive and
not to adopt.
Mr. Wallerstein reiterated that it was necessary
to proceed regularly, but modified his motion as sug
gested, and that to lay on the table was withdrawn
by Mr Fleishman.
Mr. Charles Hutzler stated that his committee
had not been playing with a subject so serious, but
had put all its energy into it. There was no wish to
force an adoption and he hoped it would not be
adopted if there was reasonable opposition to it.
NO VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
Rabbi Calisch was the next speaker. He emphat
ically asserted it was not a question of a vote of con
fidence to the committee, but it was a vote for or
against a new temple. When King David built his
palace he had expressed his contrition that heshould
reside in a house of cedar while the Ark of the Cov
enant was sheltered by curtains only. So it should
be with the members of the congregation. Most of
them had moved from old homes into new ones, not
because they did not have room enough, but because
nicer and finer houses were more in keeping with
their dignity. Should it be said that the3 r were will
ing to do more for themselves than for their faith ?
Mr. M. E. Marcuse stated that when appointed
on the committee ht was opposed to building a tem
ple, but after hearing the views of others had changed
his mind. The congregation is a perpetual organiza
tion, and, as such, there is no harm in its having a
perpetual debt. There is no reason why the present
generation shall pay it all when future ones will be
equally benefited. A prompt decision was necessary
as the option on the lot would soon expire. Personal
appeals had been made, notice by mail, through the