THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
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THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
Issued Every Friday by the Jewish Chronicle Publishing Company.
Michigan's Only Jewish Publication.
Editor
Manager
Samuel J. Rhodes,
Anton Kaufman,
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FRIDAY, MARCH 31, 1916.
Last Call
Arcadia Hall, Tuesday Night, April 4th, 8:00 P. M.
To those whose hearts have not already been stirred by the ap-
peal that has been repeatedly addressed to them in behalf of their
Jewish brethren in the war zone, further words may be in vain.
,But we venture this last reminder before the great meeting on next
Tuesday. No Jew or Jewess who is self respecting or who has a
spark of Judaism or humanity within him or her, will be absent from
this meeting. Hundreds of thousands of men, women and children,
broken in body and in spirit are holding out their hands to us for
help. The cry of starving babes pierces our souls. To that cry
none of us can be deaf. To that appeal none of us can be callous.
The Jews of Detroit owe it to their stricken brethren, they owe it to
the community, they owe it to themselves to give generously to this
great cause. In the words that the Committee has adopted as its
slogan
"GIVE UNTIL IT HURTS!"
A Noteworthy Anniversary
Sunday, March 26th, marked the passing - of sixteen years since
Isaac M. Wise, undoubtedly the foremost figure in American Juda-
ism, if not of the world, was called to his reward. When I)r. Wise
passed away and American Israel stood in mourning, from almost
every quarter rang the lament that his place among our people could
not be filled. Such extravagant tributes in the first hour of a people's
bereavement are not unusual, but they are seldom justified. Indeed,
the Talmud said that no righteous man is removed from earth save
some other righteous one is created to take his place among men. In
the instance of Isaac M. Wise, however, it remains strangely true
that in these sixteen years that have passed, no one man has ap-
peared among us who has been able to combine within himself the
varied marks of greatness that distinguished him. At the Hebrew
Union College he has been succeeded by a man of great erudition
and splendid qualities of leadership. In the Central Conference
of American Rabbis a number of men in succession have arisen to
carry on his work. In the Union of American Hebrew Congrega-
tions his spirit is yet dominant. In the newspaper which he founded
and edited for almost half a century, there is still carried forward
that aggressive campaign in behalf of liberal Judaism which was so
splendidly sponsored by him.
But while all of these various activities go forward without ces-
sation, they are carried on by many men instead of one, and there is
consequently apparent the want of a co-ordinate spirit which, under
Wise, was the dominating characteristic of Reform Judiasm in
America. Wise, a scholar, a humanitarian. a diplomat, a preacher.
a teacher of no mean qualifications, was par excellence the organizer.
It was he who in the middle of the 19th century brought order out of
chaos. By the establishment of his paper,• he found a means of voic-
ing the conviction that was stirring his soul, to the whole of Amer-
ican Jewry. By the organization of the Union of American Hebrew
Congregations he made it possible for the Reform congregations of
the land to work as a unit, and through the organization of the rab-
binical Conference, he cemented the interests of the rabbis of the
land who, previons to the existence of this body, had been working
as individuals and often at loggerheads with each other.
But undoubtedly the greatest work accomplished by Dr. Wise
- was the establishment of the Hebrew Union College. whose gradu-
ates today man the pulpits of the foremost liberal congregations of
this land. Nor is it least remarkable that the leading congregation
of England should have sent to this country for a graduate of the He-
brew Union College to guide its destinies. When we consider the
exceptional organizing ability of Isaac M. Wise, we cannot be sur-
prised that since his passing from us, no single individual has been
able to take his place. Fortunate it is, however, that he has trained
many disciples, but each according to his own powers and in his own
way may carry forward some part of the work of his distinguished
teacher.
What Isaac M. Wise was to the Reforming of American Jewry,
Soloman Schechter of sainted memory was in the life of conserva-
tive Judaism in this country. A scholar, a teacher, an organizer and
withal a most genial personality, his recent death represents to all
Israel an irreparable loss. We hope ere long to publish in our col-
umns an appreciation of Dr. Schechter from the pen of one of his
pupils.
It is a mistake to believe that the poor Jews in the war zone
will be the only beneficiaries of our generosity this week. We too,
by giving to them of our means, will be exalted in our own esteem
and life will take on for us a new meaning and a higher dignity.
After next Tuesday night, Arcadia hall should take on a sort
of consecration to the Jews of this community. Of - course YOU
will be there. No self respecting Jew or Jewess will be missing.
It is well at this time to remember how the Prophet Isaiah sum-
med up the meaning of religion. "It is not fast, it is not prayer,
but it is to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked and to give shelter
to the friendless poor." What an opportunity 's ours this week to
live the spirit of that prophetic message.
Charity is said to begin at home. But no justification can be
found for its ending there.
Vermont having been called upon to choose between local op-
tion and total prohibition wisely decided in favor of the former. The
state was long given to absolute prohibition. Its change of front is
a significant sign of the times.
Gleanings
Louis D. Brandeis bears at least one resemblance to Grover
Cleveland : "We love him for the enemies he has made."
Consider, for a moment a partial list of those who arc fighting
to keep the Boston lawyer off the Supreme bench. Among those
present are :
The shoe machinery trust, whose methods were so "raw" that
Brandeis refused to plead its case.
About sixteen other trusts, who know that Brandeis understands
the tricks which enable them to fool other lawyers and judges.
The wreckers of the New Haven railroad, whom Brandeis ex-
posed and pilloried.
The wreckers actual or potential, of other railroads, who shiver
at the thought of being haled before such a judge.
The looters of the public domain, who remember what Bran-
deis did to Ballinger.
The environs of those who 'monkeyed with the buzz saw" on
that 14%torit- occasion.
The honest, but ossified bourbons who believe the republic
would be ruined if a "radical" were placed on the Supreme bench.
The gamblers of Wall Street, who have more tangible reasons
for anticipating "ruin" in such an event.
The exploiters of child labor.
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Verily, Brandeis has a collection of enemies whose hostility
ought to make him chief justice.—Chicago Post.
George M. Cohan's off-hand verses on the Mexican situation in
response to the request of the editor of the Chicago Herald, may not
be the best offerings of the song-writers nor add much to Mr.
Cohan's reputation, but they are interesting because of one line
which is unusual in an appeal for national effort. Mr. Cohan wrote:
"Let's quit taking political views;
Let's quit wasting our words to abuse:
Come A'inerican Christians and Jews,
Get Villa."
We don't know whether Mr. Cohan included the mention of our
people because of the exigencies of his rhyme or because he desired
to stress the importance of our people in the American nation and
emphasized it by placing ours upon an equality with our sister faith,
but there it is and - it marks an epoch in the national sentiment. The
appearance of the line whether by accident or design should serve
to make all in this country labor not only for that friendly feeling of
the varied races who, together make the American nation, which has
ever been the dream and the outlook of the greatest human souls,
but for the harmonization of Christian America with' Jewish Amer-
ica, which will make the land of the free not only unique but irre-
sistible.