THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
4
whence they sprang. Such a coherent
aristocracy is impossible, however, in
this country, because the Jew in
RABBI A. M. HERSHMAN ELECT-
America is subject to an influence
By Professor Ralph Philip Boas
ED PRESIDENT OF DETROIT
which is hardly so strong in any other
CONGRESS MOVEMENT.
(Continued from last issue)
group of people—the steady and re-
.
power to even the most sordid con- sistless modification of his character
It is, therefore, something of a
Heads List of Officers Chosen at Mass
shock to him when he re-enters.„ a gregation of ghetto Jews disappear. and ideals by parvenus. The number
of immigrants, or children of immi-
Meeting of Local Delegates.
- great Jewish community, for he finds the discipline which strengthened the
grants, from countries where for cen- .
that the great mass of American Jews And with the reverence of the tradi-
turies they have been trained in an
departed
A general meeting was held of all have sunk into a comfortable mate- tional synagogue service has
minute. regu - atmosphere of slavish cunning and
of the faithful. The la
of the delegates representing Detroit rialism. What persecution could not lives
lations of the dietary ws, the di- worship of money, who become rich,
success in business • has
Jewish organizations affiliated with accomplish,
is altnost incredible. In Russia,
brought to pass.. 'The innate qual- versity of the ancient formulas of
the local congress movement on Sun- ities of the Jew could not save him worship, the tortuous and crabbed Galicia, or Roumania, they cultivated
d, had this ad- a self-respect by rigid adherence to
lore
T
day afternoon, February 25, at the from the fate of the Christian who study o fTalmudic
hey stiffene the
baekbone dignified and beautiful customs; in
Ganapol Academy for the purpose of has become rich in a hurry—gross- vantage: t
tress and self-conceit. That Jeshurun and strengthened the faculties of 'a America the florid exuberance of
electing officers of the local organi- waxed fat and kicked is as true now race which might otherwise have been newly acquired wealth cannot be dig-
zation. Amidst the marked enthusi-
crushed under the heaviest burden nified. Clannishness, exclusion front
asm which prevailed at the gathering, as it ever was, and there is little that a race has ever borne. But the circles of good taste and good breed-
Rabbi A. M. Hershman was unani- reason to expect that the race which discipline of the ancient law has de- ing, the infiltration of the parvenu
mously elected as president of the was hopelessly clinkered by national parted. Spacious synagogues stand East-European Jews, and imitation of
movement in Detroit. Messrs. George prosperity in the days of Solomon empty. Having outlived poverty and the most obvious aspects of American-
Avrunin and Joseph Bernstein were can escape a similar fate in the twen- persecution, the well-to-do Jew is left ism—its flamboyant and tasteless ma-
chosen as first and second vice-presi- tieth century.
in a state of good-natured and satis- terialism—all combine to make the
Moreover, the Jew in America finds, fied religious apathy. The Jew has thoughtful Jew sadly question what
dents, respectively. Two correspond-
ing secretaries were selected, Ben- for the first time, a clear field for the always prided himself on his. common 'hope lies in the bulk of the Jews who
jamin Robinson for English and qualities which twenty centuries have sense; his common sense now does live in the great American cities.
Joseph Chaggi to carry on all corre- developed in him: shrewdness, tenac- him the ill turn of banishing whatever
There remains to him the small
spondence in Yiddish. Other officers ity, single-mindedness, patience. self- mysticism Judaism may once have group of men who are trying to make
elected were Morris Zackheim as confidence—qualities without which had. And without mysticism there the Jewish self-consciousness of real
financial secretary and David Robin- he. must long ago have perished. In can be no genuine religious enthusi- value. They are not content with
America, with all the bars which re- asm; it takes more to see God than prosperity and material growth; they
son as treasurer.
The following are members of the strain him in Europe lowered, these the ability to distinguish between realize that the past services and
administrative board: Milton Alex- qualities have received abnormal de-
achievements of Judaism do not in
profit and loss.
'ander, Louis Cohn, David W. Simons, velopment. In Europe they were
The time was when small groups themselves justify Judaism tqday.
S. Goldberg, Mrs. S. Victor, Mr. H. checked, not only by persecution, but of Jews could develop a truly admir- Nor do they feel that because college
Sodos, Mr. J. London, Mr.. H. Rosen- by the religious idealism of the syna- able aristocracy of manners and of fraternities do not admit Jews, Juda-
blatt, Rabbi J. L. Levin, Rabbi Aish- • gogue and the intellectual idealism of intellect, an aristocracy ennobled by ism is sufficiently justified. They de-
ishkin, Mr. Max Lieberman, Mr. H. the traditional Talmudic education.
religious zeal, humility, and devotion. plore social discrimination, but they
The sad result is that in prosperity Such groups arc still to be found realize that it is only an incident. To
Goldman, S. Rosenfield, Mr. M. Mar-
golis,, Mr. M. Rosum, H. Kishncr, S. the Jewish self-consciousness ceases among English and Portuguese. Even every thinking man comes sometimes
- Levinson, Mrs. Meyer B. Sultzberger, to be religious and becomes merely in the United States many individuals the ringing question, "How can I
Miss Miriam Goldman, MrS. Leon racial. The elements that add some- continue the traditions of the groups justify my existence?" That question
thing of dignity, grace, and spiritual
Van Vlict, Mrs. Wolf Kaplan.
they are willing and eager to answer.
They understand that their only ra-
tional justification lies in their ability
A. D. MORROW
/MMUS JARVIS
to show what there is now in Juda-
PLANT TREES FOR JUSTICE
ism which demands respect, and to
BRANDEIS.
demonstrate what Judaism is doing,
The Tifereth Zion Society of Ports-
(Continued on page 7)
mouth, N. H., has sent a contribu-
tion to the National Fund for the
planting of two trees in the Herzl
SDISBEDEBEDEMBEDess - a I
Forest in honor of the sixtieth birth-
Established 1891.
day of Justice Louis D. .Brandeis of
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The Problem of American Jewry
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•
for
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Primaries March 7, 1917
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