13
THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
The Jew and the Revolutionary Thought J. Calvert &
By
Sylvan
S.
Grosner
Sons
2d Floor McGraw Bldg.,
(Managing Editor's Note: The read-
ers of the Jewish Chronicle have been
favored from time to time with articles
by Sylvan S. Grosner, a young man well
known in the city for his forceful ex-
pression of original ideas. While many
may not be in accord with the conclu-
sions that he draws in the following
article it will nevertheless prove food for
thought.) , •
1,1
F the Jew has any characteristic
whatsoever by which he may be
distinguished f r o in other
"stocks," that which even the most
non-nationalistic Jew would concedC,
it would seem, is his intellectuality.
In every branch of mental activity—
whether it be political, economic,
comwercial, or cultural—the Jew is
represented. There is no school of
thought, there is no art science,
there is no philosophical or
or economic
basic theory but that the Jew is in it
and of it. For above all things the
Jew is a thinker. Above all things
the Jew is a dreamer. Above all
things the Jew is an idealist. Since
the time when he first proclaimed to
humanity the promise of a better day
to come the Jew has thought and
dreamed and "watched through the
night" as he worked for the dawn of
the happier and holier world.
It matters not that the various
schools of thought to which individual
Jews attach themselves differ widely.
It does not weaken our logic that to
diametrically opposed philosophies
particular Jews ascribe. Rather does
it prove the point we would make that
reactionaries, conservatives, liberals,
progressives and radicals all are
strenghtened by Jews—that Jews are
the leaders in them all. For in each
of these differing and antagonistic
groups thought is essential. What-
ever thought and mind are necessary
there is the Jew, exerting his powers
and talents to bring about the hap-
pier and better world. Though indi-
vidual Jews may affiliate themselves
with widely opposing endeavors, all
of them are motivated by the same
purpose. It is ever the dream of the
"promised land" that prompts the Jew
to strive and struggle.
It is no strange, inexplicable
thing, then, that Jews are found
wherever thought and ideals are found,
that Jews associate themselves with
and are the leaders in those economic
and politico-social groupings of which,
at least, it cannot be said they are
thoughtless or lack ideals.
And so, whether we like it or not,
whether we want it or no, whether
we approve or disapprove, where rev-
olution of thought and idea is the by-
word, quite naturally we find Jews
the leaders, violently opposed to each
other, each vehemently and bitterly
battling for the right and truth as he
sees it. This is the fact and we dare
not honestly dispute it—the Jew is as
potent a force for revolution, change,
and pacificism, as he is for govern-
ment, stability of the present order,
and patriotism! Congressman Kahn
is a Jew and as such logically leads in
that thought which desired the entry
of this country into the war. Rabbi
Wise, the Jew, quite logically was ac-
tive in opposing that thought. Rabbi
Magnes, the Jew, quite naturally is a
leader in the People's Council—strug-
gling for freedom of speech, as they
conceive it. Alexander Berkman,
Morris Hillquit, Emma Goldman—
Jews all—are the logical leaders in
schools of thought to which they have
associated themselves. Although their
views may disagree with our views,
that makes them no less 'Jewish. We
have no monopoly on interpreting
Judaism and living in a Jewish man-
ner. Because, perhaps, they have ac-
cepted a less popular path to the ful-
fillment of their dreams, the realiza-
tion of their ideals, the making of the
day when the world we live in will
be,more worth while—they are no less order as they deemed it best for man-
characteristically Jews. And that kind.
they should struggle to the end, suf-
Too often the Jew raises the cry
fering disgrace and discomfiture for of intolerance of his view while he is
the things they hold worth while, is
most intolerant of the views of others,
as Jewish as the achievements of our Jews and Christians. It is easy
more successful co-religionists.
enough to permit others freedom of
Revolution differs from all other thought when we agree with them or
human endeavors in that there is only
when our differences arc slight. But
one measure of its merit—namely, its
real tolerance requires the respect of
success! In all other things one may utterly different views, that respect
partially be meritorious. All other
things may progress by stages. Revo- being based on the knowledge that
those views are deep rooted in
lutions alone are either worth while thought and as sincere in conviction
or worthless—either absolutely com-
as any we may have. And tolerance
mended or absolutely condemned.
requires a recognition of fundamental
With no thought of criticism or dis-
facts—the high motives behind the
respect, but solely for the purpose of
viewpoint of those with whom we
illustrating, let us consider the Revo-
may disagree.
lution of which every American is so
It has been pointed out with dismay,
proud—that which severed our politi-
cal ties with England in 1775. John by those who zealously would oppose
Hancock and John Adams—today the slightest reflection upon the fair
.honored and beloved—while alive had name of Judaism, that Jews are quite
prices on their heads! Even he who prominent in opposition to con-
was "first in the hearts of his coun- scription and in the socialistic circles
trymen" would have suffered consid- making efforts for peace, at this time
crable disgrace if he had been cap- contrary to the wishes and rights of
tured by the then authorities of the our governme.M. It has been stated
colonies—the British government. that the Jews affiliated with such revo-
When Patrick Henry uttered those lutionary movements shall have scant
immortal words, "Give me liberty or sympathy from their co-religionists.
give me death," he was denounced by This position is to be commended
his colleagues in the assembly as a only for its safety, and is open to se-
traitor, and cries of "Treason" forced vere criticism for its egotism. To us
his now immortal address to an un- it would seem that those who con-
seemly conclusion. Our revolution, tend that their acts are non-Jewish
'we are happy to say, was successful, and that Judaism bears no relation to
and these men, prices on their heads them and cannot be held accountable
though they had, "traitors" though for their lack of patriotism, do injus-
tice to the Jew. Truly their position
they were called, have become patri-
ots, martyrs and founders of a free- evidences the intolerance which the
dom-loving nation! Who is there Jew could have only acquired from his
that denies their service to mankind? centuries of oppression and it smacks
Who is there that dares question their of the philosophy of life claiming
greatness? sole proprietorship to the salvation of
But (again calling attention to the man. That the pacifist rabbi, Judah
solely academic motive for using the L. Magnes, should interpret the
Scriptures differently than the now
history of our nation as illustrative)
militant
rabbi, Stephen S. Wise, is
let us presume a hypothetical failure
no
reflection
upon the Judaism or hu-
of the revolution of 1775. It is not in-
conceivable that the despot "whose manitarianism of either. Both have
character was marked by every act as their goal the day of peace to
which may define a tyrant" would come, and the hastening of that day.
have meted out to our now properly "Not by might nor by power but by
revered Patrick Henry, George Wash- righteousness," each of the rabbis
ington, Thomas Jefferson—the revolu- quotes, one as a justification for op-
tionists we proudly proclaim them— posing the militarism of the kaiser,
the other as opposing our war pro-
that fate which the democratic gov-
gram. That Morris Hillquit and Vic-
ernment of England prescribes at this
date for revolutionists in its other do-' tor Berger desire socialism, that Em-
mains—"to be hanged by the neck un- ma Goldman and Alexander Berkman
til dead." The merit of a revolution espouse the philosophies of Emerson,
or rebellion is gauged solely by its and Tolstoi, that Congressman Julius
Kahn desires war and Congressman
success or failure. It is deserving
Meyer London desires peace, is im-
either of death or immortality!
material.
that all these Jews
In considering revolutionary move- have given But
to their viewpoints the
ments—and by "revolutionary" is
deep analytical thought, so typical of
meant, of course, any opposition or
Jew, is most certainly material.
criticism of the constituted authori- the
For in their disagreements, and,in
ties or order, whether by violence or the disagreement of Jews who are pa-
without it—we must consider the mo- triots, pacificists, socialists, anarchists,
tives that prompt rather than the ac- reactionaries, progressives, there is
ceptability of the doctrines advanced the one outstanding consistency—
or the successes the "revolutionists" their willingness to sacrifice and their
achieve. The great distinguishing
struggle for the ideal—the same, iden-
characteristic between the Continental
tical ideal—the realization of their
Congress and the Congress of the dream-day! Their consistency is their
Confederate States is that one suc- Jewishness! Surely for their Jewish-
ceeded and the other did not! Both ness at least the one should not be in-
were motivated by noble ideals. One
had its Solomon and the other its tolerant of the other! Surely for that
Benjamin. Surely the latter was no following of the faith of his fathers,
less a Jew because the cause and as he sees that faith, the Jew who dis-
agrees should be the most willing to
ideals he held dear and sacrificed his
all for perished while the cause of the explain! Certainly for that leadership
other has lived. Leaders in thought in 'thought of this day, whether it be
of their days they both were. Proud minority or prevailing thought, wheth-
of them both the big, broadminded . er it be our thought or opposed to
Jew will ever be. Respectful of both our thought, we should proudly rec-
ognize and claim the thinker as char-
of their views tolerant men were and
re-
acteristically
Jewish! To do so is not
will
be.
And
we
admire
and
, ever
spect them not because of the results a duty nor a burden! It is an oppor-
they accomplished or the cause they tunity! To do so casts no mean re-
espoused but because we know that flection upon the Jew but rather does
they were, as "revolutionists" of our it do him double credit in that it
day unquestionably are, above all shows to a watching world the Jews'
things THINKERS! We know them supremacy in the realm of thought.
to be typically Jewish in that they And it is a rare opportunity by exam-
were and are indisputable leaders in ple, rather than precept, to teach the
endeavors for the improvement, by Jews' conception of tolerance of the
change or preservation, of the social views of others.
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The seventh annual convention of
the Y. M. and Y. W. H, A,s •of New
England was held in Boston, Mass.,
August 31, September 1, 2 and 3.
Shaare Zedek Synagogue, West
End avenue and Page boulevard, *St.
Louis, Mo., was formally dedicated
last Sunday afternoon, with elaborate
ceremony.
Alexander Wolf, a Washington
(D. C.) lawyer, acted as chairman of
the committee to arrange for a dem-
onstration in honor of all draftees in
the District of Columbia.
A novel by Abraham Callan, "The
Rise of David Levinsky," is an-
nounced by Harpers for publication
within a week or two.