PAGE TWO THE JEWISH CHRONICLE Zionism—A Brief Resume Death of S. M. Schmittke Is Lou to Community BY SARAH D. ARONSTAM. In the death of Samuel Benjamin Schinittke, who passed away on Jan- uary 1, Detroit has lost one of its most public spirited Jewish citizens. the had an unusually large circle of friends to whom he was a great in- spiration for righteous living. Mr. Schmittke was born in Lilian, Courtland, 75 years ago. He was one of the oldest Jewish residents in De- troit. He was a prominent member of the Shaarey Zedek congregation and took an intensive interest in every Jew ish question. desire to divide this subject into' the great problem. But the Jews did two principal parts, namely: (1) not take into account certain forces, Zionism retrospectively viewed which perhaps displaying a wholesome and (2) its prospective outlook. and justifiable exterior, unhappily car- ried all the earmarks of a well organ- if anybody might ask me for a def- inition of the term that heads this article iced antagonism against the Jew and —and many and varied are the defini- tended to thwart and hinder all his ad- lions that have been given to it—I vances in obtaining civic abilities and would simply reply: that Zionism is the enfranchisement, and thus political ultimate expression of the Jewish will. Antiseinitism hovered like .1 thunder- When we speak of the latter either cloud over lain embellished with the as applied to an individual, group or a roseate hue of tolerance and forbear- nation we invariably mean by it, the ance. final product of a process continually ITS PROSPECT. reacting, progressing and evolving into Leo Pinsker then came to the front an endless series of phenomena, whose in his most epoch-making pamphlet. final results denote a condition desig- , 'Auto emancipation." Deploring Ghet- nated as consciousness. toism on the one hand, he had nit the Permit me to digress a little by an- other hand but little hope in the false alyzing certain phases of the conscious- enchantments of the outer world. Tc ness of a child. To us it seems vague him universal emancipation was not vis- and instinctive, but as growth and de- ible as yet on the political horizon. velopment proceed, its consciousness He therefore clamored for auto cams- becomes more and more apparent to citation; this led to a step forward and itself and the environment wherewith culminated into the principles laid down it collies in contact; and when event- later by the founder of the present-day ually reaching maturity, the fully de- Zionism—Theodore Herz'. Ilis pro- s-eloped individual is brought on the grant was so logical and conclusive, threshold of a state, where his or her that it appealed to.the various shades emotions, desires, views and concepts of Jewish life. assume distinct and definite forms; this Some were attracted by its strictly coupled with similar processes Mate in political aspect, while others became the race or nation transmitted through enthused with its cultural phase; yet all past generations, lends to the individ- agreed, whether it be political or cul- ual its characteristic and peculiar con- tural, that its center must be placed on ception of itself and its surroundings. the historical scene of the Jew-Pales- What is true of the individual is simi- tine. To assemble all the qualities of the larly true of the family or group of Jew, its intense national consciousness, families, the race or the nation. its distinctive culture, its still onfor- The individual harbors' in him the consciousness of the respective race lie shadowed future—in short the past and SAMUEL BENJAMIN SCHMITTKE sprung from and the latter exists by the present—and steering clear of racial Surviving him are his widow and degeneration and admixture with other virtue of the individual. nations, a nucleus must be established children, Jacob, John, Max, Mrs. A. ITS RETROSPECT. I lertzberg, Mrs. M. Shatzen, Charles, in the Holy Land. To one of our great thinkers, Abaci Rebecca, and Paula, all of Detroit ex- Let us now proceed with the survey of our great retrospect. Since times Ila'ain, the cultural aspect was the most cept Jacob, who is in Russia. Ten immemorial the Jew has been passion- essential feature; likewise in Dubnow's grandchildren are also left to mourn Funeral services were ately craving for a home of his own, "Foundations of Jewish Nationalism" Iris passing. a land of promise wherein he could this furnishes the binding tie he advo- held on January 2 from his late resi- fulfill and shape his destinies, a pledge cates for the maintenance of the race. dente, 191 Seidel] avenue, and were given to him by God through the mouth Yet this could never entirely uphold conducted by Rabbi A. M. Hershman, of his prophets; such a longing was evi- the Jewish consciousness without a defi- a close friend of the deceased, inter- dent in him even prior to the exodus, line political basis; and the Zionism as inent taking place at Machpalah and with this fiery column of a lofty promulgated by Iferzl embodies all these ceme t ery . hope before him, he undertook the principles in one. Many were the difficulties that beset INTERNATIONAL SOCIALISTS journey through the wilderness, fraught with peril of many a kind; and with the pioneers of colonization; untold DEMAND EQUAL RIGHTS such an ideal continually before him, were their struggles; with nothing ma- FOR JEWS. he then entered the Holy Land; more- terial in their possession, save a great over such an ideal has sustained him ideal. they ventured to colonize the Holy Declare for Free Immigration and throughout the centuries of the dreary Land. Development the World Over, diaspora. The preservation of his cul- Forty odd colonies sprung up within With National Autonomy tural and racial entities have forever a quarter of a century. 'Ile Jewish remained fibres and sinews of the Jew- Colonial Bank was created. Hebrew in Palestine. ish soul. High Schools and Trade schools estab- The process does not stop here. After lished, and then came a thunderbolt In the proposals which the Inter- entering the Holy Land, do not think on a clear sky—the great war. But national Jewish Socialist Federation other nations and races. The Jew hopes it has entertained and cherished ti out of the districts affected by the then attained what our opponents desig- We are now on the threshold of the war. nate the "missionary function." fulfilment of our great ideal. The sec- 1 2 . Fr" immigration and settlement Unfortunately at this juncture there and Cyrus call came forth from Great of I ews in all countries. 3. National autonomous adminis- appeared a palpable dwindling of the Britain. I)o not let the ardor in our tration on the basis of national prin- Jewish consciousness; in no way, how- hearts abate, nor our efforts slacken! ciple as applying to persons and na- ever, was it obliterated; it merely sub- Great nations are bitterly engaged in tional equality within the state, prov- merged within itself, remaining in a hostilities, and who knows but of that ince and community, in countries dormant state, and only expressing it- foaming and turbulent cauldron. where the Jews are settled in masses. self here and there in prayer and song. Israel's hope may arise rejuvenated, 4. Security to unrestrained activ- We become cognizant of a hazy hope, and we shall again be allowed by Provi- ity Iewish colonization, aiming at a distant ideal—an idea that was more Bence to work out our destinies in a the creation of a Jewish homeland in poetic than real, more imaginary than land of our own, not only untrammeled r" 1 " 1 !"''. For this is necessary: actual; a hope that though intensely and unmolested by the world without, (a) Removal of all measures re- yearned by the Jewish heart remained but with its full sanction and support, straining the free immigration anil within the narrow limits of the ritual, as foretold of old by one of our great colonization of Jews, extensive facili- or the poetic outburst of such men as seers: tation of naturalization, and free Jehuda Halevi: tivit) of the institution created to promote lowish colonization. (b) The establishment of modern The law front Zion spreads." legal relations and the settling upon socio-political measures for the pur- pose of developing the productiv e During the ages of untold persecu- forces of the land. Further, the tions that followed fast and faster dur- guaranteeing of economic facilities ing the generations of civic disabilities, and the promotion of colonization by, that was pre-eminently his lot in all first Of all, the employment of own- .\ n orchestra is being formed under lands and climes that he occupied, an crless and state domains and of huge outcry now and . then became audible the auspices of the Young I'eople's hand proper I ties t i es for the settlement M amidst the gloomy silence enveloping Auxiliary of Shaarey Ledek Syna- immigran t s and ion t h e ja„(11,,„ an-I him. gogue. Mr. Alan Kopelson, instruc- land poor agricultural population of The more haunted and tormented lie for of pianoforte, well known in local the country. was, the more oppressed and subju- music circles, and who enjoys a The transformation of Pal e s- (c) gated, the more he shrunk within him- splendid reputation as player and di- tine into an autonomous and unified administrative district. self, and thus you see the Ghetto ap- rector, is directing the orchestra. Re- (d) Thu, national autonomy of the pearing on the surface for a time. This hearsals are held every Sunday after- fewisb people in Palestine. The fill- seemed very natural and continued so noon in the vestry rooms of the syna- fonent of these demands are to be for almost fifteen hundred years. There gogue, corner of Willis and Brush internationally guaranteed. was no danger of disintegration or de- streets. The following have enrolled "I am at the end of the West But my heart yearns for the East." "Jerusalem sends forth the word, Young People to Have Own I Orchestra. cline, as long as the Ghetto kept him intact against all onslaughts from with- out, and the outer Gentile world kept I aloof from ingression within his ranks. The menace of racial effacement be- came pronounced only when Mendel,- sohn and his followers unsuccessfully endeavored to clear the way toward emancipation; or when during the Na- poleonic era similar attempts were made in other directions. While seemingly the Jew began to be recognized by the Christian world, he also gradually di- Nested himself of his inborn lovishness. As a reward for it the Gentile hated him the more for such a deceptive atti- tude. Notwithstanding that Ghettoism seemed unnatural and anomalous for the maintenance of a race, these re- peated but unsuccessful attempts at emancipation from external sources as- sumed a still more abnormal character. The Enlightenment or Haskalah period then followed garbed in the menacing form of a questionable pan- acea. Theoretically it looked like a logical measure toward the solution of as members: '.Hiss Edith Davis, pian- l i ist; Miss Sadie Jacobson, David B. Musicas, Julius Goldstein. Chas. Klein, violinists; Harry Jatovsky and Ochie Baker, 'cellists; Benj. Morris. cornetist, and A. Curtis, trombonist. Others are urged to join and take ad- vantage of this splendid opportunity. More players of string instruments are requested to join. They may phone Mr. Kopelson at his studio, 160 Medbury, or attend the rehearsal next Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock. ZIONISTS IN GERMANY VOTE THANKS TO GREAT BRITAIN SECRETARY OF OHIO STATE ZIONIST ASSOCIATION RESIGNS. The Federation of American Zionfi,ts has been notified by Mr. D. Gara, Presi- dent of the Ohio State Zionist Associ- ation. that Mr. NI. Friedman has re- signed as secretary of that body. Mr. Friedman held that office for about two years, coming to Cleveland from Den- ver to assume this task. His resigna- tion will cause regret iii all who have had the privilege of working with him in the Zionist organization. Rabbi Simon Hazer, of Montreal, The Vague, Jan. 2.—The Jewish Correspondence Bureau here has re- is authority for the statement that in Canada there arc only about 100,000 ceived a telegram from Berlin that at a Zionist conference in Germany a Jews and 4.500 of them have volun- teered for the war abroad. A special resolution was adopted in which satis- battalion of 701) Jews carrying the faction was expressed that Great Brit- Jewish flag of Zionism with the Union ain had recognized the right of the Jack, and each wearing the shield of Jewish people to a national existence in David, left Canada for the front. Palestine. To insure non-freezing of auto-radiators ask for MOVIE TICKETS "Concentro" Denatured Alcohol By mall enclose 27 cents In stamps. SIX FOR 25c costs no more than ordinary denatured alcohol yet has greater strength Good any time at 5 downtown theatres From your druggist or direct from Lambert & Lowman, 12th and Howard WOODWARD THEATRE CO. Streets. Cherry 6709-6845. 306 Breltmeyer Bldg. The Film Sensation. Direct From the Strand Theatre New York. "The German Curse SS1A " A wonderful picture that every Man, Woman and Child should see. Showing actual conditions in Russia from August 1914 to November 1917. " S E E Leon Trotzky Bolsheviki Foreign Minister addressing a Mass Meeting of 20,- 000 people. The Parades of Workers and Soldiers on the Nevsky Prospect. The wonderful Woman's Battalion of Death formed and go into the trenches. The Russian's Go "Over the Top." The German Intrigue of Conspiracy. The Russian Fleet Blow up Turkish Ships. Every Scene of this 5-reel Picture is Authentic. Taken by the Dare Devil Photographer, War Correspondent and Soldier of fortune Donald Thompson of Leslie's Weekly who risked his life to photograph all the rioting in Petrograd and real battles. He shows you the Duma, and Socialist meetings, Kerensky, Lenine, Leon Trotzky, the Bolsheviki and everything you have been reading about. When you see this wonderful picture you will Understand Conditions In Russia At the Colonial Theatre WOODWARD AVENUE & SIBLEY STREET. One Week Only Starting Sunday. Jan. 1 3th After The War And The Jew! The Jew is playing a great part in the destinies of every Nation now engaged in the Great War. The influence of the Jew in the epochal period of reconstruction after the War will he still greater. He will take his place prominently in every movement for social bet- terment and world peace. MANY VITAL JEWISH PROBLEMS WILL PRESENT THEM- SELVES FOR FINAL. SOLUTION.—It will be the most important period in Jewish History. In order to keep in touch with the preliminary discussions on these great questions, YOU SHOULD READ THE JEWISH CHRONICLE EVERY WEEK. AND !F YOUR FRIENDS ARE NOT SUBSCRIBERS HAND THEM THE COUPON PRINTED BELOW. A Bigger and Better Jewish Chronicle For Only $1.50 Per Year The Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co. 314 Peter Smith Bldg., Detroit, Mich. Enclosed find $1.50 for which please send THE JEWISH CHRONICLE FOR ONE YEAR. To Address