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THE EWISH CHRONICLE
THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
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•
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RABBI LEO M. FRANKLIN,
It is in a large way a patriotism of this character that must be
preached by the pulpit in these times. As it takes up this message,
leaving to one side, for the time being, all sectarian dogmatism and
all those narrow doctrines that divide man from man, the church
Editorial Contributor
and the synagogue will be doing a full patriotic duty and one which,
if properly fulfilled, will count for much in the inspiration of all the
All correspondence to Insure publication must be sent in so as to reach this people of this country' at the time of the supreme crisis of its history.
1111ce Tuesday evening of each week.
The Jewish Chronicle invites correspondence on subjects of nterest to the
Jewish people, but disclaims responsibility for an indorsement of the views
expressed by the writers.
Entered as second-class matter March 3, 1916, at the Postollice at Detroit,
Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879.
The Siegel Memorial
Dr. Hirsch's Reply to His Accusers
Straightforward, virile, unambiguous was the reply addressed
by Dr. Emil G. Hirsch from his pulpit last Sunday to the cowardly
band who, under the cover of anonymity, have accused him of a
degree Of prb-Germanism amounting to disloyalty. SO manly and
so forceful was the presentation of his case that, according to news-
paper reports, the three thousand people who packed Temple Sinai
In memory of the late Rosalie B. Siegel, her husband and chil-
to its capacity repeatedly broke into applause and, at the end of the
dren have given to the United Jewish Charities of this city a splendid
piece of property on Holbrook Avenue to be used as a temporary
discourse, which competent critics compare to the greatest patriotic
orations that have found a place in our literature, hundreds crowded
home for children. No more fitting memorial to a loved one could about the eminent Rabbi to felicitate him upon so noble an expres-
be given at this time. In the bestowal of this gift the Siegel family sion of true American patriotism.
has set a worthy qxample and one that th e sincerely trust will be
Of course, those who know Dr. Hirsch intimately have not for a
followed by other members of the Detroit Jewish community.
single moment doubted his loyalty. Those who have followed his
The purpose for which the property is intended is especially utterances for well-nigh two score years have found in him an expon-
fitting. The attitude of social workers toward the institutional care ent of a type of Americanism which men of less virility , than he could
of children has undergone a most radical, indeed one might almost scarcely sense or understand. Ilk is an Americanism that is not
blind to mistakes made by us or to the successes of our enemies, but
they who arc dealing with the welfare of children who still advocate it is an Americanism that would profit by the errors of our past and
the orphan-asylum idea. It is only in those exceptionally rare in- that would learn wisdom even from our foes. Moreover, his is a
stances where, as in the case of our own Jewish Orphan Asylum at patriotism that is less grounded in hatred of an enemy people than in
say a revolutionary change, in the last few years. Few, indeed, are
Cleveland, a man gifted with peculiar genius for his task is placed
love for our own country and in devotion to its cause.
in charge of a children's home, that the effects of institutionalism
upon child nature is not likely to be deleterious.
istically expresses itself in terms of spread-eagle oratory, who cannot
Of course, there are those whose own patriotic fervor character-
It is the opinion of workers among children today that institu- understand the Americanism of a man like Dr. Hirsch. It is said by
tional influence is at best negative in its results. For a number of those who seem to know that his accusers were, for the most part,
years the United Jewish Charities of Detroit has made it a principle men who seldom or never showed their faces within his Temple and
BY DR. GOTTHARD DEUTSCH
Written for The Jewish Chronicle
(Continued from last issue.)
a
RILE secularism was
grave and rapidly growing
peril in western Judaism, the
mystic movement was not
very significant. This appears so to
us, knowing as we do the subsequent
development. We know now, that the
tual class, eager to advance himself,
was not apt to fall a prey to the same
kind of vagary which captivated the
Polish Jews, living in misery in the
midst of a semi-barbarous environ-
ment with no prospect of improve-
ment, unless he abandoned his reli-
gion, which he would not do under
any condition. Fearing that his chil-
dren might be tempted to yield to the
allurements of a world of outward
prosperity, but inward falsehood, he
kept from them all contact with secu-
lar education, in fact with the whole
non-Jewish world, except where eco-
nomic requirements demanded it.
The Jew of the west owing to the
small size of his settlements was less
able or willing to maintain his aloof-
ness, and his contact with the outer
world which, in addition, stood on a
higher level of civilization, influenced
his religious life. This can be seen
even in the middle ages. Naimon-
aides, e. g., advises to omit the silent
prayer of the congregation which is
afterward followed by a repetition of
the same prayer by the Hazen, for,
says he, the congregation is then at
leisure, and indulges in chatting and
often in frivolity, which is apt to dis-
grace us in the eyes of our non-Jew-
ish neighbors. This latter argument
is the main impelling cause of the
Reform movement in the last years
of Ezekiel Landau.
Economic Changes.
not to send any child coning under its care or guardianship to an who, therefore, do not know at first hand what he is accustomed to
While Landau will not recognize
orphan asylum. On the contrary, a persistent effort has been made say on the matter of Americanism or, for that matter, on any subject. such a principle in theory, he often
It is an unfortunate fact that especially in times like these all was compelled to act on it in indi-
to put the child into a home, preferably the home of its own parents,
and where that has been impossible, into some home presided over public men are more or less subject to criticism at the hands of well- vidual cases. Both the economic and
the social position of the Jews, had
by a good woman of true motherly spirit. To compass this end meaning but misguided individuals whose chief service to their coun-
changed in the course of the century
try in its time of need is to cast suspicion upon others who, in un- preceding Ezekiel's time. The great
questioned loyalty, are giving of their services and of their substance wars at the end of the seventeenth
supplemented by contributions front the United Jewish Charities.
and at the beginning of the eighteenth
The re-action upon both child and parents has always been for to the great and holy cause of .densocracy and humanity , .
mother's compensations allowed by the State have been frequently
centuries, as the war between Aus-
good. Moreover, wherever it has been possible in the case of full
Unfortunately Dr. Hirsch seems to have been the victim of tria and Turkey, the invasion of Louis
orphans an effort has been made to keep brothers and sisters within some such misguided individuals, but his splendid utterance of XIV. in Germany, and the war of the
Spanish succession had created is
the same household. In this work the local organization has been Sunday last must surely have silenced them. Those who
great demand for public credit, and
eminently successful. A large number of children, orphaned of both
have known Dr. Hirsch for years are not surprised that out of the the court-Jew, formerly jeweler and
parents, have been adopted into good families and other children fullness of his heart he could so splendidly justify himself before the pawnbroker, had developed into a fin-
ancier on a large scale. About the
whose home surroundings have been evil have been put into the bar of Pure Americanism.
care of excellent boarding homes, where they have received the bene-
fit of exactly the same parental attention as the ordinary child would
- Over the:Top
rccive in'the 'home of its own father and mother.
Frequently, however, weeks and months must elapse after chil-
Detroiters are justly proud of the fact that theirs was the first
dren come into the care of the United Jewish Charities before homes great city in this country to have over-subscribed its quota to the
in every way desirable may be secured for them. In the interval it Third I.iberty Loan. It say's much for the spirit of our citizens that
is necessary that they be placed in temporary children's homes. It they who have been extraordinarily blessed with material prosperity
is one such home that the Siegel family has now presented to the
Charities as a memorial to their beloved wife and mother. This is
the third such home which is now conducted by the United Jewish
Charities. The first, situated on Hendrie Street, is a memorial to
during these last few years have come to recognize that the wealth
which has come to them is, at best, a trust in their hands to be used
when it is' needed for the good of time community, city and state.
What is most gratifying, however, in a survey of the Detroit
the late Fannie 1). Lewis, and the second, on Frederick Street, was situation is not the fact that tremendous sums have been subscribed
purchased out of the money left as a bequest to the Charities by the by our most well-to-do citizens to this Third Liberty Loan, but that
late Herman Krolik.
subscriptions in smaller amounts have come in vast numbers from
As the community grows and the problems of philanthropy in- every class of our citizenry. Scarce a working man out of thousands
in our great factories has hesitated as to his duty in this matter.
crease, more such homes and other related institutions will have to
be secured by the Jewish Charities. It is hoped, therefore, that the
Indeed those who have been actively engaged in the campaign have
splendid example that has been set in the creation of these three noted with especial gratification the great eagerness with which the
memorial homes will, in the course of time, be followed by others. working people of the community' have accepted the opportunity to
It is altogether likely that as a result of the war, more and more chil-
dren will be left dependent upon community care and the equipment
help win the war by subscribing what they might to the Liberty
Loan.
for such care will, therefore, have to be correspondingly increased.
To us in particular is it gratifying to know that the members
Patriotism and the Pulpit
Only those who do not know the facts, or who are niggardly in
according to the church any credit for high achievement, will doubt
of our Jewish community have given in proportion to their numbers
and their wealth, quite in proportion with the members of the non-
Jewish community. Those who have canvassed the poorer Jewish
districts of the city have noted the eagerness with which men and
women who are engaged in the most menial tasks as a means of
or question the tremendous influence that some pulpits have had in livelihood have subscribed out of their meager and hard-earned
forwarding every patriotic movement that has been set on foot since means to the very utmost of their ability for the Liberty Loan.
America's entrance into the war.
Not a few are the poor junk-peddlers who, through their sub-
Few are the pulpits of any denomination that have not rung
scriptions to this Liberty Loan, have expressed their Americanism
with a fervent patriotic message, so that it is not unfair to conclude
in no uncertain terms. Indeed, it has been manifested beyond doubt
that much of the splendid activity that has been undertaken by corn-
or question that the recent Jewish immigrant has caught the spirit of
mercial and professional groups in our various cities has had its
America and that to the limit of his power he is eager to share with
inspiration in the pulpit word. In sonic instances, it is true, the
those who are fighting the battle of democracy and of humanity.
message has been but half-hearted as, indeed, must naturally be the
case when we understand that many pulpits are manned by preach-
ers without that virile and aggressive spirit which is absolutely
essential to high achievement in these times. •
On the other hand, some pulpits have rung with words of de-
nunciation of the enemy rather than of inspiration to our own people.
As a result men have been sent forth to their tasks rather under the
JEWISH CALENDAR
5678-1918
goad of a supreme hate than under the inspiration of a great loyalty
to a high and noble case.
Where some pulpits have failed in this crisis, too, has been in
the fact that they have painted a pessimistic picture instead of giving
to their people the right sort of optimism—not, indeed, the sort of
optimism which holds that whatever is, is right—but rather that
saner and more worthy optimism which holds that whatever is can
and shall be made right.
A note that the modern pulpit needs to sound in no uncertain
tone is that justice is the cornerstone of the 'universe and that so men
who are instruments of God shall do well and bravely and unflinch-
ingly their part, right shall prevail. The pulpit needs to reinforce
the conviction of the people that in these times of testing no sacrifice
which the individual or community is called upon to bring dare be
considered oyergreat. To give in these days must be construed as
highest privilege. To serve must be looked upon as sacramental in
character. No element of power that a man possesses, whether it
be physical strength or genius of intellect, or money, or influence,
is his or his own uses in these days. Whatsoever man possesses
must be at the service of the larger cause. It is only as every man
5678
Nisan
"
Iyar
1918
I
10
15 -22
30
1
18
Sivan
Ab
Ellul
5679
Tishri
Lag b'Omer
Rosh Chodesh—New Moon
I
17
24
I
10
30
1
Rosh Chodesh—First Day of New Moon
Rosh Chodesh—Second Day of New Moon
Shivoh Osor b'Tamuz
Independence Day
Rosh Chodesh—New Moon
Tish'ah b'Ab—Destruction of Jerusalem
Rosh Chodesh—First Day of New Moon
Rosh Chociesh—Second Day of New Moon
April 30
May 12
May 17.18
May 30
June 10
June 11
June 27
July 4
July 10
July 18
Aug. 8
Aug. 9
1.2
Rosh Hash-shanah—New Year
Sept. 7-8
1
6-7
19
30
Tamuz
Rosh Chodesh—New Moon
Mar. 14
Shabbath Hagodol
Mar. 23
Pesach—Passover
Mar. 28-Apr. 4
Rosh Chodesh—First Day of New Moon
April 12
Rosh Chodesh—Second Day of New Moon
April 13
Shovuoth—Feast of Weeks
Decoration Day
middle of the eighteenth century the
capital, the credit and the business
ability of the Jewish banker, army
contractor and mint purveyor had
opened to him the avenues of indus-
try. Germany and Italy were split
into many small states, and each sov-
ereign was eager to develop the re-
sources of his country by the encour-
agement of manufacture. He utilized
the capital and the business ability of
the Jews by inducing them to invest
both in industrial enterprises. One
clear example is the case of David
Fano of Modena, jeweler of the duke,
who receives a special privilege as
such in 1695. Forty years later we
find his sons Angelo and Moses in the
possession of a privilege which ex-
empts them from the ignominious yel-
low badge, which allows them to
leave the ghetto at any time, when
their business requires it, to stay out-
side of it even during the night, and
gives them very important commer-
cial privileges in view of the impor-
tance which the silk manufactory
which they had established possessed
for the little state.
Similar cases existed everywhere in
Europe, and it almost seems a rule
that where the oppression of the Jews
as a class was severest, the elevation
of the individuals to higher station
was more incongruous with the con-
ditions of their co-religionists. Eze-
kiel Landau had in his own congrega-
tion an ennobled Jew, Joachim von
Popper, who established a synagog in
his own home and left a legacy for
its maintenance. In Bohemia we find
three brothers Hoenig (a name deriv-
ed from licnoch). They are known in
the Ghetto and quoted in the dedica-
tions of various rabbinical works, as
Yisrocl, Mosheli and Henoch Kutten-
plan, but were ennobled as Israel von
Hoenigsberg and von Ilenikstein.
Their business required a broader in-
terpretation of the Sabbath law. Is-
rael was director of a bank. He had
to attend a meeting on Sabbath to
which he seems to have had no ob-
jection, but he refused to sign the
minutes. In order to avoid this vio-
lation of the Sabbath law, he had his
autograph engraved, and wanted to
know, whether he might authorize
someone else to stamp his autograph
seal under the minutes. Rabbi Eze•
kid evaded the difficulty by the de-
cision that he saw no way of permit-
ting it. He did not say that he pro-
in the end declares that hunting was
the pastime of Esau, while Jacob, Is
rael's prototype, spent his time "ill the
tents of the Torah." The true ile•
scendant of Abraham is characterized
in the Talmud by his mercy upon so
of God's creatures, and therefore no
true child of Abraham should consid-
er it a pleasure to indict pain on any
thing to which God has given life. I
have reason to believe that the malt
referred to was Leffman Calmer,
native of Ilanover, who as army con-
tractor,
especially
by furnishing
horses to the French army, had ac-
quired great wealth, had bought th.•
estate of the duke of Chaulnes and
was ennobled as baron de Picquigny,
He died in 1784, leaving three son-,
two of whom were guillotined during
the reign of terror, while the third
died as a poor man without leaving
issue in 1824. "I'llus ends Jewish prom-
inence. On the other hand it is all
interesting observation in Jewish Ilk
tory that at a time, when the Jews oi
l'aris were not even permitted to
keep a store, and when their com-
munity was not allowed to own a
cemetery, one individual, and a for-
eigner at that, was created a baron,
Effect of Environment.
The difficulties in maintaining the
traditional Jewish ideal of strict ob-
servance came, however, not merely
from the altered position of individ-
uals, elevated to a high social rank,
but arose with still greater
from the general development of hi,.
Jews, moving in non-Jewish socieh,
had since times immemorial adopt, I
the practice of their environment to
be smooth shaven. At least such was
the case in western Europe. They
availed themselves of a rabbinic cir-
cumvention of the biblical law winch
prohibits "to mar the corner of tit,
beard" Or, as it ought to be expressed.
following the Hebrew terminology "to
destroy" it. The rabbinic interpreta-
tion limits this 'imbibition to the use
of a razor. The Jews of Bohemia and
probably of many other countries in
western Europe used is lime solution.
mixed with arsenic, which was appli..1
as a salve, scraped off afterwards with
a blunt instrument, taking the hair
with it. During the holyday week of
the Passover and of the Sukkoth t s-
tival even this was prohibited. An
ever increasing number of Jews found
it inconvenient. Ezekiel Landau, find-
ing, as he expressly states, that it was
impossible to maintain the rigorous
practice, advised a circumvention vii
the law. It is true that during the
holyday week every manner of work.
except that which is absolutely nec-
essary, is prohibited. A matt may,
however, do that kind of work which
is necessary for his livelihood. There-
fore Landau advises that a Jew who
wishes to shave during the holyday
week (Hol Ila-Aloed) go to the shop
of a poor coreligionist who has to
work for his daily bread.
lie ad-
mits that only the conditions of the
time, due to the growing disregard
of the rabbinic law, suggested tlik
way out of the difficulty. Many con-
temporaries objected to such laxity.
and even from Italy protests Cann.,
though in the latter country we find
in 178(1 One of the last representa-
tives of old Talmudic casuistry, Rabbi
Ishainel Ila-Kohen (Laudadic Sad-,
dote) of Modena, who made a similar
concession.
Laxity of Observance.
New inventions created new prob-
lems in maintaining the rabbinical
law. Some wicked man had invented
the umbrella. Jews, finding it con-
venient on Sabbath as well as on
week days, would carry it. To do out-
side of the ghetto Was indeed sinful.
Within the ghetto rabbinic casuistry
had invented a way out of the dif-
ficulty by stringing wires on poles
around the ghetto precinct and thus
declaring it a common ground for all
its inhabitants. There was, however,
another difficulty. Opening an um-
brella even in the ghetto was equal to
erecting a tent, and erecting a tent
was building, which is one of the 3 9
acts, classified in the Talmud as labor.
A rabbi in London had found a way
out of this difficulty. lie advised not
to close the umbrella entirely on Fri-
day so that opening it on Sabbath
would not he like erecting a test, but
like - stretching its ropes, which is not
prohibited. Ezekiel Landau is asked
his opinion about this device by on,•
Loeb Cohen in whom I believe to rec-
ognize Levi Barant Cohen, the father-
in-law of Moses Montefiore and Na-
than de Rothschild, and the great
grandfather of the recently deceased
Arthur Cohen (1829-1914), an author-
ity on maritime law and member of
the Admiralty Court. Landau ex-
hibited it. It would probably not presses his indignation at such a lax-
ity in the interpretation of the rab-
have made any difference.
binic law. The same reason which III'
"Privileged" Individuals.
gives as excuse for his own leniency
More serious was another case,
which arose from the improvement in evading the prohibition of shaving
on the .semi-holydays, namely that
of economic conditions in Jewry. A
man `ad been blessed, as the rabbi people are becoming lax in observ-
ance of the law, and therefore have to
says, with riches owing to the favor
which he found in the eyes of his be treated indulgently, lie now ad-
sovereign. Ile possessed a large es- vances for the opposite theory. We
are living in an age, when people are
tate with hunting grounds to which
he invited some of the greatest men ignorant and lax in religion, and
of the country during the hunting therefore we have to be on our guard
season. Now he desired to know, against giving them opportunity to
whether he might participate in the excuse their own indifference.
The' subsequent development of
sport. Rabbi Ezekiel discusses the
Jewish life has not demonstrated that
question at first from the strictly
either principle had the anticipated
casuistic point of view which
always
allows two sides to the question, but
(Continued On Page Seven.)