■ Lt.. I-OUR THE EWISH CHRONICLE THE JEWISH CHRONICLE and woman and child throughout the length and the breadth of our MARCUS LANDAU MICHIGAN'S JEWISH HOME PUBLICATION sacrifice that we, as a people, shall be worthy of our great traditions and deserve a place among unselfish, loyal, patriotic Americans. A Specimen of the Evolution of Modern Judaism. Issued Every Friday by The Jewish Chronicle Publishing Company land keenly senses this fact and is willing to make the necessary ANTON KAUFMAN • President iiubscription In Advance $1.50 per year Offices 314 Peter Smith Bldg. Phone: Cherry 3381. 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.)