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FOUR
THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
T HE JEWISH
CHRONICLE
needs of the soldiers. The objections on the basis of segregation
rifice. Our old men are sternly ser- for reassurances that may reconcile
come in almost every instance from those who have had no camp ious both as fathers and as citizens them to the ills of war and may op en
Issued Every Friday by The Jewish Chronicle Publishing Company
I.NTON KAUFMAN
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President experience and who do nut know the real situation. The ultimate
decision in these matters should assuredly be left to the experts.
MICHIGAN'S JEWISH HOME PUBLICATION
Offices 307.308 Peter Smith Building.
Phone:
RABBI LEO M. FRANKLIN,
-
A Governor's Stupidity
Cherry 3381.
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The letter of protest addressed to (Mt'. Harding of Iowa by ,M r.
Editorial Contributor
Louis litrsball, Chairman of the American Jewish Committee, is
All correspondence to Insure publication must be sent In no as to reach this
• tlee Tuesday evening of each week.
Subscription in Advance
well grounded in every particular. As must be known to most of
our readers, the Governor of Iowa issued a proclamation prohibiting
$2.00 per year the use of any language except English throughout his state in public
address, including public instruction and public worship.
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 wrders.
The ( . 0)vernor's object is obvious enough. Ile wanted to hit the
German language but forgot that there are other foreign languages
beside that of our Teuton enemies. In his letter of protest, SIr.
Entered as second-class matter March 3, 191G, at the Postoffice at Detroit,
Nlarshall has very clearly pointed out all the implications of the
Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1979.
Governor's proclamation. Carried literally into effect. it would not
only close down all German schools and churches but at the state
The Conference and the Balfour Declaration
time, it would lock the doors of every class room in Inn- high schools
and the Jewish mother is again evi-
dencing, as she has evidenced when-
ever the cause was worthy and noble,
her serene capacity for self-denial
which does not wince even at the sac-
rifice of the child. Our young men
have stepped out of office and shop
and factory to answer the call of their
country with the stamina born of the
genius of American freedom and have
taken their place in the ranks with
the grim determination that they will
not return home until they have done
that which they have set out to do.
And our girls also whose sinuous in-
fluence not only gives grace to the
stern reality but also chastens it, have
contributed to the work and to its
spirit with charming graciousness.
The war has evoked the deepest
sources of our patriotism and has
made us vigorous in its defense.
The American people, with unanim-
ity and spontaneity, has expressed its
resentment against the many-sided
wrongs done to civilization by Ger-
many and its allies. It is proceeding
with an indomitable will to abate the
coil which is threatening to disrupt
the world. It is making sacrifices
cheerfully and inexhaustibly and,
above all, it has the serene confidence
that the foe to the peace of mankind
will irreclaimably be driven out from
the fair fields of France and the
peaceful hamlets of Belgium which
Ice is defiling, and that he will be sent
to the Congress of Nations, in the in-
evitable day of reckoning, a penitent
with the scorn of the world upon him.
This majestic declaration of our
high conception of justice and our
moral certainty and steel-strong de-
termination to end the reign of usur-
pation of power forever and to put
into its place law and honor and
mutual confidence and the will for
to them the large efficiency of re-
ligion which helps to rebuild the
world and restore its moral certain.
ties and values.
The Young Man and the War.
I must leave it to you who have
observed the developments of the re-
ligious work done in the camp;
whether it is just to this fact and
whether it is candidly and thoroughly
appreciative of its significance. That
work should be altogether and coin-
mittedly religious, and it should be
ministerial and rabbinical almost in
every respect. The prototype of the
Y. M. C. A. seems to lead the organ-
izers of the Jewish work to imitate
the appearances and to miss the
plications which the Y. M. C. \.
knows through a long practice in
civilian organizations to subordinate.
As a matter of fact, the religious mo-
tive pervades every effort and ev er ;
hid it makes for attention and sup-
port, and the evangelizing organiza-
tions have devised and promoted an
art of employing the attractions of
amusement and social service for ul-
timate "salvation."
Hitt aside front all this, the extension of the prohibition to the
according to the terms of which the British Government has guar-
This policy of secularizat'on cannot
he adopted without discrimination,
a n teed its approval to the movement making for the establishment use of foreign languages to public worship would mean the shut-
without seeing deeper than appeal-
af Palestine as a national home land for the Jews. In voicing its down nut only of every orthodox Jewish synagogue where the entire
alters and without catching the hint,
minion as it has, we may fairly say that the Conference has spoken service is conducted in Hebrew but it would have a similar effect
that conservation of character and
preservation of the loyalties to home,
or the Reform Jews of America. This does not imply that there upon the Catholic churches whose ritual is spoken in Latin. That
country and faith, result not from
Ire no political Zionists tvithin the ranks of Reform Jewry, though the passage of such legislation as is implied in Governor I larding's
imitation of settlement methods but
proclamation
would
be
a
clear
violation
therefore
of
the
Constitution
:hey are comparatively few. Nor dues it indicate that all orthodox
from a bona fide religious
Here there is need for the Conferem,
an shall be hampered
le•s are allied 1Vith the cause of political Zinism. But the fact is of the United States according to which no man
to declare itself. More than ski ■
that the overwhelming majority of Reform Jews have no sympathy in the exercise of his religion is plain even II a child. How a man
thousand young men demand n -
who has risen to the dignity of the governorship of o ne of our
with the political interpretations of lewish destiny.
ligious comfort, religious enliglmii-
important
states
can
be
guilty
of
such
ment and religious direction; and, in
shortsightedness
which
is
akin
The pronunciamento of the Conference may therefore in a broad
addition, thousands of Jewish homes,
In voicing his protest
sense be regarded as retesting their opinion. It gives due recogni- to stupidity, it is difficult to understand.
fathers and mothers and brothers awl
tion to NIr. Balfour and his government for their good intentions against the proclamation, NIr. Nlarshall has surely reflected the senti-
sisters, ask that their doubts be clear-
ed away, their convictions strength-
toward the Jew. It in no sense endorses the opinion of those \dui ments of all true Americans of whatever faith and creed. The thanks
peace is the guarantee not only of ened and their outlook into the future
have held that England had more interest in creating a "buffer" state of the American people are due him Mr his prompt action in the permanent and unbreakable and in- clarified and enlarged.
in Palestine than she had in furthering the interests of the Jewish matter.
violable, all-inclusive and all-respect-
This Conference, true to the expe; -
ing humanity, but also an ideal and tatirms of the American Jews through-
people. Moreover, it frankly recognizes the desirability of facilitat-
an act of religion at its best. In this out the land, must respond to the re-
ing the immigration to Palestine of .such Jewd who under economic
world-aspiration all sects join with ligious needs of the soldiers, and is
necessity or because of religious prejudice in their home lands, desire
equal sincerity, so that we may say ready to put its expert and loyal men
that, as many great things of life come at the disposition of this work. That
to go to Palestine. But the insistence of the Conference is that the
There is no dearth of so-called Jewish weeklies in this country out of the shadow of sorrow and are religious work cannot he merely an
Jew has a right to political and economic and religious equality
and most of them could pass out of existence without creating any. born in the pain of tragedy, so this incident in but activities but should
everywhere and that neither in Palestine nor outside thereof, dare very great sorrow on anybody's p
a rt except perhaps their publishers. greatest achievement of a stirred civ- be central and all per%asive. The
ilization, is wrought under the ham- camp workers, however ardent and
that equality be limited.
But there arc a few outstanding Jewish publications in this country mer of tear. This epochal achieve- companionable they may be, nnrt
be
The Jew, it holds, is a world citizen. In America, he is a part
that serve a real purpose—that because of their courageous stand on ment is the fact that mankind has men trained in the art of religious
of the American nation.
While welcoming the attitude of Great matters affecting Jews and Judaism and by reason of their consistent awakened to the high moralities and service. They may indeed learn the,
Britain that tends to assure Palestine as a home land for the Jew, attitudes on vital problems serve both to guide and to inspire Jews is asserting a religious ideal of tre- art of 'winning men" from the work-
mendous force and of universal truth- ers of the Y. NI. C. A.. w h o are,
the Conference sets itself on record as being unalterably opposed to and non-Jews in their thinking upon Jewish subjects.
fulness. Each sect before had been might say, laicized ministers and who
my plan which assumes Palestine to be the home land of the Jew.
Among these publications was The Jewish Comment of Balti- trying to make its contribution to that are admitted to the work. whether in
consummation, but the contributions camp or in town, only atter prolonged
Nloreover, the Declaration of the•onference makes clear its position
more, whose valedictory has been written by its editors. No paper had been petty and hesitating. For apprenticeship. I
suggest that the
:hat the permanence of Israel is in no sense or degree bound up with in America has been more consistent or tore courageous in its once the world now is unanimous and
conference declare itself on this sub-
is possession of a national home land or with specific statehood
massive, and has flung away every ject clearly and emphatically.
attitude than has this paper and its editors. In particular Rabbis
handicap. Let not one sneer at the
ights. The survival of Israel, the Conference emphasizes, is de- William Rosenau and Charles A. Rubenstein gave unstintedl
Reconstruction.
y of impotence of religion. The scar, its
And there is another aspect of this
wndent simply and solely upon its outworking of its religious destiny
their time and of their energies and made great personal sacrifices in ideals, and its giant will, its wonder
matter, which bears upon the future.
ind that only those who shall make possible the right of the Jew to
fill fusion with nobilities, its far-
its behalf. Many times, in these last (lays, when the eastern Jewish
The young 11112I1 who are going abroad
sighted vision, and its uncontradict-
ive in peace and security with his neighbors and to assert his
press was practically unanimous in its advocacy of .a political in- able belief in virgin justice and uncoil- may return, under God's protection.
•eligious message where and when he will, may be regarded as the terpretation of Jewish history, the Comment was like a solitary voice taminable humaneness, demonstrates Some will, by Ills grace. These will
return not only to their homes and
rue friends of Israel.
in the wilderness, crying for recognition of a Judaism that tvas true that religion is the one great power their country, to be re-established in
which
leads
the
souls
of
men
and
This attitude of the Conference and of Reform Judaism needs to our ancestral traditions and yet intensely American in spirit. We
the professions, trades and the econ-
welds the nations together.
omy of the United States but ;M.,
o he given wide publicity. The strength of Zionism has been largely doubt not that many of the leaders of Zionism will rejoice at the
None has expressed this truth so
the affiliations of their religion. I Ise
n its splendid organization and in its unequalled publicity agencies. passing if the Comment. It removes one
clearly, so convincingly, and so int
of their bitterest ;Ind most
business world is planning the IT-
pressively as has the President of the
.4.) efficient has been its propaganda that many men and women in cons!stent opponents. That it
should have failed was due, however. United States. For this he has earned habilitation of its commerce and it is
equally timely to consider the r,
Ntnerica imagine that all Jews are Zionists.
•lw time has come not to its editorial policy but to a lack of material support. Always our gratitude, as intieh as
our admir
then the truth of this matter must be molly known.
In the publica- dignified in tone and scrupulously honorable in its business methods, anon. This Conference should give lion of the religions. I do not nrea n
what is so loudly in other connection.
him the tribute he deserves, the more
the Comment did not appeal to the masses. I lad those in charge of so since he has given voice to the called reform. I mean the actual r, -
its policies been willing to adopt the methods of some of their com- genius of the American people a organization of the religious life of
the people.
petitors, its success would have been assured. As it k, we regret once with the longings of every re-
\Ve Jews should look fors\ ard to it
ligious sect and our prophetic ideal. I
as
notch as other religions do. Re-
that it has passed omit of existence and we trust that its gifted editors suggest that the Conference manifest
organization brings an inerea ,,, of
may soon find some other medium through which they can give its high regard to Woodrow Wilson
vitality and of moral power. \ud it
as the spokesman of the American
expression to their views to the Jewish reading public.
involves readjustment. This we need
people, of the nations and of the faith
not fear, for otherwise we should ha, e
of Nit. Sinai and Isaiah.
to have had that fear through,,ut
The Rabbis and the War.
history, which is a series of adjust-
The war has brought us Rabbis two ments to changing conditi, , u,,. Only
duties, one has reference to our min. those will fear the :wets..It for ad-
That rabbis practice as Well
preach Americanism is evidenced istrations for the young men in the
justment whose v:sion i• clouded.
by the fact that a very. considerable number of men in the Jewish field, and for the communities under That religion is truest which is pliant
the
stress
of
the
confused
war
condi-
and plastic to the needs of human na-
1/1111/It are devoting thellISCI1TS without stint to the service of our
tions. and the other to the need of re- ture and human experience. This
country. Among those in attendance at the Chicago sessions of the construction after the war. Let us
epochal call for the reserve power
Central Conference of American Rabbis were a goodly number of consider first the young men who are Jewish genius to find its way to
now
in
camps
and
cantonments.
\\'e
new life will demonstrate its truth-
men wearing the khaki. Counted among them were a chaplain of
have an obligation toward them that
t he United States Navy and also of the United States Army. Wel- cannot be transferred to anybody nor fulness, and its "mission." For "mis-
sion" means seeing a need. stove and
fare workers in the CaIllpS Were considerable number to any organization as little as it can here, and fulfilling it sic that the event-
be
shirked
or
reduced
to
the
level
of
ful life may be ripened. This war i.
of the leading rabbis arc giving up the greater part of their vacation
J
coin ent'onal settlement work. More
s easonvisiting the camps and addressing the Is iy S. One rabbi than a year ago we entered upon the a demand that we make good nor
it
"missi o n."
has given up his pulpit to enlist as a private in the service of his performance of our duty toward the
And of this we must be forethought-
■ ountry. one member of the Conference has been for several Jewish soldiers and sailors, as an or- ful now. \•e must go with our Is, -,
ganization affiliated with the hoard as it were, not merely as their past,
months a United States Army chaplain serving in France. .\ sur- of Jewish Welfare for the Soldiers
and confessors, to lighten their Inn -
prisingly large proportion of the students of the I lebrew Union Col- and Sailors. Our part of this work is, den, to sweeten their labor and. if I'
in
accordance
with
the
character
of
must he, to consecrate their dying.
lege exempt front draft in virtue of their studentship for the ministry
the work we do in our communities, \Ve must go with them, regarding
have waived their rights to exemption and enlisted.
religious and moral.
them as members of the Jewish C0171.
These facts stand out as a tribute to the patriotism of the Amer-
And in fact, all the work done in mutinies to which they will return
canJew and if their teachers and preachers. The willing self-sac- behalf of the young men, must be, by with a new view of life and new sense
the nature of the conditions and the of the function of religion. \Ve are
rifice of these men should serve as a sufficient answer to those, if any needs, altogether religious and moral.
getting ready for peace, for that peace
there yet be, who would question the sterling character of the If ever there is now a supreme call which is be'ng bought at a licitly
from the youth of our land for the price and which, when established,
patriotism of the Jew in America.
encouragements, the comforts and the will he not only permanent Ent
guidance of religion. This call is com- different from the truce we had taken
ing to us now almost with vehem- for genuine peace under the illusion ,
ence. And, I stay say it, there is not of pacifist-pieties. We might as well
a Rabbi in the United States N ho familiarize ourselves with the fact
does not feel that the great hour has that religion, like all our emotions, is
come to him for his broadest gauged shedding its mildness and is assum-
ministrations and the most sympa- ing an aggressiveness and a virility.
thetic relation to his people.
which, far from being mere combat-
The young men face the gravest iveness and fight, will constitute its
perils of life and honor, and are be- moral strength.
(Continued From Page One.)
cause of these under the severest
There was till now a lack of posi-
a iry, with readiness and with an avid- but also the tried and tested piety of strain of thought and emotion. They
tiveness in religion. This lack per-
ty, which was the more intense since democracy. Political emancipation re-examine every conviction which
haps was the source of that insuffi-
t was bred into our very tissues by and the respect for the Rights of Man they have been taught and questions
c'ency of conviction within us, and
a ge-long idealism. Our Americanism fused in the warmth of our humane- arise that test their faith in God and of
men's confidence from without.
as been surcharged, as it were, with ness and humanity.
man. And all these mental and moral Vigor and assertiveness are sound
he moral longings we had cherished
It is invidious to single out for perturbations are the more serious
traits of human nature and religion
hrough the ages. Our political feat- praise the services which Jews are and the more deserving of our frank
which is, after all, human nature sub-
ion fused with our historically trained rendering to our country in these and sympathetic attendance, since
p ieties. Jews were democrats long hours of awakened general citizenship hey arise from the urge of loyalty. limated and normalized not only
needs vigorous assertion, but is also
efore America was discovered and and manhood. \Ve feel the satisfac- And what these young men ex eri-
best verified by it. So we shall hav e
efore the Constitution was framed.
not for boast but for reassurance. ence, is similarly experienced by those
to interpret our Judaism for the re-
and when Jews came to the United The Jews of the United States are do.:
in
sta
t
y
h
e
asttnh
em
omnef. The s se a e , n dt heoi u s k gsh turning boys.
synagogues have bCcome indispensable to the proper conduct of their
States they brought with them not ing their duty with splendid zeal in I less in
battle
And we shall have to do more than
work. They are in position better than anyone eke to know the real
and universities in which French and Italian are taught, thus pre-
The Central Conference of American Rabbis has set itself venting a phase of preparedness, the necessity of which must be
:quarely and unambiguously on record as to the Ills four Declaration, perfectly apparent to any thinking man and woman.
The Passing of "The Jewish Comment"
tion of its pronouncement on the Balfour Declaration, the Conference
tas taken the first step in this direction but it will be by no means
he last. The campaign of education has begun. That because of
t kith Jews and non-Jews in America will gain a new outlook as to
he hopes and ideals of the Jew, there can be no reasonable doubt.
The Bogy of Segregation
Ever since the Jewish Welfare Board in the l 'tined States Army
md Navy began its work, there have been those to express the fear
hat any work specifically undertaken among Jewish soldiers and
ailors would lead to a segregation of the Jew which could only re-act
mon him to his hurt. That the separation of the Jew as Jew in the
Nrmy and Navy would be a serious mistake, is too plain to require
rgument. Bin that there arc special problems arising in the life
,f our Jewish boys in the service of their country which can be
(Jived only by those who through an intimate acquitintance with
e•ish life can enter sympathetically into their hopes and fears and
spirations, must be equally apparent.
The tremendous influence for good that in some of our camps
nd cantonments has been wielded by the representatives of the
is in itself a sufficient attest that the fear that :
••ish organizationBoard
W
hat organization would make for the segregation of the Jew is
tterly unfounded. From the very beginning, the Welfare Board
asisted upon the closest possible co-operation with the V. NI. C. A., I
he Knights of Columbus and the Fosdick Commission. The result
as been that in numerous instance,., the Jewish Welfare worker has
erved as a mediator between the two great national Christian
rganizations between whom there has not always been all ideal
tate of understanding. Certainly, it may be asserted with entire
,ositiveness that the activities of the Welfare Board have in no \vise
)rejudiced the position of the Jewish boys in camp.
In the main, the work of the Welfare Board has been religious
a character and it has been emphasized time and time again that the
ew may be separated frotn his fellows more obviously and more
ompletely by the fact that he is the only man without the oppor-
unity for the practice of his religion in the camps than by his open
nd hottest participation in such worship. Were the Welfare Board
nen'to undertake to erect recreational buildings in the camps, the
ulignant protests that would instantly arise against such a practice i
..ould be justified. But it has not and it has never had any such i
itention. What it requires in many of the camps is a small building
aitable for the conduct of Jewish religious services a d in which t n
toreover the Jewish Welfare worker may have an office and a place l I
I meet the boys when they .come to him with their particular grub- t
ails. Practically all the field workers and the representatives of It
Rabbis in Service
RABBI GROSSMAN'S MESSAGE
only the pioneer spirit of enterprise
every manner of public spirit and sac- are still not less disturbed and crave
iirontInufti oo ion
is