E VETROnjEWIS11 al RON IC.r.

PAGE FOUR

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ENTISH&ROINICLE,

MN 0.1 Monon NoloWinteliMerso

WOW&

Published Weekly by The Jewish Chreakie Publishing G. Inc.

Joseph J. Cummins, President and Editor
Jacob H. Schakne, General Manager

'tutored S.

Ilecoad-ela. matter Mar. I, 1911. at the Poston!. at Detroit,
uader the Ad of March 5, 1579.

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The Detroit Jewish Chronicle In•Ites cortespondence on eublecto of Interest
la the Jewish people, but disclaims reeponeibility for an indorsement of the
sieve expressed by the writers

May 1, 1925

lyar 7, 5685

World Relief Delegation Visits Detroit.

.We6SVZSN

concomitants of the brutal struggle seeped through to
America. The recrudesence of inflamed animosities
stretched across the ocean. America rebuilt the na-
tional, racial, credal barriers which it had so labor-
iously and painstakingly broken down. That which
was exalted during the war has been accentuated. The
jingoes who played upon the superior origins of their
nationals lost no opportunity to drive home the bloody
advantage gained during the years of slaughter and
travail. Had the poisoned fruit of the war been gath-
ered and kept in Europe these scholars, humanitarians
and philosophers would not be so depressed, for they
have known them as an incident of European life for
centuries. But the spread of these ideas, contaminat-
ing America, has made them indeed hopeless. Every
so called Nordic child in America thinks itself superior.
This is an indictment for which Europe is at fault.
But robust, clear thinking, non-credal, non-jingo, non-
racial America can defeat this devastating disease
of Nordic superiority. Democratic America has cured
itself of many contagions from abroad and we have the
faith that we shall succeed in this. We would be happy
to tell Georg Brandes that this distemper is only a pass-
ing thing and with the passing months America will re-
turn to her accustomed ways of no discrimination.

The Jews of Mesopotamia

THE DIGEST

By DR. H. E. H. TRACY

ORIGINATOR OF UNIVERSITY
IDEA

„gestexperience.
other in
iri n i oardLir
rm, o ae y,„ i ' re wio
o f
e o,,
,, , f es the
ae o peoples
itstudy 1,
business fi
liPi(t'O
backward
'
:n
tams
n A i
a
study
import
to
get
f i gures,
ol,i o f and
,
customs ot to
distinguished htarse nschhocs n a -,
the
1
vent, 11.. Andre
A n
tP
principle of exchanges. The senior
in an interesting and exhaustive
clerks in most concerns are Chris-
study of the Islamic religion, that this
(lean of Hebrew letters in America,
tians.
cult has ever impeded progress, and
Reuben Brainin. The leading article
The Jew is practically barred from
that the peoples who live under its
of the supplement, written by Mr.
t;
the army. The Turks used to levy
domination are fettered in their de-
Brainin himself, is devoted to a
a
capitation
tax in lieu of military
(..
velopment. With this the writer is
sketch of Professor Herman Shapiro
service. More active spheres in life
in full accord. New ideas, new in-
of Heidelberg, Germany, the origi-
are not sought by them. One prom-
ventions are accepted on sufferance,
icing young scholar broke away from
nator of the idea of d Hebrew Uni-
as it were, but the impression is given
versity in Palestine. Mr. Brainin
e optiool oicehyahnits1
traa sdirtaiopnidlby ywjino ti inioinggpetoh ni
,a
that the Arab would much prefer to
quotes an article of Professor Shapiro
remain as he is.
printed in a Hebrew paper, Hamelitz,
zeal and ability. But one night he
This is, of course, a pity from the
in Russia, on Aug. 8, 1882, in which
was decoyed up a side street and shot
point of view of progress. But it
that Jewish savant makes a definite
through the head within 15 yards of
makes a sojourn in these heat-swept
,
proposal to start a movement for a
the main, brilliantly lighted thorough-
lands of interest to those who delight
,
Hebrew university in Palestine. Pro-
fare.
in studying peoples. In Iraq one sees
,r.
fessor Shapiro even outlined how the
Another
blind
alley
vocation
is
that
the Arab in his most primitive form
,..
4
movement should be conducted in or-
of "runner" to an Arab tradesman in
of the Bedouin, cruel, treacherous
-2,
der to assure its success.
the fraud bazaars.
and bloodthirsty. But the Mussulman
' ,.
The Jewish Morning Journal, in its
In the two years following the Ar-
represents a recent page in the his-
..r.
mistice, Baghdad was full of officers
issue of March 31, commments on a
tory of the world. One sees a prim;-
".
and site awaiting demobilization and
similar article by Mr. Brainin print-
tine Christian church, the Chaldean
i,
seeking
curios,
carpets,
brasses
and
ed in the New Palestine and says:
sect, which, one dares venture, has
other antiques. The small Arab deal-
"The article of 111r. Brainin in mem-
not changed its doctrines or modified
h a. zaLhe ,
id p naotroEl ntghleisb
knoeow
ory of the nine who came out many
su Jaellwys w
eyrooaug
its ritual appreciably in the last 16
years ago in favor of a Jewish uni-
centuries.
nturies.
seize on likely customers and take
versity, the late Professor Herman
And then the Jewish communities,
ion
them to their employer's khan. They
Shapiro, deserves particular mention
living on sufferance among these wild
well-known
on his
occasion.
t
fanatics, the only connecting link be- would act as interpreters during the
bargain and would endeavor to try
ematician
of
the
Ileidelberg
Uni-
math
versity was the personication of ing some far-away in common Semitic
and im press the customer by a show
origin, but miles apart in culture and
n
the
Dias-
of hostility to the dealer. Their pat-
Eastern European culture it
pore. A great Jewish scholar of Run- outlook.
ter ran on stereotyped lines:
of
The oldest religious community
car-
"He asked 400 rupees for this car-
sea, a fluent Hebrew writer and
all is possibly the Sabeans, who claim
pet, sir. I think it is too much. Of-
dreamer of the Slavic countries,
descent from the inhabitants of
fer him 300 and perhaps he will take
activities
found himself among p r o s a i c,
Sheba. Another account makes out
y
thorough and punctilious Germans
three-fift—"
that the original Sabeans have disap-
"What? Too much, Sahib? On
among whom he won a prominent
peared and that their present proto-
my life, Major, look at the stitch—
place. This pious long-bearded Jew
types are descended from a primitive
a n A
d the isdh edei anio"p
was a professor in one of the oldest
tribe of devil worshippers who sud-
ue with the dealer in
most celebrated German uni-
denly claimed to be followers of the
versities Ile had achieved the ideal
Arabic.
Holy Book to avoid the extinction
-
you
know
what I tell him,
position which was held in greater es
they so richly deserved. To any one
Sahib? I tell him
you are my friend
d
teem by the e ucation-hungry Rus-
acquainted with the mild and placid
must
take
300."
sian Jews than the position of a gen-
and
e h
Sabean of today, this theory of a
More exchanges and then a free
eral or a governor.
rapid change of heart seems difficult
fight with the dealer, who, overpow-
"And yet Shapiro was not happy
eve.
to bah
who read his
ered by his assistant, finally relin-
in H eidelberg. Those who
But it is the Jews that interest us
quished the bargain at some 50 per
t f ois
his p
h h wroe
letters in h wice
today. Here we have a number of
em -
em-
cent above his normal profit.
and dreams know it. Ile (lid not feel
isolated communities, living in a
A profitable, wit-sharpening game
at home and dreamt continually of
country which has, so far, given them
al
and
spiritual
while it lasted. But the amusing days
th ma
Pltine
as e
a es
no encouragement to develop a na-
of the "runner" are finished. The
home of an institution of higher
learning which should be as Jewish tional feeling, and but little hope of
Arabs learned English, the English
m
aff
enafiq,as And
ion
learned values. If the Jew wishes to
as Germtc. lie the reactiont environment
as Heidelberg was
trade he has to find his own capital.
its natural results.
My own experience of the Jews was
i poliiititcalvimt otivtes t o ief
maosdificastrioirnitsuaa nd
The Jew of Mesopotamia does not
in the beginning as patients only.
- Ached Ilaam's later day cultural cen-
heaallde tooreeengage iins atu e
cultivatef tm
yearningofeoart
The
native physicians, mostly of
asro
yeaa
witey
was
o
l
f
e
a
.
J
e
i
d
w
tae r
Stamboul or Smyrna training, have
i s h Isioeu caes a
merchant, the money-changer, the
crept back in more than sufficient
for the wandering spirit of 'cualture.
-
middleman. His occupation keeps
•
numbers. Hence it is a good thing
Shapiro was the father
him to the market place; his desire
-
varsity idea and his name should be
that the Jew when he decides to have
for security keeps him within the
ever cherished in connection with it."
boundaries of his quarter. So we find a physician does the thing thorough-
of the Jewish population, ly. He will go from one consutlant
the whole
"JEWISH
DIPLOMACY"
Under
the caption
of "Jewish Di- approximately a third of the whole to another, acquiring a sheaf of diag-
-
noses and prescriptions, which he
nation of Iraq (we use the word na-
Albin
in the
the April
4 is- tion for want of a better), huddled openly shows to the last doctor when
the B. Day
tells
following
the consultation is over. Having gone
-
together in the larger towns. Bach-
tohf e round, he seeks for some point
story:
Mosul,
os
Afnhieasrea, III Blahs
ew Sir daaadd, Krahariaho.inMcontain
itetomeeontt lainasds l e ectilohpi ifio na at el line
o owona British Je
Lwe e e 11 -(a nm
one
of 'gele
Si dney
f ma g nitude. 13°y °13as-
of
e
or
d
in
this
the Jew is, as in all countries, the
thority and official biographer; ouf eKtiinug-
rah we understand the port consisting
e
Edward VII, acted in a most Jewish.
of the three townships of Asher (the soul of hospitality. Hisp
li f e
nam. T
y her
shows a devotion to offs r'g
diplomatic Manner.
actual port) Basrah city (two miles
is
no
shrinking
from
parenthood.
The
yh
"Edward VII Was a
.
an M a kin.. and Margil (the
ph y
il b i ography
size of her family is a woman's
sovereign England.
in Eld lies
wsr.time docks). Here the Jews live
•
.
crowning glory. Sterility Is ioo(wo
IS much read and greatly cnernmeu.
exclusively in the old city of Basrah.
• .
•
ing
.
.
On the occupation by British troops
The sons of the family marry in
known to be a great friend of Jews.
a tranquility fell on the city
inn
turn according to seniority. The oc-
Ile often visited Lord Rothschild and
which has never been disturbed. Al.
casional rarity, a wilful bachelor, fills
was quite intimate with Baron de
though the thief flourishes all over
his younger brothers, therefore, with
h. What is more, it is known
Arabia. life is as safe in this city as
llirsc when an unfavorable report of
that
in
an
English
country
town.
The
ad-
consternation.
When meeting a tam-
-
wuarters
of
I.ondon
q
e
poor
Jewish
th as submitted to him, he was angry vent of the British gave an extraordi- ily of some, sap eight stalwart sons,
all intent on marrying and raising a
w
he
local
traders
' t to t
nary opp or
family, the question arises in one s
and demarded that it be withdrawn.
By 1920 Basrah had become a city
mind, "What are they all going to
"A biography of King Edward, a
of profiteers. Small tally clerks with
do?" Their functions in life being,
thorough biography, could not ignore
previous salaries of three or four
this trait of the king's character and
as we have seen, limited, their out-
Turkish liras (40 to 50 shillings) a
look looks black in a country which is
these facts of his life. Along with all
month, blossomed out as contractors
economically standing still. They are
other details of his life and habits,
and reckoned their worth in lakhs of
his relations with Jews should not
as local in their thoughts as a covey
rupees. The most spectacular for-
of partridges. Emigration occurs to
have been ignored.
tune was made by an ex-boatman. In
only a few. But the problem has
"But the biographer is a Jew him-
this prosperity the Jews shared, but
probably existed a long time and has
self and a Jew, particularly an as-
were not predominant. The really
found its own solution, although hid-
similated Jew, usually superdiplo- .
startling fortunes were made and fee-
matic in Jewish matters, and so Sir
den to the stranger in their midst.
quently gambled away by Armenians
The memory of their acquaintance is
Sidney Lee speaks in his biography
and Greeks.
a pleasant one. The Jews look exclu-
of King Edward as little as he pos-
The business life of the Jew cen-
sively to France for their culture
sibly can of the king's relations with
ters itself in the cafes which surround
and education; but to the English for
Je.vs.
the market square. Here all the deal-
"This matter would not have been
protection and fair play. Their faith
ings in exchanges and paper securi-
in the power of England during some
of any consequence if it did not have
ties take place. As the main export
of the late crises in Iraq can only be
a political significance. Usually, no
of Basrah is the seasonal crop of
great importance is attached to a
described as t o u c h i n g.—London
dates, there are five months in which
king's or prince's opinion of Jews, but
Chronicle Literary Supplement.
advances on growing crops are eag-
in this case political considerations
erly sought for. Discounting these
FEARS JEWISH EXODUS
are involved.
bills or conmyala for five months is a
"Anti-Semitism is now on the in-
"The Lithuanian government is lis-
profitable game, but made much more
crease in England. It is curious that
turbed and dissatisfied," says the
intricate and dangerous by present-
at the time when Lord Balfour greets
Jewish Daily News, in its editorial of
day fluctuations in exchange.
so enthusiastically the opening of the
April 5. "The government of I.ith-
The social life of the wives and
Hebrew University, in the name of
unnia suddenly realized that the Jews
families in Basrah is centered in their
the British government, at the time
of that country have shown a tendency
homes. A short walk through the
when the British government is so
to leave their fatherland and emigrate
main streets or a drive in an "ara-
steadfast in its adherence to the Bal-
to Palestine. Within a short time,
bana" is the only outdoor recreation.
four Declaration, at this very time
8,000 Jews secured permission to leave
In Baghdad the Jewish quarter is
anti-Semitism, both social and ad-
Lithuania for Palestine. The official
equally well defined, although it has
ministrative, is on the increase in
newspapers of the Lithuanian govern-
no natural boundary. It occupies the
England.
ment fears this is the beginning of a
middle third of the city on the left or
"At this time, the mention of King
Jewish mass emigration from Lith.
eastern bank of the Tigris. It is close
Edward's amicable relation with Jews
initial and it asks 'what can we do to
to the three banks which abut on Ex-
would serve as an argument against
prevent this great danger to our coup
change Square. This last is not the
the anti-Semitic propaganda that is
try?'
fine open market place of Basrah, but
being carried on vigorously in Eng-
The Lithuanian government there
overshadows it in financial impor-
land. But, as we have observed, the
by admits that Jewish emigration is I
tance. In the early days of the Ar-
assimilated Jews are usually exceed-
danger to the country and yet nothing
mistice, millions of rupees changed
ingly diplomatic and an assimilated
is being done to prevent this emigre
hands daily, as the abnormal financial
British Jew is diplomatic ten-fold.
tion and avoid the danger. The repor
operations were increased by heavy
And so Sir Sidney Lee ignored the
of Lucien Wolf on March 15 to th ∎
plunging on exchange values and
whole matter, thus preventing what-
representatives of the Jewish corn
gambling in speculative commodities.
ever benefit that might have accrued
munities of England, states that the
Adjacent to Exchange Square is
to Jets."
government of Lithuania cannot b
the large area of the Grand Bazaar
induced to improve the conditions o
which is devoted to Manchester piece
RELIEF WORK IN EUROPE
the Jews of that country. All re
goods. The Jews of Iraq look on
"Governor Smith's address, which
quests and protests of Lithuania'
Manchester as the metropolis of Eng-
was carried on the radio from Albany
Jews to their government are me
land, containing as it does their
to the Ort banquet in Brooklyn, was
with one statement: Address yeursel
friends, patrons and business connec-
meant for all Jews of America as
to the League of Nations.
tions.
well," says the Day in its editorial of
"It is not necessary at this late dat
As in Basrah, the Baghdad Jew
April 3, under the caption "More
to prove the well-established fact the
rarely strays beyond the city walls.
Than Temporary Relief."
the Jews are useful to Lithuania. I
The men are occasionally met in mo-
"With his characteristic common
has been proven long ago that tin
tors on the Ildlah or Persian roads,
sense the governor grasped the whole
small country cannot get along will
but ages of violence have left their
problem more thoroughly than our
out Jewish commerce, industry an
mark. Their one promenade is the
Jewish social workers who should he
cultural activities just as it could ne
new Maude bridge of boats and the
more familiar with Jewish problems.
gain its independence without the a(
beautiful Maude Gardens on the fur-
"Governor Smith said that the Jew-
tine support of the Jews. The Litt
ther side of the river. Thither every
ish problem of Europe, particularly
uanian government has, therefor
young Jew and Jewess repairs on fine
of Eastern Europe, is more than a
sufficient cause to be uneasy about tb
evenings. The silken cloaks or abbas
problem of temporary relief, that it
emigration of its Jewish citizens an
form a kaleidoscopic feast of color.
involves the reconstruction of Jewish
to make an effort to stop this emigre
The sky-blue and pink shades pre-
life. This is a fundamental idea that
tion. The official newspaper, !Mow ,
dominate and are diluted and en-
should he hammered into the heads of
proposes to levy a prohibitive mho,
hanced by the white clothing and red
American Jews. The thought was ex-
thin tax on Jews in order to prevei
tarbonshes of the men. The young
pressed many times in the Jewish
them from leaving the fatherland.
girls all wear that most elegant of
press and by the various delegations
"Viewing this subject financial]
head-dresses, a black mantilla. The
coming from the other side. Those
it is stated that every Jewish emigre'
sunset
parade
is
a
nightly
pageant
of
who devote themselves continually
from
I.ithuania to Palestine tall
color that forms one of the pleasant-
and conscientiously to Jewish relief
with him wo pounds, at least so tl
est memories of Baghdad.
preached this idea to American Jew-
Lithuanian
officials claim according
The activities of the Jews being
ry for some time; but the process of
their government newspaper. Accor
purely mercantile, the question arises
education is rather difficult. In order
ing
to
this
figure,
the 8,000 Jews th
as to their future in a country which
to rehabilitate the Jews of Europe,
are emigrating to Palestine took
shows no economic progress. The
place their life on a more solid foss-
them about £16,000,000 of Lithuanii
young Jew takes to a clerical life as
dation, more than money is necessary;
money. This is a great loss to SU
a duck takes to water. He attaches
a unified will, a strong permanent or-
a small, poor land to which the RE
business
firm
or
to
a
gov-
himself
to
a
ganization uniting all Jewish forces
sian boundary is closed and who h
ement
department. The ambitious
rn
is necessary both here and on the
nothing to offer to the world mark&
to an-
e
lad
will
travel
from
ne
other side of the ocean.

On the occasion of the dedication
of the Hebrew University, the Yid-
dish daily, the Pay, published asps-

The Michigan Federation for Ukrainian Jewish Re-
life has invited Dr. A. L. Motzkin, Dr. A. M. Eisenstadt
and Dr. Oscar Kohn to speak to Detroit Jewry on the
subject of relief in Europe.
These scholars and humanitarians are in America
as representatives of the World Relief Conference,
The Anglo-Jewish Press.
which proposes to unify all the relief and constructive
agencies under one head. The unification becomes
With few exceptions the Angl o - Saxon weekl ies in
necessary since the Joint Distribution Committee has America have been established since 1900. The reason
been liquidated. There is no intention of destroying for the creation of such a press during the last quarter
the autonomy of the Ort, the Oze or the refugee com- century is obvious. As long as the Jews were a neg•
mittee, but the matter of cohesion and economy com- ligible group in a community It was neither feasible nor
pels concentration and centralization in the matter of desirable to publish a paper devoted to their
collections. If by any chance the autonomy of the Ort The activities were too few and of no social significance.
were to be destroyed we feel that very serious damage Those who were interested in Jewish affairs received
would be (lone to an organization that has contributed their In
from the journals printed in the large
more in constructive effort and creative rehabitation centers of Jewish population — New York, Chicago, and
•
than any body functioning in Europe today. To im- Philadelphia
Philadelphia and Cincinnati. However, from the in-
peril the efficiency of the Oze by destroying autonomy
consequential minority of world Jewry which had come
would be a grave mistake. But the World Relief Con- to America, Israel has grown through immigration and
ference has no such purpose in mind, for those in charge increased births until now America has become the
appreciate the productive and enthusiastic efforts of largest Jewish settlement in the world. Although there
the Ort and Oze. Funds will be collected and then al-
are more of our co - religionists in the old Russian
located in accordance with the budget of the different --ire yet in the new states of Poland and Soviet Russia
organizations belonging to the World Relief Confer- .
there are less Jev;ii than here.
ence.
Another compelling reason for the absence of an
The four million Jews in America must realize that
Anglo
- Jewish press of any consequence arose from the
the problem of relief is not yet solved, and shall not be
fact that the vast majority of those who came to this w
solved until the economic, political and social stability
country before 1914 spoke and read Yiddish. The Yid
of Russia is an accomplished fact. The appaling story
ably with the
of the Jews of Ukrainia need not be retold, and to re- dish press in this country compares favo
American press, in point of news interest, feature ar
state the needs of the Ort and Oze are a work of su-
sness. The Angle
pererogation. Millions of dollars are needed this year tides, stories and editorial serio
and perhaps less shall be needed next year. To raise Jewish press of the last century was but an adjunct of
the temple ; it afforded the rabbis of the Reform
these sums a well organized and cohesive movement
is necessary. No amount of indiscriminate, hit or miss Temple an opportunity to address those who did not at
tend the Sunday service. Almost without exception the i s iloemacy,"
giving based upon impulse can hope to meet the pre-
sue
dicament of European Jewry. These men who come editors of these publications were rabbis. The herald
ing
of
the
doings
of
the
temple
community
was
the
to us from Europe, with intimate knowledge of the
r its existence notwithstanding the fact
facts, have worked out a comprehensive, detailed raison d'etre fo
scheme and it must be approved by more fortunate that the rabbi was able to preach his sermon editorially
as well as have his Sunday sermon printed verbatim.
American Jewry for its fulfillment.
Items touching world Jewry vere conspicuously absent
for
ilkrain-
The local organization of the Federation
_
t.- nu rijce.t. moe.. of
s We
• •
—
► incluenLaii)
as arm
ian Jewish Relief hopes to enroll many Detroit Jews as
Ed
t u est to Detroit Jewry that ment was confined almost exclusively to theological
members. May
y join this movement with good grace, for it is bet- exegetics or to strictly local Temple doings. Some of
th
the journals published today have struck hard and fast
ter to do an act which must be done with grace.
A public massmeeting in honor of the visiting dele- to this original scheme. To them Judaism is still that
gation will be held Sunday afternoon, May 3, at 2 small coterie which congregates in the reform Temple
the auditorium of the Shaarey Zedek Syna- and Judaism stands or falls upon the prosperity or fail-
o'clock ill
gogue. The rabbis will be honor guests at a banquet ure of that exclusive group.
Changes have, however, taken place due to the tre-
that evening.
mendous influx of Jews to America, the recrudescense
of the spirit of Jewish nationalism. beginning with the
Brandes on Nordicism.
Georg Brandes, the venerable critic and author, Zionist mqvement founded my Herzl in the late nineties
finds little to cause rejoicing or to give comfort in the of the last century, the post-war problems of anti-Semi-
European scene. This earnest scholar whose criticisms tism, numerus clausus, pogroms, discrimination, and
have become a part of the best European literature be- last but not least, the immigration legislation.
The children of those who came here before 1914
cause of their creative quality, psychologic insight, is
truly pessimistic because of the spread of blatant banal have grown to adulthood. They no longer understand
chauvinism, now evoked by the spurious theories of or read Yiddish, but despite this have been made con-
racial superiority. The cosmopolitan savant who made scious of their Jewish origin due to the above enumer-
no distinctions before the war based upon race, creed ated causes. The Reform Temple is no longer the ex-
or nationality has perforce been compelled to recog- elusive center of English speaking Jewish activity. Or-
nize his Judaism. He feels very keenly about the Nor- ganizations of every character and description have
dic nonsense for it has broken through the barriers of been formed by those who have come from Russia, Rou-
Europe and migrated to America, where he finds every mania, Austro-Hungary. Poland. and the proceedings
Anglo-Saxon child loudly proclaiming its superiority. are conducted in English. The Zionist organizations,
The spectacle of the strident jingoist boasting in Europe Y. M. II. A., United Philanthropies, Relief Organiza-
is an age old prenomenon. The artificial frontiers of tions, all demand the time and attention of Jewry.
Europe, the hardened, bitter animosities always ready Those interested must have a medium through which
to flare forth, make for extravagant, stupid racial and they may reach the vast numbers of Jews in the com-
national claims. It would be rather difficult for some munity.
of the self seekers and despots of the Balkans to main-
Besides these local interests, the affairs of our co-re-
tain their positions unless they could discover racial and ligionists in Europe must be communicated and the
national differences to keep like minded peoples at each only medium is the Anglo-Jewish press, which receives
other's throats. And even in the larger states the myth a first rate, comprehensive, accurate service from the
of national and racial superiority has served as an ex- Jewish Telegraphic Agency, which too has come into
cellent stalking horse upon which all sorts of fantastic being in the last decade.
and fanciful theories has been strapped. Nordic su-
W ithout intending any animadversion, the emascu-
periority has vied with Celtic ; Slavic has competed with lilted, innocuous Anglo-Jewish press of the last century
the others for a place in the sun. Tartar supremacy has no place in the Anglo-Jewish world of America.
has made its appeal to prove to those races that they
It serves no useful purpose. Those in charge of a mod-
co But in a Balkanized Eu- ern Jewish newspaper must be quickened by a genuine
were better than the
rope these hatreds have become an integral part of na- Judaic feeling which encompasses the whole of world
tional thinking and outlook. The child is innoculated Jewry. The narrow exclusionist attitude of superior-
with the poison from birth and during the impression- ity which' characterized certain sections of Jews be-
able years of childhood the lesson is repeated upon ev- cause of their national origins must give way to a spirit
ery occasion, its own nation is glorified, made into a of "Kol Yisroel," and no man in charge of an American
sublime God-chosen group, while the other is pictured Jewish publication can entertain such exclusionist
as base, ignominious and degenerate.
ideas. The persecutions of European Jewry, the move-
These peoples came to America. Here the arti- ment to recapture the cultural heritage of Israel make
ficial frontiers were broken down. The peoples who it necessary that only one who envisages and responds
had been taught to believe that others were unlike dis- shall be entrusted with the sacred trust of unifying
covered much similarity in ideals, ambitions and phil- Israel.
osophy of life. America for a long time prior to the
war had broken down many barriers of race, national-
ity and religion. It was not a melting pot, but it had .
succeeded in contributing an idea which is of great im-
portance in the solution of vexing international prob-
lems; that is the notion that unlikeness does not mean I have sought Thee daily at dawn and twilight,
I have stretched my hands to Thee, turned my face.
inferiority. We welcomed and integrated the English,
Scotch, Irish, French, German. Slav, Italian and Jew Now the cry of a heart athirst I will utter.
Like the beggar'who cries at my door for grace.
while recognizing the splendid contributions each had
made. We were well on the way to proving the falsity The infinite heights are too small to contain Thee,
Yet perchance Thou canst niche in the clefts of me.
of the chauvinist theory that these diverse people could
not live in harmony and peace despite their different Shall my heart not treasure the hope to gain Thee,
Or my yearnings fail till my tongue's last plea?
traditions and back-grounds.
There was much wanting in the picture, the chain Nay. surely Thy name I will worship, while breath in
my nostrils be.
had many weak links, but on the whole the symphony
was played with few discords and not too many over-
SOLOMON IBN GABIROL
tones. The war broke out in Europe, and all the mad

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