100%

Scanned image of the page. Keyboard directions: use + to zoom in, - to zoom out, arrow keys to pan inside the viewer.

Page Options

Share

Something wrong?

Something wrong with this page? Report problem.

Rights / Permissions

The University of Michigan Library provides access to these materials for educational and research purposes. These materials may be under copyright. If you decide to use any of these materials, you are responsible for making your own legal assessment and securing any necessary permission. If you have questions about the collection, please contact the Bentley Historical Library at bentley.ref@umich.edu

May 13, 1927 - Image 4

Resource type:
Text
Publication:
The Detroit Jewish Chronicle, 1927-05-13

Disclaimer: Computer generated plain text may have errors. Read more about this.

REI)EPROIT/EWISfl C RDNICLE

Vztqatft — tt. I

tUtzIgMray tityra razi=15 , : ',

kf- E*TROrK AMR ORONICLE

Published Weekly by The Jewish Chronicle Publishing Cm, lac.

JOSEPH J. CUMMINS

President and

Editor

JACOB H. SCHAKNE

General Manager
Associate and Managing Editor

LAWRENCE LIPTON

kotered •s

Set' 01111 - r . 1,11

matter March 3, MC, at the Postoffice at Detroit.
Mich., under the Ant of March 3, 11711.

General Offices and Publication Building
525 Woodward Avenue

.r

Telephone:

Cadillac 1040

London Office:

Cable Address: Chronicle

14 Stratford Place, London, W. 1, England.

- •

Su...,..ription, in Advance

$3.00 Per Year

To limns publiration, ail correspondensa and news matter must reach this
office by Tuesday evening of each week. When mailing notices.
kindly use one side of the paper only.

The Detroit Jewivh Chronicle Invitee corr,ponilenre on sublet.. of Interest
to the Jewish people, but d(erisims respanAlbilltv for en indorsement of the
views engirmseil by the writer..

May 13, 1927

lyar 11, 5687

Our Editorial Policy.

Last week we announced in this place our editorial
policies. We declared among things, that "The De-
troit Jewish Chronicle stands for the many-sided truth."
As a simple statement in a single sentence such a dec-
laration does not reveal its full force and its full mean-
ing. It is easy to make programs and platforms. It is
hard to put them into effect—as the history of Ameri-
can politics so amply proves.
To tell all sides of the many-sided truth is first of
all a big job. It means that all sides must be willing
to tell their story frankly and fully. It means that the
newspaper must have the courage to publish all sides
of the truth—a policy that it not always a safe one.
Partisans have a way of thinking that their side of the
story is not only the whole truth but all the truth that
needs to be told. All partisans are not always court-
eous, to say the least, to newspapers that are given to
printing the views of their opponents. They are in the
habit of classifying newspapers according to their use-
fulness to their particular cause. According to those
who are interested in some special causes such and such
a newspaper is pro-Zionist, for instance, or anti-Zion-
ist. Another newspaper is reform. Still another is or-
thodox. And so on.
The propagandists of causes and their press agents
are not in the habit of thinking of Jewish newspapers
simply as Jewish newspapers, They must label them
according to their own prejudices. Consequently, the
Jewish newspaper that lays down as a basic principle
of its editorial policy the printing of all sides of the
many-sided truth is likely to find itself at odds from
time to time or that faction of American Jewry.
In the event of such a contest there is only one
"group" that such a newspaper can look to for sym-
pathy. That is the group that wants the whole truth
about everything. The group that is pro-Jewish before
it is "pro" anything else. It is to this group that The
Detroit Jewish Chronicle looks for friendship and co-
operation. And we believe that it is not a small group
and has many members in good standing in the camp
of every faction of American Jewry.

.1b

yia

ize in expensive and elaborate balls and initiations. But
here and there one finds a lodge that is dominated by
men who know how to do more than recite a mechani-
cal ritual or stage an expensive initiation.
Such a lodge is Pisgah Lodge No. 34 of Detroit.
Anyone who knows anything at all about the Inde-
pendent Order nal B'rith knows that the Intellectual
Advancement Program initiated by the Grand Lodge
some years ago has not been carried out as widely or as
thoroughly as it sponsors hoped it would be. It was a
splendid idea and deserved the most enthusiastic sup-
port, but, somehow it didn't quite come off. In this re-
spect Pisgah Lodge is a brilliant and inspiring exception.
It's intellectual advancement program has been, from
the beginning, a source of great pride to the member-
ship and all inestimable boon to the whole Jewish com-
munity of Detroit.
Within the last few weeks two events of the first
importance to Detroit Jewry were made possible by the
Intellectual Advancement Committee of Pisgah Lodge.
First there was the B'nai B'rith Symphony Concert at
Orchestra llall. A large body of well-trained musicians
under an able conductor in a full program of the world's
best music. Such an event is far in advance of the usual
run of public affairs sponsored by bulges. Under the
magic baton of Dr. Mark Gunsburg a program of musi-
cal gems of the first offer was provided for Detroit mus-
ic lovers. Then came the debate between Darrow and
Durant. An evening of challenging thought and bril-
liant repartee. A veritable banquet for the brain. Two
of the most interesting men in America brought to De-
troit for a battle of wits. There are lodges that special-
ize in bringing budding prize-fighters together at their
club houses for battles of brawn. Pisgah brings togeth-
er two mental giants of America for a battle of brains.
That is what we should have a right to expect of the
B'rith. Pisgah deserves the support and the grat-
titude of the whole Jewish community of Detroit.

A Man Bites a Dog.

It is an axiom of the newspaper world that when a
dog bites a man it is not news but when a man bites a
dog it is news. Here is a story about a man biting a
dog:
When Aaron Sapiro was in Western Canada work-
ing for the formation of a wheat growers' co-operative,
a newspaper of Regina, Saskatchewan attacked hint as
a "conspirator." lie sued the newspaper for $30,000
damages. When the case came before the Court of
Kings' bench it was thrown out on a technicality. He
promptly carried the suit to the Court of Appeals and
the higher court ordered the case sent back to the lower
court for trial on its merits. The publishers of the Re-
gina newspaper then decided that, rather than try the
case on its merits, they would settle with Mr. Sapiro
out of court. Perhaps they hail run out of legal techni-
calities and didn't care to face the necessity of proving
the truth of their charges.
The terms of that settlement are significant. Mr.
Sapiro, who, according to the Dearborn Independent,
is a money-mad monopolist trying to conspire with a
"Jewish ring" to exploit the farmer, was contented with
a settlement that did not net him' a single pinny of
damages. Instead of $30,000 he agreed to accept the
publication by the offending newspaper of a public
withdrawal of iLs accusations and the payment of all
How About That Investigation,
costs. Another feature of the agreement was that the
Mr. Baxter?
publication should select a homeless boy "who could
not
otherwise stand a chance for education," and pay
The Ford-Sapiro libel case has vanished from the
newspapers and in its place we find the more exciting all his expenses in the public schools and on through
until he graduates in the Saskatchewan Provincial Uni-
stories of the Snyder case and big league baseball. versity.
Nevertheless, we can't help recalling that a certain in-
A strange settlement for a money-grabbing monop-
, vestigation is supposed to be going on over at the Fed-
eral building. An investigation by the Department of olist and the member of a group that has plotted, among
Justice into the charges made by defense counsel for other nefarious schemes, to seize control of the Federal
Mr. Ford that improper advances had been made to a Reserve System!
juror on behalf of Mr. Sapiro.
If you are in the habit of getting your Jewish news
As Jews, is very important that we should know from the daily newspapers of Detroit you know noth-
if the charges, which were made upon the sworn testi- ing about the case. But if you get your Jewish news
mony of Mr. Ford's detectives, are true or false. If they from a Jewish newspaper, e. g. The Detroit Jew-
are true, then we shall have to face the shameful news ish Chronicle, you know all about it because you read
that Aaron Sapiro, a Jew, employed "one 'Kid' Miller, it in last week's issue—on the first page where it be-
a man of Jewish caste of countenance," to bribe a wom- longed. Surely this was a case of the man biting the
an juror in a United States Court to influence the jury dog. Why, then, was it not news for the daily press
in his favor. If the charges are false, then we shall of Detroit? This story would have gone far towards
know that Henry Ford, a manufacturer of automobiles, wiping away the stain of jury-fixing accusations that
employed a force of detectives of gentile caste of coun- still clings to Mr. Sapiro as a result of the charges of
tenance and that, whether he knew of it or not, his Mr. Ford's counsel. We happen to know that the story
efficient and devoted servants swore to false testimon- was given to the Detroit newspapers. It was easy to
ials in United States Court and were thus instrumental verify the facts. Why was it not published?
Should there be a single doubt any longer in the
in bringing about a mistrial.
In either case we shall have no great case to re- minds of the Jews of America as to the true nature of
joice. But our sense of justice and fair play demands this Ford-Sapiro libel suit? Is it not time for American
that we know the truth. The Department of Justice, Jewry to awaken to the fact that the attacks of the
under its chief assistant district attorney John Baxter, Dearborn Independent on Mr. Sapiro were inspired by
is investigating the charges with a view to making pub- no other motive than to pin its anti-Semitic libels on an
lic a report. So far, no word has been given as to the American Jew with a view to creating race hatred
progress of the investigation. Neither Mr. Baxter nor against all of American Jewry? If that was its aim,
and we believe it was, what is American Jewry going
Mr. Thomas C. Wilcox, under whose supervision the
to do about it? What are the recognized leaders of
investigation is going on, have had a word to say about
American Jewry going to do about it?
the matter. Investigations take time of course and we,
have every reason to hope that this will be a thorough
investigation. But we cannot help remembering that Has Senator Reed Changed His Mind?
meanwhile Mr. Sapiro's reputation as an honest liti-
About three years ago. the Honorable James A.
gant is under a cloud as a result of the charges of Mr.
F'ord's detectives—in spite of the "exoneration" he re- Reed, United States Senator from Missouri, was one of
the speakers at the laying of the corner stone for the
ceived from Judge Raymond.
Only a public report by the Department of Justice Keren Hayesod Synagogue in Kansas City, Mo. At
can reveal the whole truth about the mistrial. We are that time Senator Reed dwelt lovingly on the name of
Henry Ford, using such langauge as "the most con-
anxiously awaiting that report.
temptible character," saying, that a "man who would
deny religious freedom is a disgrace to the republic."
What, we should like to know, has transpired dur-
Pisgah Lodge: Impresario.
ing the last three years to make the Senator who
What are lodges for anyway?
helped to lay the corner stone of a Jewish synagogue,
We are all familiar with the customary preambles accept the post of defense counsel for a "most contempt-
about brotherly love and charity and universal justice. ible character" and "a man who is a disgrace to the
So far as their intentions and their pretentions are con- republic? And, while we're in a mood to ask ques-
cerned all fraternal orders and all lodges are very much
tions, what, we should like to know, will Senator Reed
alike. But, while all lodges are very much alike in their do if the Department of Justice reports that it has in-
avowed purposes, there is a great deal of difference be- vestigated the alleged jury-fixing charges and finds
tween them in point of performance.
that the affidavits on which he asked the court for a
Even within the same order are wide differences in mistrial were nothing but a frame-up by Mr. Ford's
detectives?
the usefulness of this or that lodge. Some lodges seem
to exist for no other purpose than to bury the dead.
Will he withdraw from the defense or will he go on
Others appear to draw their patronage exclusively from working in the pay of "the most contemptible charac-
the card sharps of the community. Still others special- ter, a "man who is a disgrace to the republic?"

.

9,C2o9

.Q9

9/4.9Q9

914_9/4.9. •

C.9.0

'1',1' ,1761'612,T6F

r•

vt

VA?.

My Impressions
of Palestine

An

to overcome difficulties otherwise in-
surmountable.
After an absence of 13 years, I re-
turned to Palestine and found three
problems which, I think, are of the
greatest importance to the prosper.
ity of the country—the Arab prob-
lem, the struggle between capitalism
and socialism, and—most important
—the problem of agricultural colo-
nization.
On the Arab question: Peace reigns
for the present and there is no seri-
ous danger for the immediate future.
The great masses of fellahin are po-
litically inert. Religious fanaticism
could perhaps stir them out of their
inertia, if the upper classes so de-
sired. The upper classes, however,
are not united, and even the groups
which have combatted Jewish immi-
gration have undergone a change of
mind, because the enormous increase
of land prices caused by the Zionist
colonization policy has benefitted
them most of all. As long as Eng-
land is in power, there is no possi.
bility of serious danger. The country
is exceedingly small and can be eas-
ily controlled by English artillery.
The Arabs are quite well off under
the English rule. They are prosper-
ing in an economic sense. Their fields
are cultivated better. This year's
crops have been very good, which is
not to be attributed to the favorable
weather alone. The Arabs have bene-
fitted by the Jewish colonization and

the general progress of the country.

A left-handed man's right hand is
to be regarded as his left for all

ritualistic purposes. (Men. 37a.)

,



e

t

rs •t•

t

t

r

t

t

r

t

Appraisal of the Teachings of the Greatest and Most Influ-

ential Hebrew Writer and Thinker of Our Times.
--
-

By Prof. Franz Oppenheimer.

their people will lend them strength

tr

[ Ahad Ha'am, Philosopher of Jewish History

Through the Professor's
Spectacles.

It could be said of Palestine as has
been said of Wallenstein, "Von der
Parteien Hass and Gunst verwirrt,
schwankt rein Charakterbild in der
Geschichte." For many are incap-
able of seeing correctly. They ob-
serve only what they wish to see.
Most Zionists, on their arrival, look
at everything in Palestine through
rose-colored spectacles, while the
anti-Zionists wear smoked glasses.
The first impression is the strongest
with the non-partisan. Some see only
fruitful wheat fields and olive and
orange trees bending under the bur-
den of their fruit; others see only a
rocky wilderness. Some see delight-
fully plump, rosy-checked blonde
children; others have impressed upon
their memories a dirty hotel porter.
Hardly anybody is able to see other-
wise than through tinted spectacles—
to see things as they actually are. I
shrill not claim to have dispensed
with spectacles, but I have made an
effort to see accurately, and I believe
that my scientific training has given
me a certain aptitude in that respect.
I wish to describe objectively, aiming
neither to please nor displease, what
I have found in Palestine, and what
I think of its future.
On one's arrival in Palestine (this
was my third visit), it is necessary to
free oneself of the notion that Pales-
tine is sufficient unto itself. Pales-
tine is, so far as the Jewish popula-
tion and Jewish economics are con-
cerned, a tiny spot within the area
of European-American civilization.
It follows that world-wide political
and economic currents affect this por-
tion as well. Its life and prosperity
are a part of world life and prosper-
ity. The psychology of its Jewish in-
habitants is also quite European. And
yet there are people who upon their
arrival in Palestine expect immediate
100 per cent success, and refuse to
be satisfied with 99.9 per cent suc-
cess! There is unemployment in Pal-
estine—admittedly an evil. These
people choose to ignore, however, the
1,750,000 unemployed in Germany
and the 2,500,000 in England. They
refuse to see the tremendous general
economic crisis, which is affecting all
Europe, and clamor only about un-
employment in Palestine. They are
not considering whether unemploy.
ment in Palestine is worse than could
have been expected on the basis of
the economic situation of this little
country. They demand 100 per cent
success of every public and private
undertaking. I have lived for along
time in a state which is known for its
efficient organization, but I have not
seen a single instance of 100 per cent
success in a state enterprise. We
are very well satisfied in Germany
with 10 to 20 per cent success. It is
therefore unjust to demand more of
an inexperienced administration, such
as our in Palestine, than can be ex-
pected of a powerful and well-fi-
nanced bureaucracy.
We hear complaints of the collapse
of newly established enterprises. Do
not the complainants know of the va-
lidity of the general proposition that
of every 100 new enterprises, only
three prosper, 17 are able to keep
going and the remainder fail? Is it
fair to expect more of Palestine?
The growing Arab hatred of the
Jews is discussed. But are the Jews
in Europe so very much better off?
Are we not compelled to suffer slights
everywhere? That is surely one of
the main reasons why no many yearn
for the new homeland.
We must free ourselves from that
manner of thinking. We must realize
that the fundamental physical and
psychological factors are samilar all
over the world, that everywhere there
is resistance to aggressive efficiency,
that everywhere there is to be found
a bureaucracy seeking to repose on
its laurels, if any.
We have tremendous assets in Pal-
estine which must be placed to our
potential credit. The young people
now working in Palestine are imbued
with a limitless fanatical devotion to
the holy cause. They seem to retain
—every one of them—some of the
powerful sweep of the age of heroes,
which turns the task which they have
shouldered into a divine mission.
Each believes that success or failure
depends on his own performance of
his particular task.
I do not want to paint in rosy
tints, because in other respects it
would be contrary to truth. But I
must perform the duty of bringing
out this beautiful and hope-inspiring
feature. It is an asset which the
soberest bookkeeper must enter into
his accounts. The belief in the sac-
redness of their work for God and for

tr

By PROFESSOR CHAIM TSCHERNOWITZ

Translated from the German by Maximilian Hurwitz,

Ahad Ila'am is undoubtedly the most
permeates the body. It clothes itself
important and influential Hebrew
in the most varied garments in ac-
writer of our times, who never fails
cordance with the exigencies of his-
to captivate even the hearts of his
tory and the needs of the moment.
opponents.
It binds the various mend:ems of the
Wherein lies his great power?
nation together and shows them their
In order to answer this question we
duty to sacrifice their individual wills
must first consider the position he oc-
for the sake of preserving the nation.
cupies in Jewish letters.
What, though, is the aim of Juda-
Ahad Ilit'ain first appeared on the
ism?
arena as a publicist, yet his real place
This question does not exist for
is in the ranks of scholars and sa-
Ahad Ila'am. Like all rationalists, he
vants. The name that fits him best
does not believe in purposive uni-
is The Philosopher of Jewish his-
verse, but in cause and effect. The
tory. It is only chance that forced
aim of Judaism, as of every living
him into the field of journalism.
organism, is its own existence.
Ahad Ilit'am must on no account
Its existence is the excuse for its
be regarded as a pupil and product of
being; its being imposes upon it the
the Haskalah movement. On the con-
duty of existence, of continuing to
trary, he has always viewed the cham-
hove, hence the question as to the
pions of Haskalah with contempt. The
end and object of Judaism is for Mad
literature of Haskalah dealt with two
Ila'am meaningless .
problems: The problem of religious
Ahad Ila'am does not fens total as-
reform and that of the social status
similation and absorption, fur it is
of the Jews. Both were incapable of
not in the nature of the Jews to sub.
evoking a warm response from our
mit to physical force; but what is
philosopher. Ile did not believe in
to be feared is the splitting of our
either the possibility or the usefulness
people into various groups and parts
of religious reform. "To reform one's
under the influence of alien cultures
religion," he said, "is like making lire
in their several lands of sojourn.
cold. Religious reform is to him
Against this danger there is only one
a contradiction of terms. Fur be who
remedy: The nation must unite its
would reform his faith has already
various parts again, overcome the sep-
lost it.
aratist tendencies resulting from its
As for the second question, that of ' dispersion, and create a geographic
the Jew's position in society, it had
rallying point which by its very ex-
long since been answered adversely.
istence will be able to hind all hearts
A had Ila'am began his literary ca-
to itself." This only the ancient cen-
reer in absolute independence. In the
ter,
Palestine, can do. All who cher-
question raised by the Ilaskalah lead-
ish our national unity must eventual-
ers as to whether we should be Jews
ly bow to this historic necessity and
only at home and men outside, or at
turn their eyes to the East. It was
all times show ourselves to be Jews;
this historic necessity which gave rise
he took a unique stand. His solution
to the pre-Herzlian Zionist movement
ks: Be first of all a man at home;
known as Ilibbath Tsion (Love of
that is, the harmonious adjusement
Zion); for to Abaci Ha'am
this move-
between the Jewish and purely hu-
ment was not a passing phenomenon,
man elements cannot be effected by
one
of
the
many
expressions
of the
outward changes but by fusion with-
national vitality, but rather the re -
in.
sult
and
basis
of
all
the
changing
His Literary Independence.
forms in which the nr 4 onal will to
Ahad Ila'am's independent literary
live has manifested itself in the Dias.
position may partly be explained by
porn, and is as closely connected with
the loneliness of his youth.
the soul of the people as the flame is
Born in a small and remote village
with the tire. This wellspring of vital
in southern Russia, he did until his
power was not sealed all through our
twentieth year hardly ever come in
long exile, but was borne in the heart
contact with the major currents of
of the people as the embryo is borne
the Jewish world. The Chassidic en-
in the womb of the mother and draws
vironment in which he grew up nat-
its nourishment and vitality from her
urally could have no influence upon
body. It is a living force which lays
his development, for he had early •ro-
dormant
under the spell of a fan-
ken away from Chassidism. If any
tastic dream about a divinely ap-
Jewish movement had a lasting effect
pointed
messianic
redeemer. At times
upon him, it was the revival of the
the embryo sought to force its way
Jewish scholarship in Germany. But
into
the
light
of
day—as
witness the
this influence was mainly negative in
various messianic movements—but the
nature. Although he drank much from
conditions
were
not
natural
and
its wellsprings, he nevertheless re-
grounded in history and inevitably
mained a violent opponent of its sys-
the
effort
proved
abortive.
But
his
tem. Ile attacked it with its own
acute mind and clear understanding
weapons. Had Ahad Ha'am grown up
showed Ahad Ila'am at once that the
in Germany, he would in all prob-
hope of gathering together all the
ability have become a typical German
Jews of the world transcended the
savant like Zunz, Geiger, Frankel,
limits of possibility. Neither the
etc., or else he would have applied
people nor the land was ready for
himself to general philosophy. But as
this,
hence this Utopian scheme and
he lived in Russia, the events of the
the belief in a superhuman messianic
day soon forced him to busy him-
deliverer
ditTere, mly in name. All
self with current Jewish literature.
that could he hoped for in a natural,
To he sure, at first he did so only
human way was the gathering to-
occasionally; he gave us only "frag-
gether of only a part of the Dias-
ments" of his wide knowledge.
pora. Consequently, Abed Ila'am
In his attitude toward journalism
found it possible to solve the ques-
we can distinguish three periods: His
tion of Judaism, but not
contempt for the press; his own jour-
the Jewish
Question, and this led him to the
natlistic actity his retirement from
idea of a Spiritual Center.
the press. At first he held aloof from
The originator of the idea of a na-
all journalistic work; nay, it was un-
tional center was, as is well known,
thinkable to him that his attitude to-
Dr. Leo Pinsker. However, there is
ward this useless and aimless trifling
an important difference between Pin-
—for that was what Jewish journal-
sker's idea and Ahad Ila'am's. Pin-
ism amounted to in those days—could
sker's point of departure was the de-
ever change. He himself said once:
sire to restore our national prestige,
"If any one had predicted to me that
I should become a journalist, I
while Ahad Ha'am was primarily in-
would
have regarded him as a false prophet,
terested in the rehabilitation of the
so outraged would I have been by the
ethical content of Judaism. Pinsker
very thought of it." Current events,
was driven on by external pressure;
however, forced him against his will
Ahad Ha'am by an impulse from with-
in. Three consideration had
into the field of journalism. This re-
led
minds us of the attitude of the Jew-
Pinsker to the idea of creating a
ish prophets as contrasted with that
secured state for the Jewish people.
of the Greek philosophers. The lat-
Israel in exile was to him a mere
ter held aloof from the turbulent
phantom, a disembodied ghost, for
streams of life; they raised questions
which reason the Jew inspired fear
wherever he appeases].
as to the origin of life, of the uni-
Again, as
verse, but without ever touching up-
long as the Jew is homeless, he re-
on the realities of life. The prophets,
mains a recipient and never a giver.
on the other hand, stood in the very
Finally, the keen economic competi-
midst of life; they struggled with its
tion can be reduced by the departure
perplexities and confusions; in time of
of a part of the Jews from Europe.
storm and stress they took hold of the
For al (these reasons we need a "se-
cured state" for our
helm with firm hand and endeavored
people. Natur-
to bring the ship of state safely to
ally, any country would answer the
port. It is thus that Ahad Ila'am
purpose, and as a matter of fact
made his appearance. M'hen the in-
Pinsker's program did not at first con-
ner voive called him, when dire neces-
fine itself to Palestine. It was only
sity urged him on, his words flowed
later that he turned his gaze to that
with elemental, vokanic force, so that
country; and as he was finally forced
all had to listen, If Ahad Ha'am was
to realize that Palestine could not,be-
silent, we considered it a good sign;
cause of the political situation in it,
if he ascended the platform, we felt
serve as the secured state, and as
sure that something new had hap-
his activities were hindered by the
pened. He was like a lifeguard, ever
obstacles which various petty inter-
hurrying to the scene of danger or
ests and the apathy of our people
disaster. Thus Ahad Ila'am changed
placed in his way, he limited himself
against his will from a philosopher
to the idea of creating a spiritual
of the Jewish. past, which he would
center in Palestine. Thus the point
have preferred to be, to the thinker
of view which guided Pinsker was
and interpreter of contemporary life;
merely the desire to offer a shelter
and after he had equipped himself
from external pressure, and the mo-
with all the weapons of science, Jew-
tive force was anti-Semitism. Ahad
ish and general, he gave the proper
Ila'am motive, on the other hand, was
expression to the requirements and
the inner historic necessity which
spiritual needs of our times. That
must drive the Jewish people to such
was his strength, the secret of his in-
a
step.
fluence.
According to him, it would have
The Essence of Judaism.
been of incalcuable advantage to us
But what is the essence of Juda-
and
to the Zionist cause if the Jew-
ism?
ish people had been led to this de-
Not religion, according
to Ahad
cision while in ■ state of the ut-
Ila'am. The Jewish religion is not
most happiness, in the enjoyment of
Judaism but only one expression, one
all th benefits
of complete emanci-
form of the national instinct. The
pation; if the idea had grown out of
national idea preceded the religious
purely ethical and national considera-
one; nay, originally the Jewish relig-
tions, unatTacted by the problem of
ion was •
national affair, and it was
Jewish disabilities and distress.
only in the Diaspora that it acquir

a

personal stamp; it is

ed

only there
that the national heaven—the future
hope of the nation—was transformed
into the individual's belief

world.

in another

Thus religion is only a form, but
not of the
content of Judaism; only
the vessel to preserve Judaism in,

the
jar which contains the wine, but nev-
er the wine itself.
The question, therefore, arises once
more: What, then, is this wine?
The essence of Judaism is its inner
spiritual vitality, the national instinct
toward self-preservation, the eternal
life.srream which flown through the
ratio. and permeates it as the soul

-

(1 3

el

Ct

co.f.

Differs With Pinsker,

Th ere is a wide chasm between Pin-
sker and Ahad Ha'am in their con-
ceptions of this spiritual
center. With
the partial restoration of
the Jews

to Palestine, the

primary need will,
according to Pinker, have been ful-
filled. Once this has been accom-

plished we shall no longer be only
recipients but givers as well; then we
shall be able to appear among the na-
firms with the self-assurance of men
full of life and not with the stealthy
glide

of disembodied wraiths; then

ourright to exist will everywhere be
assured.
Ahad lia'am understand s

this quite

(Turn to Next Page)

4.

it..4

t r :ieL

'It

+0
a

1e '

ix;

to

".:11

Back to Top

© 2024 Regents of the University of Michigan