TH EVerRorrjonsit @Ramat, .
NIC411 ■11•■■■•■•■ •11.1.
TilE) ETROIVEWISti (ARON 1CL.
Published Weekly by The Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co., I.
President
Secretary and Treasurer
Managing Editor
Advertising Manager
JOS7PH J. CUMMINS
JACOB H. SCHAKNE
PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
MAURICE M. SAFIR
Entered as Becond•clacs matter March 3, 1916, at the Postoffice .t Detroit.
Mich., under the Art of March 3. IsT.§
General Offices and Publication Building
525 Woodward Avenue
Telephone: Cadillac 1040
Cable Address: Chronicle
London Office:
14 Stratford Place, London, W. 1, England.
$3.00 Per Year
Subscription, in Advance
To insure publication, all correspondence snit new§ matter must reach this
office by Tuesday evening of each week. When mailing notice.,
kindly use one side of the paper only.
honor that this lie should be discredited in the harsh-
est terms and its repetition forever prevented.
The fact that such a stupid lie should have invaded
the shores of the United States, after it has been repud-
iated by Popes and monarchs in the darkest ages, is the
saddest portion of the entire incident. In Euro-
pean countries, all that was, and in many cAsts/still
is, necessary to murder Jew's and rob the of their
possesisons was a popular rumor, especially of the
monstrous character of the ritual murder lie. In
this country, to prevent the recurrence of the Massena
incident, it is important that the guilty ones be so de-
cisively shamed and disgraced that fanatics of their
caliber should forever be given a moral death-blow,
that such stupid insults to Jews should never again be
repeated,
The Detroit Jewish Chronicle Invites corresponilenre on subjects of interest to
the Jewish people, but disclaims re.pon+ibiutr for an indorsement of the vier, +
expressed by the writers.
Sabbath Readings of the Torah.
Pentateuchal Portions—Gen. 1:1-5:8.
Prophetical portions—Is. 42:5-43-10.
Tishri 28, 5689
October 12, 1928
Another Talmud Torah Graces Our City.
This Sunday will see the formal dedication of a new
Talmud Torah, the seventh in the chain of buildings
forming the United Hebrew Schools of Detroit.
To the Jews who realize the importance of Jewish
education for the American Jewish community, this is
an event than which nothing else in greater. When we
bewail the lack of Jewish sentiment among the young;
when we decry the failure of the elders in Israel to con-
tribute their full share towards the cultural and spirit.
ual glory of our people; when we lament the lack of a
Jewish consciousness among all our people,—all these
are ascribable in almost every instance to the failure
of the Jewish-American leaders of ten and more years
ago to build a fair educational system which should
have trained and prepared a more ideal and more de-
voted Jewry.
When the United Hebrew Schools invade another
section in the community, in this instance the North-
west Dexter neighborhood, it gives cause for rejoicing.
There is reason to believe that as a result of the build-
ing of this school, several hundred Jewish boys and
girls who would otherwise have gone without any Jew-
ish training and might have grown up to be a detriment
to Jews and Judaism by virtue of their ignorance of
their people's traditions and history, will now instead
be prepared to become a vital part of the community
of Israel.
We are obligated to repeat again and again that
nothing looms greater or more important than the
cause of Jewish education. Without a well trained
and seriously informed young Israel, we cannot hope
for a devoted and loyal Jewry. We must have the
Talmud Torah in order that we may be able to build a
generation that will cherish and guard the Torah.
When the United Hebrew Schools add another school
to the city's chain of Jewish institutions of learning,
and thus offer an opportunity of Jewish training to
boys and girls who otherwise would have been ne-
glected, they contribute to Israel what has been his
most sustaining weapon.
A Stupid Lie Invades America.
The eyes of civilized people are riveted on Mes-
sana, in the state of New York. In this village, a group
of officials, including the mayor, the prosecuting attor-
ney and a trooper wearing the khaki of the United
States Army, have dared to be so stupid as to charge
their fellow-citizens who are Jews with the crime of
having captured a four-year-old child for ritual pur-
poses. This barbarous lie, which was first charged
against Christians in ancient Rome, where it was
claimed that the followers of Jesus killed children for
the purpose of offering their blood to their God, planted
on American soil, is the saddest disappointment, on the
part of our people in the faith we placed in the good
common sense of some Americans.
In our issue of September 21 this writer, comment-
ing on ritual murder lies in Europe, in an editorial
which he labeled "An Oturageous Myth Continues to
Circulate," stated :
•
te-
We are not speaking here of the dark ages, but of an
outrageous fanaticism that exists in our own day, in Jugo-
slavia, the 'temporary disappearance of a 15-year-old ser-
vant girl was the cause of wide rumors which for a time
endangered the lives of many Jews, and which necessi-
tated the dispatching by the government of a large detach-
ment of troops to protect the Jewish population. This
was inspired by the rumor that "in every Jewish syna-
gogue a Christian child is immured." From Buchara, at
about the same time, a Jewish boy who was closely
guarded in the home of a butcher on account of his abnor-
mality was the cause of a rumor that his blood was being
drawn "for ritual purposes." A report from Moscow
states that, in spite of the proven falsity of the charges,
the Bucharan Jews are in danger due to the unfriendliness
of the militia.
In spite of the fact that Christians are constantly being
told of the emphasis placed in Jewish law on the prohibition
against the partaking of the blood of beasts or birds, or of
any meat full of blood, it has been necessary for sovereigns
and people, lay and religious leaders, to call to the attention
of generation after generation of Christians that the
charge against the Jews is only a myth. This has not
prevented the repetition of the horrible lie, and almost
without an exception each year brings from some corner
of the Christian world this outrageous accusation.
Who would have dared to imagine that during the
same week that the above lines were written and pub-
lished, this myth of the Middle and Dark Ages would
invade America? But from Massena, N. Y., comes
the answer: "Yes, it is true. Anything, everything, is
possible. Even in these fair and enlightened United
States of America it is possible for fanaticism to get a
foothold."
Mr. Louis Marshall's and Dr. Stephen S. Wise's
protests rightfully expressed the indignation of all civ-
ilized men. The ritual murder lie has affected our peo-
ple so seriously for more than 800 years, and so many
Jews have lost their lives on this false charge, that
American Jews are jealous of their rights and liberties
as American citizens. as well as of the fair name of
this, their country, and it is for the sake of America's
•01
I:
rLr ..,474 a1-4461-A
Col. HERBERT H. LEHMAN
Co<ptiT5
tay""
-
= GiAS. ci 0 S
*b•Co
A True-to-Life Sketch of the Democratic Candidate
for Lieutenant-Governor of New York State.
Our co-religionists are well represented in the New
York State campaign. Albert Ottinger, the attorney-
general running for governor on the Republican ticket,
while Colonel Lehman, the financial angel of the Smith
campaign, on the Democratic ticket for lieutenant-gover-
nor. From the looks of things both parties are very
anxious to get the Jewish voters of New York state to
look kindly in their direction. The suggestion was made
that a Jew be nominated by the Democrats to oppose
Ottinger. But Smith is a wise politician, and in naming
Franklin Roosevelt he showed sound judgment, and at
the same time he made a friendly gesture to the Jews
by putting Lehman On the ticket. If the motive was not
so obvious, I would be better pleased at the thought of a
Jew being nominated for governor of the Empire State.
A Duty for Christians.
The Massena incident supplied material for ser-
mons. In synagogues throughout the country, rabbis
assailed bigotry and fanaticism, and called for fair-
mindedness and the destruction of superstition. At
the Montefiore Congregation in the Bronx, Dr. Jacob
Katz was excellent in the reasons he set forth in fa Vor
of inviting Christians to Jewish services that non-Jews
may be convinced that "we have no magic faith to be
ashamed of before moderns nor evil secrets of any kind
to hide." This preacher was even better in the reasons
he set forth in emphasizing the need of Jewish educa-
tion as a preventative for assimilation that might result
from the closer contact of Jews with non-Jews.
But we fail to see sense in remedies formulated by
Jews. We have reason to be indignant and to protest.
There is rightful justification in our becoming enraged
at the stupidity of Christians who would hurl at us
such ancient and outrageous accusations. But when
such accusations are the result of the imaginations of
Christians, only the followers of the Christian religion
can correct the errors.
The Permanent Commission on Better Understand-
ing has issued a proclamation to all fellow Americans,
urging them
in the interest of true religion and of our common devo-
tion to our native country, to prevent the spread of this
libel on the Jews, to destroy it by the ridicule it deserves,
and forestall its recurrence by enlightenment, lest
and religious enmity spread among our citizenry and dis-
c ord disrupt our national life.
This statement appears in full in this issue. But of
what avail is it to address it to Jews? Why haven't
the daily newspapers published this statement? The
Detroit News,Times and Free Press were silent on a
day that demanded protest as well as ridicule of the
Massena incident. As American newspapers they
should have spoken. But they were silent!
To prevent the invasion into this country of fanati-
cism and bigotry similar to that which took hold of Mas-
sena on the eve of the Day of Atonement is a duty
primarily of Christians. Jews will of course have to
help educate the masses not to believe the nonsense
fathered by the ignorance of Old World superstition,
but if Christians would right serious wrongs to Jews,
it is their duty to direct the fight against the repetition
of such ignorance.
"The Lie of Lies" Again.
"The King of Kings," a film which has played the
role of "The Lie of Lies" in inciting anti-Jewish senti-
ment by its unfair and untruthful presentation of the
life of Jesus, is announced for repetition on the local
screen.
So much has been written, both in these and in the
news columns, in protest against the presentation of
this film, that it is hardly necessary again to emphasize
the objections to this picture. But the announcement
that the film is again to be shown here calls for em-
phatic indignation for the failure on the part of the
producers to heed the pleas of American Jewish citi-
zens, as well as many Christians, against the possibil-
ity of injecting in this country, through "The King of
Kings," that anti--Jewish venom which rules bigoted,
ignorant and narrow-minded communities in Eastern
Europe.
The incident at Massena, N. Y., is another argu-
ment against the repetition of this "Lie of Lies." In
this New York village, an ignorant rumor was respon-
sible for the revival of the stupidest, lowest and mean-
est libel against Jews. At Massena, Dame Rumor suc-
ceeded in creating a situation which disgraces the good
name of liberal and free America. For the first time
in an American community, Christians were found to
believe the shameful libel, originally charged against
the very founders of the Christian religion by Roman
pagans, that blood was used by Jews for ritual pur-
poses. If a mere rumor could find supporters for such
a lie, it is easy to see how much deadlier the showing of
a photoplay like "The King of Kings" can be in poison-
ing the minds of unthinking and unreasoning people.
It is unfortunate that the appeals of American Jews
during the past year should have fallen on deaf ears
insofar as this film is concerned. In a sense it reveals
out pitiful condition. We are, as least in this respect,
an unimportant minority whose pleadings for fairness
in stamping out bigotry, by stopping this film, are ig-
nored and unnoticed.
If this "Lie of Lies" should continue an uninter-
rupted run in American theaters, the shame of it will
react against Christians, because the theme of Jesus,
as treated in the DeMille photoplay, has been con-
demned by Christians as well as Jews as poor history
and dishonest morality. To prevent evil consequences
that might result from a film which threatens to arouse
anti-Semitic feeling, it is the duty of non-Jews to right
a wrong by stopping the circulation of "The King of
Kings." The least that Jews can do is to honor their
self-respect by refusing to recognize this photoplay
with their attendance.
By P. W. WILSON
A correspondent takes me to task in this fashion:
Dear Mr. Joseph:
Dr. Julius Klein, the right hand man of Hoover.
in the Department of Commerce, is not a Jew.
If you doubt the authenticity of this information,
write to Dr. Klein. In the Nation of September 5,
Carleton Beals, the able correspondent, in an
article on Mexico, states that the Roman Catholic
hierarchy is leading the Catholic world to believe
that the conditions in that country can be traced
to Jewish influence. And how about the attack
on the Jews in the Romano Obser•ere (official
Papal organ), wherein Saenz is referred to as a
Protestant Jew. This new term drew tire from an
editorial in the Jewish Tribune.
Sometimes I am amazed at your news sense.
You take cognizance of obscure, unknown individ-
uals, and allow official Catholic attacks to continue
unanswered.
I was under the impression that Dr. Klein was a Jew,
through items which appeared in the daily papers. But
I could not find his name in the Who's Who in American
Jewry. So I am willing to take my correspondent's word
for it. If my memory serves me well I called attention
to the statement that Saenz was a Protestant Jew, made
in the Vatican journal, and also sonic time ago referred
to the ehrges made by the Catholic Church that condi-
tions in Mexico were due to Jewish influence. It is a
pretty big world to cover, brother, and I ant doing the
best I can.
Marcus Garbey writes himself down as a blatherskite
in an interview given in London. This self-appointed
Moses of the colored race shows what an egregious ass he
is when he says:
I am going to say now what I have refrained
from saying in America, because of the harm it
might have done in places like Ilarlem. I wish
to say, emphatically, that the Negro must beware
of the Jew. The Jew is no friend of the Negro,
though the Negro has been taught to believe that.
It is not Rosenwald that is giving all that money
to build schools, but it is the Jews who are club-
bing their money and giving it to hint to give
Negroes. Just a clever form of advertisement in
order to corral Negro business. The Elders of
Zion teach that n harm done by a Jew to a Gentile
is no harm at all, and the Negro is a Gentile.
His inference was that since the Jews do so
much business with Negroes, the former would
be the ones hurt most by Negro independence in
business. "When they wanted to get me," he
said, "they had a Jewish judge to try me, and
Jewish prosecutor. I would have been freed but
two Jews on the jury held out against me for 10
hours, and succeeded in convicting, whereupon the
Jewish judge gave me the maximum penalty.
You'll find the Jew in the South just as prejudiced
as the white man."
The Negro should certainly beware of a man who
handles the truth in such a careless manner, and who
seeks to appeal to the basest traits in his people. It is
amazing to what heights a demagogue may obtain. When
he says that'Julius Rosenwald is not giving the money
to the colored people, but that the Jews are clubbing
together, I challenge proof of that statement. Here's
his opportunity to show whether he is an honest man or
just a cheap fakir.
•
- I said last week that I expected to be right in the
middle of things, politically speaking. Well, I am cer-
tainly in the middle of many things that are being hurled
at my defenseless head from all parts of the United
States, I have never in all my journalistic career been
so heavily bombarded by angry critics. I don't blame
'em much. If I felt about them the way they feel about
me, I think I would be inclined to throw something at
them. But I did find a friendly voice in the crowd, and
it came from Dorchester, Mass., and it said something
like this:
Dear Mr. Joseph:
I note in your column in the Boston Jewish
Advocate that a very generous portion of your
space will be given over to politics, and immedi-
ately you publish a letter from a Gentile in Chi-
cago, who opens up a very wide gap for the start-
ing of a religious argument in which, of course,
the Jewish people will be dragged unless we are
exceptionally careful. I do hope you will give
it very little space. . . . When a column like
yours, which is to well and exceptionally known,
begins to side with or promote religious ill-feeling,
then there is only one side which is bound to suffer,
and that is the Jews.. . . Words cannot express
the gratitude at the good work you are doing in
Random Thoughts, but please don't spoil it by
introducing religious bigotry. . . .
Well, that letter has sense. Maybe the writer is
right. But this much I must say in justice to myself :
I do not take sides. rtry to show both sides. Some-
times I hit the wrong head, but when one swings a club
all the time that's likely to happen.
Will some one please page the movie picture magnates
who paid for that page ad in the Saturday Evening Post
recently to notify the public where they could see the
"King of Kings" in the different theaters of the country.
"What Price Money"—these Jewish gentlemen pay a
high price for it when they buy it at the expense of their
own people. Scrap the "King of Kings" no we won't have
to blush for the Jews of the moving picture industry.
In Massena, N. Y., the population still believes in
witches. They certainly must have a brilliant mayor in
that town when he suggests at the disappearance of a
child that the local rabbi be interviewed in the hope that
perhaps it may be discovered that the child was killed
and its blood used in some Jewish ritual. No, ladies and
gentlemen, this is not in Russia, but in the state of New
York, in the year 1928. Of course, the child was found
next day in the woods where she had strayed and become
lost. Louis Marshall has asked not only an apology, but
that the mayor resign. Even that's too good for him; he
should be made to put on a dunce's cap and sit on a high
stool is the public schools as a horrible example of an
ignoramus gone amuck.
Governor Smith is going to investigate the ritual mur-
der charge in which two New York state troopers were in-
volved. In a letter to Rabbi Wise the governor says:
"As governor of the state I cannot believe that this
libelous myth has been resurrected and credited even for
a moment by anyone connected with the service of the
state or any of its civil divisions. . . . I wish to assure
you that I will see to it as governor of the state of New
York that this matter is investigated in the most thorough
nanner."
In connection with this outrageous incident the two
state troopers made an official report. They said that
after Barbara Griffith's disappearance a Jewish boy,
admittedly of low intelligence, came to the troopers, said
his name was Jacob Shaulkin and volunteered in a ramb•
ling way that the girl might be at any one of several
places he mentioned. As the girl disappeared on a Satur-
day and the Jewish holiday of Atonement was on Mon-
day, the troopers thought this sub-normal boy might have
destroyed her in a blood sacrifice. To learn if there was
any custom which might have been distorted by this boy,
causing him to take the girl's life, the troopers asked
Morris Goldberg, who said he knew nothing about it and
suggested that Rabbi Brennglass be questioned. This
was done and the incident was reported by the rabbi to
the congregation.
gIfiestWURTAz •APWAMIT
years, the colonel served on the
committee which mediated between
capital and labor in the garmeet
trades of New York.
Out of this association with the
presidential candidate there has
arisen a warm personal friendship,
based on an admirig respect, fairly
to be described as unbounded.
"Governor Smith," said Colonel
Lehman to me in our talk, "knows
more of the business of New York
state than most of as know of our
own businesses. His only Wilt' of
playing politics is to play straight.
Ile has a mind which grips at nrob-
lems at once, and I to not doubt
for a moment that elected to the
White House, he will grasp the
international situations, ns they
arise, with the same masterly facil-
ity. lie is at once a progressive in
impulse and a conservative in dis-
cretion."
It was merely one incident in a
long series of efforts, directed to
human well being. Vie see hint
as trustee of the Henry Street Set-
tlement. We see him a director of
the Welfare Council of New York
City. Above all we see him as
treasurer of th' Child Welfare
Committee of America, and as
trustee of the Child Labor Com-
mittee in New York. Himself a
husband—Mrs. Lehman was Mi ss
Edith Altschul—and himself the
father of tutu sons and a daughter,
he stands for a movement to keep
children in touch with the home as
an essential unit of society. "1 ,
is the ideal of such a home," said
he. "that the Jewish faith has con-
tributed to civilization.
His Jewish Activities.
To the spiritual inheritance,
vested in his race, Colonel Leh-
His Sound Responsibility.
man has rendered a lifelong loy-
Yet, watching Colonel Lehman,
one realizes what it is that the alty, and never have the Jews,
business people as a rule have scattered throughout a war-
time to spare for whatever has to stricken world, stood in greater
a,sistatu•0.
he done. It is his duty in life to need of sympathetic
decide quickly, to state the deci- The American Fund fur Jewish
War
Sufferers
has
been
a
work for
sion in the fewest possible words,
and to have people around hint a dozen years: It has adminis-
tered
$5.000,000.
In
eastern
who will carry out the decision.
Colonel Lehman is one of those Europe, it has combated typhus
men who is always saving himself and other epidemics, it has recon-
for something else, and it is be - structed devastated areas, it has
cause he saves himself that he has been a father to scores of thou.
something to offer for the service sands of children, orphaned by no-
groms and other calamities, it has
of the public.
sustained hundreds of thousands
From their parents, Colonel of refugees. Exclusive of Pales-
Lehman, with his brother and col- tine and. Russia, no fewer than
league, Arthur and his other 1,250,000 persons had been assist-
brother, Irving, the judge, inherit
ed by the year 1923, Hundreds of
tal an ineradicable sense of social loan associations and other devices
responsibility. To the men and for encouraging initiative have
women, bred in this tradition, the been included in a monumental en-
community is a parish, for ths deavor to remedy a truly terrible
well-being of which all who dwell disaster.
therein must do their bit. A man's
in that effort. Colonel Lehman
work for himself is only a prelude has borne his full share of n heavy
for the work that he undertakes burden. He has belonged to is
for others. Colonel Lehman rev- group of able Jews who have
erences that noble Hebrew lan- brought to bear on the problem a
guage which is preserved in its constructive mind. The Palestine
pristine purity at the university Economic Corporation, the Pales-
on Mount Scopus at Jerusalem. tine Loan Bank. the Baron de
But he emphasizes also the inter- Hirsch Fund—all these agencies
pretation of his ancient faith into for developing a homeland for
the vocabulary of deeds which the Jews, particularly immigrants
whole world can understand.
from eastern Europe, have com-
Hence, it would be possible to
manded Colonel Lehman's active
enumerate a score of enterprises attention.
—national, international and Jew-
For the future of the Jewish
ish—in which Colonel Lehman acts
people and the countries in which
as chairman, vice-chairman, direc- they are an element of increasing
tor, trustee or in some other fiduci- importance, a career like that of
ary capacity. If he is able to have Colonel Lehman, typical as it is of
so many irons in the fire without other careers that might be men-
burning his fingers, the reason is to
tioned, is of an immense signifi-
be found in his instinct for leader- cance. There have been thou-
ship. It is an instinct born in a sands of years of racial and re-
man and not easy to cultivate— ligious embitterment. But here
first, to inspire confidence, then to we see the policy of returning
know to whom confidence may he good for evil. In Colonel Lehman,
wisely entrusted. If Colonel Leh- there can be discerned an infinite
man understands how to organize, capacity for enthusiasm; and it is
it is becausee he is able to let well an enthusiasm that, beginning at
alone. Ile can intervene when home, extends to others, Irrespec-
necessary without interfering tive of differences, whether sec-
when it is not.
tarian, political, or any other.
On Capital-Labor Committee,
Such men as citizens are the very
Certain tasks demand a personal salt of democracy. They make re-
attention. Appointed by Mayor publics possible. They are a de-
Walker, Colonel Lehman has been fense against dictatorships. For
the chairman of a committee which they fulfill their duty.
Of the future of the Jewish
has issued a monumental report
upon the finance budget and reve- synagogue, Colonel Lehman is Fis-
nue of New York City. That re- sured. Himself a graduate of Wil-
port followed an immense investi- liams College, he does not take
gation, costly to Colonel Lehman the tragic view that the younger
not only in time but in money, yet generation are deserting the faith
worth while. The accounts of a of their fathers. Some may have
great metropolis ought to be as drifted. But he sees that there
clearly set forth as the accounts of are many others who have conse-
a great corporation.
crated their lives to the highest
For years, Colonel Lehman has social and civic ends and have so
been a citizen on whom, when oc- found in service the antidote of
casion arose, Governor Smith could synicism.
call for co-operation. For two
(Copyright. 1925, J. T. At
It is the men who make a differ-
ence to others that are worth
studying. If today Col. Herbert
H. Lehman is under discussion,
this is the reason. His name has
acquired a meaning. It stands as
a symbol of something that is of
importance to the community. No
nian, so active as he, can reach the
age of 50 without revealing to
others what he really is.
During this hard.fought presi-
dential election Colonel Lehman
is to be found at the heart of
things, the finance director of the
National Democrat's Committee.
There, at Governor Smith's head-
quarters in the General Motors
Building on Broadway, you may
see Colonel Lehman, eager, intent,
cheerful, encouraging and adjust-
ing, an accomplished chief of staff.
After all, he has ''rued his ap-
prenticeship. In 1926, he man-
aged Governor Smith's fourth cam-
paign in New York state; and with
admirable results. Indeed, his
name has been mentioned as a
strong successor to Governor
Smith at Albany.
As an onlooker like myself, the
making of millions of money is a
form of magic. All that Colonel
Lehman tells me is that, in ordi-
nary times, he works hard at his
business daily until very hits of an
af ternoon. So did his father,
Mayor Lehman, work at the busi-
ness in his day. The result has
been an affluence for the family.
In 75 years the firm—so it was
estimated—had dealt with trans-
actions aggregating about $1,250.-
000,000 and the volume of these
vast activities tends constantly to
increase.
aq
'="5
frs
St•i.
.A
lt$
j
,
P.4+
A Vest Pocket Dictionary of
Jewish Information
By RABBI LEON FRAM
Apocrypha — A group of hooks
very much resembling the books
Of the Bible in style, form, content
and purpose yet not included in
the library called the Bible.
At sometime in the second cen-
tury B. C. E. the Jewish authori-
ties were agreed as to which books
contained the genuine religious
teachings of Judaism and which
books were either not genuinely
Jewish or were interesting from a
Jewish standpoint but not authori-
tative. The books which were re-
garded as authoritative received
the designation of "Bible." All
the books excluded from the Bible
were called "Apocrypha." These
hooks were preserved mainly by
the Christian Church which re-
garded many of them as sacred as
the books of the Bible. Among
these hooks are:
1. The Books of the Maccabees,
which tell the story of the classic
struggle for freedom of conscience
waged by the Jewish people in the
second century B. C. E., which
culminated in the establishment of
the holiday of Chanukah.
2. The Wisdom of Jesus. The
Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus
which is a book of proverbs, both
clever and profound, written in
the style of the Book of Proverbs
cww- ai- 4444A-1:
in the Bible.
3. The Book of Tobit which is a
romance of Jewish life in the Dis-
persion and a picture both of the
benevolent institutions and of the
weird superstitutions which Jews
developed early in their wander-
ings out of Palestine,
4. The Book of Judith, a strik-
ing romance of the heroism of a
Jewish woman which has many
times been dramatized in many
languages.
5, The History of Susanna, a
story reminiscent of the Arabian
Nights.
6. The Wisdom of Solomon
which may be described as a phil-
osophy of Jewish history.
As one reads the Books of the
Maccabees or the Book of Eccles-
iasticus one wonders why they
were excluded from the Bible. It
is difficult now to trace the prin-
ciples by which a cynical book like
Ecclesiastics or a frivolous book
like the Song of Songs were in-
cluded and these Apocryphal books
were excluded. It is agreed now
that the books of the Apocrypha
are great expressions of the Jew-
ish soul and they take their place
among the spiritual contributions
other than the Bible which the Jew
has made to civilization.
gsTga
1 ;s
tr