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Published Weekly by The Jewish Chronicle ?WWII./ G. Inc
Entered as Second-elart matter March 8, 1916, at the Post-
office at Detroit. Mich., under the Act of March 3. 1879.
General Offices and Publication Building
525 Woodward Avenue
Telephone: Cadillac 1040 Cable Address: Chronicle
London Office
14 Stratford Place, London, W. 1, England
Subscription, in Advance
,
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To Insure publication.all correspondence and n ews matter
use reach this office by Tuesday evening of eac h week.
When mailing notices, kindly use one side of the paper only.
The Detroit Jewi..11 Chronicle Invitee correspondence on sub-
ject•of interest to the Jewish people. but disclaims re•ponsi-
batty for an indorsement of the views expressed by be writers
Sabbath Reading. of the Torah.
Pentateuehal portion—Ex. 1 :1-16:1.
Prophetical portion—is. 27:6-27:13; 29:22-23.
Rosh Chodesh Readings of the Torah, Thursday,
Jan. 30., Num. 28:1-15.
January 24, 1930
Tebeth 24, 5690
David A. Brown's Gigantic Effort.
The gigantic effort to aid war-stricken
European Jewry, through the United Jew-
ish Campaign, has written into the pages of
American Jewish history the story of one
of the most dynamic individuals and of one
of the country's greatest campaigners. As
the U. J. C. closes, to be replaced in the
gathering of relief funds by other institu-
tions, possibly under the Jewish Agency,
millions of Jews speak words of praise for
David A. Brown, our distinguished fellow-
townsman, thanks to whom the United Jew-
ish Campaign made history in humanitar-
ian effort.
Mr. Brown's generalship in the relief
movements of the Joint Distribution Com-
mittee has mobilized for him millions of
friends and an army of workers which is
to this day the largest force of volun-
teer workers in any Jewish cause in the
world. On the one hand Mr. Brown earned
the gratitude of poverty-stricken and op-
pressed Jews overseas; on the other, he has
won the admiration of his fellow-workers
in this country. The finest tribute possible
goes to Mr, Brown—the respect and grat-
titude of his fellow-workers.
•
Laudable Immigrant Aid Work.
The renewal of the agreement between
the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, the
Jewish Colonization Association and the
United Jewish Emigration Committee of
Europe (Hiss, Ica and Emigdirect) de-
serves to be greeted with the approval of
all Jews. The• excellence of the work
previously accomplished by these three
agencies and the readiness with which they
have aided stranded immigrants, makes
their combined efforts stand out among the
most important sponsored by world Jewry,
An English writer has recently referred
to the constant cycle of Jewish migration
as "the moving staircase." Compelled by
circumstances to wander about, our peo-
ple in Eastern Europe continue to be faced
by problems and conditions which would
place them in a helpless situation indeed,
had it not been for the aid of agencies like
the Bias, the Ica and the Emigdirect.
The opening of the new immigration
centers in South American countries, and
the spread of Jews to such remote sections
as Mexico, Peru, Cuba, Venezuela, China,
etc., call for the sort of guidance and pro-
tection which the new three-year agree-
ment between the three leading immigrant
4
agencies guarantees. As instances in proof
of the worthiness of the service made pos-
sible by this triple alliance we quote the
yj following three points in the renewed
.14y
agreement :
1$71.
7 )
7
' 74
7 A
•'61:( •
.
The functions of the United Organization
in the countries of emigration will include the
following:
a—Information to emigrants concerning con-
ditions in the countries of immigration both as
to industry and agriculture.
b—Protection of emigrants, intervention in
their behalf, and legal advice and aid
c--Language study and training in trades for
Hie emigrants.
The budget of $600.000 for the three
years effort is comparatively small, and the
importance of the work undertaken should
guarantee its subscription.
The Decline of the Yiddish Press.
Dr. Samuel Margoshes, editor of the Yid-
dish Daily Day of New York, in an address
before the Jewish Center Forum, predicted
that the Yiddish press in this country can-
not survive. In proof of the decline of Yid-
dish, and consequently the Yiddish press,
the Zionist Organization of America has
stopped the publication of its Yiddish week-
ly, Dos Yiddishe Folk. It may be argued
that the Z. 0. A. acted in the interests of
economy, now that its fund-raising activi-
ties are to be curtailed, but the fact that
the New Palestine continues to function un-
hampered is evidence in favor of English
replacing Yiddish as the reading medium
of American Jews.
Dr. Margoshes' prediction, coming from
one of the leading Yiddish editors in Amer-
ica, should make the YiddishisLs sit up and
take notice. For many years now leading
Yiddish dailies and journals introduced
English pages and sections in order to at-
tract the English reader. The closing of
America's doors to immigration has helped
to sound the death-knell for Yiddish. The
Anglo-Jewish press, including some sixty
publications of the type of The Detroit Jew-
ish Chronicle, has now assumed the con-
trolling journalistic position among the
Jews of this country.
Blame Little Old New York.
American Jewish communities distantly
removed from New York City are suffering
from the fact that practically every move-
ment of importance is centered in the me-
tropolis. As a result, leading figures in
Jewry are settled in New York, and those
who are not strive to that end.
An interesting example ill proof of this
contention is the call made to Dr. Louis I.
Newman of San Francisco to minister to
Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York.
Dr. Newman has contributed much to-
wards a revival of Jewish interests on the
Pacific coast. During the five years of his
service as rabbi of the San Francisco con-
gregation he has been a contributing factor
in every Jewish movement. Now New
York calls him away, and the communities
on the western coast will suffer from it.
Are we to blame the rabbi? No, blame
little old New York. But whoever and
whatever you blame, many Jewish com-
munities suffer because of the magnet of
the metropolis which attracts our leaders
in whom it inspires ambition.
The Dispute of Our Boys and Girls.
The dispute between our boys and girls,
over alleged existing prejudice towards the
Jewish girls on the part of our boys, aired
through the columns of The Detroit Jewish
Chronicle, started off well and at first prom-
ised to help solve what is without a doubt
a serious problem for both sexes. But some
of the correspondents threaten either to
spoil the discussion or to force it entirely
to come to an end because they are moving
toward the wrong tangent. It was never
intended to have discussion create an ap-
peal for the sensual, or to air opinions on
what is beautiful and what is not; or on
what in the opinion of our correspondents
represents human intelligence. Some of
the correspondents go a step too far when
they brand the Jewish girls as unintelligent
and as physically unattractive, They for-
get, in discussing intelligence, that the com-
parative measures of wisdom do not vary
so much among sexes of different peoples,
and to brand the stamp of
, unintelligence
upon the women of thcji own people is to
condemn themselves.
Those of our Jewish boys who make full
use of their "chutzpah" to write in criti-
cism of the intelligence of the Jewish girls
either do not know or forget that there
were prophetesses in Israel, and that some
of the leaders in womanhood today are
Jewesses who are of great credit to their
people. Jewish women have made great
contributions to mankind. They continue
to do so. And not only Jews, but human-
ity at large honors them for it. Boys who
question the intelligence of the women of
their own race deserve to be pitied.
If Jewish boys really prefer the society
of non-Jewesses, as the charge of the cor-
respondent who started the discussion
would have us believe, the discussion now
carried on is not to be laughed at. The
airing out of serious minded views on the
subject may bring us to solution. Perhaps,
after all, the parents of our Jewish girls are
too eager to display anxiety to marry them
off. Perhaps, too, as two of the contribu-
tors to the discussion suggest, the lack of
social center facilities for Jews are respon-
sible. If, as we stated in opening up this
discussion, a serious tone is retained in the
expression of views on this subject, much
may be learned by our boys and girls as
well as their parents.
One of our correspondents suggests an-
other possible angle for this discussion. He
calls the editor to task and says: "I wonder
if you, like most other adults of education,
are regarding so intensely your high aims
in Zionism, Palestinianism, Judaism, or
what-have-you, that in the complacence of
this stare you fail to see the chasms at your
feet." We haven't seen any "chasms" at
our feet, a phrase we fail to understand,
and we are nqt very fearful of Jewish de-
struction even if more Jewish boys than we
suspect really prefer to associate with Gen-
tile girls, thus threatening us with inter-
marriage, with the possibility of forsaking
their people, even with the danger of their
becoming the enemies of their own race.
But our critic unconsciously suggests a
possible reason for differences between the
boys and girls. Perhaps they lack a com-
mon background and common understand-
ing, as well as a common meeting place in a
modern Jewish Center? Perhaps the in-
terests of the boys and girls involved are
such that they fail to attract? The discus-
sion after all raises a problem on Jewish
grounds; they are Jews who are involved.
Why not believe, therefore, that if our
young people were to interest themselves
in Jewish movements, as they should. they
would have a common intellectual meeting
ground which would bring them together?
But our young men and young women rid-
icule "the high aims in Zionism, Palestin-
ianism, Judaism or what-have-you" (note
the importance of the last named cause),
and then wonder at the spiritual disturb-
ances that divide the ranks of young Jew-
ry!
Let our young people well consider the
last named point in the discussion. Per-
haps this. plus the need for a Jewish Cen-
ter. suggests the solution to the entire prob-
lem.
m'tgggmtag,kmtg,tzzmtuttigz.m.z:
Scanning the
Horizon
Charles ff.Joseph .
W only place for a Jew seeking diplomatic ap-
By DAV D SCHWARTZ
0
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
I first read the story some eight
or ten years a go in Mr. Mencken's
"The America n Language." It ha,
been told man y times since. You
recall it—the story of the Jew
who changed tis name from Kelly
to Murphy.
"Why are you making this sec-
and change?" he was asked.
"Well, you see, when
tell the
people now that my name is
Kelly, they as me what it was hi-
fore, and I ha ve to answer Cohen.
But if I becom 3 Murphy, when they
ask Inc what it was before, I'll
simply say Ke Ily."
NAMED A FTER HOLIDAY
I ant remin led of this story by
a little conve y sation recently with
Harry Schneid erne of the Amen-
can Jewish
lommittee, who re-
called some a t quaintance who had
changed his n ame from Cohen to
Priest. Veril r, in nothing are we
Jews no inge lions as in surgical
operations on our nomenclature.
You know the one they tell about
the Jewish I id who was named
Richard.
How did it get to be Richard?
mamma was i i t derrogated.
was
like this," replied
mamma. "AI It son was born on
Pesach, no he was Pesachdik, and
the last syllable, is short for
Richard, as yo a know." Quod erat
demonstrandu m.
IT'S ALL RIGHT, BUT-
I think there is some observa-
tion in the Talmud to the effect
that the redeeming virtue of the
Jews in Egypt, which led the God
of Israel to release them from
their bondage was their adherence
to the names of their ancestors.
In general, I am in thorough
sympathy with the underlying idea
of the Talmulists in this regard.
However, in the matter of chang
ing Cohen to Priest, will I be guilty
of treason if I confess a sneaking
sympathy with the alterations?
My reasons are purely prag-
matic. Its no fun at all, if you
happen to be looking up some
Cohen in the New York telephone
directors, to plough your way
through 18 columns or so of Co-
hens beforey find just the right
shade of Cohen you want.
And I presume the same diffi-
culty holds in all of the large
cities—Chicago, Philadelphia, De-
troit, Cleveland and the like. In
the smaller towns, of course, one
ought to be able to "Cohen" to his
heart's content.
A PICTUR I :SQUE CONVERT
The coming of Aimee Palliere to
this country r wives interest in the
whole busines s of converts to Jo-
deism. I am, of course, not using
the word bu siness here in any
commercial a t nse.
To me one of the most intrigu-
ing converts t o Judaism will always
be the late ado Isaacs Menken.
There was a t interesting woman
for you! W th everybody doing
biographies, s miebody ought to do
a book on her in the current
fashion.
Here was a great actor, and not
such a bad writer, but above all a
marvelous personality, who set
such men as Bret Ilarte, Mark
Twain and Dumas raving about
her. here was a woman, who can
point to love affairs with prize
pugilists and prize literateurs. She
left her Jewish husband, Alexan-
der Menken, who was responsible
for her conversion to Judaism, but
Ada Isaacs Menken never left
Judaism. She never could erase
the influence of the Hebrew proph-
ets from her flaming soul. On Yom
Kippur, many Jews horn to the
faith might forget, but not Ada
Menken. The theater in which she
played was always dark when the
solemn notes of Kol Nidre were
being intoned in the synagogue.
FANNIE MUST BE IMAGINING
I don't believe it myself but
Fannie Brice tells it. She was
watching. out at Hollywood, the
making of a picture dealing with
the Civil War.
The Jewish movie Stagnate eyed
the man who was to portray Gen-
eral Grant.
"But," said the director, "we
were looking for a man who
looked like General Grant, and he
is the nearest resemblance we
could find."
"He can't la 'ear no beards on my
lot," said the magnate, "and what
is more, even Napoleon couldn't."
---'e-
AN OPT( )115TIC EDITOR
Victor Wa loon, editor of the
New York A wrican, who is Jew-
ish under his name, .is out on a
great and no tie adventure. It is
nothing less t an to separate news-
papermen fro n John Barleycorn—
at least in no far as his paper is
concerned.
On a bul l etin board of the
American, Mr . Watson has placed
a note, appe ling to the staff to
lay off the bitter water for the
sake of their wives, their children,
their future, etc., etc. Not only
that, but he offers free medical
treatment for those who find the
divorcing of ohn Barleycorn difIl-
cult.
Now, that's what we call an opti-
mistic editor.
Within the walls of Sing Sing
there is confi ned one who at one
time was fan tow throughout the
east au a ne •spaperman. He is
Charles Chapi n—one-time city edi-
for of the Ne v York World.
Being city editor of a paper like
the World is omething of a nerve-
wrack nc job. Working in a boiler
factory is qui to calm in compari-
"on.
Imagin • holding down this
job. and the losing all of your
fortune in W all street and having
a beautiful b ut very extravagant
wife, w'-o Is sinking you further
and further i , debt.
This was t he siltation facing
Chapin. It t irned Chapin into an
irresponsible nervous wreck. and
one day he k i lied his wife.
(Turn to Next Page)
pointment was Turkey. Then Rabbi Kornfeld of
Columbus, Ohio, broke the spell by an appointment
to Persia. That wasn't so bad, because after all it
was an Oriental post and our government probably
felt that the rabbi would got along fine w:th his new
neighbors. After that there were a couple of scat-
tered South American posts, I think Louis Kauf-
mann of Pennsylvania received one of them.
I
heard a lot about Jews who were going to be ap-
pointed to Italy, Germany, and a few other impor-
tant places because t knew that it couldn't and
wouldn't be and it isn't. However, I hear that the
Boston banker, A. C. Ratshesky has been nominated
as minister to Czechoslovakia by President Hoover.
That promises to be an interesting mission because
no one ever knows what's going to happen in such
a country. I think that Thomas Masaryk did more
to make it a place on the map than any other indi-
vidual. By the way, I forgot to mention (Larry
Guggenheim, who is now in Cuba. For a time it
seemed that he might have a high hurdle to clear in
getting his appointment confirmed but he came
through with flying colors. What was to be expect-
ed, being a flyer. I have heard of Mr. Ratshesky
for many years and if reputation means anything
he's likely to do a mighty good job in the Balkans.
A
JEWISH young woman in Pittsburgh, Miss
Sophia Levin, has been presented with a gold
medal by the National Red Cross organization in
Washington, in recognition of 14 years of service
in the American Red Cross. It was Miss Levin who
originated the annual Red Cross roll call in Pitts-
burgh and which later on was adopted throughout
the entire country. In fact, this young woman was
called to Washington to place it in practical opera-
tion. Red Cross officials were eager to pay high
tribute to the remarkable work done by Miss Levin
in Red Cross work during and after the war. I
have known Sophie Levin for many years and she is
a woman of unusual executive ability and a natural
leader. She has been instrumental in conducting
a great many campaigns to raise funds for com-
munal welfare purposes. The medal awarded Miss
Levin bears four service stripes and is said to be
the only one awarded in Pittsburgh.
I
AM IN receipt of the following letter from Jacob
Bernstein, of Providence, R. I., who hastens to
correct the impression that Rabbi Cup of that city
was the first and only rabbi to occupy a Methodist
pulpit in the state. He wants the world of Jewry
to know that New England isn't behind in "good-
will" relations between Jew and Gentile. Ile men-
tions that Rabbi Harry Levy of Boston was the
pioneer in the good-will movement. I am glad to
hear that. I knew Rabbi levy when he was a
youngster in Wheeling, W. Va. And from what I
hear he has created a commanding position for him-
self and his congregation in Boston. But there is
another, belonging to the younger generation, and
a former Pittsburgher, no Mr. Bernstein informs
me, has occupied the pulpit in nearly every Prot-
estant church in Rhode Island. His name is Morton
Goldberg. He is now located in Fall River, Mass.
I am always glad to find space to note these practi-
cal evidences of the good-will that exists between
our own clergymen and those of other faiths, par-
ticularly in smaller cities, where the influence of an
exchange of pulpits is of a great deal of practical
value.
IN JUSTICE to those of the Zionist group who be-
lieve as doe the writer of the letter just received
from Philadel hia I must find space for its publica-
tion. He say.
(1)
Dr. 11 agnes was appointed at the head
of the Hebrew University to bound the institu-
tion to observe neutrality concerning political
tendencies. The speech of Dr. Magnes infringes
on such neutrality and as head of the univer-
sity may involve it in party disputes, thus en-
dangering its development.
(2)
If Dr. Magnes were not at the head of
the university his statement might have passed
unnoticed.
(31 The danger lay in the wide publicity it
received and accepted by those who do not
clearly understand the Zionist movement.
(4) He wronged the Zionists by making it
appear that they were animated by ill will
toward Arab interests.
Space prevents full publication of the letter but
the writer mentions that the Zionists endeavor to
gain the good-will of the Arab but that has been
made more difficult by Magnes' statement: he fur-
ther thinks that Magnes' statement was inoppor-
tune, and finally he thinks the Zionists have been
most tolerant in nat asking for Dr. Magnes' resig-
nation, and says that better men are available,
notably Einstein and Bergson.
I
WOULD like to know what Einstein would do as
the head of a Ilebrew university that is to be one
of the inspirational sources for Judaism and Jewish
culture. Einstein is merely a Jew racially if we
may use such a term. Ile doesn't believe in Juda-
ism, he doesn't believe in a God such as most Jews
do. If we are to have a university to teach
science Einstein might do. But then I always be-
lieved that the Hebrew University hail a different
purpose in mind. Without for a moment consider-
ing the issues in question I differ with my corre-
spondent to the extent that if he traveled the world
over he'd have a hard the finding any Jew to fill
the place of Dr. Judah Is Magnes as chancellor of
the Ilebrew University.
•
OR the past two weeks I have been looking at a
book that was sent - to me by Cie publisher, L.
Si. Stein, of Chicago. It's really one of the most
beautiful books that has come into my possession
in a long white. The title puzzled me, "Thirty-five
Saints and Emil Armon." I felt like asking, "who
in the devil are the saints?" and in heaven's name
who is "Emil Armin?" But these questions are
satisfactorily answered by J. Z. Jacobson, the writer
of this monograph on one of the most unusual
"modernists" in Chicago's art colony. And permit
me to interrupt myself long enough to say that
J. Z. Jacobson can write! And Mr. Stein can print!
And Mr. Armin can paint! Really, "threw of a
kind." I can understand how these three men find
themselves united in one book. Kindred souls if I
know souls. Well. I want to gay no much about
Armin's unusual art and Jacobson's unusual writing
and Stein's printing that I am tongue-tied and pen-
tied. But it looks as if the purpose of the mono-
graph was to spot-light Emil Armin and this Jewish
artist deserves it. I suppose the term "modernist"
belongs to "Arty" conversation, but to me Emil
Armin is just HIMSELF when he paints and sculps.
I imagine he is not much concerned with what the
world names the type of work he produces—"mod-
ernists" will probably do for want of nothing more
expressive.
F
THIS immigrant Jewish boy had what the late El-
bert Hubbard would call the "urge." Mr. Jacob-
son elaborates this so beaut•fully:
All of us seek something in life though
many of us know not what. It beats around Ifs
like an angry sea and much of the time even
the best and wisest and strongest of us are con-
tent if happily we may find an island of safety
and peace. But the storm is not only on the
outside. Inside us. too, is fermentation. Inside
of some of us there is an urge, a call, a driving
force which is uuplacable, a commanding voice
se•ich must be obeyed. Out upon the uncharted
seas of the spirit it sets the chmen few a-sailing,
into the crackling heat of the battles of tie in-
tellect it forces them to go.
1:1
JEWS IN THE NEWS
1'4,1 ti ;
ELL, we're moving along. Time was when the
THE WID /V/ OF HOUDINI
lAyki%ettztly&
By BERNARD POSTAL
Only those who carefully and
owitz, who is an interpreter in a
regularly follow Jewish news
New York Court, is suing to break
events and those Jews who live in
his brother's will on the ground
New England knew much about
that the provisions setting aside
Abraham C. Ratshesky of Boston
the vast sum for philanthropies are
until he was appointed American
vague and indefinite. In the mean-
minister to Czecho-Slovakia by
time Mr. Horowitz, heir to a mil-
President Hoover. Headlines are
lion has bought only one new thing,
not new to hint, but they are a nov-
a $35 coat, but he still wears his
elty to him when they appear in
old one. He does not plan to give
papers all over the country. Mr.
up his job which he feels keeps
Ratshesky is a native Bostonian,
him in touch with people who need
known as a civic worker, philan-
help.
thropist, politician and banker. It
would be hard to determine in
Victor Rosewater, once of Oma-
which capacity he has been more
ha, but now of Philadelphia is an-
successful. He has been success-
other example of the man who
fully state senator, delegate to Re-
reaches the heights and then for
publican national conventions,
some unexplainable reason starts
chairman of the state department
on the downward trail and is for-
of welfare, manager of the Boston ... gotten. This man who was once
Public Safety committee during
national chairman of the Republi-
the World War, an active relief
can party, who was once the brains
worker, president of Boston Fed-
of the Omaha Bee, one of the most
eration of Charities and of the
influential papers in America, this
Jewish charities. In short the new
man who is an authority on eco-
minister to Czecho-Slovakia has
nomics and political science is sel-
had on active and varied career
dom heard from. This week, how-
and as the Boston Transcript said,
ever, he got into the news from
"Boston's loss is Czecho-Slovakia's
Winter ('ark, Florida, where he
gain."
headed a round table conference
on the "Formation of Public Opin-
ion," at the annual session of the
The average American news-
Institute of Statesmanship spon-
paper pays comparatively little at-
sored by Rollins College. Mr. Rose-
tention to what most Socialists
water
is one of the best known au-
say at any other time than on and
thorities on conversation and in
before election day. Hence it is
many fields he is known as a spec-
real news when Jacob Ponken, a
ialist. Yet this quondam power in
national leader of the Socialist
Republican political circles is of-
party and president of the Ameri-
ten
forgotten.
can Ort gets into the headlines.
Mr. I'anken last week suggested
that Police Commissioner Whalen
of New York should be tried for
neglect of duty in connection with
certain incidents growing out of
the sensational Vitale case. While
nothing came of the suggestion the
publicity it got was significant. Mr.
l'anken who as judge, was one of
the few Socialists elected to office
in New York, was supported by
most of the New York dailies for
re-election in 1928. Although he
lost, the people of his district and
of New York appreciate his mer-
its. .nudge I'anken the Socialist is
no more prominent than Jacob
Panken the Socialist.
The late Conrad Hubert, one
Horowitz, the millionaire inventor
of the flashlight who left $6,000,-
000 to be divided among various
philanthropists gut into the head-
lines only after his death. His
brother Joseph Horowich, to whom
he left a million dollars, is appar-
ently unwilling to wait until after
death for his share of the head-
lines. It is reported that 51r. Hors
Congressman William I. Sirovich
of New York, a representative
from an East Fide district, is
among the first Jews to get into
the limelight with a declaration
concerning prohibition. With the
Congress in an uproar about the
prohibition on the tenth anniver-
sary of the liquor ban, Congress-
man Sirovich offered a resolution
calling for an investigation of dry
administration in New York where
he says the law is openly flouted.
Now Dr. Sirovich is no dry. Nor
is he a fanatical wet. With the
headlines screaming his demand for
a resolution the estimable East Side
Congressman, who has long been
prominent in civic work in New
York, is a public figure of more
than local importance. Before he
went to Congress in 1926 Dr. Sir-
ovich was already an important
citizen by virtue of his years of
service on the school hoard, on the
child welfare board, as superin-
tendent of the People's Hospital, as
a labor arbitrator and as a physi-
cian.
(CoPerieht, 1930, J. T. A. )
"IF THE JEW WILLS IT"
The Palestine Situation Finds the Jews Unwisely Di-
vided; "Every Jew a Statesman;" The Need for
Unity and the Hope of the Jewish Agency.
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
General Jan Christian Smutz has
spoken some very encouraging
words to the JC• who hopes
to see Palestine Jewishly re-
built. Others have spoken before
him. The Earl of Balfour, Lloyd
George, Wedgewood, Kenworthy,
others have been consistent in
their approval and support of Jew-
ish aspirations. What do these
endorsements and encouragements
mean?
Of course, they help to revive
the courage, the patience, the love
of the Jew for his people's cradle-
land. But in a practical sense, ex-
cept insofar as these men help se-
cure a policy of firmness on the
part of their government in carry-
ing out the obligations to the Jew,
they mean nothing. In the long
run there is only one thing that
matters, and that is: the will of
the Jew.
•
•
•
Three decades ago Dr. Theodor
Herz!, father of modern political
Zionism, addressing himself to the
Jewish people, with regard to the
great hope for which they prayed
these 20 centuries, said:
"If you will it, it shall be no
dream*
But Jews, except in time of
crisis, in periods of oppression and
suffering, have been too busy to
present a concerted front and to
express a united will for a re-
deemed homeland in Palestine. The
masses are Inc, concerned with
their poverty nod with their daily
needs; the classes are too en-
grossed in their business. And the
theater and the cards and the par-
loon formalities have claimed deep
er interests than the making of his
tory and the opening of a perma
nent haven of refuge for Jews who
want to live somewhere as Jews.
•
•
Whatever has been planted in
Palestine by Jews in the past score
of years is now so deeply imbedded
that it may never again be removed
from there. But had the Jewish
people willed it, the wont "may"
would be eliminated in this state-
ment. The land could have been
redeemed, and not necessarily at
exorbitant prices; the Wailing Wall
would never be the problem it is
had a united Jewish will aided the
late Sir Moses Montefiore in the
purchase of adjacent sites; isolated
Jewish centers in Palestine would
not be subjects of attacks by
Arabs because the Jewish popula-
tion in the land could be three
times the present numbers—had
the Jew willed it!
It is not yet too late to arouse
the Jew to his obligations, perhaps
even to create in the Jew's mind a
will to live and create Jewishly.
First, however, it is important that
the atmosphere be cleared, that the
bewilderment and confusion which
followed the recent crisis be dis-
persed.
• • .
There is too much pessimism in
the ranks of American Jewry. In
Palestine the joy of Jewish living
and of Jewish creativeness con-
tinues unabated—as if the attacks
had never taken place. Hope was
never stifled in Palestine, and the
(Turn to Next Page)
it
IN THE PUBLIC EYE
11
Magistrate Jacob Cohen, after 20 years of servic on the bench in
Toronto, is retiring. His two decades of service entitled him to an
annual pension of $2,000. Magistrate Cohen came here from Poland
at the age of 21.
•
•
•
Rabbi Abram Simon of Washington, D. C., hat just been apointed
by the District Supreme Court to fill the vacancy on the District school
hoard created by the recent resignation of Isaac Cans. This will be
Rabbi Simon's third period of service on the school board. lie was first
appointed in 1919 and in July, 1920, was named president. In July,
1923, he resigned.
•
•
•
Julius Glaser of St. Louis Was elected president of the
Jewish Fed
eration Board at the annual meeting of that organization. Other offi-
cers chosen were Snyder Shoenberg, first vice-president; Morton J.
May, second vice-president; Sam Hamburg, Jr., third vice-president;
Bernard Creenefelder, secretary, and Alvin D. Goldman, treasurer.
Sh. Abelman, president of the Memel Jewish
'" community, died there
Jan. 16. His death, which was sudden, was attributed to excitement
and worry over the ever-worse economic situation of the Jewish popu-
lation, especially the treatment by the police as emphasized by the
recent blood-letting incident.
•
•
•
a
The executive committee of the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith
in annual session in Cincinnati, voted to suggest the name of Salmon
D. Levinson of Chicago for the Nobel Peace. Prize in view of his work
in behalf of the outlawry of war.
•
•
•
Deputy Hartglas of Warsaw, Jewish member of the Poll& Parlia-
ment, resigned as a member of the Polish Zionist Central Co anttee.
you have a revealing-flash of the spirit of
Congressman Benjamin Golder of Cincinnati was married Jan. 16
one of t's• "chosen few," the irresnonsible, indi-
to Miss Peggy L. Mastbaum, daughter of the late Jules E. Mastbaum,
vidualistic. idealistic genius Emil Armin, suf-
moving picture magnate and philanthroplst. More than 1.500 people
fered and struggled to escape the clutches of the
attended a reception that followed the ceremony performed by Rabbi A.
"conventions" in order to be free to express HIM-
• A. Neuman of Congregation Mikve Israel.
SELF.
THERE
ter
4?;