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rifEDLTROrk JEWISH efRONIGLE

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Sabbath Reading of this Torah.
Pentateuch al port on—Ex. 6:2-9:35.
Prophetical portion- Ezek. 28:25-29:21.
Rosh Codesh Shvat Reading of the Law, Monday,
Jan. 29—Num. 28:1-15,

January 16, 1931

Tebeth 27, 5691

Nathan Straus Is Gone!

One by one the aged leaders of our peo-
ple are being called to eternity. In the past
fiifteen months we have suffered irrepar-
able losses, chief among them being Louis
Marshall and Lord Melchett, Now we are
called upon to mourn the death of Nathan
Straus, whose loss is a terrific one not for
Jewry alone but for all mankind.

Nathan Straus was, without fear of com-
parison, the world's greatest humanitarian
of our day. He drew no color lines, no re-
ligious or racial lines, in extending aid to
needy. He had no prejudices. His helping
hand was stretched out to Jew and to Gen-
tile. In times of crisis he was the first to
appear on the scene with relief. This was
true of the economically critical years in
this country in 1893 to 1896. It was true
of Palestine during the earthquake and
during the August riots in 1929. In spite
of Arab antagonism to his Jewish people,
he cabled a large sum to help the earth-
quake sufferers. And following the riots,
in spite of the tragedy, this humanitarian's
hope persisted that Jew and Arab will live
in peace in the Holy Land.

It is impossible fully to evaluate MS great
contributions to mankind and to Jewry. His
works in this country, among Eastern Euro-
pean Jewry and in Palestine speak for
themselves. They are the achievements of
a giant humanitarian, of a man whose heart
was as big as the world he lived in. The
life he has lived should serve as an example
for the Jewish wealthy who do not know
how best to make use of their worldly
goods. Nathan Straus had a lesson for
these wealthy when he used to say:

"People at my age can't wait. We must

do without delay the good we want to do."

"Why should people profit more by your

death than by your life?"

Therefore he gave in his lifetime like a
prince, and helped his fellow men in time of
want, earning for himself the title "grand
old man in Israel and in mankind."

It was typical of Nathan Straus that he

should be fond of quoting the Talmudic
aphorism:

"What you give after death is lead, what
you give in sickness is silver; what you give
in life is gold."

Nathan Straus always gave gold, and the
world at large will miss this kindly and
noble soul. For the Jewish people of
course, it is a loss which can not be re-
placed. His counsel will be missed as well
as his generous contributions to noble
causes. A nation mourns the loss of a
great and noble soul.

The Sabbath in Palestine.

High Commissioner Chancellor of Pales-
tine has informed the Jewish Agency that
his previous order prohibiting Sunday
work in the Athlit quarries in Haifa Bay
has been rescinded. Jews, to honor the Sab-
bath, work in Palestine on Sunday, and
Chancellor's earlier order meant that the
Jewish workers would either be compelled
to work on Saturday or lose a day's pay
each week. had such a condition been
forced on Jewish workers in Palestine it
would have been the most damaging indict-
ment of the anti-Jewish practices of the
British administration in Palestine. But
High Commissioner Chancellor evidently
considered the matter and grew the wiser.
Else he would have drawn the severest con-
demnation from the people he was called
upon to rule and for whom he was sup-
posed, but hardly succeeded, to facilitate
the establishment of a Jewish National
Home.

Welcome Menachem Ussishkin.

Detroit Jewry's will be a genuine privi-
lege when it greets its most distinguished
guest, Menachem Ussishkin, world presi-
dent of the Jewish National Fund, on Sun-
day and Monday. Beloved leader of Pal-
estine as well as Diaspora Jewry, and rec-
ognized as one of the outstanding spokes-
men for the cause of Jewish national re-
birth in the Land of Israel, it is fitting and
proper that the Jews of this state should be
joined in welcoming him by officials of our
city and state governments.
A Zionist leader and organizer long be-
fore the appearance on the Zionist arena
of Dr. Theodor Herzl and Dr. Max Nordau ,
he has earned the title "iron will Zionist"

because he made no concessions. His was
a consistent path towards the goal for Jew-
ish national reconstruction. The policies
he has advocated are now accepted by
representatives of the British government
as the most vital for the future of the Jew-
ish settlement in Palestine. Non-Zionists,
too, are acknowledging the wisdom of the
principles of land-redemption efforts which
are placed first in Zionist activities by Mr.
Ussish kin.

The finest tribute that can be given a man
has therefore been given this great leader
when he WaS hailed as "the redeemer of
the Emek." At a time when Jews were
quibbling over internal matters Mr. Ussish-
kin turned hisattention to Emek Jezreel. Ile
was laughed at when he suggested that this
malaria-ridden area be colonized by Jews.
He ignored ridicule and involved the Jew-
ish people in heavy obligations by purchas-
ing the Emek in the name of the Jewish Na-
tional Fund. Today the Emek is the pride
of the Jewish settlement and is the symbol
of Jewish achievement in Palestine.

Mr. Ussishkin, at the age of 68, comes
to Detroit with a record of a half century
of service to his people. The honors that
have been prepared for him are tributes to
great achievements, to a sincere and de-
voted idealist. It is a privilege to welcome
this distinguished guest to our city.

Yiddishisms in the English Language.

Yiddish and Hebrew words are to be
found in the English language, and some of
them have even attained a fair measure of
popularity. "Kibitzer" and to "kibitz" is
a typical example of this type of words.
They have been picked as most descriptive
of "nuisance" at card games and have
earned an honored place on the stage. Now,
thanks to the prohibition controversy re-
cently aroused by Judge Clark's decision,
another word from the Hebrew comes for-
ward to claim a ranking position in the Eng-
lish language.

In Jewish life, "pilpul," descriptive of
Talmudic argumentation, was for centuries
symbolic of disputes over matters religious,
ethical and social. In the English diction-
ary this word has long ago earned a place
as an important Hebrew term. But refer-
ence by Assistant United States District At-
torney Elihu D. Stone of Boston to the argu-
ment of Judge Clark as being "pilpulistic"
has attracted to this word the attention of
the leading American newspaper, the New
York Times, whose editorial comment on
"Prohibition and Pilpul" promises to add
new glory to this word. The Times editor-
ial reads:

Whatever cold and unsympathetic courts
have held and will continue to hold, Judge

Clark's decision goes marching on. It contains

everything. Not only its broad avenues, but
its side streets, bristling with signs, invite to

what may be a life study. It is not enough
to say that it is an education. It is education.

It makes fertile even the stoniest ground. Judge
Lowell of Boston, though he doesn't think

"that argument of Judge Clark's is any good
at all," in indebted to it for gratefully acknowl-

edged mental refreshment. Assistant District

Attorney Stone characterized that argument
as "agglutinative and pilpulistic." The for-
mer adjective speaks for itself. The latter,

the judge, member of a clan that includes two

poets and word-collectors, calls "delightful."

It was a word worth rescuing. But for
Judge Clark it would have remained obscure
except to specialists. It is registered by "a
"a New English Dictionary." Somewhere in
Palestine Mr. Zangwill heard "loud sounds of
'pilpulistic' (wire-drawn) argument." "Pilpul-
ist" is defined an "a subtle or keen disputant,
especially in rabbinical argumentation." But
let us, like Judge Clark, go back to the sources.
The Jewish Encyclopedia tells us that "pilpul"
is a method of Talmudic study. The word is
derived from the verb "pilpel" (literally, to
"spice," to "season," and in a metaphorical
sense to "dispute violently" or "cleverly.").
Since by such disputation the subject is in a
way spiced and seasoned, the word has come to
mean penetrating investigation and drawing
of conclusions."

The pilpulist watt "able to arrive at new
conclusions and new doctrines and to render
new decisions." There were times when the
pilpulistic method became "shallow and weak,"
times when it deteriorated into sophistry.
But the spice and season cannot have departed
from it, and violent disputation was but a
lingering medievalism. With the utmost re-
spect for the great authority quoted, is it not
the pilpulist who gets perhaps the lion's share
of the spice and season of pilpul? The Eng-
lish- Yiddish Dictionary tells us that a pilpulist
is "one who enjoys questions skillfully taken
from the Talmud and Midrash." A Yiddish-
speaking friend informs us that "enjoys' has
almost the sense of "smacks his lips over."

Thus we may believe that Judge Clark has
enjoyed his decision as much as the rest of the
country has. And now this by-product,
snatched we know not whence by an ingenious
lawyer, has captured hard-bailed Boston. No
doubt it will sweep the country when composi-
tore learn not to confuse this revived and
necessary vocable with shopworn "populistic."
Its "run" in Boston is deserved. That was just
the place for its rediscovery. The ghost of
"Joe" Worcester, soured a little by the fading
of his dictionary, hops over from Cambridge
and is glad again. Old Noah, his Speller in his
hand, is up and eager for New Hasten. Rufus
Choate was first on hte .pot. Depend on him
for "getting hold" of the new-old word.

We don't know what has become of Massachu-
setts United States District Attorney Tarr's
recommendation of himself as his own suc-
cessor; but it is said that the Language Aaso-
elation and the American Philological Associa-
tion are backing his assistant, Elihu D. Stone.

What a lucky linguistic stroke for Mr.
Stone, who is as well known as a Zionist as
he is as Assistant United States District At-
torney! Who knows but that fate may
with one gesture elevate the word "pilpul"
to the same position occupied by "kibitzer,"
and at the same time give promotion to Ki-
bitzer Stone.

BY•THE•WAY

,dh.

b

1011 lel

Charles H. Joseph

T the power and prestige possible to a Jew in

HE late Lord Melchett was another example of

England.

PILPUL IS NATURALIZED
The story is, of course, pure
fiction, but it is interesting and re-
lates to something I want to say•
It is about Noah Webster, author
of our first American dictionary.
It is said that upon one occasion
Webster coquetttiehly winked at
the maid, and was discovered in
the furtive exchange of glances by
Mrs. Webster.
"I am astonished at you," said
his wife.
"You are amazed. I am aston-
ished," corrected the lexicog-
rapher.
I tell this story merely prelimi-
nary to the tact that New Eng-
land, where was the home of Web-
ster, is now again to make another
great lexicograprical contribution.
I refer to a recent comment on
the decision of Federal Judge
Clark rendering the eighteenth
amendment invalid. Discussing
that decision, Assistant District
Attorney Stone of Boston ob-
served that it was "agglutinative
and pilpulistic."
Well, all of us have heard of
"agglutinative" before, but those
of us who are Nordics have a treat
in this old Jewish word, which now
seems likely to become as angli-
cized as "kibitzer." As a matter
of fact, the word "pilpulaitic" ha;
already been admitted into one
Englisa dictionary, but I prophesy
for it now a general vogue.
Even the said New 'York Times
has seen fit to comment of it and
predict that it will sweep the
country.
I would not essay to define it.
There is something so subtle about
its connotation that I hesitate.
Somehow, I have the feeling that
Editor Slomovitz up in Detroit or
Mendelsohn in Chicago could do
that job better than I. I call upon
them to rise to the occasion.

A BLACK DEED OF THE REDS
I can appreciate, even it I re-
frain from applauding, the Soviet's
hostility to religion, but I confess
it seems to me that even the red-
dest Communist could: have hesi-
tated a bit from carrying this hos-
tility to the point that it was done,
this week.
I refer to the news bulletin of
the Jewish Telegraphic Agency
that the Communists this week de-
stroyed the graves of two famous
Chassidic rabbis, one of them be-
ing none other than that of the
Baal Shem Toy, the father of the
Chassidic movement.

HE, TOO, WAS A REVOLUTION.
1ST

It seems to me that the Bolshe.
visits should have felt at least a
psychologic kinship in the Baal
Shem Toy. Dr. Melammed of the
Reflex used to give us some rather
fantastically conceived and titled
articles—you recall that of St.
Paul and Leon Trotsky. Well, it
wouldn't even take a brilliant
Melammed to write an aaticla
tioned "Lenin and the Baal Shem
Toy," showing some marked simi-
larities in the two.
Certainly, the Baal Shem Toy,
like the Bolsheviks, was a revolu-
tionist. He was, of course, a re-
ligious revolutionist, but the Bol-
shevists, too, are religious revolu-
tionists. They say "away with
the church anti the synagogue."
The Baal Shem said "away with
the legalism and doctrines and
heaviness of religion. Joy and
recognition of all as part of the
Universal Being is all that is asked
of you." "They study the Tal-
mud as much they haven't time to
think of God," commented the
Baal Shem Tov. It seems to me
that in a fundamental sense, the
Baal Shem Toy was more of a revo-
lutionist than the Bolshevists.

PROPHET OF THE PROLE-
TARIAT
And like the B•lsheyiks, too. the
Baal Shem Toy stood for the pro-
letariat.
He consorted with the
publicans, with the "am haaretz,"
with the sinner, with the so-called
fallen woman.
The Bolshevik champions the
proletariat and snaps his fingers at
the bourgeoise with their culture.
The Chassidim championed simi-
larly the simple minded and said
"away with your petty lamdanith."
It was pretty much the same
thing.

CHASSIDISM AND SCHNAPPS

I personally never had the good
fortune to come into very abun-
dant acquaintance with Chassidim.
But the little knowledge I have
predisposes me very much in their
favor.
I remember in particular
the way the few Chassidim that I
know would handle their
"schnapps."
There was no sneaking about
the process with them. They drank
it as though it tickled the good
Lord far more than it did even
themselves. {Vas it not a "mitz-
vah" to be cheerful? Wile not the
cardinal sin the denial of Joy? Did
not the !teal Shew Toy place his
ban on asceticism as being the one
thing blasphemous?

THE CURE OF JACK LONDON
Now it seems to me, if you are
going to take your liquor at all,
take it with aplomb. take it with
no excuses, as the Chassidim did. I
believe, moreover, that is the only
way you can take it, if you desire
to be temperate, paradoxical as
this statement may appear.
You remember how Jack Lon-
don was cured of his habit of
drinking? The formula used by
his wife was simply this: When
she married Jack London, the fa-
moue writer was very much ad-
dicted to drunkenness. And so
she consented to marry him only
on one condition—a strange con-
dition, you may think. It was this:
That London would have to get
drunk any time his wife dem aided
that he do so. And she made it
her business to insist on his being
drunk very frequently. So fre-

(Turn to Next Pagel

alyMMayt GAtlyttig

Ittsup:

recallervateataZietatastaaSSataesateXaiSastaltallaaserattISCV

Tidbits and News of Jew-
ish Personalities.

By DAVID SCHWARTZ

;tM in wi

He was (outstanding

in political, social

and industrial life. It is interesting to note that he

was chosen seventh in a nation-wide poll by a Lon-
don daily paper of the "Best Brains in England."
Heredity certainly proved itself when one recalls
that Melchett, the brilliant chemist, was the son of
a brilliant chemist who laid the foundation of a
great fortune in the !flaking and bottling of soda
water. As great as his position was in the indus-
trial world his position and influence as a Zionist
seems to have been even greater. At a memorial
meeting the other day in London it is reported thou-
sands attended and the note struck by all the
speakers was Melchett's interest in the Zionist
movement and the irreparable loss it had sustained
in his passing. Ile was one of the many who empha-
sized the remarkable position enjoyed by the Jews
of the British empire,

THE

presence of the lion. Lily Montagu, the dis-
tinguished English Jewess, in this country at
this time, again focuses attention on the religious
Jews among the foremost Jewish families of Eng-
land. 'While we have in this country prominent
Jews who are affiliated in some way with Jewish
life, they do not seem to take their Judaism as
seriously as their English cousins. It is exceedingly
rare to find in the United States outstanding names
in Jewry who are devoted to their faith in the sama
degree that we find in England. While Miss
Montagu has joined the Liberal wing in Jewry, yet
she has devoted a great part of her life to Vie Jew-
ish religion. One has only to consider the best-
known Jewish families in the British empire to
realize that, largely speaking, their attachment to
Jewish life is through JUDAISM, and not through
philanthropy.

I AM further reminded of this by the sudden

prominence given still another British Jew, Sir

Isaac Isaacs, who has been chosen as governor-gen-

eral of Australia. Here we have a strict Orthodox

Jew elevated to the highest position in his country.

Whether the story that is told about his refusing to
autograph a copy of the Bible because it contained

the New as well as the Old Testament, is true or

not it indicates how uncompromisingly Orthodox

he is and to what extent he is devoted to his faith.
Those Jewish traveling salesmen in this country

who change their names because they think it is
good business, might also derive a lesson from the
career of Sir Isaac Isaacs, who never found it neces-

sary to change his quite Jewish name or his religion

in order to find a place for himself in the sun.

It goes back to the old truth that if we respect our-
selves and BE ourselves others will respect us.

I HAVE the highest personal regard for Charles

Edward Russell, who has just written a biog-
raphy for Ilaym Salomon, the American Revolu-
tion's Jewish financier. Mr. Russell has always

braved the mob through his radical economic
theories, socialistic, I would say. Therefore, when

he writes in the Jewish newspapers urging the Jews
to vote as a class I know that he means well, But
I cannot agree with him. Ile says:

They (the Jews) do not now, as a class,
take much interest in politics, because as nearly

as I can find out they do not feel perfectly at
home ln this country . • , in proportion to
their numbers, intelligence, business import.

ance and demonstrated capacity in other direc-
tions, the Jews in politics are negligible . . .

I think they abstain from active participation
in politics partly because they took seriously

the medieval prejudices that still strangely sur-
vive in a part of the population . . . The Jews

are just as much interested as anybody else

that the government shall run cleanly and
well, They are not aliens sojourning for a
time in a strange land. This is their home and

their children's home, and will be. They suffer

as much as the rest of us from slipshod govern.
ment, corruption, graft, incompetence and

waste, But I cannot recall that in the three
great uprisings I have seen in New York

against these evils that the Jews have taken

any part commensurate with their proportion
of the population's total.

I diffe

NOW here is

r with Mr. Russell. If
he were a Jew he speaks like a racial or na-
tionalistic Jew. But I must, until I am swept aside
by the onrush of Jews who think of themselves as
Jews by birth or race, continue to consider the Jew
as a member of a religion. From that standpoint
I cannot reconcile myself to the theory that Jews
should vote as Jews rather than as Americans. Any
more than I can reconcile myself to the theory that
Catholics should vote as Catholics. It is true that
certain Protestant groups are functioning politi-
cally which properly lays them open to the charge
that they are trying to unite the church with the
state. That seems to me in its very essence to be
contrary to the spirit of the founders of this na-
tion. Jews should not mass themselves into politi-
cal groans and seek to make their numbers felt as
a Je•vi•h group. That, to my mind, would immedi-
ately put into motion the formation of anti-Jewish
groups, politically speaking, which I again insist is
opposed to the spirit of Americanism. We saw that
in the lawless and un-American Klan movement.
Mr. Russell, the Jew does vote; he votes as does
any other citizen, and NOT AS A JEW. But I find
no reason why he should segregate hiself from
his fellow Americans and organize to me
te as a
Jewish body. There is no reason to expect him to
be on the average any better or any worse than any
other citizen. I am afraid Mr. Russell expects too
much from the Jew. Ile votes for bad candidates
and for good candidates.

PRESIDENT SILLS of Bowdoin College men-
tioned the other flay that Julius Rosenwald, by
his benefaction.; and his broad attitude toward
social problems affecting every class, racial or re-
ligious, was hastening the day when prejudice
would he decreased, especially against our own pen.
ple. There are an ways in which Jewe can
create a better understandingnd a better rela-
tionship with their neighbors. Rosenwald is doing
it. But there are other men and other ways. For
example, I just received a letter from Bismarck,
N. D., which was sent to the American Jewish
World of Minneapolis by a reader of this column.
The writer takes pardonable pride in the fact that
Samuel P. Bigler of Hebron. N. D., has created such
an outstanding position
in that community and
throughout the entire state of North Dakota. Now,
Mr. Rigner is doing a good-will job for the Jew, too.
We need right-living and right-thinking Jews in
Dakota as well as in New York City. Mr. Rigner is
city attorney and has been for nine
years. Ile is the
district governor of North Dakota for the Lions'
International; he is the post commander of the
American Legion Post of that city; he is also an
imro•tant Ma'am. To me Samuel P. Bigler of Bis-
marck, North Dakota, is a good-will ambassador for
the Jewish people, because ,
he plays his part as a
rood citizen and a good Jew in his small community
/18 Mr. Rosenwald does in Chicago and through-
out the United States.

MOURN DEATH OF STRAUS

(Continued from Page One.)

there a health center, which stayed
"
epidemics and saved the lives of
thousands of persons. In April,
of strength. His death was not un- 1927, he returned with Mrs. Straus
expected, said members of the after attending the ceremonies of
family, ever since his return from
the laying of tae cornerstone of
P
Europe last year, when he was the Nathan and Linn Straus
taken ashore in a wheel chair and
Ilealth Center.
since then had found it necessary
Another chapter in Mr. Stra
to use that convenience,
aia
life was his success in the bus's
A few days ago,
usi-
Nathan Straus, ness world. lie started dee ply in
Jr., said his father remarked, "I'm debt and became a partner in
two
so tired."
great department stores, later,
"You have been a fighter all
pas
however, completely severing his
your life," the son replied. "You
a.:a
connection with them. Through
t1 i
can pull out of it."
his business years there ran the
Simple Funeral.
•'
emphasized note that the merchant
Mr. Straus tried bravely to over-
cared
litt:e for the storing up of
ro
come his growing
infirmity, but the
riches; in fact, he said i n later
handicap of his advanced age
years that death would find him a
proved too great. Ile grew per-
poor man.
ceptibly weaker in the last few
"It is my ambition," he said. "to
tat
a.s a
days and death was regarded as a die a poor man, for then I shall be
matter of hours when he sank into
rich in happiness and in good
sA.•
a
the coma from which he never works."
emerged .
As the years passed over his
The simple and austere mode of
head the philanthropist gave more
life pursued by Mr. Straus was re-
and more study to his favorite
flected in his funeral Tuesday.
problem—how
to give greater
Services were at Temple Emanu-
health and more happiness to the
El, Fifth avenue and Sixty-fifth
greatest
number
of persons, Oft-
street. In accordance with his
t imes he spoke or wrote his
last wishes the ceremony was
thoughts
on
philanthropy,
as, for
brief. There were no flowers. The
ari
instance, in 1922, when he ad-
body was placed in a plain coffin of
dressed
a
letter
to
the
editor
of
pine wood. Flowers which reached
'W
the New York Times, as follows:
the Hotel San Remo soon after
• •
"An article which recently ap-
news of Mt. Straus's death had
peared in the public press and has
become known to immediate
aaa
created much comment purported
friends were sent to near-by hos-
to give a list of the very rich men
pitals.
(71,
of this country, and my name was
Funeral Services Public.
ta1"
erroneously included in that list,
At air. Straus's request there
' •
Saw an Oblig•tion in Wealth.
were no tickets of admission to the
"During my whole life I have
funeral services. The general pub-
maintained that wealth, whether
lic was permitted to enter with-
at
moderate or great, creates an obli.
out hindrance, in accordance with
gation upon the holder to
use it
the wishes of Mr. Straus, who had
for the benefit of mankind, and I
declared that those who had a hu-
have lived up to this obligation
manitarian interest in his work,
asa
myself even beyond what I felt was
regardless of station, should be
aaf.
just to myself and my family.
permitted to enter on the same
Vat
"I have tried to do all the good
footing with those of social, finan-
at
I could possibly do myself, and by
cial or political position.
my example to inspire others of
No eulogy was delivered during
greater means to use their wealth
the services, which began at 10 a.
and influence as freely as I do
m. A brief sketch of Mr. Straus's
mine for humanity rather than for
life was read by Prof. William
themselves. I regret that my for-
Lyon Phelps of Yale University,
tune is only moderate and that I
who in the last years of the phi.
am not a man of large wealth only
lanthropist's life had been closely
because large wealth would enable
associated with him and called on
me to give more.
him frequently. Psalms were read
"Others measure my fortune by
by Dr. Nathan Kress, Dr. Hyman
what I give. I give what I can,
J. Enelow, both of Congregation
and
not merely in proportion to
Emanu-El, and Dr. Stephen S.
what others who could do more
Wise of the Free Synagogue.
are
giving.
I would be ashamed to
The honorary pallbearers were
adopt such a standard. I would be
Chancellor Elmer Ellsworth Brown,
ashamed
to
give what I now give
Arthur Brisbane, Jacob Billikopf,
if I had any considerable part of
Adrian La Forge, John Baynes
the wealth which is accredited to
Holmes, Adolph S. Ochs, William
sic."
I.yon Phelps, George Foster Pea-
Born in Bavaria.
body, Julian W. Mack, John D.
Mr. Stratus seas born in Rhenish
Rockefeller, Jr., Simon F. Roths-
Bavaria on Jan. 31, 1818, the son
child, Julius Rosenwald, Felix Si.
of I.azarus and Sara Straus. Ile
q
Warburg, Mayor Walker, Max J.
had two brothers, Isitior and Os-
Kohler, Dr. Leopold Stieglitz, Dr.
car, Isidor, a great merchant, lost
E. M. Bluestone, Benny Leonard,
his life when the steamship Titanic
Samuel Strauss, Dr. David de Sults
went down after striking an ice-
Pool,
berg on her maiden trip. Oscar
Mr. Peabody was a boyhood
S. Straus, once ambassador to Tur-
friend who went to school with
key, a cabinet member and recipi-
Mr. Straus. Mr. Kohler has been
ent of honors at the hands of six
an attorney for Mr. Straus for
presidents, from Cleveland to Wil-
many years. Mr. Bluestone repre-
son,
died of heart disease on May
sented Mr. Straus in Palestine in
3, 1926.
several notable works. Mr. Straus
Nathan
was the eldest of the
admired Leonard, the pugilist, for
sons, and when his father came to
many years.
this country in 1854, the boy, de-
Burial was in Cypress Hill,
spite his tender years, was already
Cemetery, in the vault of the
assuming the role of "big brother."
Straus family.
The Straus family settled in Tal-
A World Philanthropist.
bottom, Ga. At first the father
The breadth and profundity of
peddled his wares on the Georgia
the service of Nathan Straus to
plantations and later he set up a
mankind, his generous nature and
stora in Talbottom. When it be-
sunshiny disposition, his sturdy
gan to succeed, the father sent for
defense of the truth and his ready
his wife and the young sons.
eagerness to respond to the cry of
Oscar Straus, in his autobiog-
suffering humanity, irrespective of
raphy, "Under Four Administra-
race, color or creed, made him a
ca
tions," which was published in
philanthropist of the world.
1922, gave interesting details of
He came to this country as a Ger-
those early year.. The Straus
man immigrant boy and achieved
family was the only Jewish group
wealth—something he valued only
in the small village. Thus they
as a medium through which to
attended now and then the Baptist
bring happiness and health to oth-
church, the autobiography relating
ers. Through the years when he
how their home became the head-
built his fortune as a merchant he
quarters for the old-time circuit-
found time to devote himself to
riding preachers who looked with
benefactions for his fellows, and
something
akin to awe upon the
when he retired from active busi-
? at
elder Straus as one who could
ness in 1914 he gave himself over
translate literally from the origi-
wholly to his good works.
nal of the Old Testament.
Outstanding among these was
Family Lost All in Civil War.
his work for the conservation of
The Civil War ruined the fam-
infant life. This he accomplished,
ily
and, with their savings swept
to an incalculable extent, through
away, they moved to New York
the establishment of his famous
City.
The father went into busi-
stations where the babies of the
ness as L. Straus, importer of pot-
poor could get pasteurized milk,
tery
and
glassware, and Nathan
germless milk, which saved the
entered Packard Business College.
lives of countless little ones.
Shortly after he was graduated he
The next phase of Sir. Straus's
married I.ina Gutherz, and in
life that won him recognition as
April, 1927, the couple, rich in
the citizen of New York who had
'al
memories, celebrated the fifty-sec-
done most for public welfare in
ond anniversary of their marriage.
the quarter century ended in 1923
After his marriage Nathan joined
was his keen understanding of
his father—Isidor having already
civic problems, especially thos e
done
so—and the firm became L.
touching the poor. As a token of
Straits & Sons, both young men
his widespread popularity he
ylt
•
was acting as salesmen. In 1923 the
nominated
cratic
party in as 1894 by the Demo- philanthroniat bourht out the busi-
its candidate
for ness and Nathan Straus & Sons.,
mayor, but he declined
the honor.
Inc., with State Senator Nathan
Devoted to Zionism.
Straus, Jr., as president, came into
He was devoted to the cause of being.

undermined his remaining reserves

aic

Zionism and to the effort to make
a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
As far back as 1912 he founded

On St. Patrick's day, 1874,

•

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

t,

fra
a.

(Turn to Next Page.)

Fri

I

Two Baltimore Jewish attorneys were appointed to important posi-
tions in the city government. Melvin L. Fine, a former member of the
state legislature, was named assistant city solicitor and Albert II. Blum
was appointed special assistant state's attorney,
•
•
•

Mayor Russell Wilson of Cincinnati appointed Leader A. Jaffe, a
member of the Rockdale Avenue Temple, a trustee of the University
of Cincinnati for a term of nine years. Ile has served on the board
of trustees for two months. having succeeded Judge Alfred Mack, who
was recently appointed a Common Pleas judge by Governor Myers Y.
Cooper.

•
•
•
Louis .1. Borinstein of Indianapolis, national chairman of the B'nai
B'rith Wider Scope Committee, has been named president of the Indian-
apolis Chamber of Commerce.
•
•
•
The nomination of Simon F. Sobeloff, Deputy C
1 •-• qnlicitor of Bahl-
more, as United States District
Attorney for alary 1 ar 1 ,
was sent to the
Senate
10 days. by President Hoover, Confirmation is expected within a week or

•

•

•

George Z. aiedalie, prominent in New York Jewish Communal
affairs, has
been named United States Attorney for the Southern Dis•
trict of New York by President Hoover. Mr. Medalie succeeds Charles
H. Tuttle. Mr. Medalie is a trustee of the Federation of Jewish Phi-
lanthropic Societies and the Hebrew
National Orphan Home, a director
of the Washington Heights branch of the Young Men's Hebrew
Axe°.
cation and a member of the administrative committee of the American
Jewish Congress.

cr,

Ca,