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Sabbath Rearrngs of the Torah.

Pentateuchal portion—Ex. 18:1-2:23.
Prophetical portion—Is, 6:1-7:6; 9:5, 6.

February 6, 1931

Shevat 19, 5691

Redeeming the Land.

"If American Jewish communities had
followed the example of Canada, and pur-
chased sections of Palestine land for the
Jewish National Fund, the political situa-
tion of Zionism might have been other than
it is now. Great Britain might have taken
another tone if the Jews really owned an
appreciable part of Palestine."
This is a brief quotation made by A. J.
Freiman, president of the Zionist Federa-
tion of Canada, during his visit in New York
last week. Mr. Freiman had a right to crit-
icize because he, more than any other man,
was responsible for the $1,000,000 project
for the Jewish National Fund started by the
Jews of Canada. Our neighbors in the Do-
minion evidently understand Zionist respon-
sibilities better than we do. Numbering
only 160,000 Jews, our Canadian brethren
undertook to raise more than the 4,000,000
Jews in the United States have been able to
gather in three years for the Jewish Na-
tional Fund, Canada's Jews know that the
foundation of the Jewish homeland in Pal-
estine is the soil, and unless we redeem the
soil as Jewish property, we are defeated.
There is a challenge in Mr. Freiman's
statement to the Jews in the United States
where he tells us:
"If the Jews of Canada could buy a
million dollar piece of land, why can't the
Jews, say, of Chicago, do likewise? There
are more Jews in Chicago than in all Can-
ada, I believe. As for New York...."
The last sentence had better be left un-
finished. But perhaps an explanation for
the existing conditions will be found in Mr.
Freiman's statement that "among us in
Canada there is no such thing as a non-
Zionist. There are givers and non-givers."
The problem of the Jewish National
Fund will come to a head in Washington,
D. C., this Sunday, when Menachem Us-
aishkin, world president of the fund, will
propose a gigantic project to American
Jewry. Out of this conference must emerge
a stronger and better suported Jewish Na-
tional Fund. Else the progress of Pales-
tine's reconstruction will long be delayed.

Is Anti-Semitism on the Decline?

Nationwide attention has been attracted
to the statement made at the biennial coun-
cil of the Union of American Hebrew Con-
gregaions in Philadelphia by Milton M. Al-
exander of Detroit to the effect that "anti-
Jewish feeling in America is definitely on
the decline; that American Jews have made
real progress in winning and holding the
good will of people of other faiths." Speak-
ing on the program of the Jewish Radio
Forum last Sunday, Mr. Alexander stated:
"This statement has inspired widespread
comment among Jews and Christians. But
the interesting thing about it is that while
Catholics and Protestants agree that here
is good foundation for the statement, many
of my Jewish friends have taken issue with
me upon the subject."
We fear that Mr. Alexander's thought
was fathered by a pious wish which, we re-
gret to say, has not come true. Unless we
are to accept as a criterion for comparison
the type of anti-Semitism which rages in
Rumania, Hungary and Germany, we must
admit that hatred of our people not only
has not declined but may have increased in
this country. And because its symptoms
are not as evident as those in Germany and
in Rumania, we are perhaps in an even
worse position than those Jews who know
what is threatening them and what they
are compelled to fight.
How are we to judge the existence or
non-existence of anti-Semitism in this coun-
try? Must we always be guided by reports
of massacres, or sensational stories about
social clubs setting up barriers against Jew-
ish applicants? Of course not. Anti-Sem-
itism has taken root in different forms—po-
litical, social, economic, religious. And in
perhaps every one of these classifications it
exists in this country, even though it is not
violently displayed.
No one will deny its existence socially.
If we have had no public displays of it in
the past year, it may be due to the fact that
Jews have become reconciled to it and have
set up exclusive clubs of their own where
they find outlets for their social cravings.
The mere fact that this social prejudice and
ostracism of the Jew exists is proof of the
prevalence of anti-Jewish feeling. And if
we search we will find evidence of discrim-
ination in their religious and political forms,
all the good-will dinners and functions to
the contrary, notwithstanding. It is need-
less to repeat the charge that has been

'6 '

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made against many who have posed as our
friends at good will functions, but who in
reality desired to disseminate misisonary
propaganda.
But perhaps the must evident symptom
of the existence and growth of anti-Jewish
feeling is to be found in the economic class-
ification. We are not concerned over the
bigoted attacks that have been made
against Jewry on the false ground that
they are responsible for the depressions.
Such charges, emanating in European coun-
tries and brought to this continent by nar-
row-minded people, have long ago been
refuted, yet they exist. What we are con-
cerned about, however, is the mean and bit-
ter discrimination which is practiced
against our boys and girls when they set
out to look for jobs. Discrimination in em-
ployment is driving many of our youth to
despair and has created the most serious
problem in American Jewry. The existence
of this problem alone completely refutes
the statement of Mr. Alexander.
Employment bureaus in Detroit, when
approached for figures on the question of
discrimination in employment, stated that
eight out of every ten firms, in applying for
help, specify that no Jews need apply. This
is the problem we are up against now : It
is a problem of silent but very bitter and
ingrained hatred of our people. There are
no pogroms, and there probably never will
be on this continent. But we are suffering
from a silk-gloved anti-Semitism which is
more dangreous because it makes social and
economic outcasts of our youth. Out of
discrimination in employment arises the
worst of all dangers for our people, and it
is the ghastliest of all symptoms of anti-
Semitism.
The challenge hidden in the existing
problem is not to the Jew alone. It is di-
rected as much at the Gentile world. If
the Christians who meet us at good will
dinners are sincere, and if the Protestants
and Catholics who have commended Mr.
Alexander for his address can prove the
decline in anti-Semitic feeling in this coun-
try, let them go among their co-religion-
ists and battle for justice to the young
American Jews and for the elimination of
discrimination against them in employment.

Is There Jewish Solidarity?

Fannie Hurst, in "Back Street," just pub-
lished by Cosmopolitan Book Corporation,
speaks of the fidelity, stability and rever-
ence of Jewish young men. Miss Ruth
Raphael, associate editor of the Cosmopoli-
tan publishing corporation, sums up the
novel as being "the story of Jewish solidar-
ity." And the heroine tells herself when
she first meets her Jewish lover:
"There were advantages to marrying a
good Jewish boy. These boys had by
instinct the qualities that could make life
sweet for a woman. Fidelity. Stability.
Generosity. Reverence for the unity of the
family."
These are sentiments which give us the
satisfaction of knowing that the influence
of Jewish home life is still highly thought
of and held up as examples to other peo-
ples. They echo the statement made re-
cently by Dr. Magnus Hirschfeld, founder
of the Institute of Sexual Science of Berlin
and one of the world's outstanding authori-
ties on sex problems, that "the Jewish idea
of the family has been a tremendous influ-
ence for good in modern life."
But in reality there is much to be anxious
about in present times of turbulent eco-
nomic and moral upsets. We expect the
influence of Jewish home life to retain its
force and to come back into power after
the doubting and despairing periods will
have passed. But in the meantime that
stability and reverence has been weak-
ened; the moral decline of our day has
invaded Jewish as well as non-Jewish ranks.
With the result that if ever there was a sem-
blance of Jewish solidarity, in the sense that
Jews once were united in defense of Jewish
historical truth and ethical teachings, it is
now a mere legend.
Only when we are attacked, in times of
pogroms and persecutions, in periods of dis-
tress, have Jews been able to present a
united front taking on the semblance of soli-
darity. Otherwise, Jewish solidarity is mere
myth. And if the qualities for which Jew-
ish home life has become a proverb among
the nations—fidelity, stability, reverence—
are declining, it is due to the failure of par-
ents to give the young that training which
is essential for an honorable interpretation
of the finest traditions of our people. It is
wrong to think of solidarity only in terms of
defense against physical attacks. To be
honest to Jewish ideals, ethics and tradi-
tions, Jewish solidarity should be inter-
preted in terms of honest and consistent
propaganda of Jewish ethical and moral
teachings. If these have declined, it is due
entirely to the decline in the influence of
the Jewish home.
Increase attendance in Jewish schools,
and you will have a proportionate decrease
in the names of Jewish gangsters and
racketeers. Give the Jewish child a Jewish
training and make his home life beautiful,
and Jews will reflect glory rather than dis-
grace on their people. Out of the strength-
ening of such home influences will arise the
type of solidarity that will be a boon to
Jewry. Until such a spiritual revival. the
only type of solidarity that can be said to
exist among Jews is that which is aroused
by diversity rather than by tradition.

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Lincoln's Jewish Anecdotes

1.!

HAVE just received a copy of a list of Jewish
books compiled under the title of "A Layman's
Jewish Library," issued by the tract commission
of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
For years 1 have been in receipt of inquiries for just
such a list from readers all over the country. This
booklet will meet a real need and I am very glad
that it has been prepared. It offers a wide selection
and anyone who is interested I am sure can obtain
a copy on request from the tract commission of the
Union of American Hebrew Congregations, Mer-
chants Building, Cincinnati, Ohio.

MOTION AND MEDITATION

WHY PENCILS HAVE ERASERS

We are in receipt of the follow.
ing letter from Walter Winchell
which indicates that we were
wrong in everything except the
grammar in a recent statement
made in this column about Walter
Winchell, May we say in extenu-
ation that the information was
given us by a man generally re-
garded as au courant with the inti-
mate goings-on of Broadway. The
letter of Mr. Winchell follows:
"Dear Mr. Schwartz:

NOTICE that an organization of Jewish young
people in Boston has arranged to debate on the
subject of a Jewish university. This question of a
Jewish University in this country is coming more
and more to the front. When I suggested a few
years ago a tendency in that direction the idea was
pooh-poohed. But I have seen in my lifetime other
movements in Jewry pooh-poohed, but they arrived
just the same. Whether we like to admit or not
the Jewish student question in our universities is
becoming more acute; this is especially true in the
departments of law and medicine.

"WALTER WINCHELL."

WEITZENKORN WINS

Louis Weitzenkorn is tasting
the sweets of revenge. Somehow,
he has never seemed to enjoy
great popularity among the deni-
zens of the Fourth Estate, and last
year, upon his retirement from
newspaperdom, he wrote a play.
It was a flop, and how the critics
seemed to enjoy the rubbing-in
technique.
Weitzenkorn, in chagrin, left for
Paris, and there wrote another
play, "Five Star Final," and that
shows some indications of heading
for the hit class. Moreover, Hol-
lywood tempted him with its abun-
dant lucre and now Weitzenkorn
can afford to do a little nose-
thumbing.

BASED ON LIFE

Strangely enough, this new
opus of Weitzenkorn's is based on
an experience of his while editing
a New York tabloid daily, known
for its hyper-sensationalism.
While employed there, he was
given a 101part aerial relating to
the famous Elsie Siegel murder
Weitzenkorn's first wife was a
relative of Elsie Siegel, and he
told the publishers that the fam-
ily would sue if the serial was pub-
lished. After giving this warning,
Weitzenkorn went over the story
cautiously, trying to make it as lit-
tle libelous as possible. Finally,
the publishers took fright, and de-
cided not to publish. This Elsie
Siegel, going home one day, ac-
cepted the offer of a Chinese taxi
driver to take her home. Her body
was later found in a trunk at
Thirty-ninth street.
It was this story, and the con-
duct of the paper in seeking to re-
vive it, which form the basis of
the new hit.

THOSE MIAMI CHILDREN

Ellard Kohn, editor of the Jew-
ish Unity of Miami, sends me this
one: A little Miami miss burst in
upon her mother one day with the
news that she had just seen a
panther leap out of the back yard.
"Now, now Jeannette," said her
mother, "you go upstairs and pray
to God to forgive you for telling
a lie."
The child went upstairs, and 10
minutes later was back again.
"Well. did you pray for for-
giveneas?"
"Yes," replied the child, "I
asked God to forgive me, and he
said: 'It'sokay with me. I some-
times get a dog mixed up with a
panther myself.'"
—.—
WISE WAS WRONG
Within the next few dans,
America celebrates again the birth-
day of perhaps its greatest son—
Abraham Lincoln.
It has been charged that we
Jews suffer from the weakness of
trying to make all notable people
into Jews—and perhaps we have
something of this malady.
Anyway, in the case of Abraham
Lincoln, it can almost be f ~ r¢iven.
Who would not like to claim Lin-
coln for his own?
The only one who seriously en-
deavored to do so that I know was

(Tura to Next Pare)

EDITORIAL PAGE

Editor's Note—President Lincoln wmt
f the beet friends the Jews ever
in the white Moe.
in
us Jews fought
for his nomination. Jew. battled for his
elmtion and Jews worked with him when
he wm president. As Lincoln's birthday
again approaches, Mr. Davis recounts a
number of timely Lincoln Jewish •nec-
dote, some of which have never been
published in the Jewish press nil others
that h•ve been forgotten.

had

The late Simon Wolf used to re-
late how he, as one of a commit-
tee representing a Washington lit-
erary society, called upon Presi-
dent Lincoln and besought his pres-
ence at a dramatic performance
which they proposed to give.
"Well, boys, what are you go-
ing to play?" asked Lincoln.
"Hamlet," replied Wolf.
"Splendid. Why could I not be
the gravedigger of the evening, for
am I not a fellow of infinite jest?"
That the great emancipator-
president was that the world of to-
day cheerfully concedes. Ile
laughed perhaps that he might not
cry. Socrates long ago pointed
out that comedy and tragedy
sprang from the womb of the same
genius, and Harlequin, the jester,
you recall, was under treatment
for melancholia.
A thousand stories with this
touch of jest are told of Lincoln.
In seemingly the most morbid of
moods, he would burst into this
lighter vein, as Judge Dittenhofer,
one of the Jews who cast one of
the electoral votes for Lincoln for
president, recalled.

MILTON ALEXANDER of Detroit, an advertising
man by vocation and a social worker by avoca-
cation, told the delegates to the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations at Philadelphia that anti-
Semitism in this country is on the wane. Due, he
said, to the organized efforts on the part of Chris-
tians and Jews in the direction of good will. I be-
lieve that Mr. Alexander was sincere in making
that statement. But it was sheer coincidence that
just as I sat down to the typewriter to contradict
him that I casually thumbed over a recent issue of
the Jewish Chronicle of Newark, N. J., and saw that
my contradiction had been anticipated by the edi-
tor of that journal. Ile said: "Anti-Semitism is
not on the wane here or in any other country. The
better we realize this and make ourselves self-suf-
ficient against the manifestations of this bigotry
and ignorance, the more happiness we will get out
of our brief life in this world."

MR. ALEXANDER is right in trying to look opti-
mistically at the situation. But it is extremely
difficult in the face of ever-increasing economic and
social discrimination against the Jew to feel that
there has been any change for the better. Good
will organizations have done much to prevent the
cleavage between ourselves and our neighbors
from growing worse. But personally, good will
movements remind me of peace movements . . .
t•ey do accomplish some good but not nearly
enough in proportion to the effort expended. It is
true, of course, that we do not find in the United
States anti-Jewish feeling expressing itself as bru-
tally as in Europe, but rather in a more subtle, yet
equally exasperating way. I agree with the editor
of the Jewish Chronicle that we should not permit
ourselves to be lulled into a feeling of false secur-
ity; that it is incumbent upon us to make ourselves
"inwardly strong and spiritually stalwart to stand
off against anti-Semitism."

"May I correct you, please, in
your notice about me. I do not
get $200,000 a year. I never sang
in El choir with Cantor Rosenblatt.
I think you were led astray in that
because I did sing once in a mo-
tion picture house with Eddie Can-
tor. My name was never Lip-
schutz, always Winchell. The only
difference in the spelling of it 125
years ago was that there was only
one 'I' in the name.
"Sincerely,

Br JOHN DAVIS

I

By DAVID SCHWARTZ

It's a great knack—this ability
to put yourself in a staccato mood.
I know at least one writer whose
SI1CC(ISS, I believe. is due to this
ability of impartint a tensfmes.s
and sincerity which I think is alien
from him naturally. But he knows
how to make his nrose give this
appearance of gushing forth high-
pressur e conviction.
Yet despite the possibilities of
hypocrisy, I think it is a knack
worth cultivation, and for that
reason, among others, I have
always had a weakness for the old
Chassidim. They had a term
which they called, I believe, - hith-
lahavoth," enthusiasm, or ecstacy,
and they believed that no man
could be truly pious without this
"hithlahavoth."

arr.t=s;

Charles It Joseph

and News of Jew-
ish Personalities.

WORKING UP AN EMOTIONAL
SWEAT

"

4 1

Tidbits

A recent writer on the Broad-
way scene imparts the news that
Irving Berlin is a champion floor
pacer, and that he is particularly
inclined to this carpet massaging
in the midst of the throes of a
musical composition.
Intensity of thinking seems to
require some physical accompani-
ment. The body must keep in
rhythm with the mind. I presume
that on something of this basis
would be explained the swaying of
the Jew over his Talmud, and the
characteristic physical motions of
chess players. The old champion,
Dr. Lasker, was in th e habit of
swaying his feet; Tschigorin car-
ried on a regular calisthenics in
the way of eye twitching during
a game, and Janowski would bite
away furiously on his cigar. Some-
ho•, you've got to work yourself
up in a frenzy.

'6 ' '

I

I

HAVE just read Rabbi Abbe Silver's new book,
"Religion in a Changing World." If that book
had come from the pen of a Dr. Harry Fosdick or
a John Haynes Holmes it would be hailed as one
of the illuminating and penetrating analyses of the
religious thought of the day and it would probably
rank among the leading "best sellers" in the non-
fiction field. But the "people of the book" do not
rush so quickly to the book marts to procure their
own leaders' opinions on the subject. Dr. Silver
writes extraordinarily well, which is rather uncom-
mon in one who speaks no eloutiently. One of his
most striking phrases is "Religious thought has be-
come a bewildered pedestrian, irreverently jostled
and knocked about in tne rush of modern life." Ile
points out that the liberal religious forces, having
disported themselves for decades in an attack upon
orthodoxy, now find themselves confronted with th e
real foe of all religion, materialism and atheism.
The result, he claims, is panic, confusion and hu-
manism. Be deals with such subjects as "Science
and Religion," "The Church and Social Justice,"
"The Widening Horizon of Social Service," "The
Church and World Peace" and Liberalism at the
Crossroads." It is a book well worth the invest.
ment of any one's time to read and re-read. The
word "brilliant" is pretty much overworked, but it
is the only one that should be used in describing
this work of Dr. Silver's. Jewish organizations and
study groups who spend all too much time with lit-
erature of doubtful value will profit greatly by read-
ing and discussing Dr. Silver's views as presented
in this most interesting volume.

AFTER

having written the foregoing paragraph I
discovered that Dr. Silver's book had been
chosen as the January choice of the Religious Book-
of-the-Month Club, whose editorial committee among
others consists of Dr. Harry Fosdick, Dr. Samuel
Parkes Cadman and Bishop Francis McConnell,
which confirms my opinion as to the value of the
books.
•
HE Seven Arts Feature Syndicate reports a
meeting between Einstein and Charlie Chaplin,
and goes on to say "As instances of Jewish geniuses
these two men—the best known Jews in the world
—represent opposite poles . . . the first represents
the Talmudic type among the Jews; the other repre-
sents the immortal shlimihl." All this is interest-
ing, but for some years I have been trying to dis-
cover somewhere, somehow, some tangible evidence
that Charlie Chaplin is a Jew. I remember calling
on the publishers of "Who's Who in American
Jewry" at the time they were getting ready to issue
their first volume, but they apparently were unable
to verify the report that Charlie is a Jew. So far
as I am concerned it is a matter of indifference
whether he is a Jew . or not—but in the interest of
accuracy I would like to obtain information on the
subject.

T

AN INTERESTING situation has arisen in con-
nection with the Julius Rosenwald Fund and
its attitude toward the Negro question, which I pre-
sent. A Negro hospital in the Harlem district in
New York brought about a spirited protest by 30
prominent Negro physicians to the president of the
Rosenwald Fund, saying that the Rosenwald hos-
pitals are Jim Crow in spirit and Jim Crow in fact.
A criticism was also made that the Julius Rosen-
wald Fund had "stimulated and advanced tremen-
dously and separation of the Negro race from all
other races" and added that the dean of the medi-
cal faculty of the University of Chicago had as-
serted the interneships for Negro students could be
served only in Negro hospitals or in general hos-
pitals with many Negro patients.

IF TIIAT is the attitude taken by this group of
Negro physicians they certainly have a right to
express themselves as forcefully as they please. But
where, to my mind, they opened themselves to at
least the criticism of bad taste and the injecting of
an issue that seems to me to be quite beyond the
question, is in this statement:

You did not mention, Mr. Embre e (presi-
dent of the Rosenwald Fund) that Mr. Rosen-
wald has not, as far as we know, advocated the

segregation of Jewish students at the Univer-
sity of Chicago and the sending of Jewish stu-
dents to Jewish hospitals for their clinical
clerkships and interneships.

I fail to see the slightest warrant for this im-
pertinent question addressed to a man who has
shown himself to be far beyond and above

all racial

prejudice. The Protestants should fight their bat-
tle without going out of their
way to drag in ques-
tions which are extraneous to the issue in an at-
tempt to embarrass one who has been the greatest
benefactor the Negroes have had
in recent times.

Tr:Yr
"'Ne`aoW-̀1;1.4 ."....vess
o.'mms•a-`'ved•sse

One on a Rabbi.

"While an air of melancholy
always seemed to suffuse his fea-
tures, he was the most genial of
men," reminisced this Jewish
friend of Lincoln. "I often found
him sitting in the business office of
the White House, wearing a black,
threadbare alpaca coat, out at the
elbows and in slippers. I could
always notice when he was about
to indulge in a jest, which he fre-
quently did in the midst of the
most serious conversation. A sort
of half suppressed smile would
light on that strong face for a
brief interval before the jest was
given." One of the Jewish anec-
dotes related of Lincoln is in con-
nection with the visit of Rabbi
Morris J. Raphall, who sought to
have his son, Alfred, promoted
fro ma second lieutenancy to the
next higher rank.
"But you, as a minister of God,"
said Lincoln, "ought to be home
praying for the success of our
arms."
"My assistant is doing that," re-
plied the minister, somewhat em-
barrassed,
"Well, that's different," replied
Honest Abe, proceeding to issue
an order for the promotion in
rank.
After doing which, he turned to
Rabbi Raphall: "Now, doctor, you
can go home and do your own
praying,"

He Does a Translation.

Adolph S. Solomon, who was en-
gaged in publishing in Washington
at the time of the war, was a fre-
quent caller at the White House.
On one occasion he was there when
a certain Mr. Addison came to ten-
der his resignation from the gov-
ernment employ.
Lincoln mused for a moment.
Finally, he looked at Addison:
"All right, I accept your resigns.
tion, but nothing can compensate
me for your loss, for when you are
out I will be the ugliest man in
the government employ."
When Lincoln was campaigning
for the presidency, on his visit to
New York, he was introduced to
Sigmund Kaufman, a brilliant
young German Jew, who had par-
ticipated in the revolutionary up-
rising of 1848 in Germany and
who was now a staunch leader of
the abolition movement.
When presented' to Kaufman,
Lincoln smiled: "Well, I know
enough German to know that
Kaufman means merchant."

"To the Bosom of Father Abra-
ham."
It will be recalled that during

the Civil War, General Grant is-
sued an order which aroused con-
sternation throughout all Ameri-
can Jewry, banning all Jewish trail-
ers from within the military lines.
Immediately, it was arranged
for several Jewish delegations to
visit the president. The first one
to reach the White House was a
Kentucky Jew, Cesar Kaskell.
As Kaskell finished his story,
Lincoln remarked: "So the chil-
dren of Israel are driven from the
land of Canaan."
"Yes," replied Kaskell, "and
that is why we come to the bosom
of Father Abraham."
"And you shall have redress,"
replied Lincoln, issuing an order
revoking Grant's edict.
Desertion was a very common
thing in the war. It has been esti-
mated that more than a quarter of
a million soldiers took French
leave of the army.

Rabbi Ssold's Visit.
On one occasion, Rabbi Szold of

Baltimore came to the White
House to plead for the life of a
Jewish deserter, The president
at
the time was in conference, and
Rabbi Szold, knowing Lincoln's
fondness for the Bible, sent in
Bible with the notation: Deuter-
onomy 22:20.

Soon the chief executive came
out with a smile on his face, Th,
quotation from the Bible had evi-
dently pleased him.
But Lincoln informed th e rabbi
he could do nothing. "Are you
pleading," he asked, "for this Jew
ish boy or for all held on this
charge?" Ile pointed out to
Rabbi Szold that there were a
number of other deserter s of othe,
faiths awaiting execution on th,
same charge.
The Biblical passage to which
Rabbi Szold referred Lincoln is a:
follows:

"And the officers shall speak
further unto the people, and they
shall say, What is there that is
fearful and fainthearted? Let him
go and return unto his house, lest
his brethren's heart melt as his
heart."

An Old Friendship.

Rose Eytinge, a Jewess, who was

a celebrated actress of her daV,

thus recalls in her memoirs a visit
that she paid the war president:
"When I was presented to the
president, he took my hand and,
holding it while he looked down
upon m e from his great height,
said: 'So this is the lady that all
us folks in Washington like so
much,' Then with a twinkling of
the eye, he added: 'Don't you ever
come around here asking me to do
some of those important things you
women always ask for, for I will
have to do it, and then I will get
into trouble.'"
Oj one occasion, Lincoln did
pardon a Jewish deserter, and the
young man went back to his com-
pany and led a "forlorn hope" in
battle. When Lincoln was told of
his brave fighting and death, it is
said he was affected to tears.
One of the oldest friendships of
Lincoln was that with a Jewish
chiropodist, a certain Dr. leacher
Zacharie. Lincoln made the ac-
quaintance of the Jewish chiropo-
dist when the latter treated him
very successfully for some foot
trouble. It appears that Lincoln
used to steal off now and then and
spend an evening with the Jewish
foot doctor. The intimacy indeed
aroused sharp editorials from some
of the New York papers, who could
not understand what a president
of the United States could see in a
toe doctor.

Sent On • Mission,

The New York World castigated
the president under an editorial
captioned: "Unionism and Bun-
ionism," and the New York Her-
ald ran an article appropriately
called: "Head and Feet of the Na-
tion." Of course, the feet was
Dr. Zacharie. The Herald's article
shows that Zacharie must have
been a rarely interesting person.
Thus, it described him: "A wit,
gourmet and eccentric with a
splendid Roman nose, fashionable
whiskers and eloquent tongue, a
dazzling diamond breast-pin, great
skill in his profession, and an in-
gratiating manner, a perfect
knowledge of his business and a
plentiful supply of social and
moral courage."
The description seems to indi-
cate a personality which, perhaps
not without its faults, still had
much of the refreshing and in-
triguing about it. What stories
most have been exchanged be-
tween the American and the Jew-
ish wit!
There seems some slight ground
for the belief that Lincoln later
sent him, unofficially, to sound out
the possibilities of peace with the
south. It atsnesrs that he con-
ferred with Jefferson Davis and
other leaders of the Confederacy.

A Cheering Gift.

A Jew who was in a position to
see the more sombre side of Lin-
coln's personality was Edward
Rosewater, later the founder of
the Omaha Bee. At the time of
the war Rosewater was a tele-
graph operator employed in the
War Department. It was he who
transmitted Lincoln's emancipa-
tion proclamation to the nation.
Rosewater recalled the pensive-
ness of the president when he came
to the telegraph office on the day
of the battle between General
Burnside and General Lee.
Lincoln was at the side of Rose-
water from 8 o'clock in the morn-
ing until the battle was over. He
came over in his slippers, a look of
apprehension on his fare, for he
had no great faith in Burnside's
competence. And his fears proved
well founded. for the Union forces
were defeated with a loss of 10,000
men.
Few gifts must have given Lin-
coln so much c"eer as a silk flag,
sent to Lincoln by a Jewish friend,
Abraham Cohen, who was no lit-

(Turn to Next Page.)

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

Kirsopp Lake, Wynn professor of ecclesiastical history at Har-
vard Dr.
University, will conduct a
seminar at the Hebrew University in
Jerusalem, according to an announcement received by
the American

office, of which Felix M. Warburg is the chairman.
•
•
•

The Willard Gibbs Medal for 1931, awarded by the Chicago section
of the American Chemical Society, to "the outstanding American
worker in the application of organic chemistry to biological problems"
will be given to Dr. Phoebus A. Levene of the Rockefeller Institute.
according to an announcement by the society. Dr. Levene, who will
be the twentieth recipient of the Gibbs medal.
succeeded bud year in
concentrating vitamin B-2, a form of vitamin B, ich is necessary to
the diet of growing children.
•
•
•
David Alkalay, leader of Jugo-Slavian Jewry
for many years
President of the Jugo-Slavian Zionist Federation, has been decorated
by his majesty, King Alexander, Mr. Alkalay
was made a member of
the recently created Order of the Jugo-Slavian
Crown.
•
•
•

Max Steinkopf, Winnipeg Jewish barrister, received word that he
had been awarded the
Order of the White Lion of Czechoslovakia, one
of the highest decorations granted by the Czechoslovak republic. Mr.
Steinkopf has been honorary counsel for Czechoslovaki
a in Winnipeg
for a number of years. He recently retooled from a trip to the Orient,
where he went as the representative
of Winnipeg with a delegation of
the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

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