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LIEDEPROITAWISfletRONICLE

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Sabbath Readings of the Law.
Pen tat ruche! portion—Ex. 25:l-27:19.
Prophe ticul portion—I Kings 5:26-6:13,

February 20, 1931

Adar

3,

Ludwig Lewisohn has been a great factor
ill arousing the consciousness of Jews. Ile
has related his own experiences, first of
indifference to his own people, then of
gradual approach, until he has become so
imbued with Judaism that he is one of the
literary prophets of the modern Jewish re-
ligious-national revival. Ilis "Upstream,"
"Mid-Channel," "The Island Within," and
"Israel" have been and are being read by
millions. They have inspired Jews and
served as excellent propaganda for Jewish
nationalism,
Now comes a new novel from Lewisohn's
masterful pen, and in it we find this revived
Jewish spirit strengthened, his faith in Jud-
aism fortified, the theme of the book form-
ing a great sermon on Jewish life. In many
respects "The Last Days of Shylock" is by
far more superb even than his other works.
At least one chapter, "Of a Tale Told Him
in Cyprus," wherein Jessica confides to him
how she longed for the gayeties of the non-
Jewish neighbors and how she missed the
influences of the Jewish home, is a fascin-
ating dissertation on the powers of Jewish
home life and the dire consequences that
come from failure to strengthen home ties.
This and other equally powerful chapters
leave a lasting impression on the reader.
But in one other chapter we find evidence
of a marked departure on the part of Mr.
Lewisohn from his nationalist path, and his
deviation is, surprisingly enough, in the ex-
treme Orthodox direction, Mr. Lewisohn
sees salvation in the Beth ha-Midrash. Af-
ter the disappointments that were exper-
ienced by the Jews of the time of Joseph
Nassi in an effort to build a Jewish center
in Tiberias, Lewisohn brings together the
central figures in that tragedy, which the
reader is inclined to compare with the
treachery which accompanies the modern
pledges by non-Jews for the redemption of
Zino. And at this meeting Joseph Nassi is
caused by Lewisohn to unburden himself
of the following:

5691

In many respects, the new MacDonald
statement on British policy in Palestine is
even more encouraging that it was origi-
nally expected to be. It not only nullifies the
discriminating conclusions of Lord Pass-
field's White Paper, but it pledges to give
Jewish labor a due share in public works
and to "institute an enquiry as soon as pos-
sible to ascertain inter alia what State and
other lands are, or properly can be made,
available for close settlement by Jews."
The friendly tone of Mr. MacDonald's
statement and the thoroughness with which
it discusses the Palestine problem reveals a
sincere desire to clarify the issue anti to
create an harmonious basis for negotiations
with the Jews and the Arabs. After a year
and a half of anxiety which caused the
work in Palestine to slow up, this new state-
ment of British policy should serve as an in-
centive for increased Jewish effort in Pal-
estine which can be transformed into a na-
tional home for the Jewish people in our
own time, without in any way prejudicing
the rights of the Arabs, and even continu-
ing to benefit the non-Jewish community,
as Jewish effort has benofitted it in the
past decade.
In several places in his new statement
Mr. MacDonald has given assurances
which should hearten world Jewry. He
stated, for instance, in the paragraph in
which he denies that Britain will crystal-
lize the existing economic conditions in Pal-
estine, that "on the contrary, the obliga-
tion to facilitate Jewish immigration anti
to encourage close settlement by Jews on
the land, remains a positive obligation of
the Mandate and it can be fulfilled without
prejudice to the rights and position of other
sections of the population of Palestine."
In another important paragraph the
Prime Minister states that "His Majesty's
Government did not prescribe and do not
contemplate any stoppage or prohibition
of Jewish immigration in any of its cate-
gories. The practice of sanctioning a La-
bor Schedule of wage-earning immigrants
will continue. In each case consideration
will be given to anticipated labor require-
ments for works which, being dependent
upon Jewish or mainly Jewish capital,
would not be, or would not have been un-
dertaken unless Jewish labor was avail-
able. With regard to public and municipal
works failing to be financed out of public
funds, the claim of Jewish labor to a due
share of the employment available, taking
into account Jewish contributions to pub-
lic revenue, shall be taken into considera-
tion." This removes two of the most ser-
ious grievances against the infamous Pass-
field White Paper.
The closing paragraph in the Prime Min-
ister's declaration is a bid for Arab-Jewish-
British amity, which has been seconded in
a statement by Dr. Chaim Weizmann who
expressel the hope that the three parties
will reach an agreement for peaceful co-
operation, Mr. MacDonald's statement,
which is a reaffirmation of Britain's obliga-
tions, at the same time sounding a call for
peace among all elements in Palestine, will
no doubt have the approval of all Jews,
and is a bid to the Palestine Arabs to dem-
onstrate their desire for co-operation and
amity.
Premier MacDonald's statement is a
great personal triumph for Dr. Weizmann
and is a decided victory for the Zionist
cause. By establishing a peaceful accord
with the Arabs, a great future is ahead for
Palestine as a result of the negotiations of
the past few months,

A Monument to Elaym Salomon.
A national conference has been called
for the coming week to bring to realization
the plan for the construction of a monument
in tribute to the financier of the Revolution-
ary War Ham Salomon. So much has
been said and written about this proposal
in recent years. and national recognition of
the man who contributed so much to the
success of the American Revolution has
been so long delayed, that it is to be hoped
that this conference will finally make possi-
ble the building of this monument.
Past presidents, members of both Houses
of Congress, leaders in every walk of life in
this country, have spoken in favor of the
project for the Salomon monument. But it
is not necessary to quote them when we can
point to one contemporary tribute which
speaks volumes for the financial genius of
the Revolution. James Madison wrote about
Haym Salomon:
The kindness of our little friend in

R.J1

Qy

BY-THE-WAY

I am no Kabbalist, but I am beginning to

believe that there exist in truth two worlds.
There is the world of the senses which is
naught but tumult and sinfulness and evil and
which cannot be saved or even touched by
anything within itself or partaking of it and
its qualities. And there is another world, the
intelligible and eternal world of values and
ideas in which it is given us to dwell with our
better part and it is possible that from this
eternal world influences may be made to
stream into the world of the senses and touch
it and heal it and mayhap save it in the end of
days. Therefore, my friends, I seek no longer
to erect the walls of cities or to send either
trees or looms to the East. I hold Murad and
his lust and rage and the bag of gold I sent
him to be of the same quality and of the same
nothingness. The substance that is left my
house now and in after days shall be given
wholly for places of prayer and places of study
and places where may be imprinted the
writings of the learned and the holy. Let us
serve the intelligible world. All else is dross.
From the intelligible world the Messiah must
come not from this sensible world of injustice
and hatred and folly.

This is a reversion to the practices anti
principles of Orthodoxy of a generation
ago, and the difference is that the older
generation practiced it and was a living
symbol of Jewish survival by the power of
the Torah. The building of houses of learn-
ing and prayer in our own time, however,
means the construction of cold towers
which are frequented by a minyan or two
on a Sabbath and whose only excuse for ex-
istence is that they may be filled to capac-
ity by three-holy-day-a-year congregations.
In principle Mr. Lewisohn is right. But in
practice he has flung his shot far away from
the target. Would that his preachment
could be practically translated and that it
were possible to lead the stray Jewish peo-
ple back to the Torah. But instead of the
understanding anti culture and learning for
which Mr. Lewisohn craves we have ignor-
ance and misunderstanding and a lack of
able leadership, and instead of a revival we
see the passing of the old order, with noth-
ing equally as strong spiritually to replace
it. From Palestine at least comes the in-
spiration of a revived Hebrew language and
a revived Jewish productivity which may
one day help to draw the Jew back to his
natural spiritual abode—his traditional
college, the Beth ha-Midrash.
Mr. Lewisohn has dared to elaborate on
a sensitive theme, and he has given us an-
other great and inspiring work which is a
true contribution to the new literature dedi-
cated to the revival of Jewish self-respect
and Jewish religious-national existence.

•••

•

• "F.Ct

•••

My Dear Miss Block:

You made a very favorable impression upon

the members of the committee, as well as upon

me, which causes it to be rather difficult to
write this note. The community which we

serve happens to be composed entirely of Gen-

tiles, which is a matter it was necessary for
us to consider. We have discussed the situa-

tion carefully and thoughtfully and have con-

cluded that the position would not be worth
the grief which inevitably you would be called

upon to suffer. Please believe that the com-

mittee and I have a very kindly feeling for you

and wish you success and happiness in your
chosen profession.

Of course, Mr. Nlasters is not
thinking of the term Zionist in the
sense that we Jews do. To hint,
Zionism means the ideas and phi-
losophy, the religious conceptions,
emanating from Zion. In other
words, Zionism is Judaism and
Christianity.

Very sincerely,
Marengo, Ill.
CAPITOLA PARKER.

FIRST of all, I must commend Miss Parker for
her frankness. Equally must condemn the cruel
and un-Christian attitude of a community where
one's religion is looked upon as a bar to an oppor-
tunity to practice one's profession. Small towns are
like that. I know, because I lived in one. Despite
the spirit of frankness which pervades the rejection
of Miss Block, nevertheless one is led to the belief
that to refuse to engage n qualified teacher for
public school work because of the fact that she is a
Jewess is quite un-American and contrary to every
principle of justice. Dr. Teller wonders whether
some Jewish organization like the B'nai B'rith or
the American Jewish Committee can to anything to
"help make it possible for Jewish teachers to secure
positions not as 'marranos' but as Jews?" I don't
know, doctor. The appearance of this paragraph
I know' will immediately invite the attention of the
B'nai B'rith, but what that body can do is problem-
atical. I receive any number of similar protests
but thus far every attempt to gain a free field for
our Jewish girls in the teaching profession, as well
in office employment, has met with failure. Just
now I believe the American Jewish Congress has
the whole question of Jewish unemployment under
consideration, but from my own experience and
observation I fear that little of value will be ac-
complished. Good-will movements seem to move
slowly and in a circle.
•
•

In brief, Masters contends that
Lincoln in his early days was an
infidel, but when he rose to the
presidency, he was caught in the
current of religion, I,egan to bring
in God and Christian ideas in the
equation of life—and that ruined
him. Mr. Masters does not believe
in either Christianity or Judaism,
and he thinks that Lincoln's Chris-
tianizing brought on the orgy of
sordidness and corruption, which
followed the Civil War.

A BED-TIME TALE WITH A
MORAL

Once upon a time, there lived a
great and stern king. One rimming,
after a particularly good breakfast,
just as he was puffing away at a
Corona-Corona, he called his Prime
Minister to him.
"Charlie," he said in a grave
tone, "I want you to summon all
of the wise men of the kingdom
to me."
No sooner said than done. All of
the wise men arrived.
"Gentlemen," said the king, "1
want to get all the education of the
world. I had thought of taking a
correspondence school course, but
instead I have decided on this. You
get me together all of the wisdom
of the world."
"And if you don't," thundered
the king, winking maliciously with
his eye, and shaking his mustache
up and down—"if you don't, off
goes your heads."
Whereupon, all the wise men pro-
ceeded to their laboratories, and
gathered together all the wisdom of
the world. And after they had
gathered it, they brought the col-
lection before his majesty.
The king gave one look at the
collection and said "feh."
"I am a busy man. I have to
fight wars and have fifty wives. I
have no time for all of this. Boil
it down," said the king.
"And if you don't," concluded
the king, winking his eye malicious-
ly, and shaking his mustache up
and diesn, "off goes your head."
And so the wise men got together
and began to boil down this library
of wisdom, and they boiled it down
to where it was included within the
limits of an Encylopedia, which
they brought to the king.
The king snarled again. "I am a
busy man etc. Boil it down."
And so the wise men went again
and they condensed it down to one
volume.
Again the king shook his mus-
tache, until the hearts of the wise
men were chilled like unto 1111 Eski-
mo, pie.
And so they went hack again, and
they boiled down this book into one
word—"Perhaps," and they brought
this one word back to the monarch
and said to him:
"Your majesty, that one word-
perhaps—is all that we really know
in this world."
And the king was mightly pleased
with the job that they had done,
and he took out his box of cigars
and gave each one of the w ise men
two cigars, one to smoke at the
time, and the other for the subse-
quent day.

AND THE MORAL IS—
PERHAPS
Why do I tell this moss-covered
tale? Because, I think "perhaps"
is all that one can say almut any
such thesis as Mr. Masters seeks
to demonstrate.
There are so many premises each
one of which is capable of several
sides in the argument. Again, Mr.
Masters accuses Mr. Lincoln of be-
ing lam.. And maybe he was. But
Walt Whitman even made a phil-
osophy of laziness. Ile wanted to
:: . hout over the roofs of the world.
I loaf and invite my soul" and yet
we feel sure, that Mr. Masters
thinks a great deal of old Walt. And
so we adjourn the discussion with
the word—perhaps.
—• -
POLAND, POGROMS AND
PADEREWSKI
George Britt and Heywood Broun
their shortly forthcoming "Chris.
ans Only," which takes up the
uestion of discrimination against
he Jew relate a story, which is
id to be bona fide, emanating in
he course of a conversation be-
ween President Wilson and Pade-

e.esciet

leg

THIS letter from Rabbi Samuel Rosinger, of
Beaumont, Texas, deserves space in this column
in the interest of fair play:

Dear Mr. Joseph:

1 read your comment on Mr. Herbert So-
low's article ("Realties of Zionism: Menorah")
with a great deal of interest. 1 fully agree
with you that Mr. Solow's analysis is excep-
tionally keen and fascinating, and his logic
faultless and unanswerable. Withal, I pray
you, do not hasten to say Kaddish over Zion-
ism. When it comes to the preservation of the
Jewish people, it is love and not logic which
counts as a decisive factor, When Laban sub-
stituted Leah for Rachel, logically the patri-
arch would have been cheated out of the re-
ward of his labors. However, love was stronger
than logic.... According to the faultless logic
of the anti-Semites, the Jew ought to have
disappeared long ago. Yet Divine love is
stronger than human logic, and therefore the
Jew is still here. According to the saying of
the Talmud, Israel's fate does not depend on
luck, and we may amplify this saying by the
addition that Israel's fate does not depend even
on logic.

Well, doctor, that should bring comfort to the
Zionists who read Solow's article.
-
HE mail carrier was working overtime these past
few days and it will he impossibl e to discuss all
the communications received in this issue. But here
is one that interests me and I am sure will interest
the reader. Mr. Martin Goble, one of the Seven
Arts Features syndicate writers, in it paragraph, dis-
cusses a book written by Rabbi Herbert S. Gold-
stein, of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew Congrega.
tions. Mr. Golde, who is apparently a sleuth of no
mean ability, ferrets out the fact that the preface
was written on Sept. 27, 1930, which is a SAB-
BATH DAY! Which means, by what right has a
chief figure in the Orthodoxy to write on the SAB-
BATH. With fiendish glee, broadcasts the infor-
mation to the Jewish press of the country. So
along comes Prof. Asher Isaacs of the Johnstown
(Pa.) Center of the University of Pittsburgh and
challenges Mr. Golde's statement in this fashion:

-

T

Dear Mr. Joseph:

To accuse Rabbi Herbert Goldstein of writ-
ing on tile Sabbath Day is absurd and viciously
unfair; to attempt to tarnish the splendid name
of the Union of Orthodox Ilebrew Congrega-
tions is cruel.
Perhaps if Mr. Golde will look at the Al-
manac for that day he will discover that the
Sabbath was over at 6:20 p. m. Sunset was
5:50 p. m., and it is proper to add one-half
hour. Is it not conceivable that in the five re-
maining hours of that day, the preface could
have been completed?
Are there a scarcity of Gentile anti-Semites
that Jews must enroll in their ranks!

I

REALLY think that the writer of that letter is
completely justified in his harsh criticism. There
is really enough to write about, even for us para-
graphers, without the necessity of attempting to
"trap" one of America's outstanding Jewish spirit-
ual leaders. Rabbi Ilerbert S. Goldstein needs no
defense from such criticism

A NOTHER

-

-

letter comes to me from Benjamin
Marcus, of Detroit, coach of the Temple Beth
El debating team:

Dear Mr. Joseph:
I noticed in your column in the Detroit Jew.
ish Chronicle a comment on the question of a
Jewish university in the United States. Slay I
inform you that this question has stirred up in-
terest closer to home than Boston. The Tem-
ple Beth El debating team has arranged for a
series of debates with Rabbi Silver's Temple
in Cleveland, Rockdale Avenue Temple in Cin-
cinnati, and the Jewish Center of Detroit. The
Beth El team will maintain the affirmative,
"Resolved, That a Jewish university be estab-
lished in the United States."

Thanks for the information, which merely con-
firms my contention that the issue of a
Jewish
university is becoming more acute.

(Turn to Next Page)

••

Editor's Note.--As Americana once
more prepare to celebrate the birthday of
Ile age Washington. American Jewa will
be interested in knowing who their
forefathers were present on that historic
occasion when Wm•hinaton took the oath

oftdlice a+ the first President of the
United States.
Mr. Dad. ha+ found
definite rvi,lence of
only Jew whose
presence there i
known but he makes
some germane spe,,lation+ to other
Jews who were probably there.

RABBI 31ORRIS TELLER, of Congregation Beth
Jacob B'nai Bezalel Anshe Nlisrach, of Chi-
cago advises me that the recipient of a letter (a hick
he encloses) is a member of his congregation, a
native American and well qualified for a teaching
position, but her application was refused on the
ground that she is a Jewess. This is the letter:

ACCUSES LINCOLN OF
ZIONISM
Of course, there are Zionists and
Zionists. The poet, you remember,
speaks of building "new Jerusalem"
in England. \%'hen Mr. Lipsky
thinks of Zionism, he is thinking
of that Jordan bound country where
David whipped giants and Sampson
carried dance halls on his should-
ers. Mr, Boliva, up around Chicago,
thinks of the Jittle city he has
founded as Zion, and his followers
call themselves Zionists. The old
New England Puritans called New
England "zion", and truth to tell,
they probably observed the spirit
of the Old Testament as much as it
is observed in Palestine today.
And now, Edgar Lee Masters
finds fault with Lincoln and all be-
cause he is a Zionist.

.1 ,

.1-
`4$

143

By JOHN DAVIS

Hannon SwatTer (famous English dramatic
critic) in a piece tagged "Bluff, Boost and
Bunkum," rips the mask from this and that
celebrated person. Ile tells, too, how Charlie
Chaplin dismisses his press agent's white fibs.
One of his junior exploiters one day made a
statement that Chaplin was a Jew. Then the
chief bass-drum banger rushed to Chaplin in
dismay. "Will you give me your denial for the
papers?" he replied. "Why should I deny it?"
replied Chaplin. "There are lots of Jews in
America. It may please them."

Who is guilty of this? you ask.
Our friend, Edgar Lee Masters,
of Spoon River Anthology fame,
and the charge of Lincoln's Zion-
ism is brought in his book on Lin-
coln Which has just made its ap-
pearance.

• • C..9•Q

Charles N. Joseph

week I mentioned that Charlie Chaplin's
Jewishness was doubted. So this story told by
Walter Winchell, famous New York columnist, may
be of interest:

LIVE AND LEARN

1

JEWS AT WASHINGTON'S
INAUGURATION

LAST

By DAVID SCHWARTZ

If there were one pertain, at
whom, one felt sure, no target of
abuse would be directed, it was Ab.
raham Lincoln. But the rub is not
even in this. Think of attacking
Lincoln, and basing that attack pri-
marily on the fact that Lincoln
was a Zionist. That is adding sur-
prise to shock.

Four years ago Henry Ford was the
Chief Crusader of anti-Semitism in this ir"
country. Today he comes out in support fit'
of the renomination of Chief Justice Henry i
M. Butzel of the Michigan Supreme Court. ' t'a
The miracle of the repentant—the Baal Te- t
shubah—approaches completeness.

R.9. • R.9.c.9q

vas

Tidbits and News of Jew-
ish Personalities.

Lewisohn's Latest Sermon.

Britain's Obligations Reaffirmed.

ro

ki.YektriYktgtVlztsr;'tUkiz'trltUiW.

Front street near the Coffee House, is a
fund that will prevent me from extremeties,
but I never resort to it without great motti-
fication, as he obstinately rejects all recom-
pence,"
Other Revolutionary heroes, including
George Washington, have similarly spoken
in praise of Ilaym Salomon, The present
generation can right a great wrong by pay-
ing the honor that is due his memory, and
the Federation of l'olish Jews in America
is to be commended for initiating the pro-
ject.

nte red •

14

Roxion

It was it beautiful spring day
—April :hi, 1709. The people of
New York were in a festive mood.
The Constitution had been ratified,
and George Washington elected to
the presidency of the United
States, and now Washington was
to tie inaugurated as the infant
nation's first chief executive.

Women dressed in alltheir best,
escorted by men in powdered wigs
and knee breeches, promenaded
the streets. Never before had the
city seemed so full, for front all
the towns roundabout visitors
flowed into the city to witness the
historic event. Ilere and there
even tents were to be seen, set up
to take care of the overflow of visi-
tors, who could nut be accommo-
dated in the homes and inns.

John Adams, the newly elected
vice-president, heading a delega-
tion proceeded to the home of
Washington. "We arc here to at-
tend your taking the oath of office
as president of the United States."

"1 ant ready to proceed," re-
plied Washington gravely.

And so, Washington entered one
of the carriages ill a procession
which made its way along roads
lined with people to Federal Hall,
Wall street, where the ceremonies
were to take place.

Rabbi Seises in Party.

In one of the carriages was a
group of ministers, chosen to rep-
resent the cause of religion at the
inauguration. Among these min-
isters was the Rev. Gershon' Men-
des Seixas, rabbi of the Spanish
congregation, Shearith Israel.
It was a signal honor that had
befallen Rabbi Seixas to be chosen
as one of these ministers, for to
tell the truth, the clergy as a whole
had not been particularly devoted
to the American side. In the city
of Boston, for instance, where the
American Revolution had virtually
been born, when the American
troops entered and took possession
of the city, a large proportion of
the clergy left with the British
troops. But not of this mold was
Rabbi Seixas.

He was an ardent exponent of
the American side of the Revolu-
tion. They called him the "fiery
preacher." And instead of leav-
ing when the American troops
entered, he, on the contrary,
closed up his synagogue and left
when the British troops took New
York.

He not only left himself, but he
persuaded many of the members of
the congregation to flee with him,
rather than subscribe allegiance to
the British flag.

First Thanksgiving Sermon.

For a time, he made his abode
in Stamford, Conn., but after a
short stay there he departed for
Philadelphia, where he organized
the Mickveh Israel Congregation.
It was this congregation, by the
way, to which such eminent non-
Jews as Benjamin Franklin and
the scientist, David Rittenhouse,
made contributions.

I.ater, Rabbi Seixas returned to
New York. He was highly es-
teemed by all, irrespective of faith.
He was frequently invited to oc-
cupy Christian pulpits and was
elected one of the trustees of Co-
lumbia College, despite the fact
that it was under pronouncedly
Episcopalian aegis.

It was the same Rabbi Seixas
who later is said to have been one
of the first—some maintain he was
actually the first—to preach is
Thanksgiving Day sermon in a
house of worship.

'Taut other Jews were in attend-
ance at the inauguration exer-
cises? We cannot, of course, an-
swer this question in any defini-
tive way, for the chronicles only
record such as actually participat-
ed In the exercises, and among
that number the only Jew was
Rabbi Seixas. But it is safe to say
that few of the then Jewish popu-
lation of New York were not
around the balcony of Federal
Hall when Chancellor Tdvingstone,
after swearing Washington in,
cried out: "Long live George

Washington, first president ilf th
UnitetF
I
Jew..

T oward
Washington was of a reser,
nature, and we have little of I,
own writings to get his feelin,
towards the Jews. There are thi.
or four letters of his addressed
various Jewish congregations
the country, in which he wish,
them Godspeed and exults in ale
fact that the new nation--O,
United States—makes no distio,
lions as to creed and race.
Washington personally was no,
liberal minded in religious matters
He was as far from Orthodoxy a
he was from bigotry. William E.
Woodward, in his biography of
Washington, points out that ne.
where in the multitude of army or-
ders and other writings which is-
sued from his pen, did Washing-
ton ever refer to Christ. Ile makes
mention of God, Providence, etc..
but never does he indicate any be-
lief in the Trinitarian doctrine.
Ile was, we may be sure, a Deist—
that is, one who believed in a Di.
vine Providence but refused adher-
ence to any other dogmas.
Holding such views, we are not
surprised at his liberality towards
those of other faiths. Thus, at
one time, he had as one of his aide.
de camps, Colonel Isaac Franks, a
Jew, Franks had enlisted in the
p l om ste. 'rican forces when but a youth
17. After the war, he went
ent to
Pennsylvania, where he was ap-
pointed to a prominent political

We may be sure that Colonel
Franks was present at the inaug-
uration of his chief. There Was
another Colonel Franks who, very
likely, was present, and that that
Wan 51ajor David Salisbury Franks.
Arnold Episode.
It was this David Salisbury who
figured in the General Arnold epi-
sode. He was the aide of General
Arnold at the time when the lat•
ter attempted to sell out to the
British. Major Franks, however,
was completely innocent of any
complicity in that treasonable
deed. In fact, it was revealed at the
court-martial which Franks de-
manded to clear himself that while
not knowing anything of Arnold's
treasonable plans, he had obsemoal
Arnold associating too much with
Americans whose loyalty he sus-
pected, and he had warned Arnold
repeatedly that they would lead
him astray. At one time he had
enacted a scene, which almost is-
sued in a quarrel, so insistently did
he demand that his superior officer
sever himself from these sus-
picious people. After the court-
martial, Franks was promoted in
rank. He was a very close friend
of Thomas JefTermn, and often
would be at the great Democratic
statesman's home.
Trumbull, the artist of Revolu-
tionary fame, tells a very inter-
esting incident about Franks. On
one occasion, Trumbull was at the
home of Jefferson for dinner.
There was one senator from Vir-
ginia there, who, like Jefferson,
was a Deist. This senator began
to ridicule Trumbull's orthodox
religious beliefs. Jefferson list-
ened and nodded approval.
It got to be unbearable to Trum-
bull, as the others at the dinner,
with the exception of Franks,
joined in deriding his beliefs.
Finally, exasperated, he turned to
Jefferson.
,A ir
Jefferson,
fferson, is it not strange,
that in a professedly Christian
home, everyone attacks my Chris-
tian principles and the only one
who says a kind word for it is a
Jew—Mr. Franks?"
Ilaym Salomon, "the Jew-broker
of the Revolution," of course could
not have been at the inauguration.
He died several years previous
from a disease contracted while
imprisoned by the British. David
Ilays, the grand-sire of Dr. Solo-
mon Solis Cohen, must have taken
great pleasure in being present. It
was Hays who, captured by the
British, was given the alternative
of either eating pork or starving.
And he was a very observant Jew.
Perhaps some of the Jeivs who
were present may have recognized
a kinsman in another of the ce-
lebrities present—Alexander Ham-
ilton. His parentage is a disputed
fact. He was horn in the West
Indies, and his mother's first name
was Rachel, and she had first been
married to a man named Levine.
There are some who say the mother
of Hamilton Was a Jewess.

(Copyrieht. 1931.1

IN THE PUBLIC EYE

T. A.)

11

RABBI LOUIS I. NEWMAN: "Ludwig Lewisohn's 'The Last Days of
Shylock' abound with literary jewels of this character. it is gratifying
to note that the book is one of the best sellers
08 the fiction list.
Among the many contributions from I.ewisohn's pen, this latest work
ranks high, largely because of the elevated mood of its prose, its
thorough-going Jewish scholarship, and the emotions it stirs in the
reader. Reform Jews who believe there is no Jewish problem today
will do well to inform themselves, if only fictionally, of the historic-
background of the forces which willy-nilly, play a role in their life as
individuals, and as members of the group.'
•
•
•
JAMES WATF.RNLAN WISE: "The publication
of Ludwig Lewi-
sohn's book is not only a literary distinction but an occasion in Jewish
life. Lewisohn's books show problems of Jewish life. In the last few
of his books he spoke not only as a Jew but with prophetic passionate
power. In his last book. 'Last Days of Shylock,' he has spoken in the
same prophetic vein. He stood on dangerous ground when he dealt
with the 'Merchant of Venice.' Lewisohn dared to consider that drama
unfinished. Lewisohn is like Wagner, who took the Norse figure's Val-
halla and Siegfried and wove them into
a rich pageantry through the
genius of poetry and music. I.ewisohn has woven a glorious pageantry
of Jewish life."
•
.
•

DR. NATHAN KRASS: "Ludwig Lewisohn's 'The Last Days of
Shylock' is complete with sympathy, imagination and earnestnem.
Lewisohn in his fine book took up the threads of the story of Shylock
by Shakespeare and gave us a splendid picture."

RABBI JAMES G. HELLER: "We have
gone too far in the direc-
tion of 'deritualizing' Judaism. There is no reason why there should
not be a Seder in every Jewish home, why Chanukah and Purim should
not be observed with fitting and joyous ceremonies, why we should not
have Kidolush and Havdoloh, and why Rosh Hashanah and Yam Kippur
should not be made occasions for more than an annual visit to the syna-
gogue. Many of the old prayera should be taken back, many which
are Jewish and beautiful and by no means unatutimilable to modern
thought. Much sarcasm has been flung by some of our rabbis at the
Piyyutim, yet surely some of thepoems of Halevi and Gabirol deserve
a place in the liturgy."

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