12

January 19, 1940

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

Jar

Psychologist Views the Problems of the Jew

Member of Faculty of Wayne University Sum-
marizes Symposium on "Jewish Youth
Faces the Future"

By S. C. GROSSMAN, M. D.
Of the Psychology Department of Wayne University

Young Jewry has become very
apprehensive. Opportunities in
business and in the professions
have become extremely limited for
all but particularly so for the
young Jew who consequently
views his future with intense an-
xiety. He feels himself in a world
torn by the unintelligible and ir-
rational forces of hatred, hostility
and lack of common human feel-
ing. More keenly than the non-
Jew does he now feel the in-
security felt by all. The young
Jew in America, brought up in
American schools with American
ideals and traditions, finds him-
self torn by opposing loyalties.
On the one hand, he feels him-
self an American and as such
he feels that as a citizen of the
land of his birth he should merit
equality of opportunity with all
other citizens. On the other hand
he feels himself a Jew, a mem-
ber of a minority group, This
minority is aware of the usual
hostility of the majority groups
toward the minority group and
its first reaction to this hostility
is one of anger and resentment.
To the Jew his minority is
malignantly oppressed and vic-
timized. It feels in the position
of a group of uniustly persecuted
human beings. To the non-Jew,
however, this minority is seen in

the position of a usurper, that is
getting its just deserts. And in
this basic impasse who shall
mete out justice? Toward these
hostile forces the anger of the
Jew is as straw in the wind. He
is helpless. This is the fate of
all minority groups. This has
been the fate of the Jew through-
out the centuries.

• The Reaction

The despair, insecurity, and
anxiety exhibited by many young
people seems all the greater to
the young Jew because of the
realization that advancement and
professional attainment has be-
come increasingly difficult because
of his "Jewishness" — something,
incidentally which he could not
help, and for which he is there-
fore not responsible. The reaction
is consequently one of anger, a
frustrated and helpless bemoan-
ing of his lot, or a ranting and
raving against overwhelming odds.
Somehow the Jew feels that his
lot, as a member of a minority
group, has become intimately
bound up with the future of de-
mocracy where the individual and
a minority group has at least a
chance of expression. The Jew is
quite fearful of a ruthless totali-
tarianism which means his anni-

DR. MAY BERE

Representative of Working Women's Council in Palestine

Will Be Guest Speaker at a

MASS MEETING

Sunday Evening, Jan. 21, at 8 o'clock

at CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL

Latest film, showing work and accomplishments of women
in Palestine, will be shown.

ADMISSION FREE

6th ANNUAL DANCE
Mlawer Umgegend Verein

given by the

Sunday Evening, January 21

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Crystal Ballroom

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Prize to the Best Dancing Couple

DAVE DIAMOND IN PERSON and His Orchestra

Dancing from 9 P. M.

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Tickets 50c

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hiliation, and he realizes that his
survival is possible only through
the survival of democracy or what
is less likely, through the tender
mercies of the controlling groups
in a totalitarian regime. The Jew
realizes too, that as a member of
an unorganized minority group he
cannot play a dominant role in the
democratic destiny of his country.
He is without power. He is at
the mercy of the non-Jewish ma-
jority that has thus far tolerated
him.

• The Jew and His Heritage

Anti-Semitism is not new. It is
an ancient and ever recurring
problem. It has become a part and
parcel of the Jewish struggle for
survival. But what is it? Anti-
Semitism represents those forces
organized or unorganized, that
would destroy the Jewish culture
and heritage. The forces tend-
ing toward the assimilation of the
Jew are truly anti-Semitic and
are perhaps much more potent
than the ancient hostility of the
majority groups with whom he has
cast his lot. The Jew like the leo-
pard cannot change his spots.
If he would lose his identity as a
Jew then let him study whole-
heartedly how best to partake of
the characteristics of his non-
Jewish brethren. Let him not use
half measures. But let him re-
member well the fate of the as-
similated Jew in Germany. Even
if he would deny his heritage
then let him not rave and rant
against anti-Semitism. He is a
part of that which is his own
undoing. However, if he accepts
himself as a Jew, then too let
him stop bewailing his lot. The
Jewish heritage is noble and hon-
orable. The Jew need not be
ashamed of it. But as a Jew it is
his lot to suffer the antagonism of
the people among whom he lives
because he is far outnumbered.
Let him compensate by consider-
ing himself of Gods chosen peo-
ple, however, let him remember
that he is "God's chosen" only to
himself alone. Let him conduct
himself in keeping with his an-
cient heritage—with dignity, with
philosophical equinamity and rev-
erent nobility. Let calmness and
peacefulness of spirit, rationality
and tolerance and the love of the
ethical way of life be his essen-
tial values. These values he can
maintain as a Jew. For these he
can be respected. All the rest—
opportunity, career, wealth, etc.,
is possible only if the group
among whom he lives will toler-
ate it,

Semitism in the sense of a dis-
solution of his cultural heritage
is a Jewish problem, and to those
who profess really to be Jews, a
very serious one. Anti-Semitism
in this sense has nothing to do
with the loss of equality of op-
portunity. It has little to do with
the suppression of common demo-
cratic principles which Americans
hold dear. The tidal wave of Nazi
hatred with its total disenfran-
chisement and ghettoization of the
Jew is not strictly a Jewish prob-
lem (except insofar as it involves
the problem of the more fortun-
ate Jew helping his more unfor-
tunate brothers.) This upsurge
of hatred is irrational. It is irre-
ligious. It brings indescribable an-
guish. The Jew (and other too)
is used as a political and eco-
nomic football. All this, it must
be conceded, is anti-Semitic, but
with this form of it the Jew can
do nothing to stem or prevent
it, He is in the minority and as
in the past must suffer and some-
times die in the fury of unre-
strained terror. He is at the mercy
of those who formerly tolerated
and now hate him. Incidently it is
now clear that for all of this ex-
pressed terror and hate heaped
upon the Jew, the fundamental
economic and social problems of
Germany still remain unsolved as
before, Only brute force, which
is neither a Jewish nor a Chris-
tian virtue, might repress but
not eliminate hatred. Since the
Jews are in the minority and
since brute force is non-Jewish,
the employment of force by the
Jew is out of the question. The
shorn lamb must cower before
the wintery blasts and seek shel-
ter if he can. Sometimes, too, it
must freeze to death because it
cannot find a haven. The Jew can-
not fight the wind, but he can
face it with fortitude, dignity,
patience, and charity.

where can the Jew go to work out
his own destiny? What assurance
has he that once established he
may not be ruthlessly sacrificed
by some strong imperialist na-
tion. He has none. The recent ex-
perience in Palestine only con-
firms the Jewish mistrust of man-
dates and fills his cup to over-
flowing with bitterness and des-
pair.
Wither Jew? Shall he be an
isolationist and retain his Jewish-
ness? Shall he become assimi-
lated and lost forever in the
American Melting Pot? Shall he
wander over the face of the earth
forever in search of a land he
can call his own?

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11

Mrs. S. Kleinman
To Address Mizrachi
Party Next Monday

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On Jan. 11, Mrs . Augusta
Subar of 2009 Hazelwood ave.,
was hostess to the board of direc-
tors of the Sisters of Zion Miz-
rachi. Mrs. Joseph H. Kunin,
president, presided.
The membership drive is in
progress. A complimentary paid-

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• Hope in Democracy

Since economic and social dis-
tress aggravate hatred, only by
real economic and social ameliora-
tion is there any hope in prevent-
ing it. By maintenance of democ-
racy and democratic rights can MRS. SHMARYA KLEINMAN
the Jew hope for a modicum of
toleration. By opposing the use of up membership luncheon, com-
the radio and press for anti-reli- bined with a Chamisho Osor
gious, anti-racial and anti-demo- b'Shevat party, will be held on
cratic purposes can he increase Monday, Jan. 22, at 12:30 p. m.,
the hope of minimizing somewhat at the Shaarey Zedek.
these irrational hates. But these
Mrs. Abraham Danzig of Wyan-
are not strictly Jewish problems, dotte, is chairman of the member-
they are the problems of civiliza- ship drive, and Mrs. Pauline Adler
tion itself. They are also the prob- is co-chairman. Mrs. Fannie
lems of Christianity. The dissolu- Coven is chairman of the luncheon
tion of Jewish culture is the prob- committee, with Mrs. B. Feldman
• Fortitude and Dignity
lem for the Jew if he would re-
main a Jew. This he must decide. as co-chairman,
Mrs. Shmarya Kleinman will be
The dislike toward minority This is the meaning of anti-
groups and toward the Jew in Semitism for the Jew and great the guest speaker at Monday's
party. The subject of her address
particular, necessarily becomes is his own sin in that respect.
more manifest and aggravated by
But what of the young assimi- will be "The Responsibility of the
real economic and social disloca- lated Jew who has nothing that Jewish Woman To-day." Mrs.
tion. The Jew who is previously could be considered essentially Kleinman is vice president of the
tolerated becomes an object of Jewish except perhaps his name? Women's International League for
hate—an intruder, an inferior be- In appearance, thought, and feel- Peace and Freedom, vice presi-
ing who assumes and aspires to, ing he is entirely American.. With dent of the Women's division of
positions he has no right to. This the restriction in immigration to American Jewish Congress, and
endogenous dislike may be and this country the Jew is losing former Commissioner of the Mich-
has been used for political pur- rapidly his old world characteris- igan Unemployment Compensation
poses by those who might need a tics and with each generation be- Commission.
convenient object of hate to divert comes more and more American.
A muical program will be ren-
direct hostility against themselves. Not only is this true of the Jew; rended by Rose Avison, vocalist,
In other words, as a Jew, he it is also true of all those old accompanied by Mrs. N. J. Krauss.
is a useful scapegoat. This is world immigrants whose children
For information call Mrs. E.
also not a novel situation. It is, grow up in contact with American Abrams, Tr. 2-7445.
as in the past, the lot of the ways and who are taught in
Dues may be paid at the party
minority and especially the Jew. American schools, The fact is that on Monday.
Hatred for the Jew is real but they are becoming rapidly assimi-
The Chapter acknowledges the
this alone is not anti-Semitism. lated and from an American point planting of one tree, in the Rabbi
This hatred has served to weld of view this is as it should be. Meyer Berlin Forest in Palestine,
the Jews together, and it has What need is there to retain es- by Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Shetzer, in
been a great force in his survival sentially Jewish characteristics in memory of Joseph H. Ehrlich.
as a Jew. This external hostility America? Will there ever arise in
has served to consolidate the Jews America, the Melting Pot of all
internally. This hatred, like most peoples, the same situation as League for Labor Palestine
strong emotions is irrational, but arose with respect to the assimi-
Warns Against Misrepre-
to consider this alone as anti- lated Jew of Germany? There are
sentation of Jewish Fron-
Semitic is to confuse the situa- many who believe that this would
tier by Fake Solicitor
tion. The real problems today are never happen, and that to retain
economic, social and political. The intact the European Jewish cul-
The League for Labor Palestine
real problem is the insidious loss tural characteristics would only
of freedom for individuals and serve to make more outstanding chapters in Detroit this week
the putting to flight of democratic the already noticeable Jewish mi- warned against a fake represent-
principles. The assault upon the nority. They would become more ative who is soliciting funds in
Jews is really an assault on de- conspicuous and would stand out the name of the Jewish Frontier.
mocracy. But these problems are like a sore thumb. And this would Mrs. Rebecca Sanders of the
not specifically Jewish; they con- only aggravate the enmity that League this week asked T h e
cern us all, Jew and Gentile alike. is natural toward minority and Chronicle to issue the following
warning:
The problem of anti-Semitism, as conspicuous groups.
"Mr. Bruno who is posing as
far as the Jew is concerned, is
From this point of view the a representative of the Jewish
the loss of Jewish identity. How solution of the problem of hostil-
can the Jew retain that which ity toward the Jew is liquidate Froniter has no authorization to
is culturally his? He cannot hate the Jew not by a ruthless anni- solicit subscriptions and that per-
hatred; he must learn to tolerate hilation but by a gradual absorp- sons who are approached by him
it and get along with it as best tion and dilution until nothing is are to notify the police."
he can, but in doing so he must, left of Jewishness and all his
because he cannot do otherwise, heritage becomes merged and a
Gifts to Children's Home
remain Jew and neither hide nor part of an American culture.
run away from his Jewishness. He One other solution of the prob-
The Jewish Children's Home of
must not forget that he is a Jew lem of anti-Semitism has been Detroit acknowledges receipt of
in a hostile world. Hatred for the more manifest of late. It is the donations from the following: Ab-
Jew is not a Jewish problem. It solution by migration to a Jewish ner Wolf; Mrs. Meyers, in mem-
is a Gentile problem. The Jew homeland, where he can be in the ory of Joseph Ehrlich; J. Webber;
can do nothing to prevent it. He majority and thus control and Mr. and Mrs. Max M. Fisher, in
must adjust himself to it as best regulate his own destiny undis- memory of Joseph Ehrlich; Mrs.
he can. But he must distinguish turbed by the presence of others Lous Goldman and Mrs. Emil
clearly
between adjustment and who, were they in the 't , Stern, in memory of Joseph Ehr-
ab s o rp ion or assimilation. Anti. would be hostile toward him. But lich
and William Himelhoch.

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