Friday, January 17, 1958—THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS-2

Purely Commentary:

Dr. Jacob Marcus—Our Favorite Historian
Dr. Jacob R. Marcus, Hebrew Union College history profes-
sor, is our favorite American Jewish historian. As the editor of
the American Jewish Archives, he has collected and edited
valuable historical data. Although he is a Reform Jewish
leader, he is as fair to Orthodoxy and as critical of Reform as
he can be critical of the former and complimentary to the latter.
Fairness and historical accuracy guide his actions.
It is elementary justice to say this now, on the eve of his
return visit to Detroit next week to speak in behalf of the
Combined Appeal of the Reform Jewish agencies in this country.
Furthermore, it fits into our scheme of things in reviewing
the latest publication of the American Jewish Archives, the in-
teresting account of "The American Reaction to the Mortara
Case: 1858-1859," by Rabbi Bertram Wallace Korn.
The value of this book lies not only in the account it gives
of American reactions to the sensational Mortara incident, but
also because it offers in detail the complete story of that case.

The Abduction of Edgardo Mortara
It was in June of 1858 that "the police" came to the home
of Momola Mortara Levi, a lace merchant, in the city of Bologna
of the Papal States, and took the youngest child, Edgardo, the
son of Momola and Marianna Mortara. The child was taken
away from the parents to Rome, and the explanation offered was:
Edgardo, who was born Aug. 27, 1851, was ill as an infant.
The serving girl at the Mortara home, Anna Morisi, feared that
Edgar, as he later became known in the English-speaking world,
might die an infidel. Whereupon she secretly had him baptised.
She kept it a secret, but in 1858, when Aristides, the youngest
of the seven Mortara children, fell ill and died, she was tor-
mented that she had not repeated her pious act whereby she
might have saved this child as she believed she saved Edgar.
She spoke of it to a neighbor, Regino Bussolari, who related the
facts to her own priest. The Archbishop of Bologna learned
about it, the Pope was consulted, the Inquisition was brought
into action and the abduction of Edgar followed.
Dr. Korn's account of the case explains: "Anna's word was
taken at its face value. And Pope Pius Benedict XIV had a
century before laid down the principle that 'in cases where
baptism has been validly, but perhaps illicitly, administered to
Hebrew infants . . . all such are to be separated from their
relations and educated in the Christian faith.' So the action
which took place that June evening in Bologna, regarded by
Roman Catholics as a 'separation' and described by non-
Catholics as an 'abduction' and a 'kidnapping,' was founded
on the testimony of one person."
This one person, Anna Morisi, was reported in European
journals as having been discharged at one point by the Mortaras
because of her low morals and of having been dismissed by
another employer for thievery. And she was the witness who
caused Edgar's abduction!
The case brought about worldwide protests. It was reported
that the abducted child wept over his separation from his
family. But the Catholics maintained that Edgar joyfully em-
braced his new faith. It was not the first time that a Jewish
child was abducted for forced baptism into Catholicism. But
while Jews in Church-dominated areas in Italy seemed to have
adjusted themselves to such sporadic tribulations,—"there was
no higher authority than the Church; no appeal was possible;
Jews choked down their bitter tears of rage and frustration, and
resigned themselves to the loss of their children by fiat of the
Church-State"—the Mortara case aroused worldwide indignation.

Jewish Archives, Its
Able Di rector and
Latest Publication

By Philip Lourie to Address
Slomovitz CJC Parley Dinner

There were some evidences of regret, but in the main the Catho-
lics stood by their Church. Only James A. McMaster, editor of
the New York Freeman's Journal and Catholic Register, spoke
forthrightly against the act and declared that the Mortara family
was wronged.
Edgardo Mortara's Priesthood and Last Days
The Pope took a personal interest in Edgardo who was sent
to the College at the Basilica of St. Peter. At 15 Edgardo ex-
pressed a desire to take holy orders. During his novitiate he
adopted the religious name Pius Mary. His parents visited him
several times but he told them he was happy. When Victor
Emmanuel conquered Rome in 1870, Momola Mortara reclaimed
his son, but Edgardo then refused to go back to his Jewish
family and he reportedly said: "I am a Christian; if my parents
will become Christian, I will return home." But he feared the
anti-clerical regime and he took refuge in a monastery at
Brixen in the Tyrol. He was ordained to the priesthood at the
Prior_y of Notre Dame de Beauchene at Poitiers, France, on
Dec. 20, 1873.
His father died in 1871, but his mother lived until 1895.
Edgardo visited her in Paris in 1878 and in Rome in 1892.
"Legends grew up about his sentimental attachment to Judaism:
It has been said, for instance, that he relished Kosher food and,
whenever he had the opportunity, ate in a Jewish restaurant;
that he used Hebrew phrases when he greeted Jewish visitors
and acquaintances; and it was also reported that he recited the
traditional Jewish memorial prayers for his mother after her
passing. But Father Mortara always denied the authenticity of
these reports."
Edgardo Mortara, who was the subject of an international
controversy, when he was 7, died virtually unnoticed, in his
88th year, "long after history had passed him by, as Father Pius
Mary Mortara, at Notre Dame de Loirdes, Bouhay, Bressoux-les-
Liege, Belgium, in April, 1940, one month before the Nazi in-
vasion of that country. Had he lived, he might have shared the
fate, in the Nazi annihilation camps, of six million other human
beings, who, like little Edgardo Mortara, had been borne to
parents who cherished the ancient faith of Judaism."
This is the story of a famous case, recalled in an interesting
account by Dr. Korn, publication of it having been made possible
by the well-functioning American Jewish Archives, whose suc-
cesses are due, in the main, to the ability and vision of its editor
and directional head, Dr. Jacob R. Marcus.

Businessmen's Council Sets Up
Committees to Assist Yeshivah

in Windsor Sunday

WAls
ARTHUR LOURIE, Israel
Ambassador to Canada, will
speak at the banquet Sun-
day evening which will con-
clude the sessions of the 17th
Central Regional Conference
of the Canadian Jewish Con-
g r es s. Conference sessions
will be held at the Shaar
Hashomayim Synagogue Fri-
day night and Saturday, at
the Prince Edward Hotel
Saturday night and all day
Sunday, and the banquet will
be at the Shaar Hashomayim,
Goyeau and Giles.

Exhibit to Honor
80th Birthday of
Raskin on Feb. 2

Garelick's Galleries an-
nounced this week that the
paintings and watercolors of
the eminent artist and historian,
Saul Raskin, will be exhibited
here, Feb. 2, to 22, at the gal-
leries at 20208 Livernois.
The exhibit will mark Ras-
kin's 80th birthday.
A reception will be given Mr.
Raskin who will be here for
the opening on Feb. 2.
Details will be announced
next week.

"The development of Yeshi- vin Wasserman, Nate Richman,
vath Beth Yehudah as an out- Morris Stewart, and Isadore
standing local center for inten- Cohen.
Rabbi Moshe Greenes, execu-
sive Jewish education" was the
subject of a businessmen's tive director of the Yeshivah,
brunch Sunday, at Mayfair, delivered messages from a num-
sponsored by Daniel A. Laven, ber of others who were unable
Meyer Weingarden and Max to attend.
Biber.
Weingarden expressed the
hope that the Yeshivath
Boris Smolar's
write a new chapter in the his-
tory of the development of our
beloved institution."
A report on the educational
attainments and financial needs
The Repercussions in Europe and in the U.S.
of the Yeshivah was given by
There were protests in the non-Catholic press of the world, Rabbi Joseph Elias, Dean of the
in Europe and in the United States. "Neither Archbishop Viale- institution, who spoke of the
(Copyright, 1958,
Jewish Telegraphic Agency, -Inc.)
Prela of Bologna nor Pope Pius IX could possibly have imag- growth in enrollment, and the
ined the storm of protest which was to break upon their heads large number of graduates pres-
as a result of the, to them, quite natural and perfunctory ently preparing for the profes- Jewish Art
Among the art objects adorning the walls of the residence of
`separation' of Edgar Mortara from his family." But: "To every sions and for lay or professional
President Itzhak Ben-Zvi of Israel is a print by an American
protest or remonstrance the Pope, or Cardinal Antonelli, his leadership in the community.
Secretary of State, gave the same reply: 'Non Possumus.' The
The problem created by the Jewish painter who is considered one of the top art masters in
die was cast; Edgar had been validly baptized; to return him growth of the Yeshivah's day the United States. It is a composition of Jewish alphabet letters
to his family would be a transgression of canon law. Regrettable school department was discussed by Ben Shahn, whose paintings can be found in New York at
though it might be to deprive his parents of their natural rights, by Rabbi S. P. Wohlgelernter, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art,
it would be even more regrettable for the Church to surrender who referred to the recent de- and the Whitney Museum of American Art, and in numerous
its responsibility for Edgar's spiritual life by returning him to cision of the Jewish Agency to other American art centers. It was presented to the President
work "toward the furtherance of Israel by Edward M. M. Warburg, himself an art connoisseur,
his non-Christian family."
Storms of indignation raged in this country. Prominent non- of the growth of Hebrew Day on behalf of the United Jewish Appeal study mission which
visited Israel last October. Shahn's canvas intrigued me, as it
Jews joined with Jewish leaders in condemning the Catholic act Schools in America."
This growth brings financial did many who saw it during the presentation ceremony in Jeru-
and in demanding the release of Edgardo. There was talk of a
"foul deed," and one Jewish newspaper declaimed against "Those needs, R a b Wohlgelernter salem. Was this composition an artistic expression of Jewish
Roman Catholic soul-snatchers, the priests." Attempts were made stressed, "that have not yet belonging—the ever-present "Pintele Yid"? I promised myself
to secure an official protest from the United States Government been adequately recognized and a talk with Shahn upon my return to the U.S., to learn more
and petitions were addressed to President James Buchanan and satisfied by the Jewish public." about his personality, his philosophy of art and his attitude
A scholarship committee, set toward Jewish matters. •
to General Lewis Cass, Secretary of State, urging them to take
action against the Vatican. But the position taken by both was up under the co-chairmanship Murals With Morals
that, as General Cass replied to A. Hart, president of Mickve of Max Biber and Charles E.
I would characterize Shahn as "a painter with a message".
Israel Congregation of Philadelphia: "It is the settled policy of Feinberg, announced that the Most of his paintings which I have since seen, in original and
the United States to abstain from all interference, under such goal of the committee would be reproduction, convey a message of social significance. His poster
circumstances, as they expect other nations to abstain from all to secure 150 full scholarships "Welders":---originated because the artist was interested in com-
and 150 half-scholarships.
interference in the internal concerns of this- country."
batting racial discrimination—was reproduced by Time and Life
A Federation Relations Com- magazines, and the original was acquired by the Museum of
This decision became final, and nothing could deter the
heads of the U.S. Government to change its attitude — although, mittee' was appointed, to pre- Modern Art. His illustrations of the Hagaddah, done in 1932,
in the course of the latter replies to protests, President Buchanan sent the need for support of were bought by the Jewish Theological Seminary for the Jewish
and Secretary of- State Cass expressed regret over "cruelties all aspects of the Yeshivah's- Museum in New York.
and outrages of such a revolting nature." Politics was played by program to the Jewish Welfare
Road To Fame
vote-seekers, and the pro-Mortara group thereby won many vocal Federation. Hy Beale, David J. The Shahn
came into prominence about 30 years ago, when
adherents to the cause. Important politicians appeared on public Cohen, Nathan Goldin and Phil-
of great repute began to acquire his paintings. His
platforms at protest meetings in several American cities. But it lip Stollman serve on this com- museums
road to fame was not an easy one. He had to work hard in a
mittee. -
was all to no avail. The Catholic act was not reversed.
A finance committee was lithographic shop in New York to make a living while painting
established under the leader- to satisfy his artistic ambitions. Later he had to depend for a
A Quotation in Detroit Daily Advertiser
living on commercial art. Born in a small town in Lithuania, he
ship
of Daniel A. Laven:
The entire American press took note of the case and many
came to the United States in 1906 at the age of 8: His father
discussions
Participants
In
the
newspapers wrote editorials condemning the action of the Catho-
included George Spoon, Joseph tried to give him a Jewish education, but this education went
lic Church.
The Oct. 26, 1858, issue of the Detroit Daily Advertiser Lee, Irving Palman, David Gold- no further than a "cheder" on New York's Lower East Side
quoted on its first page from a lengthy editorial in the Jewish berg, A'. Howard Bloch, Phillip which he attended as a youngster. After the traditional Bar
Stollman, Irwin Cohn, Sol Left- Mitzvah ceremony he drifted away from Jewishness, and later
Messenger in which the Catholics were bitterly condemned.
JeW-
This was routine action in this country at the time of the on, Harold Keller, Maurice I. dropped his Yiddish middle name "Hersh". However, the native
Karo, Sam N. Cohen, Harold ishness which rooted during his early years in his
protests against the Mortara abduction.
The Catholic press, of course, defended the Vatican's act. Goldberg, A. M. Silverstein, Al- Lithuanian town, has never withered.

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'Between You
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