Purely Commentary
Destructive Policies of Violence Teachers
Anti-Semitic Virus Poisons the Rationalism of
Some Nations . . . Meir Kahane's Gun-Toting
Camp for Youngsters ... Jewish Self-Negation
By Philip
Slomovitz
Justice Louis D. Brandeis' Early Years Recalled ill Collected Letters
Dr. Thomas W. Matthew, head of the National Economic Growth
Louis D. Brandeis' notable ca-
The Urofsky-Levy volume of im-
father: "I am inclined to think
and Reconstruction Organization—NEGRO--commenced his report on reer did not begin with his U.S. pressive letters accomplishes an
there is more to hope for in the
Russian Jews than from the
the • Jewish situation in Russia with what appeared as a whitewash. Supreme Court judgeship, or with especially important task: it intro-
Bavarian and other Germans.
Then, when he began to probe into the existing conditions, and was his Zionism. As a young man he duces the Brandeis family, it
The Russians have idealism and
refused permission to go to Birobidzhan, he spoke of the falsehoods already evidenced a deep interest shows the affections young Bran-
reverence."
in social movements and leaned deis had for his relatives.
that accompanied reports about the so-called Jewish Autonomous toward reforms in politics, eco-
This letter inspired the com-
There
are
annotations
that
throw
Region.
nomics, human welfare.
Melvin I. Urofsky and David light on distinguished members of pilers of the letters in this vol-
ume to append this note:
But he has been fed other untruths. He was told that Russian
W. Levy, in "Letters of Louis D. the Brandeis family. We learn
Jews who had gone to Israel are anxious to return to the USSR and
"The brief remarks which
Brandeis," published by State Uni- about his father Adolph and broth-
that Israel denies them that right. He wishes to go to Vienna and to
er
Alfred;
about
his
wife;
about
LDB
made before the Century
Israel to study these reports. but just as he became aware of the false- versity of New York Press, Al- his uncle, Louis Naphtali Dembitz.
Club on 2.8 November were sign-
bany, have compiled important
hoods about Birobidzhan without going there he could have learned
ificant in two respects. In the
communications, dated 1870-1907,
Indeed, we learn about the Bran-
even while in Moscow that the letters of half a dozen Jews who sub-
first place, this was the first
which introduce the great jurist's deis and Dembitz families.
mitted damaging reports on Israel were utilized by the Soviet propa-
time
that LDB made any men-
family and throw light on the ac-
gandists in their anti-Israel drive.
And there is an introduction—
tion of Judaism; and the man-
tivities of the Brandeises. He is many
years ahead—to Brandeis'
ner in which he did raise thi
The interesting thing about Dr. Matthew's visit to Russia was described in this volume as the impending interest in Zionism.
issue anticipated his entire fu-
"Urban
Reformer."
It
is
the
first
his subsequent squabble with the Jewish Defense League with whose
ture outlook toward Zionism.
Brandeis did not come to Zion-
leader (Rabbi Meir Kahane) he was to have formed an alliance for de- volume of the collected Brandeis
In addition, his talk encapsulat-
fensive purposes. Upon his return to this country, Dr. Matthews com- letters, yet it already points to ism until about 1911. But he was
ed the progressive viewpoint of
mented that a vacuum was created by Jewish organizations which, he the vast abilities of the man who not divorced from Jewish interests,
the duties on citizenship. Loyal-
minimal
as
they
were
in
the
early
was
to
rise
to
such
greatness
that
claimed, were inactive in matters which created opportunities.for action
ty, LDB declared, demanded
his judicial capacities were likened years covered in the correspond-
ey Kahane's Jewish Defense League.
three things. First, democracy
to those of John Marshall and ence in this volume. There is a
meant the elimination of all dual
Perhaps national Jewish organizations are failing in their obliga- Oliver Wendell Holmes.
letter in this collection that Bran-
loyalties; men had to be Ameri-
:ions. There certainly are many shortcomings. But what about Kahane?
Starting with a letter he wrote deis wrote to his father, Adolph,
cans, not German-Americans or
Is he justified in his claims that he and his group forced concessions
to his mother in 1870, this col- Nov. 29, 1905, from Boston.
Jewish-Americans or Catholic-
from the USSR ?
lection includes communications
In this letter he referred to a
Americans. Second, loyalty re-
with his family, letters of court- brief talk he had given at a ban-
A study of previous occurrences will prove that long before
quired that people pursue in
ship and a record of his marri- quet in the New Century Club, at
Kahane made himself known there was action in support of Soviet
their individual life the same
age to Alice Goldmark, his turn the celebration of the 250th an-
Jewry. The results attained are ascribable more to the Russian Jews,
ideals as those embodied in the
to legal and economic questions, niversary of the settlement of
who now fearlessly demand just rights and the right to emigrate to
nation's institutions. T h i r d,
the trend of his work in labor Jews in America.
Israel than to anyone else.
every citizen was to participate
disputes.
In his letter he wrote to his
actively in the government, pri-
But the Kahane position, his ultra-militancy, have forced the con-
marily through the intelligent
demnations he has earned. There are critics who were abusive in militant action against the Russian government but not the resort to
utilization of the ballot. It is not
comments on our view that a man who advocates violence does not violence against diplomats.
sufficient that men vote, he
deserve the title rabbi. Our position is vindicated, we are convinced,
Any interpretation of the Time article becomes valid as a result
maintained, but that they vote
by the report on "militants" in the current issue of Time.
of introduction of gun-toting by youngsters. The entire approach as
right. These high ideals, he
went on, were first proclaimed
The Time article describes the JDL "awned summer camp" and described by Time is not only un-Jewish: it is anti-Jewish. If a Jewish
by the Sews over two thousand
gives the following account of what JDL and its leader (Kahane) are community can not operate peacefully it invites condemnation. We
do not fear criticism, but we concede that any invitation to terror is
years ago, and it was now fit-
leading up to:
intolerable.
ting that Thanksgiving also be
celebrated in 1905 as the 250th
Although it nestles snugly in a bearded, hard-nosed Philadelphia
Jewish youngsters, and their elders, should be taught to be able
anniversary of the coming of
the gentle foothills of New York's high school teacher, is running to defend themselves, in an age of terror, if they are attacked. Muscular
the Jews to America. Jewish
Catskill Mountains, Camp Jedel the camp with militaristic verve. Judaism is approvable as long as it relates to a person's right to
ideals were in the highest sense
is no bucolic summer retreat. It Reveille is sounded at 6 a.m. self-defense. We retain the hope that there will be little need for it
the same as American ideals,
is surrounded by a metal fence Karate training is conducted from in a free society like ours.
and both attempted to inject
guarded 24 hours a day by camp- 6:15 to 7:30. After breakfast, be-
If we were in a state requiring American children to carry guns
ers; a 30-foot watchtower is under cause the rifle range is only par- for self-defense it would indicate a collapse of American society and
high ethical standards into
construction. There is no baseball tially completed, half the group the bankruptcy of our securities. We are grateful that this is not the
everyday (political) life. This
diamond or basketball court; the at a time holds target practice condition that dominates our land, and we refuse to condone actions
emphasis on the ethical stan-,
swimming pool is empty. The 37 while the other half lifts weights. that undermine faith and might lead to an end to our democracy.
dards of Judaism fit, of course,
campers, including several girls,
Drill and KP. At 11:30 the stu-
closely into LDB's progreSsivt
range from the ages of 13 to 19; dents hear the first of two daily Aid for
views on the responSibility
Poverty
- Stricken . . . and Gun - Toting
they wear green army fatigues lectures on Jewish history and
citizenry. But his ignoring,' at -
There are two items in this issue that relate to the Kahane disputes.
emblazoned with the blue-and-white , culture; two more hours of karate
the mystical religious aspect; of
sleeve patch of the Jewish Defense claSses are given in the afternoon.
Judaism, especially its,-A-aate-_,
One is his letter to us which concludes with the assertion that
League. - _There is also occasional instruc- "every Jew (should) know how to shoot, so that someday, he may not
logy, would be at the .1re,Ty-On.—
ter of his differences with;
So far. the league founded in tion in rappelling on the rocky have to." If every element in America were to adopt such an attitude—
1968 by Rabbi Meir Kahane has camp escarpments. "The arms all the Blacks, Poles, Italians, Hungarians, Peruvians — we'd be in
pean Zionist leaders_ - i7;::deiade
training
may
be
to
protect Jewish one helluva mess. What an indictment that would be of America! But
after 1905."
taken on neo-Nazis. allegedly anti-
Semitic blacks and the Soviet per- shopkeepers," explains Robert we view Rabbi Kahane's statement as self-indicting and his teachings
Then there is the interesting
secution of Jews. It is most notori- Glass, 15. Says another trainee, as unworthy of a rabbi. That's not what a rabbi (a Jewish teacher) reference to Jacoll.e. .a
Larry
Amsel,
19:
"Scaling
rocks
ous for its harassment of Soviet
propagates, especially for youngsters. It would be good to learn how letter Brandeis wrOt04.-ailfather,
may be preparation for scaling much the 12-year-old youngsters learn about Jewish traditions while from Dedham,
diplomats in the U. S.
Kahane is currently out on buildings in case of an outbreak they are shooting it out at targets in Kahane's Camp Jedel.
1905. It made refeferioeie to the
five-year probation after pleading of urban guerrilla warfare."
The other item is a news story about Rabbi Kahane's participa- Schiffs' interests irf' -railroads,
At
day's
end
the
colors—a
small
guilty to charges of conspiring to
tion in a plea in behalf of the poverty-stricken in New York. Why can't the protests in China against U.S.
manufacture explosives. The camp American flag above a larger Is- such an able man stick to the higher goals of aiding the needy and policies in Asia and the Chinese
is part of the league's program— raeli flag—are lowered. The rest defending the oppressed through natural, legal channels? Isn't that in boycott that was instituted against
originated in the poorer Jewish of the time the campers practice your character, Rabbi Kahane?
American-made goods. In this con-
neighborhoods of New York City— close-order drill, pull KP and
*
nection
there is this footnote re-
*
to teach Jewish youths the funda- read some of the library's 200-
ferring to Schiff:
mentals of self-defense at a time odd books. Among the most popular The Eternal Scapegoat—in Uruguay and Pakistan
"Jacob Henry Schiff (1847-
when threats to life and property are "Treblinka." by Jean-Francois - Atlas magazine, in its current issue, has an editorial item entitled
1920) was one of the most pow-
seeen to be ominously mounting. Steiner, and "While Six Million "Anti-Semitism in Uruguay," which states: "It used to be enough to
erful investment bankers in the
Lost Illusions. Lecturer David Died," by Arthur D. Morse, which call leftists in Uruguay 'dirty communists.' especially when applied
country. A member of the firm
Solomon, a Black who is a convert accuses Franklin D. Roosevelt of to sympathizers of the revolutionary Tupamaros—or to the guerrillas
of Kuhn, Loeb & Co., Schiff was
to Orthodox Judaism, told the slackness in coming to the aid of themselves. Now that right-wing forces have begun to organize to head
one of the first to recognize the
campers: "Our problem as Jews Hitler's victims. One book is re- off the threat of a National Front leftist coalition, apparently any
great
possibilities of western
ouired
reading:
"The
Palestine
epithet
goes.
Still,
there
was
widespread
shock
recently
when
Senator
is that we've always been the hu-
railroads for private investment.
manists, the internationalists. We Underground," by Y. Borisov. For Augustin Caputti referred to jailed union leader Salomon Miedziegorski
Allied by marriage to many oth-
are the ones with faith in the good behavior, campers can earn as 'a filthy Jew'."
er important Jewish banking
world, and we are always the last a weekly pass that allows them to
Such manifestations of anti-Semitism are never surprising. A
families, Schiff was for many
to lose our illusions. That is what go into the neighboring town of typical sample is the occurrence recently in Pakistan where there are
Woodbourne.
years the head of the German-
happened in German y." Sam
a few hundred Jews among the 112,000,000 Pakistanians. The New
Jewish community in this coun-
Shoshan, a leading member of the
Several of the nearby borscht York Times reported from Islamabad that "a surprisingly common
try. Later on, LDB would cross
JDL executive board, told Time belt hotels have occasionally view was expressed by a Western educated refinery engineer who
swords with Schiff over the
correspondent Leonard Levitt: invited the youngsters over for a said: 'The American banks are controlled by Jews, so, of course Wash-
proper management of the new-
"We want to encourage the belief swim; sometimes they have even ington supports Israel against the interests of the entire Islamic world.
born Zionist organization in the
that fascism is coming to America catered hot meals to the camp. Right now Pakistan is the target." The Western engineer then is quoted
United States."
and that the Jew is not safe here. But the meals are looked at ask- as saying that "We Pakistanis think the Germans were right in World
If there is just a slight fear in ance, and only two swimming War II."
Thus, in many ways, the Bran-
invitations have been accented. As
some Jews, we play upon it."
deis career in his early days ante-
It should be indicated that the United States has aided all of
young Glass puts it: "I didn't
dated the indelible marks he left
Such reasoning is reflected in come here to have a good
time. Pakistan to the tune of some $4,000,000,000. And it will be recalled
the camp's somber, ascetic rou- I came here to learn to fight for that at the United Nations Pakistan's representatives were among the on this country's highest court
and on the Zionist movement. We
tines. Director Russ Kelner, 30, Jews." leading propagators of hatred against Israel.
learn much about the -great jurist
It's so easy to recruit anti-Semites ! During World War II even in
It is interesting that, in his comments on the JDL, Dr. Matthew Japan, where there are no more than 2,000 Jews, there were some in the Urofsky-Levy collection of
his early letters.
disapproved of tactics that included abuse of Russian women visitors who made the Jew the scapegoat, and it was said at that time that
See Review of "A Mind of One
in this country or of inhospitality to Russian visitors. He commended if Japan did not have the few Jewish citizens they would discover a
Piece — Brandeis and American
Jew somewhere in search of the traditional scapegoat.
Reform," by Prof. Melvin I.
2—Friday, September 3, 1971
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS -
History's hatreds keep reverberating!
Urofsky, on Editorial Page.
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