The Southern Israelite. (Augusta, Ga.) 1925-1986, March 29, 1929, Image 17

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The Southern Israelite Page 17 I do try to keep mentally alert with the aid of cold towels and hot coffee. And since my middle name is “Hom er” I do not occasionally, despite the most careful watchfulness. There is something spooky about that Cleve land business for I am as sure as my name is Joseph that they had a Good will gathering in Cleveland. But how I got Rabbi Gup out of his bed in Rhode Island and placed him in Cleve land, Providence alone knows. As for the Faunce attitude toward the Jew ish Fraternity issue at Brown I have written several times on the subject I think that the good Doctor got foggy. Well, here’s another one of those missionary magazines or pamphlets or what you will. It’s called the “He brew Messenger” and published in Baltimore. I see that they are going to put a Mission Building to the Jews of Baltimore. I always believed that Baltimore Jewry was quite a sol id group. Not easily moved by mis sionary efforts. But they’d better watch out. Quite an imposing lot of names on this committee of the Board of National Missions of the Presby terian Church, U. S. A. The Rev. T. Roland Phillips, Rev. Andrew Neilly, Rev. VV. J. McMillan, Rev. William Gumming, Rev. Bruce McDonald and others. What do I think about this business of Jewish missions? I will let Dr. E. L. Hunt, director of the American Good-Will Union answer for me: “I indict Christian missionary work on the score of its futility. One must search far and wide for a bona fide Jewish convert to Christianity. Those that we do have are merely social climbers seeking to sell their birthright of Israel for a cup of afternoon tea.” Of course, those are very harsh words and I am not sure that I would have uttered them. The quarrel I have with the world is that it is so undiscriminating. Take for example the world’s attitude to ward the Jew. Whenever a half a dozen Jews affiliate themselves with a movement then it becomes a Jewish movement—-that’s what the average man thinks. Here we have Commu nism trying to get a foothold in Pal estine. So what’s happening. Commu- jnists and there are Jews among them |of course, are trying to arouse feel- ling against JEWISH capitalists, |against Arab capitalists, against Zionist land purchasing companies. But do you believe for a moment that the eye that reads as it runs and the piind that stands still considers that Khe Jews are divided on this question as on every other? Of course not. The pmpression will continue that every ICommunist is a Jew whether he is in pussia or Palestine. Just because a p EW are associated with it. That’s Khat makes me so impatient. The ose and ragged thinking or really |he lack of thought that creates so hiany embarrassing situations. I am korry, dear world, but it so happens fhat as Shylock says the Jew feels the pame as his neighbors, if he is hurt F e feels it; he has the same loves and rates and passions, and all the rest K tumble-jumble of emotions and Instincts that one finds in human be ings. So w’hile I do wish that we could make all Jews perfect human beings r quite impossible. So if we have Jewish communists so we have Jewish capitalists; we have Jewish money lenders and Jewish philanthropists; we have Jewish radicals and Jewish reactionaries; we have cultured Jews and illmannered Jews; we have all sorts and kinds and conditions just like there are all sorts and kinds and conditions of every other species of the human family. So let’s not tar them all with the same stick. It takes time, of course. We are still in the stone age of Reason. Some day wo may be discriminating. I note where the National Federa tion of Temple Brotherhoods are meeting in Washington in April. That movement has gained strength in the past few years, with and in some in stances without the help of the of ficials of Congregations. One would imagine that if a body of young men could be encouraged to take an active interest in Jewish congregational life that the trustees of the congregation would make every sacrifice, exert every effort to do it. But I know some Congregational Boards who haven’t the sense to understand the value of such a movement. I have al ways believed that if there is a re form necessary in American Jewish life it is in reforming the type of trustees who direct our congrega tional activities. That’s one of the weak spots. We still adhere to the ancient, or shall I say, the modern traditions of selecting “heavy” citi zens; the substantial element; those who give weight and prestige to the congregation. What we need is to get a different slant on what a Trus tee should be. Too many of them are chair warmers, and meeting attend ees. They are the budget-makers. They represent too much the BUSI NESS side of the congregation. They should be the LEADERS in INSPIR ING a deeper interest in congrega tional life. They should PERSONAL LY interest themselves in developing congregational spirit. Most of them don’t do it and don’t know how to do it. There are so many influences that enter into the selection of Trustees that are wrong influences. In other words there is not a sufficiently intel ligent approach to the situation. Too often we select men because they may be in a COMMUNITY asset rather than a definite asset to the congrega tion. What many congregations need is a vacuum cleaner to sweep the dust off their Boards. VIENNA KEHILLAH ASKS GOV ERNMENT TO ALLOT SUBSIDIES FOR JEWISH RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL PURPOSES Chancellor Seipel Grants Demand in Principle, Will Seek Advice Vienna (J. T. A.)—The Government of the Republic of Austria stands com- *********-K******+++*5‘****** % ♦ * f ❖ ❖ ❖ ❖ * * ♦ ❖ ❖ * ❖ * * I Hotel DeSoto Savannah, Ga. mitted to the principle that it is obliged to include in the budget sums for the support of Jewish religious and cultural institutions, but it is seeking advice on the size of the allo cations and the beneficiaries to be se lected. The opposition charging the admin istration with indifference to the eco nomic problems of the profession in New York brought about by changing conditions, polled an unexpectedly high vote gaining 453 votes for Dr. Rongy. The administration ticket, headed by Dr. DeWitt Stetten, was victorius with 823 votes. Compliments of is Bank & Trust Company SAVANNAH, GA. ASSORTMENT OF PACKAGE SUGARS: STANDARD GRANULATED FRUIT AND CEREAL XXXX POWDERED TABLETS, CUBES, BROWNS Savannah Sugar Refinery Port Wentworth Savannah, Ga.