Newspaper Page Text
The Southern Israelite
Page 11
random thoughts
(Continued from Page 9)
w hat we need in this rather patched-
nn messy world of ours is to give re-
jipion a chance to breathe. What-
e vor little we do have is being smoth
ered to death under a blanket of creed
and dogma.
KFPRINT FROM the “AMERICAN
MERCURY" AN AD THAT appeared in a
Pierre, S. D. ( newspaper:
"CITY OF PIERRE
, .hallentred to debate: ‘Resolved that the
beb.f that the world is round is heathen be
lief with nothin* b«hind it but ignorance and
[the Devil’."
The challenge is issued by a profes-
Lnr. Most of us will smile at this. Yet
L e find in several states of the United
States laws that insist we must take
the Biblical account of creation as the
[only true one. The language is not
[that, of course, but in effect is what
jis meant by antievolution laws. All
[through the trial in Dayton the issue
(was raised that the Biblical account
.if creation must be accepted. That is
(hat man was created perfect and
[then he degenerated. It’s hard to even
smile at ignorance.
THE IDEA OF RABBI LOUIS
;KOSS, OF BROOKLYN, TO FORM
a Jewish Book-of-the-Month Club has
ome merit. But the statements made
hat Jews are, as a rule, indifferent
o hooks by Jewish authors or to
)ooks on Jewish subjects does not
teem to me to be accurate. For ex-
mple, let us take some of the very
ames that are mentioned in an ar-
icle discussing the Jewish Book-of-
he-Month Club, Emil Ludwig, Andre
laurois, Ludwig Lewisohn, Jacob
Vasserman, Lewis Browne. I contend
hat these authors have been widely
cad by Jews, probably by more Jews
n proportion to their numbers, than
y non-Jews. I don’t believe for a mo-
ient they were read by Jews because
he books were written by Jewish au
thors, hut because the books were well
ritten. Lionel Feuchtwanger cer
tainly attracted a large Jewish audi-
inee with his book “Power.” At the
ame time there are a large number
if Jews who would, I am sure, be at
tracted to a book if they knew the
^uthor was a Jew and in that way
h a club as suggested may benefit
Jewish authors. But it seems to me
ore important to call attention to
Foks, on Jewish subjects. I am not
■•‘•"Id on the plan to have the books
®iosen by two rabbis, one writer, a
Business man, and a woman. I prefer
B 1 have my books recommended by
Buthors, critics and publishers. That’s
| peir trade and they know, or ought
J know, good books.
THE VOICE OF AMERICAN
JEWRY
^Continued from Page 3)
Bjnion on other issues could be ar
T e< ^ at. Some even expressed th<
r p< that the Jewish Agency woul<
t e institution which w r as the sub
of tbis writer’s interview. Sine<
B e > 'tended Jewish Agency is ex
■e<\e( to represent every group ii
■merica n Jewry, the Jewish Agent"
Provide itself with the authoritj
V lr ‘ on other Jewish topics. On*
Bv' 1, t pointed to the name “Jewisl
as the ideal name for ai
b zat Jon representing the com
■ ‘ 1 publl c opinion of the Jewisl
■>rriniunity.
I ( meantime, however, issue
arise every day which are of import
to Jews as such, regardless of their
general religious, economic or politi
cal views. The question as to how
opposition to the presentation of the
Passion Play is to be conducted is
one which every Jew can discuss with
out feeling that he is infringing upon
his philosophy of American life. The
problem of raising funds for the dis
tressed, the persecuted, the famine-
stricken, the uneducated both here and
in other lands is a pressing one to all
who identify themselves with the Jew
ish community. The work of the Anti-
Defamation League, splendid as it has
been, does not adequately cover the
ground. There are hundreds of related
problems which concern American
Jews as such and as a whole. Today
there is friction, indifference, even
hostility. This tends to a general dis
ruption of the Jewish community. The
voice of American Jewry will very
likely be stifled if it is not given
strength and authority by the various
groups within American-Jewish life.
(Copyright, 1929, by Seven Arts Fea
ture Syndicate.)
IN THE LIMELIGHT
DUE TO THE change in health of
Dr. Chaim Weizmann, President of
the World Zionist Organization, the
session of the Zionist General Council
was transferred from London to Ber
lin. The meeting will take place
May 31.
ADOLPH LEWISOHN, Philan
thropist and music patron, celebrated
his eightieth birthday recently. Mr.
Lewisohn is credited with the merger
of various Jewish charitable organiza
tions of New York into one group, un
der the name of the Federation for
the Support of Jewish Philanthropic
Societies. He donated the School of
Mines Building to Columbia Univer
sity and makes possible the summer
evening concerts held for eight weeks
every year in the College of the City
of New York Stadium, his gift to the
college. He has for years been a lead
er in prison reform and has con
tributed large sums to the Mount
Sinai Hospital of which he is a direc
tor.
BARON EDMUND ROTHSCHILD,
known as the father of the oldest
Jewish colonies in Palestine, con
gratulated I)r. Chaim Weizmann
warmly on the success of his negotia
tions for the extension of the Jewish
Agency. This expression of opinion
represents a change of attitude on the
part of Baron Edmund who, it is
stated, was not in favor of the project
last year when he was approached
concerning the matter. His present
concurrence, it was further stated,
does not imply his intention to become
himself, a member of the Council of
the Jewish Agency.
REAR ADMIRAL JOSEPHTHAL,
member of the United States Naval
Reserve, died. He received a medal for
thirty-five years of service with the
State Militia. The Government of Rou-
mania, for his services to that coun
try, gave him the grand cross of the
military order of Roumania, the high
est award within its gifts. He or
ganized the firm of Jo^ephthal, Lou-
cheim & Co., members of the Stock
Exchange, the Cotton Exchange and
the Chicago Board of Trade, and the
Philadelphia Stock Exchange.
1
java lizard with white antelope
T8 50
H
This smart dress-sports tie—
by Garside—is also fashioned
in white antelope with black
morocco—or in black satin
mat kid with patent leather.
—STREET FLOOR
RICH'S
me