The Southern Israelite. (Augusta, Ga.) 1925-1986, July 19, 1929, Image 4
Page 4 The Southern Israelite Executive Office*: 161 Spring St., N. W. Published In Atlanta Monthly by THE SOUTHERN NEWSPAPERS ENTERPRISES. Inc., M. STEPHEN SCHIFFER, Managing Editor Iptlon Rate*: 15 Cent* Single Copy, <1.50 Per Year !n Advance. • red a* *econd cla** matter at the Postoffice at Atlanta, Ga., under the Act of March 3rd, 1879. ________ munlcatlon* for publication should reach this office not later than 1st and 15th of each month. hern Israelite Invites correspondence and literary contributions, but tr I* not to be considered as sharing the views expressed by the writer* except those enunciated In the Editorial columns. ‘The Jewish Stowaway” The campaign of criticism waged in the French and some New York newspaper against Arthur Schreiber, “Yellow Bird stow away, has given plenty of food for thought, so to speak. It seems instead of letting weli enough alone in criticizing the boy for his lack of thought in endangering the lives of the crew, as well as his own, certain papers have discredited him w'ith anything but the blackest intentions and morals in their news stories, editorials, and letters to the editor. The possible danger created for the plane and the men through Schreiber’s stowing away was an indiscretion, it must be admitted, but one must recognize his courage. And so we agree, insofar as the criticism directed against him dwelt on his thoughtlessness that it was justified. But to ascribe to him every possible fault and moral inferiority as some papers did seems more than unfair, especially when the New York“ Evening World” declared the Schreiber incident to be a “national humiliation.” A similar situation occurred after Charles A. Levine had suc cessfully crossed the Atlantic. Ugly and uncalled for objections were spread that he was loud and aw-kward in his behavior and attitude. He was denied the ability to dare and his name undoubt edly brought to many minds the word “Jew” instead of the thought “courage to risk,” w'hich was certainly his. All pilots cannot be dandies but they must all have courage regardless of their religion or social status. Another comparison that arises in our minds in this instance is the case of the Zeppelin stowaway. Grant that the Zeppelin was a passenger plane thereby lessening the danger another person aboard might create, still there arises the doubt that had Schreiber not been a Jew he would probably have received more of the honor and the minimum of criticism that was bestowed upon his Gentile colleague. Truthfully and sincerely we believe and hope that even the most narrow-minded and prejudiced Christians will not be influenced so blindly that they will fail to realize the tremendous courage Jew as well as Gentile must possess to lend himself to such an in valuable experimentation that is being carried on in the field of aviation. We feel that the Jew will not be prohibited through in trigue and through untruth from daring in the air. and we heartlv agree with the editorial in the New York Yiddish Daily, “Dav” w’hich so encouragingly reasoned: “ because we know that in all fields of human progress the Jew met with obstacles placed in his way. They have how ever, overcome the difficulties and they occupy places in the first ranks of progress because they have dared and succeeded This daring is a part of our national psychology. This psychology was victorious in all other fields and it will be successful iii the final end in the air as well, notwithstanding all the obstacles and intrigue* which seek to bring about a condition in which ‘Jew should not dare.’ They will not frighten us,” the paper concludes. “What Price Par?” In these days and times most of us have ceased to be shocked at even the strangest actions on the part of our fellowmen but notwithstanding such a reputation we cannot refrain from feeling somewhat stunned at the really queer reactions that are frequently displayed. For instance, recently one of our evidently wealthV brethren, Alfred S. Austrian, Chicago lawyer, paid $10 000 to a golf c -ssional for teaching him to turn in a score of 80 or less It -d that Mr. Austrian was a talented pupil-—or that his Darticularly capable—and he accomplished his troaf ; ch he won a bet of $5.00. goa1 ’ istion the man’s sportsmanship, nor do we doubt his generosity and willingness to help others. We may even as sume, and we hope it is so, that for every such extravagance, he gives an equal or double amount to a worthy cause or to aid those people and institutions striving toward a truly high goal. But now doesn’t it seem that regardless of how generous his charitable contributions may be, the extravagant expenditure incurred by his self-indulgence to satisfy a mere whim or hobby was entirely un- called for, especially when we stop to consider the tremendous suffering of our people throughout the world? When we stop to think about the untiring efforts and services devoted by many men and women who can less afford their time than Mr. Austrian is comfortably able to spare thousands of dollars, if seems ridiculous and unfair that an intelligent man no matter who he may be should give $10,000 to prove that he is a good sport. And so without the slightest pretense on our part of insinuat- I ing how Mr. Austrian, or anyone else for that matter, should dis tribute his wealth or regulate his donations to charity, and with due respect for his good sportsmanship, we still cannot but feel that there is such a thing as sane riddance of one’s surplus riches, j Dr. Boris D. Bogen The sudden death of Dr. Boris I). Bogen, 60 years of age, and internationally known for his work in Jewish Social Service, is suffered as an inestimable loss not only to his family and friends but to the organization he originated and loyally supported and to the countless sufferers here and abroad towards whose succor and relief he devoted himself so unselfishly. He was Secretary of the Independent Order B’nai B’rith and had recently attended the annual meeting of the District Grand Lodge No. 4 at Oakland, California and a few days later the National Conference of Social Service at San Francisco. He was attending a family reunion in Los Angeles when he passed away. Dr. Bogen’s life w-as very full and inspiring. He was born in Russia but came to Amerioa with his parents when still a child. He attended the University of New York, majoring in Pedagogy. His first post in 1894 was in the Baron de Hirsch Trade School. In 1896 he became a teacher in the Hebrew Technical Institute, and in 1900 was named principal of the Baron de Hirsch Agricultural School at Woodbine, N. J. Four years later he was appointed Execu tive Director of the Federation of Jewish Charities at Cincinnati and later Field Secretary of the National Conference of Social Service until his entry into the J. D. C. Relief Work in 1917. On his return to America in 1924 he became Executive Director of the Los Angeles Federation of Jewish Charities where he served for four years before assuming the post of Executive Secretary of the Independent Order B’nai B’rith. Three years ago the degree of Doctor of Hebrew 7 Law w r as conferred upon Dr. Bogen by the Hebrew' Union College in recognition of his social service. The last office he was elected to hold before his death was President of the National Conference of Social Service at a meeting in At lantic City. His work during his forty years of service for public causes was invaluable. The outstanding accomplishment of his career ic social service for w'hich he w r as known in Europe and America his work as Director of the Relief Activities of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in Europe during the World War. He organized the distribution of food among the starving Jewish P°P" ulation of Poland and W’as knowm as the Herbert Hoover of P 0 ^ 1 ^' A beautiful and deserving tribute was paid to Dr. Bogen h. Felix M. Warberg, Chairman of the American J. D. C. in which ** join sincerely: It seems incredible that his wonderfully useful life has> con * to Mich an untimely close. There were so many things he to do. I feel his going as the sad loss of one of my warmest P# sonal friends. Jew’ry is deprived of one of the most courages self-saciificing and understanding pioneers not only in organ 12 ’*' charity but in the relief work in which he received such eX oidinai \ success. He w r as an inspiration to many and surely to We will miss his ever cheerful counsel and friendship"