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The Southern Israelite
F.XTHA EDITION
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Executive Office*: 161 Spring St., N. W.
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Published In Atlanta Monthly by
THE SOUTHERN NEWSPAPERS ENTERPRISES, Inc.,
M. STEPHEN SCHIFFER, Managing Editor
Subscription Ratss: 15 Cents Single Copy, $1.50 Per Year In Advance.
Entered as second class matter at the Postoffice at Atlanta, Ga.,
under the Act of March 3rd, 1879.
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All communications for publication should reach this office not later than
1st and 15th of each month.
The Southern Israelite Invites correspondence and literary contributions, but
the Editor Is not to be considered as sharing the views expressed by the
writers except those enunciated In the Editorial columns.
“Better Understanding Between Moslems
and Jews”
A strong pica for a bettor understanding between Moslems and
Jews in Palestine for the sake of Palestine, is made editorially m
the American Hebrew, of which Isaac Landman is the Editor, pub
lished Friday, September 6th.
The editorial states that the Jews of the world would not de
sire a homeland for their brethren in Palestine if it is to be
won and held at the point of a bayonet. The writer calls the
attention of the Moslems to the purposes of the Jewish Agency
for Palestine enunciated by Dr. Chaim Weizmann, speaking for
the Zionists, and Mr. Felix M. Warburg, speaking for the non-
Zionists, both of whom declared that the objective of the Jews in
Palestine is to create “a work of peace” that will benefit Moslems,
Christians and Jews alike. The editor is of the opinion that this
work of peace can be achieved mutually by Arabs and Jews if the
former, like the latter, would create an Arab Agency for Palestine
on the lines and with purposes similar to those of the Jewish
Agency.
Pleading for immediate and large contributions to the Pales
tine Emergency Fund, the editorial then continues: “The chief
problem, then, after security has been restored and the Arab
damage repaired will still remain: Must the homeland for Jews
in Palestine, guaranteed under the auspices of the League of
Nations, be established at the point of the bayonet in British or
Palestine-Jewish hands?
“It is safe to say that no Jews anywhere, with the probable
exception of a few hundred radicals, desire a homeland for then-
brethren in Palestine, founded on the threat of bloody arms and
protected with the might of slaughtering machine guns. There
is, therefore, required even more than removal of incompetent of
ficials, punishment of the instigators and perpetrators of the recent
riots, reparation for damages inflicted, settlement of the Wailing
Wall dispute and a clear restatement of Great Britain’s policy with
regard to Palestine under her mandate from the League of Nations.
All these are necessary but not sufficient.
“Great Britain, carrying on in the Holy Land for the League
of Nations, cannot, and does not wish to, repudiate her self-as
sumed obligations to make Palestine a safe habitation, a home
land for Jews. Nor can she, under the Mandate, permit Palestine
to become exclusively a Moslem homeland; and she will not. Ac
cordingly, whatever may be the Mandatory’s clear restatement
of her policy in Palestine, the first and most important task is to
educate both Jews and Moslems, in Palestine and outside of it,
to an understanding of that policy. Lacking this understanding,
a condition of peace and security can neither be established nor
maintained in the Holy Land; achieving this understanding, then
once more, as in Bible times, true liberty will be proclaimed
throughout the land, unto all the inhabitants thereof.”
Quoting Dr. Weizmann and Mr. Warburg on the peaceful at
titude of the Jewish Agency toward the Moslems in Palestine, the
editorial continues: “We Jews are unitedly agreed on the pro
gram for Palestine as outlined by Weizmann for the Zionists and
Warburg for the non-Zionists and on our attitude towards the
Arabs in the course of Palestine’s rehabilitation. Even the hand
ful of irreconcilables will probably in the future see fit to work
in harmony with the rest of world Jewry.
“What remains is for the Moslems, in and out of Palestine,
to be convinced, as we Jews are convinced, that the rational and
fruitful approach can come only thru the adoption of an attitude
of peace and constructive aim such as permeates the Jewish Agency
for Palestine. Perhaps, now that the emotional tension amontr
Arabs ha« exacted its tragic toll, and they have heard the W( f r n.
voice of horror and protest, Moslem leaders may realize that th '
have been guiding their followers in the wrong direction to
detriment of Palestine, which is their homeland. They may nowT
in the mood to consider with approval the invitation extended L
the Mandatory for the formation of an Arab Agency for Palestine
similar in purpose to that of the Jewish Agency. Great Britain
from its experience with other Moslem peoples, ought to find th
modus vivendi to make the Arabs comprehend that Palestine can*
not be the homeland either of Arabs or of Jews unless both folio*
the path of better understanding and co-operation which alone
can lead to permanent peace and make possible the pursuit of
happiness for all Palestinians.”
The Future of Judaism
Much speculation has lately been indulged in with regard to
the future of Judaism, and the “Jewish Review and Observer’'
very correctly comments editorially on the question as follows;
One of the vital questions today is “What is the future of Juda
ism?” There are some who are optimistic, some are pessimistic and
many are indifferent.
Abraham Newstadt of Columbus gave an excellent definition of
what Judaism is when he stated that Judaism is the Jewish people,
with its history, its literature, its traditions, its ethics, its morals,
its folk lore, its ceremonials, its legends, its memories of the past
and its hope for the future.
This definition contains the essential elements of the Jewish
faith. If we study these phases and utilize them in life we car
feel assured that Judaism will have a glorious future.
We Jews have given to civilization the marvelous teachings of
the great prophets Moses, Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah and hosts of
others, which have never been surpassed by the greatest thinkers
of ancient or modern time.
Jewish history has often been called the veteran history of
mankind. Its heroes have been the inspiration for many genera
tions.
The Jews of ancient and modern times have made vast con
tributions to human progress in every direction. We have spread
the gospel of righteousness and the highest ideals of religion.
When the nations of antiquity were idol worshipers we wor
shiped the one true God, and it was the Jews who were the first
to give the world the ideal of freedom.
. The Jews have been great factors in the building of powerful
states and nations. No people either ancient or modern have
achieved greater things than the Jews though they have always
been in the minority, and while many attempts have been made to
exterminate them they still continue to live, thus proving the im
mortality of the dynamic ideals and prophetic principles, which
have always dominated Israel.
We firmly believe that the Jewish people and their faith are
everlasting. They will always have the will to live and achieve,
and while there may be some who are of the opinion that the
future will witness the assimilation and disintegration of the Jews,
we have every reason to feel quite certain that these pessimists are
in the minority.
There have always been periods in the annals of history when
there seems to be a decadence of the religious spirit, and we are of
the opinion that to many the indifference of some of our Jewish
people today signifies a gloomy future for Judaism, which certain!)
is not the case from present indications.
All Jews should contribute their share toward promoting the
future strength and power of Judaism.
Louis Marshall
A Jew extraordinary, was Louis Marshall whose death h ■
our sorrowful duty to record at this time. He was a unique char
ter—the finest contribution made by America to world Jewry- J
age in which he lived will hardly be able to appraise him: time an
perspective will present him in his full dimensions to P° s * e ^
Louis Marshall was the defender of tiis people. Wherever Jt‘' v> ' u .
wronged, he came to their defense; wherever they suffered. e
ganized the forces to make lighter their misery, wherever they ''
persecuted, he brought the power of his vast political and chP 10 ‘
knowledge to protect their rights. He put his soul into serving _
people loyally and brilliantly. In the service of helping Jucia the
Louis Marshall stood supreme. His departure will leave n gnP 1
public life of world Jewry that will take generations to till.
