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The Southern Israelite Page 17 The Challenge of Youth (A ISetc Year 9 s Message) By EDWARD M. KAHN Executive Director, Federation of Jewish Charities Atlanta, Ga. The pious Jew faces “Rosh Hasho- na h" and “Yom Kippur” with great 8 we and expectation. He fears the wor-t and hopes for the best. During • he past year a good many of the apprehensions became real, and a good manv of the hopes failed of realiza- ■i \nti-Semitism in Poland, Roumania, Hungary, Austria, and Germany has declined. The dark forces of re- a nd hatred have assumed men acing. organized forms. In the United States the Anti-Se- , forces have experienced definite I strong opposition, and, fortunate ly. cannot report any gains. Within the memory of the younger generation the world lay devastated v the ravages of war. Bled to the re the world faced the ruin of civi lization. Yet such is the aftermath of war, that instead of being full of compassion, mercy, and love, human ity is full of hatred, envy, and bru tality. In times like these, the Jew is the inevitable scapegoat. It has ever been o all through the ages. And these days are no exception. All the ills of the world are ascribed to the Jew. He !■> the world menace. The poor rabble * buncombed into believing it all. And believing it, fails to see the real 'Buses of the ills afflicting the world. Battered by the unkindness of the iK r es; ostracized by those whose ances tors were swine-herds; persecuted md oppressed by the mediaeval forces "f the world, the Jew stands undis mayed. He faces life with his back to the wall, and says, “They shall not pass.” The body can withstand pain and 'ufTering as long as the mind is free. long as the heritage of Jewish ulture is preserved the survival of rid Jewry is assured. Recently the world witnessed a New ( hapter in the miraculous sur- !\al of the Jew. Menaced by the blind fury of savage fanaticism the Jewish • '■uth of Palestine made the supreme >acrifice defending the right of the ew to ‘life, liberty, and the pursuit °f happiness.” True to the Jewish spirit, the Cha- .ut2i m of Palestine are our modern laccabees. But today, just, as in by- * rne ^ mes ' ou r martyrs are those old Js teachers of the Talmud and their disciples in the Yeshivahs. ir tyes turned toward the printed • the ancient books of learning, ••arnu*^ with any weapons of destruc- n ’ 1 Save up their lives because brU *# er ? Jews - They were the sym- the continuity of Jewish life an u culture. e burden of carrying on must fall vantu younger generation. Jewish L a m ^ st become the standard- 0,, v ° Ur tra ditions and culture. a ■ 4 L? enta « e is and varied. It is • at thing capable of growth. in«nv\ m America we must find the tlon and opportunity for the preservation and further development of Jewish cultural aspirations in the synagogue and temple. In the Hebrew School and Jewish Club, in the fra ternal order and in the Jewish Center, particularly in the last named, a dis tinct product of American Jewish life. The organization of the Jewish Cen ter embraces all the elements of the Jewish Community, Jewish history and literature, Jewish art and folk lore, and the opportunity for play and recreation find ample place in its pro gram. This does not mean neglecting the culture and traditions of America. The public school system gives us all the general background. The commercial and industrial life of the nation affects us all and standardizes our responses. The social and cultural patterns of America fit our measurements too. We don’t want to be provincial. We don’t crave separateness surrounded by a ghetto wall. As for the Jewish immigrant, his physical adjustment is a mere matter of time. He assumes the uniform out er garb soon enough. As for his spir itual adjustment to the American en vironment, the writer believes that this is a process of give and take. True Americanization, then, is a so cial and cultural process requiring for success the freedom of action and in teraction. From this standpoint, then, the Jew has a contribution to make to the cul ture of America. A contribution that, fused with the other elements that make up these United States, will en rich the spirit of American cultural activities. The Jewish Center, in addition to fostering the spirit and traditions of America, must become the rallying place for our Jewish youth. A place where the aspirations of our people, the ancient culture and new ideals of the Jew, the problems of contempo rary life, will receive the light of in telligent discussion and understanding, and perhaps lead to fruitful action. Yom Kippur beholds a Spiritual Puri fication, The soul is cleansed for self-identifica tion. New hopes, new ambitions, new illu sions Again endeavor to reach the unattain able goal. Youth has courage and daring, Age the wisdom to be sparing. Striving, struggling, searching, The unknown equation of human ex istence. Surrounded by the physical, the earthly, Man makes a feeble attempt to attain the heavenly. Failing, many surrender the struggle, Judging all to be but a bubble. Uphill on the road to fulfillment few persevere, Below the masses to reality adhere. BUSINESS aside for the moment— —we wish our host of Jewish friends and patrons a Hearty, Happy and Prosperous New Year Chamberlin Tohn/on D u bo/e G> ‘‘There’* Something in a Name”