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Page 4 The Southern Israelite UlSCSSSCStl Tli* Stutter SjsrqfUte Executive Offices: 161 Spring St., N. W. Published In Atlanta Monthly by THE SOUTHERN NEWSPAPERS ENTERPRISES, Inc., M. STEPHEN SCHIFFER, Managing Editor Subscription Rates: 15 Cents Single Copy, 61.50 Per Year In Advance. Entered as second class matter at the Postoffice at Atlanta, Ga., under the Act of March 3rd, 1879. 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. Is Judaism Declining? One of our friends asked us that question this morning, and it is a query that is heard today with increasing frequency. We attempted to answer our friend’s question and when he left us, we were still talking but without an audience. Speaking coloquially, it is a question that brings op “more talk,” and after mature con sideration we have not only failed to reach a definite conclusion ourselves but we are prepared to dispute the conclusion of anyone else, either pro or con. In putting the question, it is imperative that there he a clear understanding as to whether the reference be to American Jewry or World Jewry. Only in its wider aspect can the subject be fully considered. Throughout history and continuing down to present time there has been a continuous effort either conscious or unconscious, by force or otherwise, on the part of the ruling majority to submerge the identity of the Jew as such and to assimilate him into the mass of the national population. From the time of the Babylonian Empire until the Middle Ages the Jews were regarded not only as a religious group hut also as a national group, and as such were held as an entity, separate and distinct from the rest of the population of the particular country in which they at the moment might be residing. Attempts at assim ilation during this period most frequently took the form of con version by force, and when this failed resulted in massacre or expulsion. Towards the end of Medieval time theories of government passed through a stage of evolution bringing the separation of church and state. The Jews were then regarded not as a national group separate and distinct but merely as a religious group and as such subject to assimilation while preserving their religious iden tity. This resulted in the legal emancipation of the Jew in those countries in which these theories prevailed. Today the legal emancipation of the Jew is complete in all modern civilized nations, but the process of assimilation is still in operation and will continue to operate so long as there remains a single discordant note in the body of a national population. The assimilation of minorities is a fundamental, economic law as inex orable in its operation as the law of gravity. Majorities and minori ties affecting and blending until all differences are eliminated. We see this law operating to a greater degree with each suc ceeding generation of American Jewish youth despite all efforts of the preceding generation to halt the change. Economics accom plishing that which force could never do. And it is easily conceiv able that the time may come when certain great classes of Amer ican Jewry existing today will cease entirely to be identified and exist as such. Speaking personally, however, we cannot somehow work our selves into any great degree of fever over this situation. History has shown that for various reasons Judaism has increased in one country while for various other reasons it was decreasing in an other. There has always been someone, somewhere to “carry on the torch,” but if the world and mankind ever change and im proves to such an extent that the necessity for “carrying on” ceases to exist, then the world will have become a wonderful place in which to live and it seems to us that Judaism will have accom plished its purpose. Fundamentals In Judaism Rabbi Louis J. Schwefel, resigning his Orthodox pulpit in Washingtxon, D. C., told his congregation that “unless the Ortho dox synagogue becomes more liberal there is no future for that synagogue in America.” Peculiarly enough, although quite natural ly, Reform synagogues are told that unless they become m0 r traditional they cannot survive. An inner battle thus rages i American Jewry, creating an unpleasant situation for manv (f us whose hope for “unity” is not a sham but a sincere desire “An Orthodox Rabbi” writes very interestingly on certain a- pects of this subject in the New Year’s number of the London Jewish Guardian. Under the heading “Religious Differences a Religious Indifference,” this anonymous author declares that “th? confusion of thought which religious differences engender i bound to stir up many disturbing influences inimical to robu<- faith and religious loyalty, with a resulting spread of indifferent from which Judaism so greatly suffers.” He suggests that a basi? of agreement be decided upon and lists a number of fundamental beliefs upon which there ought to be agreement in both camp> In this belief the following should be regarded as fundamental: 1. There is one God. 2. The Jewish race has been specially chosen to carry through a Divine mission. 3. These beliefs have been communicated and the means 0 f realizing and fulfilling them have been disclosed in the Hebrew Scriptures. 4. These Scriptures have been inspired by God and must not be upset or discarded; although certain provisions may be modi fied or reinterpreted by a duly constituted representative body, regard being had to the social, economic, and domestic needs of the time. 5. The coming of a Jewish Messiah, related or unrelated ti Zionism. In conformity with these beliefs are certain fundamental observances. 1. Circumcision. 2. Observance of the Sabbath. 3. Purely inter-Jewish marriage. 4. The keeping of festivals and celebrations commemorative of the births, trials, and achievements of the Jewish people. 5. Observance of prescriptions regarding meats that arc permissible and prohibited. 6. Adherence to marriage and divorce laws and regulations. This author modifies his suggestions by adding that he “may have omitted certain fundamentals, nor is this list strictly scientific, nor would each item be accepted by everyone as funda mental, but enough has been stated to give us guidance regarding the method of approaching the problem.” The trouble is that the Sabbath is observed in neither the Orthodox nor the Reform camp. Nor are the festivals commemo rated. The dietary laws are abused. What is worse, there is such an indifference toward the basic principles of Judaism, and such ignorance of Jewish values, particularly among younger Jews, that the situation is a much more deplorable one than if it were merely a difference of certain principles between Reform and Orthodox. Let both groups forget differences and set out, with renewed vigor and determination to train a well-informed Jewish youth and it will eliminate many trying problems that are certain to face us in the future if the coming generation is to be ignorant of the most elementary things and events in Judaism and Jewish history. Unless the coming generations are taught accordingly, we are in danger of reaching a state in which even the most essen tial fundamentals in Jewish life and law will be ridiculed because our own children will be strange to us. We repeat the oft-quoted warning that we have nothing to fear from a Jewishly trained and informed youth; whereas an ignorant Jewish youth will ka lis to national and religious suicide. —Detroit nr Jewish Calendar 5089-1929 , *Rosh ('hodesh Cheshvan .Monday, November *Rosh Chodosh Kislev __ Tuesday, December • First Day Chanukah Friday, December-* 5690-1930 | *Rosh Chodcsh Tebeth Wednesday, January Fast of Tehetli Friday, January Rush Chodesh Shebat Thursday, January * Rush Chodesh Adar Saturday, February - Purim Friday, March Rush Chodesh Nissan Sunday, March First Day Pesach Sunday, Apru Seventh Day Pesach Saturday, Apru *Rosh Chodesh Ivar .. Tuesday. Apr* * Rosh Chodesh Ellul Monday, August - * Also observed the day previous to Rosh Chodesh. All Jewish holidays begin at sunset the preceding secular day•