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THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
A Magazine Perpetuating Jewish Ideals
Volume 5
JANUARY 31, 1931
Number 23
A Prince in Israel Has Fallen
No philanthropist has ever attained so enduring a position of
universal love and reverence as Nathan Straus, or received such
complete admiration as was accorded him by all elements of Ameri
can Jewry during his lifetime. By his exemplary character in
public life, by his achievements in the advancement of child wel
fare, by his intrepid advocacy of justice for the Jew, by his cham
pionship of all that is truthful and fine in human relationships he
truly earned the title of America’s foremost Jew. He was the great
mediator in Jewish life. In his greatness he stood far above party
lines. More than any other Jew in this country he was unanimous
ly acknowledged and listened to as the Grand Old Man of Jewry.
Nathan Straus was America’s best-loved Jew. There were other
leaders in Jewish life, but none of them evidenced so universal an
interest in all phases of Jewish life. In him the best qualities of
the American and the Jew were combined. To the world at large
Nathan Straus was known neither as an American nor as a Jew,
but as a universal benefactor. During the best part of his rich life
he served the peoples of every country with his work on the pas
teurization of milk. Whenever and wherever a catastrophe plunged
people into mourning he was the first to dispatch help, giving an
example that never failed to inspire. But no country is more
deeply indebted to him than Palestine. On Eretz Israel he lavished
his utmost generosity. More than any other mortal did he contrib
ute to the welfare of the young in the Jewish Homeland. The
hospitals and sanitary stations he built and maintained will remain
as a permanent monument to his faith in the Jewish people and
their ability to rebuild the land of their ancestors. His passing
will be mourned by Jews and Gentiles alike throughout the world,
for Nathan Straus knew no discrimination in his humanitarianism.
The world is better for his having lived in it.
* *
Three United States Attorneys
One can only use the phrase “philo-Semitic” to describe several
of the important appointments which President Hoover made dur
ing the past week. And since the opposite phrase, “anti-Semitic,”
has been dinned into the public ear for so long a time, the action
of the nation’s Chief Executive demands special comment. For the
United States Attorneyship of New York he selected George Z.
Medalie, one of the leading lights of the New York bar. Simon E.
Sobeloff, of Baltimore, was almost simultaneously nominated as
United States Attorney for Maryland. Together with Philip Fore
man, United States Attorney for New Jersey, who is the leading
figure in fighting the government’s case against the famous Judge
William Clark prohibition decision, three of the States have Jew
ish representatives of the Federal administration in the legal de
partment. Outside of the natural glow of pride which any Jew
feels when a member of his people renders some distinguished
service to the community, there is an added satisfaction in examin
ing the records of the three Jewish United States Attorneys. They
are, obviously, not what are usually referred to as “political" ap
pointments. Each of the men has to his credit a long and impres
sive career in the law. It is interesting to note that in New York
City, where political divisions are perhaps more closely drawn than
elsewhere, both the Democratic and Republican papers unanimous
ly commended the President’s choice for the Attorneyship that is
regarded as the most important political plum in the power of the
Republican Party of New York to bestow.
Another interesting aspect of these men’s lives is their associa
tion with the Jewish community. They have identified themselves
with the work of Jewish causes in as active a fashion as their rather
busy professional careers would permit. They deserve commenda
tion for having achieved recognition for sheer merit.
* * *
Adolph Hitler “Explains
By Max Fraenkel -
Franz Boas Heads American Scientists
At the age of seventy-two Franz Boas, one of the world’s fore
most anthropologists, has been elected to the Presidency of the
American Association for the Advance
ment of Science. Among the many
Jews—among them are Dr. Radin, Gold-
enweiser, Sapir and others—who have
distinguished themselves by researches
into the history, languages, customs
and culture of the American Indians,
Boas is the most widely known. But
his contributions to the general subject
of anthropology have been equally val
uable, and during his half century of
work he has added considerably to our
knowledge of the evolution of human
cultural institutions. It is a huge pity
that few among the leading anthropol
ogists display that interest in Jewish
history which they devote to the his
tory of nearly all other peoples; and
that the majority of them—including
Boas himself—are generally indifferent
both to the present and the past of the
Jews. And the strange thing is that
many of them have known what it is to
suffer in their academic careers as a re
sult of their being born within the fold.
CONTENTS
4
America s Best-Loved Jew Passes
By Joseph Brainin - - - - - -
- - 5
Southern Notes
Society
In the Limelight
National News
An Example in Public Life
Louis Lipsky, former president of the Zionist Organization of
America, has accepted the presidency of the Zionist Region of
New York City. On the surface this
looks like a considerable come-down—
as though a former President of the
United States had accepted the mayor
alty of the metropolis. Actually the in
cident could be very instructive to all
people in public life, whether Jewish
or non-Jewish. For a great many pub
lic workers a national presidency is the
top of the ladder, and the man who has
once been at the top of the ladder thinks
it beneath him to make himself useful
a couple of rungs below the top. And
it is a frequent and justified complaint
in America that we never make use of
our ex-presidents. It is also true that in
Jewish public life ex-presidents of big
organizations vanish from the scene, and
whatever experience they have had is
lost to their organization. Louis Lipsky
shows himself of considerable stature
when he goes into harness in a role
which is minor compared with the one
which he held for a number of years.
And his action should be an example.
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