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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. - 8 11 .s c^ssrc*""* s- •* *■ >h. writ.rrfi.w’a^'«™d, V S r £ Edit'oriL E,,»biiH«d IMS. M. Stophe Sctiiffer, Mwlnf Editor. All commumc.tio.. far (toblietito. .btodd r..d> tbu .Hie to., tow, tbto. 1st and 15th of each month .