Newspaper Page Text
Mjnnoza Unanimously Acclaimed
I It one is to judge by the celebration sponsored by the International Philo-
Hphical Congress held at The Hague in honor of the Tricentennial of Baruch
H Spinoza, the great Jewish thinker enjoys unanimous recognition today.
Hhrec hundred years after his birth this once so controversial figure is hailed
|fl the father of all great mathematical thinkers in the philosophical field.
Hot only were speeches delivered in English, French, German, Dutch, Latin
and Yiddish at the Hague celebration, but among the speakers were at least
one Catholic priest, a professor at a Jesuit Seminary, Protestant minister, lib-
■ al Jewish rabbis, professors of pure philosophy, pets and lovers of art and
Biose who follow Spinoza merely in his love for solitude and quiet. So re
ported the correspondent of the Herald-Tribune specially assigned to cover
Hie Tricentennial ceremonies at The Hague. While the actual birthdate
of Spi oza falls on November 24th, the celebration was arranged to permit
flll variety of thinkers to attend the event. America was represented at the
Blebration bv Professor A. S. Oko, of Cincinnati, Professor Edman, of New
B'ork, and Dr. Schatsky, of New’ York. By these three spokesmen—all three
Brws—the new world was ably and well represented.
Have Mercy on Einstein
| It is with mixed feelings that we take cognizance of the news that Profes-
Hor Albert Einstein has accepted a professorship at the New Institute for
^Advanced Study to be housed at Princeton University. We are fearful lest
Hhis country is not sufficiently mature to deserve such an honor. A genius
ftt liis sensitive calibre requires a quiet miliou. While, on his previous visits
Ho this country, Professor Einstein smiles through the vociferous ballyhoo
Hi hich marked his every public appearance and bore with infinite patience the
Hulgar assaults made daily on his private life by the press and a multitude
^■f thrill seekers, he does expect, once he becomes a resident, to be left alone.
m\ ill America grant this request ? We doubt it. Thousands of publicity
■gents are already busy concocting stunts into which they hope to inveigle
■he father of the theory of relativity. Hundreds of Jewish institutional
jMnptign directors are most probably planning to invite Professor Einstein
Ho banquets, meetings and receptions. One only has to remember the inhu-
H^an tactics used on Lindbergh to realize that Einstein will be the target of
HU kinds of schemes. Under these circumstances we are very doubtful
Hvhether Einstein’s coming to this country for six months every year will be
1 ^" his advantage or to his comfort. All we can do is to express a fervent
I h that American Jewry and the great American public reaped the private
life of the greatest scientist of this age. when economic conditions unfortu
nately have compelled to accept a professorship in this country of high press-
lire salesmanship. We also trust that the New Institute for Advanced Study
pid not engage Einstein as a big publicity stunt to “put the institute over,”
Put rather to give the great research worker facilities to delve still deeper
Into the mysteries of this world.
\ifraid
to embarrass the Government. They try to force the Government to
adopt a pro-Jewish attitude, believing that it would present a much more
vulnerable front if it could be openly labeled pro-Jewish. This the Pil-
sudski administration fully realizes, and consequently it tries to protect Jewish
interests without giving too much of an opening to the Nationalist groups for
anti-Government propaganda. As one Polish Jewish leader expressed it very
clearly: “If the communists of Poland were responsible for the rioting, the
Pilsudski Government would put a stop to the disturbances within twenty-
four hours. It would declare martial law and place at the disposal of the
police its entire military force. But in its attempts to put a stop to the pres
ent disorders, the Government is trying the impossible stunt of satisfying the
Jewish elements without provoking the Nationalists beyond a certain limit.
I bis explains why anti-Semitic activities have gone on so long without effec
tive interference on the part of the Polish Government.
A JSetc Potver Rises
The announcement that Nathan 1. Amster will direct the affairs of the
Manhattan Railway Company as its new President did not provoke much of
a ripple throughout the country. There is, however, a moving human story
behind the rise of this new figure in the railroad business of this country.
Amster is an immigrant, born in Roumania. He came to this country at the
age of eighteen and worked his way up from errand boy in a grocery store.
Later he prospected in Montana, New’ Mexico and Arizona. Then he came
to Boston, a Wealthy man, but still in search of adventure. He soon became
known as one of the really important financial figures of the East, ready and
able to tackle the biggest and most complicated economic problems. As
President of the Manhattan Railway Company, Amster will be one of the
pivotal leaders in the railroad business. This Jewish immigrant boy who
came to our shores as a grown up youngster is now a grizzled old man
who emerges as a key figure in the maze of New York’s transit problems.
His climb to the top and the realization of his life-long ambitions reads like
a fairy tale. It provides irrefutable evidence of the beneficial influence on
America of influx of the right kind of immigrants.
Immortal Shylock
The movement to bar the study of “The Merchant of Venice” from
public school curricula is spreading like an epidemic. After Baltimore,
West New York and Paterson, N. J., have followed suit. And, of course,
the actions resulting in the elimination of Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice”
from public schools or high schools must be regarded as actions motivated
by a desire to further inter religious and interracial good will. Yet some
how' we do not feel very proud and elated by these good will victories. We
fully realize that Shylock is a characterization that projects—if viewed from
a certain interpretative angle—a deformed picture of the Jew into the men
tality of the school boy. We also are aware of the contention that the
reading of “The Merchant of Venice” is apt to create a confused impression
in the minds of non-Jewish and, for that matter, Jewish pupils. But with
all this it seems to us that Shakespeare’s masterpiece contains much that re
veals the grandeur of the Jew and the injustice of the Christian attitude to
the Jew’ of that time. Good will based on the elimination of certain books
from the schools is a bit risky. The pupils studying Shakespeare will de
velop a greater interest in “The Merchant of Venice” now that it is bootleg
literature. Under such conditions, the barring of this Shakespearean drama
will result only in its greater popularity. World literature can never be
successfully confiscated. Shylock w’ill go on haunting the minds of our
school youth now more than ever.
The unvarnished truth about the ineffectiveness of the Polish Government
curbing the brutal attacks of the anti-Semites engineered by the National-
| st * can be expressed in one sentence. The Government is afraid of the Na
tionalist party. It is content to maintain the impression that the present
ting is entirely motivated by anti-Jewish resentment on the part of students
• d other elements. As a matter of fact, the Nationalist party is shooting,
t rough the Jew’s, at the Government. The Nationalists, apparently intent
r pushing their anti-Government drive to a finish, have selected this method
’ered as second-class matter at the Postolfice at Atlanta. Ga.. under the Act of March 3, 1879. Published monthly by the Southern Newspaper Enterprises. Inc. Subscription ratees: >2.00 per year in advance.
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. Established
-5. M. S. Miller. Editor; M. Stephen Schiffer, Publisher. Executive Offices, 301 Glenn Building. Atlanta. Ga. All communications for publication should reach this office not later than the 10th and 25th of each month.