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THE
SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
A MAGAZINE PERPETUATING JEWISH IDEALS
VOLUME VIII.
JANUARY, 1933.
NUMBER
H elcome Einstein
Einstein is again with us. He has come on his third annual visit,
to continue his research work at the California Institute of Technology
ind later to take his professorial chair at the Institute of Advanced
>tudv. America, and American Jewry particularly, is happy and
firoud to welcome him. Einstein stands out today jus the foremost
scientist of our time and as the most beloved world figure. From now
nn he belongs to America as much as to Germany. His activities
will demand his presence on this continent for almost six months out
of every year. This should not be forgotten. It is our duty to respect
iis privacy. \ r o pressure should be exercised in extending to him
linvitations of an either social or communal character. Schemers
should desist from enticing him into the public glare for the sake of
Itinancial or publicity returns. A policy of “Hands off” should pre
vail. Jewish organizations should show the way. No campaign is
as important as Einstein’s honor and dignity and a “hands off”
policy should be followed by the many Jewish organizations who seek
names for their letterheads in order to capitalize on its possibilities.
If any private undertaking should dare to inveigle the great scientist
[into a commercial stunt—no one is safe from reckless and irresponsi
ble promoters—-public opinion should not hesitate to expose and con
demn it ruthlessly.
f.ivil Liberty
The Kev. Robert 1*. Shuler, notorious for his anti-Semitic views
las well as for his attacks on Catholics and other racial and religious
[minorities over a Los Angeles radio station which recently was closed
I by Cnited States Supreme Court order, will fight his case on the
[grounds of the right of free speech. He will be represented by Morris
Ernst, a leading figure in the American Civil Liberties Union.
[ I he case will be interesting because the Rev. Mr. Shuler will have to
prove that his views are not against the public interest, as is claimed
by the Federal Radio Commission. The surprising aspect of this im
pending legal battle is the sight of Mr. Ernst defending the Rev. Mr.
phuler on the grounds of free speech. Of course we realize that
lawyers are professionally compelled—to a certain extent—to accept
•he defense of any one. We are never indignant when we see some
°f °ur most ethical lawyers speaking in court for the most notorious
[criminals and trying to find a legal loophole for their escape from
legral punishment. Such is the structure of our legal system. But
in a case like that of the Rev. Mr. Shuler, when a higher principle is
involved, Mr. Ernst—unless he actually believes that anti-Semitic
[propaganda should be permitted—could easily have excused himself
prom duty. A very sad spectacle, that of one of the leaders of the
American Civil Liberties Union taking up the defense of so notorious
an anti-Semite as the Rev. Mr. Shuler.
Character Witness for the U. S. A.
( 'onvicted on a charge of consistent anti-Semitic activity, a ma-
' binist employed in a locomotive factory in the Don Basin has been
M, ntenced to five years in prison. Terms varying from one year in
prison to lesser periods were meted out to three other Christians
charged with interfering with other workers because they are Jews.
I he secretary of the local trade union was expelled from the Com
munist Party because it was charged that he knew of the anti-Semitic
incidents and did nothing to prohibit them.” Thus reads a dispatch
from Moscow. Simultaneously we rend that Boris Brasol, a Russian,
expert witness for the IT. S. Government in a suit which Soviet Russia
is bringing against it, was labeled by Charles Reeht, attorney for the
l SSR as not qualified to offer testimony because he is an anti-Semite.
Mr. Recht brought out before the Claims Commissioner that Boris
Brasol had always tried to make it appear that the Soviet. Govern
ment is a government of Jews and had always made his appeals for
support against the Soviets on the basis of anti-Semitic prejudice.
By an ironical twist of fate the name of the Claims Commissioner
before whom this case is being argued is Myron Cohen. The Soviet
attitude towards the Jewish question seems to be the same at home
as it is in foreign countries. Anti-Semitism is looked upon as a crime.
No person can be guilty of it and retain any claim to decency. This
is the Soviet view, whether it applies to everyday life in Moscow or
to legal eases in New York. Mr. Cohen’s position is a rather delicate
one. He never dreamt, we suppose, of having to decide whether anti-
Semitism disqualifies a witness, when he was asked to referee a ship
ping claim. But Mr. Recht is basing the entire credibility of the
witness for the U. S. Government on the fact that r» man who dis
tributes the Protocols of tin* Elders of Zion cannot be believed.
Whatever the outcome of the case, it seems to us that Moscow is
teaching New York a lesson made rather subtle because it is sub
mitted to Mr. Cohen as representing the United States of America.
The IsOst Days
The year 1932 belongs to the past. In its very last days, Jewish
news has been of a rather encouraging character which augurs well
for 1933. Thus we read that the new Premier of Hungary, Julius
Combos, has declared that he “fervently wishes for inter-denomina
tional amity among our Christian as well as our Jewish citizenry.”
Coming from a man who until now was an avowed anti-Semite, this
is a pleasant surprise. . . . We also read that Dr. Stephen 8. AVise,
disregarding the furore aroused some years ago by a Christmas sermon
he preached, devoted this Christmas morning to a new eulogy of the
doctrines of Jesus. Dr. Wise feels that Jewish public opinion has
advanced to greater maturity, that it can understand now that a
Jew does not have to sacrifice any of his Jewishness to proclaim the
Carpenter of Nazareth an ethical and resplendent personality. . . .
The Julius Rosenwald Fund with an expenditure of $2,3117,000 and
the Murry and Leonie Guggenheim Foundation with disbursements
of $401,000 were among the largest donors to public welfare activi
ties in the United States during the year of 1932. Every Jew of this
country will feel proud when reading these statistics. ... A Conference
with the British Ambassador to Poland was one of the first activities
undertaken by Lord Melchett upon his arrival in Warsaw from Eng
land, it being understood that Lord Melchett discussed the Jewish
situation particularly with reference to the recent anti-Semitic riots.
Another evidence that the second Lord Melchett is taking his Jewish
responsibilities most seriously. ... Of course we met such items as
that about Professor Ernest Cohen of the Breslau University, com
pelled to resign because of Nazi pressure. He was reported to have
said that it would have done no harm to Germany if she had ad
mitted Trotsky to enter. Well, what did Professor Cohen expect
with a name like “Cohen?” . . .
At the time of this printing President Paul von lUndenburg bowed his shoulders
to the sweep of the NAZI movement—and appointed Adolph Hitler, Chancellor
of the Reich.
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