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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. a * ‘•‘ond-class matter at the Postcfice at Atlanta. Ga.. under the Act of March 3, 1879. Publiihcd monthly by the Southern Newspaper Enterprises, Inc. Subscription rates: $2 00 per year in i (vf, Southern Israelite invites correspondence and literary contributions, but the editor is not to be considered as sharinf the views espressed by the writers except those enunciated in the ditoria! columns. Call -*■ M. S. Miller, Editor; Mr. Stephen Schiller. Publisher; Nathan Lipton. Business Manaecr. Executive Oftces, 301 Glenn Buildinf, Atlanta, Ga. All communications tor publication should reach this office not later than the 10th and 25th of each month.