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SOUTHERN ISRAELITE A MAGAZINE PERPETUATING JEWISH IDEALS VOLUME VIII. MARCH, 1933. NUMBER 3. Passover Passover is the festival of liberation, of emancipation. Rabbis all over the world discourse on religious liberty and on the vitality of the Jewish people to withstand persecution and servitude on this holiday. Since the fall of the Ghetto walls in modern civilization, we have al ways listened to the Passover sermons with a detached interest. The story of the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt belonged to the realm of biblical miracles. It had no relation to everyday life until a few weeks ago when Adolf Hitler became Chancellor of Germany and declared war against the Jewish citizens of his country. At this year’s Passover table thousands of Jewish families will taste of the bitter herbs, the unleavened bread and the other symbols of the rituals of this festival with tragedy in their hearts. When we eat Matzoth this year, it will not be merely as a stirring reminder of what has been, hut of what yet is, and of what may yet come to be for all men. “ When we eat the unleavened bread,” said Rabbi Ileller a few years ago, ‘‘we ought to have before us the long table of Israel’s wanderings: the many times when we were driven post-haste from France and from England. There should be before us the anguish of the Spanish exiles with the Torah clasped in their arms. Before our minds should be a picture of the myriads who departed from Central Europe during the latter part of the Middle Ages and sought refuge in Poland.” This year, however, we should have before our eyes the sorry spectacle of German Jewry driven from pillar to post by the inhuman treatment of a power-intoxicated regime that is laboring under the illusion that it can do, what no power in history has achieved, destroy the Jewish race. When will the deliverance of German Jewry come? ISo Boycott That the Germans cannot maintain an anti-Semitic program without harming themselves is obvious. That the Jews of America and other countries cannot institute an economic war against Germany without endangering the Jews in Germany is equally clear. Under these cir cumstances what is to be done? A delicate and difficult question. Logically viewed, a reconciliation would seem the only solution. If Hitler were to say to world public opinion, call off your protests and I will guarantee equal treatment and equal opportunities to all Jews residing in Germany, the Jewish leadership would, we believe, be happy to engage in a serious effort to make the world realize that Germany, even Hitlerite Germany, is entitled to equal treatment and equal opportunity among the nations. But Hitler will not say the word. His followers are looking to him to keep the many promises made during his opposition days. He promised a new Germany. A Jew less Germany, lie promised the end of unemployment and the be- gining of an era of prosperity. He unfolded to the workers a vision of a Socialist state and to the ,1linkers he held up the picture of a strong and militaristic government in which the Hohenzollern would play a leading if not the leading role. To the capitalists he pledged his unrelenting fight against the dangers of communism. Which parts of this program can he carry out at the present time? To the Hitler mentality it appears that the anti-Jewish and anti- Communist war is the best political maneuvre. He most probably realized that Jews in foreign lands would be aroused and in their in dignation challenge the present regime in Germany. But Hitler knows that the proposed Jewish boycott against German merchandise is not a serious threat. Economically it would mean little, because the “bu-. [ at home” movements in many countries have reduced German ex-1* ports to so low a figure that a Jewish boycott would not seriously | affect the situation. Herr Hitler, however, is very anxious for a pr<* text for his anti-Jewish campaign. He wants to satisfy the anti-Setniti * wing of his party without risking too much prestige in foreign land* The Jewish boycott against German goods comes most appropriately It gives Herr Hitler a chance to shout self-defense, retaliation and counter-attack. Mr. Hitler does not wish for anything better thar ] engaging in an economic war with world Jewry. World Jewry is tie weakest opponent he can select, yet at the same time provides a rally ing slogan of foreign aggression for the conflicting elements of hi' party. Should we proclaim a boycott we should merely be falling into t political trap. An economic boycott, against whomever it may be di rected, is a cruel and atrocious measure. It involves the suffering of innocent people. A boycott is not in harmony with the ethical and pacifistic Jewish outlook. We canont decry the German economic boy cott if we engage in the same nasty business. Jewish leadership can not accept the boycott idea. Emil Ludwig, keen observer of European affairs, says: ‘‘Germany cannot continue the existence of her banks and commerce without America. If Jewish capital in New York wishes, it can force an im provement in the position of the German Jews.” This statement is significant. It implies that Germany requires the assistance of American financiers in order to overcome its present difficulties. It implies also that Jewish capital is sufficiently stronf in this country to influence the policy of American banks towards Ger- many. Political battles today are fought over the banker’s conference table. A boycott would only hit the small manufacturers and small ex porters of Germany in a small way. American banks, however, can J dictate to German big business and politicians at the proper time. 1' is for the Jewish leadership to prepare as strong a Jewish case as p<>' sible for the day when American banks will have to decide the ecfr nonlie fate of the Reich. German Jewry is being assaulted physically and paralyzed ecoT nomically. German Jewry is the victim of a ruthless anti-Semitic 1 platform advocated since the first day Hitler began building his party. The Nazis have always been the aggressors. If we allow Herr Hitler to carry out his anti-Semitic prograiy under cover of a counter-offen sive, then he will outflank us. It is an old rule in the diplomatic gantfl to charge the other fellow with aggression in order to have a justifica tion for retaliation. Shall we give Nazi leaders a pretext to proceed in their economic war against the Jews? The policy of the world Jewish leadership must be one of non- resistance. At the same time we must mobilize all non-Jewish liberal elements and compel them to take up the cudgel against the injustice and atrocities perpetrated by the Nazis. A steady stream of informa tion must be placed before public opinion, in the hope that the time is not tar when Germany will address itself to the world for coopera tion. Then the floor will belong to the enlightened nations, who mu> make it a condition sine qua non to Mr. Hitler that he stop anti-Semi tism or forfeit their help. It is as the victims of a premeditated as sault that we must appear before the bar of public opinion, and not *•* the opponents ot Hitler & Uo. in an economic battle. M ,h * r t>MO * C V. t A,UnU ’ G * > . undet . lhe L Acl <?* March 5. 1879. Published monthly by the Southern Newspaper Enterprises Inc Subscription rates- *’00 oer year in * I****! C c whterar^contributions, but the editor is not to be considered as sharin* the views expressed by the writers excem those enunciated in the E ims. 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