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THE
SOUTHERN ISRAELI
A MAGAZINE PERPETUATING JEWISH IDEALS
VOLUME VIII.
APRIL, 1933.
NUMBER 4.
a Member of a Persecuted Race”
The activities of Rabbi Benjamin Goldstein on behalf of the ttcotts-
boro negroes has cost him his post as Rabbi of Temple Beth-Or in
Montgomery, Alabama. Rabbi Goldstein committed a serious offense
according to Krnest Meyer, president of tin* Temple, a crime that re
quired bis withdrawal as religious leader. The Rabbi presided at a
protest meeting of whites at Birmingham and in the course of his ad
dress said: “As a member of a persecuted race, I feel it my hounden
duty to champion the cause of any minority discriminated against.”
Such words are unworthy of a Rabbi whose main function, according
to persons of the type* of Meyer, should be to whitewash every act of
social injustice in order to please his board of trustees. Rabbi Gold
stein’s dismissal is a stain on the Jewish community of America. Some
official body, representative of the liberal Rabbinate of this country,
should demand his reinstatement. We say this, knowing of course,
that Jewish communal life is too disorganized and undisciplined for
an effective protest. But one thing should happen. Some progressive
congregation should invite Rabbi Goldstein to honor it by accepting
its religious leadership. We need Rabbis like Rabbi Goldstein.
and the proceedings of this convention should be carefully and seri
ously watched by every Jew who has Judaism and human welfare ai|
heart.
To Boycott or ISot to Boycott
Jewish Social Justice
The most important trend in religion within recent years has been
the growing awareness of the church and the synagogue with regard
to the cruelties inherent in the present capitalistic social system in
America. It has been aptly remarked by lteinhold Neibuhr, the dis-
tinguished Christian theologian, that while there are only liberals in
the colleges and the universities, there are real radicals in the churches.
This is putting tin* matter in a nutshell. Religion is beginning to
translate its ethical teachings into concrete
action for human welfare. And in this
work for the betterment of conditions the
synagogue is taking a prominent part. For
Judaism has always been concerned with
social justice. Hence the announcement
that the United Synagogue of America, at
its twenty-first annual convention in New
York in May, will devote its proceedings
to a discussion of how the Jew can con
cretely work for social justice, is a wel
come announcement and in line with
Jewish convictions. Although the psycho
logical reaction of the Jew runs along
the lines of social justice this subject has
too often been ignored by the synagogue,
for the obvious fear of treading upon for
bidden ground and hurting some one’s
feelings. The synagogue, however, feels
that it is now compelled to consider this
subject frankly and fearlessly. What is
Judaism’s answer to present world prob
lems! This subject will be discussed at
the United Synagogue convention. It can
be said without exaggeration that this
will be one of the most important Jewish
symposias that has been held in years,
When a man of the prominence and responsibility of Samuel I’nter
meyer, the New York attorney, advocates a strict Jewish boycott
against German merchandise, the practicability of such a move must
again be scrutinized, (’an world Jewry through boycott foree tb?
German Government to its knees! A Jewish boycott in the I'nited
States, France and Kngland would undoubtedly play havoc with mam
thousands of small and big German business men; it would not. ir? !
believe, have a decisive effect on German trade and industry. Whit
then would be the result! The advocates of a boycott expect that the
protest and howl from the German victims of the Jewish boycott would
make Hitler sit up and listen. This is, of course, speculative. On?]
thing is certain. The Hitler Government would be supplied with i
perfect excuse to reopen a campaign of violence against the 600,0* j
German Jews. We repeat that a boycott is un-Jewish in concept
Boycott is the economic form of war. It is true that such an attitud?]
may not be popular at this time, but speaking for ourself, we fed it i
disloyalty to Jewish ideals if we should join the hysterical cry fori
boycott. We could understand it if a delegation of Jewish leaders with
headquarters in Washington were to take over the task of enlighteninc
the members of the Senate and House of Representatives so that uj
official protest from the representatives of the American people inigr*
be forthcoming. But to sponsor a boycott, which will give us front ]
page space in addition to the editorial press support which we have]
is quite futile and, so we say, risky.
CONTENTS
•
PAGE
The Settlement of Jews in Georgia
By Joseph Leiser
5
The Crime of Reuben Brainin,
The Zionist
By Pierre Tan Paassen
6
Harold Hirsch
By T. 7. Tobias. Jr
7
Prayers Before Business in Singapore
By David White
8
The Microphone Presents
By George Silverman _ _ _
9
Society and Personal __
10
The German Situation
By Robert Stone — _ — _
11
Southern Notes _ _ _
12
National and Foreign Notes
15
Italy and the Jetcs
There is something refreshing in Mus
solini’s attitude to the Jewish question
He does not recognize its existence in
Italy and to prove it has apj>ointed GuiJ
Jung, Jewish Minister of Finance, who#
coming to the United States to participate
in the International Conference with M
authority to negotiate for Italy. Musso
lini is the best exhibit that Fascism an<t
anti-Semitism do not have to go together.
Fascism or super-nationalism does not
mean a hysterical cry for a pure race an<t
a discriminatory attitude towards racial
minorities. This is Mussolini’s explana
tion for the “splendid Jewish record "of
his party. Public opinion of world Jewry
is not to be disregarded. Fascism has many
opponents. An anti-Semitic attitude by
Mussolini would have mobilized powerful
adversaries to his regime. In the final
analysis, Mussolini is a wise statesman who
knows how to engage Jewish goodwill-
Italy stands out as a progressive country
whose leader knows how to differential
between patriotism and chauvism.
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