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was saying that as long as North
ern Jews refuse to accept Neg
roes, they really aren’t standing
by the idealism of Judaism
which, on its Reform side, took a
stand for civil rights as far back
as 1870.
He said of Southern Jews that
"they are on the spot. They want
to show their white Protestant
neighbors that they are white
though not Protestant"; they
are frightened because they
know that “what has happened
to the Negro people could hap
pen to them.”
Rabbi Davis noticed that the
temple down in Alexandria. La.
hadn’t renewed the contract of
Rabbi Joel Dobin who had spok
en out against Governor Faubus,
but. he added. Northern Jews
aren’t blameless either. And of
himself he said, "If some believe
that I as a rabbi should not
speak out on these matters, of
what shall I speak? It would be
better now for us to start emu
lating the prophets and stop
bragging about them.”
But Rabbi Singer of South
Africa was speaking somewhat
otherwise about the Jews of
South Africa who are for "apar
theid" . . . that is to say, the
segregation of Negroes which is
of the law of South African
government.
He said: “The general opinion
of white community (of South
Africa) is that there should be
segregation because of the gen
eral disparity in cultural levels
between the European and the
native populations.”
Rabbi Singer thought that
Negro segregation in South Af
rica is prompted by “sense of
guardianship" because half the
native population is primitive
and never has seen a white man.
Thus these two rabbis look at
the black man, and a lot of the
readers of this column may be
saying, "Sure, Segal, you report
on these rabbis but how do you
yourself look at them? Say some
thing, Segal.”
Well, this Segal doesn’t be
lieve that any law against social
discrimination can be enforced,
nor can moral law do it, as we
well know after the thousands of
years of Biblical teaching that
tells people to love their neigh
bors.
We all like to pick our com
pany, white or black, and to keep
from those who do not suit us.
Indeed, this Segal himself
knows he can't get into every
country club in his town; he
would be rejected because he
hasn’t enough money, or, maybe,
because he is Jewish. Then, there
are neighborhoods that mightn’t
care to have him as neighbor
because he belongs to people who
came up from Sinai.
But Segal wouldn’t mind that.
He would say, well . . . that’s
the way of human social taste,
and, in fact, there are plenty of
kinds of people whom he him
self would not care to associate
with as neighbors. That’s the
way it is and no one can change
it. and Segal would walk his way
in his wisdom and self-respect
if he were socially rejected.
However, he does insist on
economic equality . . . the right
of every man to have a job ac
cording to his capacities and his
talents . . . the right to earn a
living that measures up to his
needs. That’s about the most
and the best to expect . . . and
what if that Mr. Fathogg doesn’t
want Segal for a neighbor? To
hell with him . . . there are
other places as lovely, and with
no Fathogg around to mar God’s
scenery.
That's the way this Segal looks
at the matter those two rabbis
have been looking at.
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AL HA-NISSIM
Hanukah Prayer
We thank Thee for the wonderful deliverance,
the triumphant liberation, and the providential com
fort which Thou has wrought for our fathers in days
of old at this season.
Then in the days of Mattathias son of Johanan
and his sons the Hasmonean high priests, the cruel
Syrian power rose up to force Thy people Israel to
forget Thy Torah and transgress the commands of
Thy will. In that hour of their trial, Thou and Thy
great mercy didst rise to take up their cause and
defend their rights. Meting our retribution, Thou
didst deliver the strong into the hand of the weak,
the many into the hands of the few, the guilty into
the hand of the upright, the impure into the hand of
the pure, and tyrants into the hand of devotees of
Thy teachings. By The great and saving deliverance
of Thy people Israel Thou hast made for Thyself unto
this very day a great and holy name in Thy world.
Then Thy children came to the profaned shrine of
Thy house, cleared the Temple, cleansed the Sanctuary,
kindled lights in Thy holy courts, and instituted these
eight days of dedication with songs of glad thanks
giving because of the wonders and marvels Thou
hadst wrought for them. Therefore do we give praise
to Thy great Name.
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Telephone JAcknon 3-8282—3-8283
The Southern Israelite
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