The B'nai B'rith magazine · 1927-07-01 · 10 (7.1927) · p. Seite 408

408 B'NAI B'RITH MAGAZINE The End of the Stone- Throwing WE ARE glad especially for one thing that was said at the Central Conference of American Rabbis last month. It was this: That Judaism no longer needs to depend on anti-Semites to keep Jews awake to the fact that they are Jews. Rabbi Louis Wolsey, president of the Conference, said it in these words : "In facing the task of awakening the religious conscience we have passed beyond the obsolete stimulus of anti-Semitism to provoke our people into religious committance." And yet, to paraphrase a well-known saying, "some of our best friends have been anti-Semites." By throwing stones they reminded many Jews of their origin and of their duty. When a Jew dozed comfortably in his indifference, a stone through his window awakened him. For that we must be grateful to the anti-Semites who are passing from the scene of modern life even in the countries of Europe in which, formerly, they were held in highest esteem. "Thank God, the fever of Jewish hatred is passing from the souls of nations," said Rabbi Wolsey. We were also glad to observe that not only rabbis but also laymen took part in the deliberation of the Central Conference of American Rabbis. We rejoice in this because we think it is poor practice to leave our Judaism on the door-step of the rabbi to be nurtured by him until Yom Kippur when we return to give it some of our devotion. A rabbi said to his congregation : '' You would not leave to me any of your investments. You guard these very carefully yourselves and give much thought to increasing their value. But to me you entrust your most precious inheritance, your Jewish life, and let it go at that. You pay me a salary to guard it for you in this temple. But this temple is only a mausoleum and Judaism a corpse unless Jews come to breathe their spirits into it. "I am only one servant in the house of Israel. You, too, are servants but do you serve? It is a vast house and far beyond the ministry of one servant. But you leave it all to me. "Fellow-servants in the house of Israel, when will you commence to serve with me? I have served faithfully but I am quite weary of serving alone." The Universal Nature of Our Ideals THE President of the Order of B'nai B'rith, Alfred M. Cohen, is at present visiting lodges in Europe. He is speaking to brethren of the Order in England and on the continent and nowhere is he alien, for B'nai B'rith speaks a universal language and proclaims the essential kinship of all men. We like to think of our Order as the example in miniature for a world-wide brotherhood in which mankind will be joined together for the doing of good under the banner of the prophet who said, "Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us?" Concerning Doers and Talkers '<r"pHEY are not talking but working," said Felix 1 Warburg, speaking of the Jews who have settled on farms in Southern Russia. Thus they set a most worthy example for the eyes of fellow-Jews to many of whom Jewish problems appear to be merely exercises for training the mind for endless debate. These Jews taken from the ghettoes and transplanted on farms did not stop to indulge in vain discussion of their Herculean problems. It was their task to establish a new Jewish life; to wrest from the soil a living; to build homes; to re-learn the ancient Jewish art of agriculture. And this they have done to such good purpose that the dispassionate financier, Mr. Warburg, was amazed by the results. For the eyes of his fellow-Americans he brought along films showing the primitive hovels in which the new life was begun and the marvelous development that has been wrought within two or three years. Where there were vast stretches of unfilled wilderness, thousands of acres are under cultivation; where there were hovels there stand clean substantial houses enshrining a new and more beautiful Jewish life. All this should be most enheartening to American Jews who have given generously for this development. It should enhearten them also to give more generously for the similar development of Palestine. Mr. Warburg reports an encouraging revival in Palestine, but points out that there has been nolittle suffering among pioneers in that country by reason of the failure of pledges of money from America to materialize in time. Touring the world, Mr. Warburg went about, observing Jewish life with special emphasis on Jewish life in Russia and Palestine. He went even where few world-tourists who esteem comfort go—to Siberia. So that Louis Marshall said of him: "I. have heard of many men being sent to Siberia but Mr. Warburg is the first one of whom I ever heard going there voluntarily." The Passing of a Jewish Peer in England LORD SWAYTHLING was one of the richest men in all England. But at his death last month his obituaries emphasized his faithfulness to Judaism more than his wealth. He was an Orthodox Jew who honored the observances of his religion in his home as well as in the synagogue. Raised high in the world, he never lost contact with his people, participating as a leader in their cultural and religious activities. At the time of his death he was president of the Federation of Synagogues. "What is the greatest wonder to be seen among the Jews?" was a question once argued between rabbis. And one answered: '' The greatest wonder is that the Jew still lives despite the many efforts to destroy him." But another said: "The greatest wonder is a Jew who remains faithful even in the loftiest eminence of power and wealth. Have not more Jews been destroyed by prosperity than by persecution?"