The B'nai B'rith magazine · 1927-07-01 · 10 (7.1927) · p. Seite 409

EDITORIAL 409 Some Reflections on a Great Adventure WE do not know anything about Charles A. Levine's business transactions with the Federal government. Indeed, authorities of the Federal government have given but little light on this matter beyond certain insinuations such as are most difficult to refute, lacking substance. But it is a powerful government with a vast machinery of law in its hands and over which stern justice presides; and yet, though a number of years have elapsed since Mr. Levine engaged in transactions with the government and though he was in the country until the day he flew away to Germany, no steps were taken in any court of law to prove the matters which only lately have been projected by veiled insinuations. •ib dfa jfe -A" W "A" So it was sad, to say the least, to see officials throwing mud balls at Mr. Levine after he had taken wings on his amazing adventure. Not that this assault damaged him the least in the eyes of Europeans; but what a sorry spectacle was presented by some of our officials, quite stained with the mud they were throwing, while the chancellories and the people of the continent were lavish with honors not only for Chamberlin but also for Levine. The photographs show Berlin carrying Levine on its shoulders even while there were those in Washington who were attempting to knock him off. A &■ 4$ To the rest of the world this son of an immigrant from Vilna presented an appealing picture of courage and idealism. He had financed the expedition and whatever success the machine might attain would redound to his financial benefit as a promoter of airplane manufacture. Obviously, Mr. Levine considered the ethics of his position. Could he permit the aviator to take this great risk of his life while he himself was risking only his money? Though a young man, he had already attained a position of great affluence. He had acquired the things that most men consider to be the cream of life —money, luxury and ease. But these things were of little consequence compared with the point of ethics that was involved. If Chamberlin were doomed, he must go with him to whatever bitter end was in store. The flying machine arose and Levine, as far as he knew, left behind all that life meant to him and all he was in the world and all he hoped to be. ''r ■'' 4'1 Happily, he landed safely in Germany, not a great distance from Vilna whence his father had gone to America some thirty-five years before. The spectacle evoked the admiration of all the world except a few of the officialdom of Levine's own country. There are those who have hinted at an anti- Semitic bias in certain circles. But we, copying the charity that is alleged to be Christian, prefer to believe that there was no prejudice but only weak judgment. In conclusion we repeat the comment of a friend who says: "Other men are judged by their achievements and no more. But when a Jew achieves a great thing his personal record is considered also, and even innuendoes that may reflect against his good name are brought to light. Personally I do not protest against this; indeed, I believe we should make the best of it. Since severer tests are. required of us, we should attempt to meet these tests by imposing upon ourselves a discipline of conduct to correct those faults that are regarded only as weaknesses in other men but as vices in us." j^. j^. j^. The Honoring of a Jewish Merchant LOUIS BAMBERGER is a merchant in the city of Newark, N. J. Ostensibly, the business of' a merchant is to buy and sell and make as much profit as he can. The store of a merchant seems rather remote from the cloistered halls of a university. But in the State of New Jersey the spirit of a university has found itself to be congenial with the spirit of Mr. Bamberger's store. The university is concerned with teaching that art of life which has to do with honorable character; in Mr. Bamberger's business, the university has seen that art exemplified. So last month Rutgers University conferred upon Mr. Bamberger the honorary degree of Master of Arts with this citation: "New Jersey's first merchant; whose keen sight, tireless industry and sterling devotion to honorable principles have brought him the highest success, raised the mercantile standards of New Jersey's first city and contributed largely to the prosperity of both city and state; whose deep interest in New Jersey history has aided the preservation of knowledge of arts and manners and the worthy life of the fathers of our commonwealth. '' # # The Synagogues Take to the Air TWELVE congregations affiliated with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations now are broadcasting their services regularly. In this connection we have a letter from a distressed Jewish father who writes: "In our city the temple broadcasts its services every Friday night. But, alas, in my own home I have difficulty letting Jewishness in even over the radio. "I have two sons and two daughters. After supper on Friday night I go to the radio set and turn in the rabbi. But in a little while the children become restless. One daughter says, 'There is a good jazz program on the air tonight,' and I answer, 'This is a Jewish home and we will let this Jewish service in tonight.' "Soon the other children begin to complain. "And before long I surrender. The rabbi is turned out and some jazz-king is let in. So it goes. "I think our situation aptly illustrates the general situation in our current life."