Wise Controversy Finds Echo in Poland

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Jewish public opinion in the Republic of Poland follows with great interest the development of the Wise incident.

The division of opinion is similar to that manifested in the American Jewish community. Deputy Isaac Gruenbaum, leader of the Zionist opposition in Poland, Dr. Leon Reich, president of the Club of Jewish Deputies, a Zionist, Deputy H. Farbstein and Rabbi Samuel Brodt of the Mizrachi Organization in Poland, Noah Prylucki, leader of the Volkists and Rabbi Levine of the Agudath Israel, a deputy in the Polish parliament, in statements issued to the correspondent of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency declared:

Deputy Gruenbaum: “I consider the protest of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of America unjustified. Every Jew is entitled to express his own opinion on Christianity and its teachings. Nobody has the right to reproach his fellow man for his views. Judaism is not only a religion, but a living organism. It is natural that many men have different opinions about religious problems. Jewish Orthodoxy, which strives to gain a dominant position in Jewish life, undermines its own basis: the right to freedom of conscience.”

Dr. Leon Reich: “I know Dr. Wise to be a man of great responsibility and understanding for Judaism. I doubt whether he has expressed himself in a dishonorable manner about the Jewish people and its culture. If Dr. Wise’s statements are based on scientific research, the protest is useless. How can anybody expel Dr. Wise from Jewish life and activities on behalf of the Jewish people and Palestine? We Jews have never defended fanaticism. We always believed in freedom of thought. The action of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis was too primitive and radical.”

Deputy H. Farbstein: “I fully support the protests of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of America. If we protested against Christian ethics, it was only because the Christians have not observed them. However, to preach to Jews the acceptance of Christian ethics is impermissible, not only by rabbis, but by everybody who knows anything about this history of mankind. Sermons like that of Dr. Wise lead Jews to conversion.”

Rabbi Levine: “The incident of Dr. Stephen S. Wise’s address is painful to me. When a rabbi, may he even be a reform rabbi, recommends Christian ethics to Jews, every Jewish heart must be astonished and grieved. How can anybody recommend other ethics to a people who own ethics is as high as that of the Jewish people. I endorse the protests of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of America and I am sure that American Jewry is behind them. American Jewry is sufficiently developed to understand the heights of Jewish teachings.”

Noah Prylucki: “Dr. Wise’s speech is not new. The Yahudim have for a long time manifested a desire to adopt certain external Christian forms as a result of their assimilationist tendencies. I see no reason for renewed protests, especially since we Jews have always respected the opinions of others.”

Rabbi Samuel Brodt: “I do not understand what Dr. Wise recommended to the Jews. Everything which is contained in Christian ethics is found in Jewish ethics. Dr. Wise’s statement did not surprise me. Everybody knows that he always respected Christianity. An American delegate to the Zionist Congress told me that Dr. Wise has a statue of Jesus in his study. (?) I believe that Dr. Wise did not make the statement with the best intention, but due to ignorance. The protests of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis is therefore a storm in a teacup. Such speeches are unsuitable for a spiritual leader of Jewry.”