Daily Digest of Public Opinion on Jewish Matters

[The purpose of the Digest is informative: Preference is given to papers not generally accessible to our readers. Quotation does not indicate approval–Editor.]

The initiative in the movement for the cultivation of Jewish cultural values in American Jewry must be taken by the Zionists, urges Emanuel Neumann, director of the United Palestine Appeal, who writes in the “New Palestine” of March 19, under the heading “Et Laasot” (Time for Action) Mr. Neumann sees in this work an opportunity for American Zionism to enhance its own significance both in relation to world Zionism and to diaspora Judaism. Referring to Mr. Sokolow’s warning against over emphasis on “Dollar Zionism”, Mr. Neumann observes, inter alia:

“It is coming to be increasingly recognized that the initiative for such a movement as we envisage, must come largely from the organized Zionists of the country because of their collective strength, because of their native inclinations and because Zionism has so much at stake in this matter.

“For it is obvious that our present successes rest upon foundations of Jewish culture laid by previous generations. The thousands who are today furnishing the bulk of the funds that are pouring from here into Palestine are directly or indirectly the product of the chedar and yeshivah, immediately or remotely connected with the original sources of Jewish inspiration. They are consciously or unconsciously the heirs of a vast tradition in which the restoration of Israel and of Israel’s and have constituted the principal motifs.

“How long will that strain last? How long can we exploit without replenishing? We are drawing blithely upon our accumulated reserves. May not the day come when we shall have overdrawn our account and find ourselves bankrupt?”

Urging that the Zionists call a national conference from which there should emerge “an instrumentality authoritative, competent and strong enough to cope with a task of such proportions,” Mr. Neumann concludes:

“Shortly after his arrival in this country, Bialik threw out the suggestion of establishing a Keren Hatarbuth. He had in mind a fund for fostering our cultural work in Palestine. It is a thought worth considering; certainly a noble aim. But if I were put to the choice, I should say, let us establish a Keren Hatarbuth for America; for in the intellectual and cultural sense, it is we of wealthy America who are the ‘poor relations.’ Bialik himself will be the first to recognize the justice of this claim and perhaps place himself, his authentic and eloquent personality, at the service of a nationwide movement for Jewish education in this country.”

THE UNEXPLAINED SECRECY OF LEA

“We fail to understand the reason for this secrecy,” declares the “Jewish Tribune” of Mar. 19, in an editorial commenting on the refusal of the Jewish Colonization Association (Ica) to furnish the Jewish Telegraphic Agency with a copy of the will of Baron de Hirsch, founder of the Ica.

“After all, the Baron’s generous bequest was not a personal, but a public one,” the “Tribune” explains, “yet the Ica, which administers it, appears to regard it as a purely private matter, holding itself responsible to no one. It may be that the will contains matters which may throw an interesting light upon the Baron’s character and personality; it is even possible that it may contain clauses which have not yet been carried out, because certain conditions have not yet been met. In any case, it must be an important and interesting document of Jewish historical value. The unexplained refusal of the Ica to publish it is mysterious to say the least, although, we must say, that it is consistent with the ultra-independent attitude which has characterized that body ever since its inception.”

THE S.O.S. CALL OF THE J.D.C.

The gravity of the situation which caused the Joint Distribution Committee to issue its S.O.S. call to American Jewry to save the Jews of Eastern Europe from death by starvation, is emphasized by the “Day” of March 19.

“The leaders of the J. D. C. are not hysterical people,” the paper points out. “There was a time when we had to prod them to renew their relief activities. They thought no further work was necessary. But they sent commissions to investigate the situation of the Jews in Eastern Europe, went personally to see what was going on there, and they came to the conclusion that it was urgent to resume the relief work at once.

“Now that they have issued a call that unless a large sum will be secured immediately in cash it will mean death for many thousands and still more thousands will be doomed to the most terrible need–it is not campaign literature, it is the cold truth breathing from every word.”

PORTSMOUTH KLAN ASKS INVESTIGATION OF PURIM CELEBRATION

The city manager of Portsmouth, Virginia, has been called upon to investigate a Feast of Purim celebration given on Sunday, March 7, at the City Auditorium under Jewish auspices, we learn from an editorial in the “Portsmouth Star” (Mar. 13.)

“The investigation,” the paper asserts, “was requested by the Men’s Bible Class of Jackson Memorial Church and Asu Klan No. 16, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.

“Once upon a time a grand jury in Portsmouth indicted citizens for teaching ‘strange doctrines” as Baptist missionaries. Such indictments in their original are now in existence and in the possession of a Portsmouth citizen.

“Maybe the next thing will be a request of the city manager to investigate ministers and churchmen who dare to use their automobiles on Sunday or engage in recreation of any kind after they have been to church services.

“What next?”