Julius Rosenwald Holds Optimistic View on Future of Judaism in America

Julius Rosenwald holds an optimistic view with regard to the future of Juda##n in America. In an interview with the representative of “The Day,” Mr. Rosenwald replied to the question whether he was an assimilationist and believed that the Jews, as a distinct and separate nationality, would cease to exist in America, and whether such a termination of the Jewish people seemed to him desirable. “I am no assimilator and I do not believe in the theory of assimilation. The Jews as a people, as an ethnic group, call it what you will, have existed for thousands of years and will continue to exist as such in this country in the future.” Mr. Rosenwald is quoted.

“I cannot say what will happen to the Jews within the next thousand years. No one can. But as regards the next hundred or two hundred years. I feel certain the Jewish people, including American Jewry, will exist as a separate group. There is no danger that American Jewry might degenerate into a mere religious sect or lose its cultural significance.

“I believe,” continued Mr. Rosenwald, “that in the not far distant future, the coming generations of American Jews are destined to undergo many modifications. Certain aspects of the life of American Jewry will undoubtedly change considerably within the next few generations. I believe, however, that there will never be a dearth of lively activity in American Jewish life.”

Asked whether he was prepared to contribute towards the perpetuation of Judaism in America. Mr. Rosenwald said: “No. There is no need of it. American Jewry either is strong enough to sustain itself and continue to be the forger of its own destiny, or it is not. In the first instance, there is no need of any assistance from me and in the latter event my help would be of no avail. But I belive that American Judaism can and will sustain and perpetuate itself without any artificial stimulants. We are all contributing our share and I am doing what I can. Personally I am interested in Jewish education — now probably more than ever before. I am also interested in Hebrew education, not only in America, but in Palestine as well. Here in Chicago we have a well-organized Jewish educational system. We have excellent Hebrew schools. My friends that is, the “German Jews” of Chicago, are also interested in it and are very active in the field of Hebrew education, because we believe that a thorough Yiddish and Hebrew education is essential to the normal development of Jewish life in America. If I were an assimilator, as some think I am. I should not give any financial support toward Hebrew education. The reason I do give financial support is that I am not an assimilator; I do not desire the disappearance of the Jewish people as such. And being convinced that the Jews as a people will not disappear, I feel obliged to do my duty as a Jew.

“And just because I am not an assimilator, I am ready to support all Jewish cultural activities, such as Yiddish and Hebrew education, Yiddish and Hebrew scientific search, etc. I am glad to aid everything that helps to makes Jewish life richer and more colorful. Wherever I come across an individual or a group that is willing and able to contribute to the advancement of Jewish culture in whatever language, I am always ready to help.

“In order that American Judaism may develop normally, we must take the question of Jewish education very seriously. Unfortunately, not enough has been accomplished in this field so far, and I am somewhat proud to have been among the first to emphasize the importance of a better and more thorough Jewish education in America. If you want my opinion as to the prospects of perpetuating Judaism in America, here it is in a nutshell: If we take the question of Jewish education seriously, we shall have here a generation of serious-minded Jews: otherwise, I pity the leaders of the future Jewish generations.

“So you see,” Mr. Rosenwald continued, “that in the final analysis I am a real, plain, old-fashioned Jew. I have no involved theories about Judaism. I only know that Jews who know nothing of Jewish tradition are not the most desirable kind of people; and I further know that Jewish tradition is something that has to be studied and mastered. When the Jewish youth in America will take to studying Jewish tradition, that is, Jewish history. Hebrew, religion, literature, and Jewish institutions and customs, then the permanence of the Jews in this country shall be assured. To what extent Jewish life in other countries depends upon a theoretical Jewish education, I do not know, because I am not acquainted with conditions there. But conditions in America are fairly well known to me, and my friends and I feel certain that the most important problem facing the Jews of America at this moment is Jewish education.

“Mr. Rosenwald concluded by saying, “Tell the Jews to send their children to “Cheder.” to some institution where they can acquire a thorough and comprehensive Jewish education, not omitting Hebrew. Let the Jews do less philosphizing and speculating as to the future of American Judaism and more actual work for Jewish education, and you won’t have to come to me to ask what I think of the future of Judaism in America.”