Debate on Subject of Jewish Assimilation

James Waterman Wise, the son of Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, and author of the book. “Jews Are Like That,” took the negative side in a debate at Temple Berith Kodesh here upon the subject, “Can Jews Be Assimilated?” His opponent was Prof. Mortimer Adler of the psychology department of Columbia University. Prof. Adler is on the staff of the New York “Evening Post” and is also a frequent contributor to the periodicals. Mr. Wise declared that the instinct for group-perpetuation is as normal as the instinct for self-perpetuation. He said that even universal geniuses proceed out of a group and express their own group as well as all humanity.

He maintained that Jews could not become assimilated even if they wanted to because the world would not let them. He mentioned a number of prominent Jews who had tried to become assimilated and had failed, among them. Heine, Disraeli, Herzl. Brandeis and Lewisohn. Replying to the main contention of Prof, Adler, that the individual needs freedom from all group restrictions in order to develop completely, Mr. Wise brought out the important point that there can be no individual outside of the group. “Jews should learn their own spiritual geography first,” he said, “before they apply themselves to the culture of their adopted countries.”