Daily Digest of Public Opinion on Jewish Matters

The “Jewish Daily Eagle” of Montreal in its issue of Nov. 21, draws a parallel between the action of certain Canadian Presbyterians in protesting against the use of Dr. Moffat’s translation of the Bible on the ground that, while it is perfectly correct, it deprives the Bible of its dog-matical character, with the efforts being made by Claude Montefiore, leader of the reform element in English Jewry, to bring about a closer understanding between Christianity and Judaism.

“The attitude of the Canadian Presbyterians should serve as an example for Montefiore who is trying to build a bridge between Christianity and Judaism. His bridge will consist of nothing more substantial than spider webs.

“Christianity might not lose much from a reconciliation of the two religions, but Judaism would lose a great deal.

“If Mr. Montefiore wishes to help solve the Jewish problem we would call to this attention that the solution lies in the opposite direction. Let him bear in mind the attitude of the Presbyterians: do not eliminate the dogmatic from the Bible because then Christianity would lose its power of attracting and fascinating.”

THE TABERNACLE AND THE GOLDEN CALF

The reports in the newspapers of two days ago announcing contributions by Mrs. Felix Warburg of half a million dollars toward the Visiting Nurses Service, by Mortimer Schiff of $25,000 towards the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and by Adolph Ochs of $100,000 toward a temple in Chattanooga, has given occasion for the following remarks on the part of S. Yudson in the “Jewish Morning Journal” of yesterday:

“The kindness of the Jewish heart cannot be overestimated when it comes to giving for charity. The Jews give to everything. They give to the Tabernacle and to the Golden Calf, to the synagogue and to the church. Some Jews even give for the two causes simultaneously, with one hand to the synagogue, with the other to the church-for the sheer act of giving affords them genuine pleasure.

“We hope Jews will always be in a position to give generously-but we also hope it will be more to the Tabernacle and less to the Golden Calf.”

MRS. WARBURG’S GIFT

An editorial in the “Jewish Morning Journal” of Nov. 26. comments on Mrs. Felix Warburg’s gift of $500,000 toward the Visiting Nurses Service.

“It is particularly noteworthy and appropriate that this splendid donation toward a service which is more or less under Jewish influence should come from the Schiff family, thus reflecting more honor on the memory of the greatest Jewish philanthropist America has produced so far.”