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 leaders of the Federation of Roumanian Jews in America who participated in the reception to Queen Marie and the Roumanian Jewish congregation in Chicago which has extended an invitation to the Queen, are severely criticized in the “Day,” of Oct. 23, by S. Niger.

“New York Jews,” the writer declares, “have given the Chicago Jews an example of belated subservience and eternal cowardice. These were the Jews who are at the head of the Roumanian Verband. They accepted the invitation of the Mayor of New York to join the welcome for the ‘distinguished guest.’ Apparently they lacked the courage to refuse the great honor. They failed to understand that it would have reflected more honor on them had they stayed away.”

Referring to the prayer of blessing for the King and the royal family customarily uttered in the synagogues of some Eastern European countries, Mr. Niger continues: “But in our country as yet, thank God, we are not obliged to utter this blessing for Kings and Queens. Hence, the above mentioned Jewish ‘representatives’ could have afforded to exhibit some self-respect and dignity, even were it not a question of the rulers of a country with such a reputation as Roumania has among the Jews. Particularly, when it is a question of Roumania, a country whence daily reports of anti-Jewish excesses reach us, a country against which only Czarist Russia could compete in the matter of anti-Semitism.”

The writer further demands to know whether the Roumanian Jews consulted any Jewish body like the American Jewish Congress before taking their step. “Or is it possible,” he asks, “that the leaders gave their consent to this slavish act? Is it possible that anyone should still entertain the notion that such groveling will benefit the Jews in Roumania?” and in conclusion we read.

“It seems that by this time we should have learned a lesson from the honor bestowed recently by another Jewish Verband on the official representative of another country ‘friendly to the Jews’ — Poland. Did the bowing and genuflecting before Count Skrzynski help any in the fulfillment of the Polish Jewish Agreement?”

ON DR. ROSEN’S MISSION TO PALESTINE

The belief that the proposal at the recent Chicago Conference to send Dr. Joseph Rosen to Palestine for the purpost of preparing a report on the situation there for the J.D. C. leaders, is a superfluous and undesirable step, is voiced by the “Jewish Daily Courier” of Chicago.

Recalling that the Philadelphia relief conference of 1925 turned down Dr. Wise’s resolution to send a commission to investigate the conditions in Russia before launching the colonization plan, the “Courier” observes: “Now. it seems, the Chicago conference turned the tables and adopted a resolution that is exactly like the one of Rabbi Wise, only in the other direction: the commission is to go to Palestine.

“We do not doubt the sincerity of Mr. Marshall, Mr. Warburg and the other leaders of the conference,” the paper further says, “but the resolution to send Dr. Rosen to Palestine is entirely superfluous. Professor Meade of California, who is now at the head of the United States agricultural department, is surely as big an authority on agricultural questions as Dr. Rosen. And only last year he brought back a report on Palestine after a two months’ stay in that country. Also, Mr. Warburg was in Palestine on a short visit. Is it reasonable to postpone help for Palestine until Dr. Rosen will come back with his report?”

The joint drive for Palestine and relief being conducted now in Cincinnati is regarded by the “Philadelphia Jewish World” as one of the signs of the re-establishment of harmony between the leaders of the J. D. C. and the Zionists.

Pointing out that David A. Brown, national chairman of the U. J. C. and Judge William Lewis. national chairman of the U. P. A. were both present to inaugurate the Cincinnati drive, the paper feels that “the very beginning is such as to arouse enthusiasm. Large sums have already been secured, and no wonder. United energies, energies that are not wasted on disputes and recriminations, are bound to bring much greater results…..It is to be hoped that such unity of effort will add new impetus both to the work for Palestine reconstruction and the work of relief and colonization in Russia.”