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. Quocation does not indicate approval–Editor.]

The difference of opinion which has arisen between Mr. Louis Marshall and Dr. Stephen Wise over the question of holding the “Conference on Jewish Rights,” scheduled to take place in Europe soon, is viewed with regret in the “Day” and the “Jewish Morning Journal.”

The “Day,” referring to the recent editorial on the subject in the “Jewish Tribune” and the subsequent statement by Mr. Marshall declares itself unable to see any grounds for objecting to the Conference on Jewish Rights. The paper feels that the Jews should entertain no fear in gathering for the deliberation of their problems and to voice their grievances, no matter what the anti-Semites might say. There is a mutual bond, we are told, between the Jewries of the various countries who are vitally interested in each other’s and in their common fate, and hence, charges of a “Jewish international” should be disregarded.

The “Day” further points to Mr. Marshall’s own activities on the Paris Committee of Jewish Delegations during the Peace Conference and on other occasions, to substantiate its point. “When Mr. Marshall himself,” the paper says, “sends a message to Angora, to Constantinople, regarding the policy of the Turkish Jews, offers advice, rebukes, etc., is that not like furnishing the world with proof that all Jews are brothers, that world Jewry is interested in the fate of the Jews in every part of the globe? And when Mr. Marshall takes steps and negotiates with the Roumanian ambassador regarding the sad plight of the Jews in Roumania, is that not equivalent to signing a statement that a world-Jewry exists?”

A similar opinion is voiced in the “Jewish Morning Journal”, by Jacob Fishman, who is convinced that the time has arrived for the Jews to ignore the anti-Semites who, he says, did not wait for the Jews to hold world conferences for the expression of their grievances against oppression in Eastern Europe to charge the Jewish people with “international conspiracies.” The writer criticizes the “Jewish Tribune” for its editorial on the subject and for arousing the issue. Mr. Fishman stops to laud Mr. Marshall’s splendid achievements for Jewish rights in Eastern Europe and adds: “The writer of these lines does not believe that the Conference on Jewish Rights in Geneva is destined to bring a full solution to the problem of Jewish rights in the lands of Eastern Europe, but the fact that bundreds of thousands of Jews believe that they need to talk over these sore problems through their representatives from the various countries who are to meet in conference, must be respected.”

The writer feels that the Jewish leaders of the various countries are competent to deliberate on the problems which are troubling Jewry and urges an attitude of greater confidence toward them.

HAMILTON COUNTY, TENN, OUSTS RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION FROM ITS SCHOOL

The recent decision of the School Board of Hamilton County, Tennessee, “that Bible classes and the granting of credits for religious study in the county schools shall be discontinued at the close of the present school term,” has called forth considerable comment in the press. It appears that this action was taken in the face of strong opposition by those who are for Bible reading in the schools. Among those who took a prominent part in the discussion preceding the decision of the Hamilton County School Board was Rabbi Samuel Shillman of Chattanooga.

The Chattanooga “Times” of May 8 characteried the stand of Rabbi Shillman and the others who urged the abolition of Bible classes in the public schools as “real moral courage.” The paper further wrote:

“If the churches and the clergy would keep themselves to their appointed spheres, teach the Bible in the homes and the Sunday schools and leave the state alone to function in the management of its institutions impartially and for all the people without religious bias of any sort, they would contribute more than they are doing now to the peace and contentment of the people and the perpetuity of a free republic.”

Citing the editorial of the Chattanooga “Times,” the “American Israelite.” in itst May 19 issue observes:

“The community most directly affected is the city of Chattanooga, one of the most progressive in the entire county in commercial and civil matters, and likewise one of the leading denominational strongholds.

“That the members of the School Board were fully aware of the significance of the step they were taking is evidenced by the character of the degate when the resolution was being discussed and arguments on both sides of the question presented by leading citizens–men and women, lay and clerical.”