Digest of Public Opinion on Jewish Matters

A New Jewish Record

The achievement of Charles A. Levine, who not only financed the Columbia’s trans-Atlantic flight but accompanied Clarence Chamberlin, the pilot, in what has already become one of the greatest feats in the history of aerial navigation, marks another record of Jewish courage and vision, declares the “Day”. Writing editorially under the caption “A New Jewish Record”, the paper, in yesterday’s issue, observes:

“This is a record of Jewish daring, of Jewish foresight in the wonderful conquest of the elements of blind nature.

“It is no longer necessary to prove that Jews are just as brave in the field of physical courage as in the field of spiritual endeavor. The fronts of all the battlefields in the World War can tell the story of Jewish courage and heroism. Every field of sport is full of Jewish names. But until recently little was heard about Jews in the field of aerial navigation, of conquering the air.

“It has fallen to the lot of a New York Jew, a son of an immigrant from Vilna, to demonstrate that the Jew is not backward in this latest sphere of human conquest and triumph over nature. Along with Chamberlin, the non-Jew, Levine risked his life, looking steadfastly and fearlessly at the greatest danger. Together with Chamberlin he won, breaking the world’s record for distance flying.

“Levine, in fact, showed more than mere physical courage. He is a rich man. He possesses great wealth and could easily live his life out in luxury and contentment. He could lead a life of undisturbed material comfort. In his case, the prospect of material gains could not have played any part as it did undoubtedly in the case of others. It was essentially the will to achieve, the will that inspires all great inventors, discoverers and heroes, that urged Levine to stake his all, to play with death. In this respect he is a true Jewish here. As Americans and as Jews, we are proud of his achievement. The anti-Semites in Germany and everywhere else will have to take their hats off for the Jew Levine, no less than for the Nordics Lindbergh and Chamberlin.”

The importance, from a point of view of American-German relations, of the flight financed by Levine and in which he participated as the first trans-Atlantic air passenger, is emphasized in numerous editorials of the New York press Says the “Times”:

“While Chamberlin and Levine were denied the dramatic reception given Lindbergh at Le Bourget, they made a long-distance record for a non-stop flight which takes its place in aviation history.

“The Germans, who are actually in the lead in air transportation, will know how to honor Chamberlin and Levine. The latter may be regarded as the first Atlantic air passenger.”

The N. Y. “American” declares:

“There is plenty of honor to go around, and Berlin is sceing to it that Lindbergh’s welcome is equalled. We cannot have too many of these young air ambassadors to Europe.”

In the “World” we read:

“On June 5, 1919, the terms of the peace treaty had been delivered to Berlin. The German delegation at Versailles had just filed its plea that the demands in this treaty go beyond the strength of the German people.

“On June 5, 1927. an American airplane which had hopped off from Long Island flew across the Rhine and came down, short of its goal but after a great achievement, to receive a royal welcome from a friendly people.”