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 attitude of the Zionist Organization of America toward Reuben Brainin, its honorary vice-president, who has cabled from Moscow that “those who combat Russian Jewish colonization are guilty of a crime against the Jewish people,” is expressed in “The New Palestine,” organ of the Organization, in an editorial characterizing Mr. Brainin’s indictment as “slanderous and irresponsible.”

In its August 20 issue “The New Palestine” says:

“On the foundation of what information is this statement made? What new light does Mr. Brainin cast on the situation? What does he know now that he did not know before, or what we did not know before? Where is the blinding revelation, the exposure of facts hitherto suppressed which give him the courage to stamp as criminals toward the Jewish people so many of those who, in his consideration for many years, and until a few months ago, have been his comrades in the greatest of all efforts to serve the Jewish people in the highest sense?

“It is an amazing business,” the paper declares. “The more we ponder it, the more we feel that Reuben Brainin must have in his secret possession information which has reached no one outside of Russia. Here is Kalenin speaking of a Jewish Republic in Russia. And here is Brainin, the Hebraist, the fighter for Jewish tradition, speaking enthusiastically of the project. . . .

“We are waiting to hear from Reuben Brainin–news which will justify his passionate intolerance, justify ( if it can ever be justified) the fierce indictment he has launched against the enemies of Russian anti-Judaism and anti-Zionism. Unless there is such information, unless the statement is based on something more than a passing enthusiasm or the imbecilically dishonest disclaimers of Soviet leaders, there is no excuse for it. It is slanderous and irresponsible.”

CHICAGO PRESS PRAISES MR. ROSENWALD

Julius Rosenwald’s $3,000,000 gift for an Industrial Museum in Chicago has evoked widespread praise in the Chicago press.

The “Daily News” of Aug. 19 writes:

“As some of Mr. Rosenwald’s fellow citizens and associates in the notable undertaking have observed, his gift exemplifies sound judgment and discrimination. The United States greatly needs an industrial museum, and Chicago is the appropriate place for it.

“There is no doubt that Mr. Rosenwald’s fine example of civic service will be emulated by others and that the funds and equipment required by the projected institution will be provided.”

The “Tribune” of same date avers:

“Mr. Rosenwald’s notable gift of ###00,000 for the erection of an industrial museum in Jackson park entitles ### to a further measure of gratitude from the community which is already imply indebted to him.”In the “Journal” we read:

The gifts by Mr. Shedd (for an ###rium) and Mr. Rosenwald are ex###tional demonstrations of public ### even in a community which has ### fortunate in the generosity of its ###thy citizens. The new benefaction of $3,000,000 each will be invested in the founding of useful institutions, a adding variety to the city’s educational resources and advantages, and also in further ornamenting a metropo### whose awakened sense of beauty is beginning to produce great results. Mr. Rosenwald and Mr. Shedd may have regarded themselves debtors to the city, but rather the city is heavily their ###or.”