The tendency among American Jews to intermarry with Christians and to forsake the traditions of their race for modern American manners and customs is among the evils which are threatening the Jewish race today, Dr. Charles W. Eliot, ninety-year old president emeritus of Harvard, told the American Zionist Society here today.
"I have noticed with regret", said Dr. Eliot, "the increasing tendency of Jews to marry Christians. I have had a long observation of such intermariage between people who are not kindred, and I have never known them to turn out well. I hope that you Jews will consider that."
In substantiating his theories, Dr. Eliot spoke of the immigration of the Irish to America, declaring that the Irish "have never been assimilated in America, anywhere," and that "it is not desirable that they should be.
"Americans don’t expect to assimilate any foreign peoples, even the Jews. It seems that non-assimilation is better for the future of the nation.
"During the last few years I have several times had occasion to visit New York. There I have noticed among young Jewish people a distinct falling away from the customs of their fathers and mothers. While attending a lucheon at Columbia not long ago I saw six young Jewish persons, three men and three women, seize the table next to mine and order dishes which seemed to be selected for the sole purpose of showing that they were no longer conforming to Jewish methods of serving food. Pork was one of the dishes ordered, as I remember.
"In addition, their conversation partook of the spirit of their orders, and showed an abandonment of the laws and customs of their ancestors. This tendency is unfortunate not only for Jewish people but for all other people. It sets a bad example for ail of us", Dr. Eliot said.
Dr. Eliot also said that the physical condition of the Jewish race has become poor, largely because through persecution they had not been allowed to take up what he termed "muscular occupations" in many countries.
In this connection, he indorsed the Zionist movement, and stated that he believed the Jewish race should have in Palestine at least one place where they can "put their backs against the wall and face all-comers, if comers there be-a place where they can recover some of the qualities which they have lost during their long years of suffering in many lands. It will give them an opportunity to practice the muscular trades, such as agriculture and carpentry, from which the Jews have been excluded for centuries."
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
