Miss Ada Sterling author of “The Jew and Civilization” was tendered a testimonial dinner by prominent Jews at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Thursday evening. The book was held to be an authoritative presentation of the facts, concerning the Jews’ contribution to civilization and much gratification was expressed by all, that the author, Miss Sterling, should have written such a work as a non-Jeweas.
Herman Bernstein, editor of the Jewish Tribune, speaking as toastmaster, said that tens of thousands of Jews in this country were suffering as a result of unjust discrimination and that attacks upon Jews were undermining the foundations of American liberty and justice.
Most of the speakers were agreed that the problem of anti-Semitism was not only a Jewish problem but one that had to be solved by Christians as well.
An opposite view was expressed by Adolph S. Ochs, the publisher of the TIMES, who was inclined to minimize the anti-Jewish situation, styling himself an optimist with regard to it.
“I have no apprehension about Anti-Semitism”, Mr. Ochs said. “There is no more anti-Semitism today than ever before. All of Henry Ford’s attacks are a re-hash of old stories. There is nothing new in it. This is nothing more than a pinprick. There is no prejudice against the Jewish religion. We are the very founders of religion. We gave the world the Bible”.
Louis Marshall, scheduled to deliver the principal address was unable to attend and sent a message which was read:
“She (Miss Sterling) has proved the frenzied antipathy of Houston Stewart Chamberlain, the shallowness of Belloc, the ignorance of Hendrick, the inanities and stupidities of Ford and the criminality of the protocols in such a fashion that no dispassionate mind, after reflecting on the avalanche of proof which she has presented, can regard the vaporing of these foes of civilization as worthy of further notice”.
Dr. Joel Blau thanked Miss Sterling for not having made her book a paen of praise but rather an understanding of the Jewish contribution to civilization.
Other speakers were Mrs. Rebecca Kohut, Dr. Samuel Shulman. Dr. Harry Moshkowitz, Rabbi Clifton Harby Levy, Jonah J. Goldstein, S. C. Iamport. Many lauditory messages were received from Nicholas Murray Butler, Colonel Edward M. House, Dr. Sidney Mezes and George W. Wickersham.
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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.
