(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
The existence of an anti-Semitic agitation in Japan which is vigorously opposed by Japanese intellecuals was commented upon by Dr. Shogun Sakai, a prominent Japanese clergyman of Tokio, in an article “Israel’s Messenger,” Anglo-Jewish weekly published here.
Dr. Sakai who describes the Japanese as “the lost tribe of Judah,” has sailed for a visit to Palestine. He claims that anti-Semitism in Japan, where the Jewish community numbers only 700, is due to European and American influence on an Occidentalized Japan.
“It is amusing to see a movement started in Japan akin to anti-Semitism, in a land where there are more or less 700 members of the Jewish faith,” Dr. Sakai writes. “Up to this day Japan was the only country where the Jews had every freedom, with no persecution or bad feeling, where anti-Semitism was practically unknown. To my mind, Japan should be the last place in the world where the old play of race hatred will be tolerated. The signs of the times are always changing, and we notice that even Henry Ford, the flivver king, retracted all his insinuations and drafted a public apology, thereby proving his honesty of purpose. Therefore is it not strange to see such child-play in Japan? Is there any reason why the Japanese should stand up against the Jews?
“The propagandists say that the Jew signifies a Shylock, but why, in the name of fairplay, do they not mention him as a Maccabeus?
“The Japanese have no bad feeling for Judaism or the Hebrew race, as the European races have yet how can we account for this feeling in Japan? The only comment one can pass is that the movement is part of a fashion show which has no actual foundation.”
JUDGE GUSTAVE HARTMAN RETURNS FROM EUROPE
Judue Gustave Hartman and Max Hollander returned yesterday on the steamer Majestic. While abroad Judue Hartman and Mr. Hollander attended the Conference on Jewish Rights, at Zurich and the Fifteenth Zionist Congress at Basle.
Judce Hartman made a study of court systems on the continent at the request of the United States Attorney General.
A gift of ### to the Jewish Consum##tive Reilef Association of Duarte. Co##fornia was received from Albert S Lavenson of Oakland. Cal.Mr. Lavenson made the gift in memory of his late brother. Dr. Palph S. Lavenson. Mr. Lavenson’s gift was designated by him to provide diagnostic equipment at the Sanatorium.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
