Special Convenance ## NAHUM SONLOW Chanthan of the Wornt Aouses Execupse
A seventieth birthday What an honorably human testival is such. And what far-reaching circles it concerns when it is the testival of a man who belongs not only to the narrow circle of his family. but much more by the power of his achievements as a representative and leader of large sections of the Jewish population to the history of his people. indeed to the history of has time, a man who for many years has headed the American Jewish Committee. has played the leading part in the Joint Distribution Committee, has detended the rights of his people in Paris, Geneva and Washington.
Marshall! This one word speaks volumes of present-day Jewish history The whole Jewish people is celebrating Marshall’s birthday. We see him in spirit in the midst of the host of his admirers. an unbending figure: age indeed may have whitened his hair a little, but otherwise, in appearance in attitude, in strength of soirit, in convictions, in character, in short in everything that makes the man, it could not change him. The Marshall of the twenties of this century is the same as the Marshall of the last decade of the past century.
Truly we must rejoice that nature which seems as if in deference to this man to have paused in its stride, has permitted us to celebrate this festival. It is heartening and encouraging to see a man in so prominent a position in life and so virile in his activity, who has his whole life long given himself up in loyalty to Judaism. loyalty to his convictions. A strong Jewish character, loyal to humanity, loyal to his commity, because he is loyal to his Judaism. A man who his life long has known no swerving from the path which he has from the beginning marked out for himself and who is for that reason being honored with sincere detation because of the powerful voice of ethical value which is expressed in the two words–a character.
We pay homage to him not as sycophants, as flatterers, who seek whatever it serves to show honor to the political idols of the day by the liberal use of cheap, well-sounding soli-detrading phrases. He does not need such honoring and he is not accessible to such flatteries. We pay homage to him as men who assure him of our admiration and attachment– not based on any momentary impressions but on long and continuous and systematic collaboration, as men who to not entirely share the same views and methods, but certainly recognize themselves as of the same convictions and respect the consistent, devoted Jew.
We should not be honoring the venerated figure of Louis Marshall in a manner worthy of the occasion if we failed to exhort the whole of American Jewry to take his virtues and character as a model and to follow in his footsteps. Loyal, firm, unshakeable, his whole life sanctified, sanctified to the defending of Jewish rights. If one man alone could stand so true and firm, will so powerful a part of our race as is American Jewry, show less strength of character, firmness, endurance. For this reason, we are moved to spur on our brethren in America to be a Marshall a million times multiplied in firmness, strength of character and loyalty, and in this loyalty to devote their whole life today and for all future days to the welfare of the Jewish people and courageously to stand steadfast in the face of all enemies-strong, self-reliant, unbowed and unbendable. Enthusiastic, active Jews–Zionism then will follow of itself.
In this spirit we wish this deserving man a fresh and vigorous old age reaching to the furthest bounds of human life, so that the image of his character may live into the remotest future as a moded to encourage and strengthen all who strive and work in the Jewish spirit.
Professor Selig Brodetsky delivered an address at Harval University on Tuesday afternoon. Dr. Brodetsky spoke at the Fogg Art Marseum on Sir Isaac Newton. The lecture was arranged by the Harvard Mathematies Club.
The Jewish Arbor Day, known in Hebrew as Chamisho Osor D’shevat, will be celebrated next Tuesday in Hebrew schools. The day ushers in spring and the “new year of the trees” in Palestine. The planting of trees and bushes in parks and along streets is attended by exercises similar to those held in American on Arbor Day.
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