Prof. Michael Warns U.S. on Anti-semitism

An attack on what he termed an attempt of certain classes of Jewish leadership to compel American Jews to accept second class citizenship in this country was made by Professor Jerome Michael of Columbia University, in an address delivered last night at the Free Synagogue before a meeting of the Women’s Association of the American Jewish Congress.

Professor Michael declared that the economic crisis in the United States and the advent of organized and subsidized Nazi propaganda in this country, have resulted in an increase in anti-Semitism which poses a serious question for the future of Jewish youth.

“Since Jewish youth is told that anti-Semitism is increasing because of the number of Jews now in public service, they would reduce their number. Since they are told anti-Semitism is becoming prevalent because there are too many Jewish lawyers and doctors they would advise Jewish youth to seek other vocations. Since they are told that anti-Semitism is spreading because of the popular superstition that Communist, Socialist and other radical groups the world over are composed chiefly of Jews, they would have all Jews hold very conservative opinions on political, social and economic questions.”

“The Jew finds himself barred from many business enterprises such as some of the large public utilities. He finds whole professions, such as the engineering profession almost entirely closed to him. He finds it extremely difficult to gain admission to other professions, such as that of teaching. The young Jew who would become a physician finds it increasingly difficult to get a medical education, and after he has gotten it, finds himself excluded from many hospitals. The young Jewish lawyer, in the large cities finds many of the large law offices closed to him.

Analyzing what the attitude of the Jew should be toward this situation, Professor Michael asserted that what has transpired to German Jewry proved “that apostasy is no way out for the Jews.” Declaring that all of the special problems of the Jew originate in anti-Semitism, Professor Michael said that the question of his attitude therefore, is in essence the question of his attitude towards anti-Semitism.

The economic security and political freedom of the Jews depend on the success or failure of the New Deal, he said. “The New Deal is an attempt to preserve democratic institutions in America,” whose ultimate objective “must be to make the sovereignty the people and the liberty of the individual exist in fact as in political theory.”