Israel Zangwill delivered a message to the Jews of America before sailing today on the S. S. Paris. Mr. Zangwill (s message was given at a banquet in his honor tendered by Mr. & Mrs. S.C. Lamport at the Hotel Majertic.
“This is my farwell address”, said Mr. Zangwill. “I want to say that I share the sympathy of the whole world at the death of former President Wilson. Mr. Wilson was defeated partly by the dark and Machiavellias forces of Europe and partly by your own Constitution, which I likened to a wooden battleship which does not permit you to have a plenipotentiary abroad.
“His death makes a great breach in American life.
“I am going to criticize you on your immigration and reparations policy. America is facing a critical turn in her fortunes, just as critical as in 1914 when Germany declared war on practically the whole world. The moment is critical because your country is being attacked, undermined and sapped by a score of ignorant prejudices which will surely ruin her, if suitable steps are not taken.
“There prejudices are destroying all the ideals America has stood for and the hope she offered to humanity with outstretched hands America is following the evil courses of Europe. There is no excuse for a restricted immigration policy. That will bring you merely to a narrow nationalism. There is no excuse, I say. You could tuck every European country, with the exception of Russia, into the United States. Do remember that you are not a country, but a continent. The ideas that are applied to countries cannot be applied to continents. I blame you for your isolationist stand in regard to reparations. Why don’t you interfere and get the thing settled. As it is you are dabbling in it in a half-hearted way.”
Mr. Zangwill, before he completed his farwell speech, read a message to the Jews of America. He said in part:
“The Jews of America in trying to be good Jews cannot help being good Americans. America is founded and inspired on the Old Testament. When Jews try to imitate bad Americans and the rottenness that comes from within your own borders, then they become had Jews. In a word my message to American and other Jews is this: You must not be a negative body. You must affirm your ideals whenever and wherever you can.”
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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.
