The Reader’s Forum

Editor, Jewish Daily Bulletin:

I appreciate the reply of Mr. Paul J. Phelan, in yesterday’s issue, and regret that he misunderstood the tone of my remarks by taking them altogether literally, with regard to the persecution of the Jews in Germany, as compared with the persecution of Catholicism in latin countries.

Of course it is difficult to separaate a religion from its adherents, and when one is persecuted, the other suffers as a result. But there is a differce of degree in emphasis. For example, Russia perscutes religion, yet the adherents are not persecuted if the obey the law. The clergy are deprived of sufirage; but if they change their occupation to what is legally permitted, they are still citizens. Similary, if Mixico and Spain have deprived their clergymen and Sisters of their religious functions,–at least if they change their occupations they are still citizens, And If they adopt atheism or socialism, theywould surely be accepted by the regime. But not so with the German Jews. Although the Nazis can say that they are not persecuting the Jewish religion (except banning the Old Testament from the churches; and except SHEHITATH, the Jewish mathod of slaughteringanumals), their aim has ben publiely repeated, namely. to exterminate the Jewish race, by all economic and political machnatios. Niether are the Jews permitted to bocome Nazis; and even those who had adopted Christianity, are persecuted worse–and–what is more,–even German Christians with some Jewish ancestry are included in the “Aryan clause.” If the Jews were barred from a certain economic activity and permitted to engage in all others, without losing their citizenship, the would accept this suffering without a murmur. But they arebarred from all legitimate means of a livelihood, and their businesses and properties are directly or indirectly confiscated. They are not permitted to earn a living, nor to sel and leave. Hundreds have been tortured and mutilated to death, with thousands in concentration camps,–not because they violated German laws; not because they were disloyal to the Nazis,– but solely because they are Jews, or have Jewish ancestry.This is exactly the point. Herein lies the difference between the persecutionof Jews as a race or as individuals in Germany, and the persecution of Catholicism as a religion in Spain and Mexico.

Persecution is not justified, whether carried on by a majority or by minority, and no matter how large of small the number of sufferers. But who other than a Catholic has a right to tell a Catholic not to change his belief th atheism or any other, if he so chooses? Therefore what right have Jews to interfere in Catholic countries? Had the Pope issued a worldwide appeal to all national and religious groups to protest against the persecution of Catholicism in Spain and Mexico, I an sure that Jews and Protestants and others would join in this holy cause. Catholicism, the most highly organized religion, could easily make its protests effective. Even Mussolini had to consult the the People for a t reaty with him, when he tried to ban Catholic yoth organizations in Italy. The Nazis too made a treaty with him when they dissolved the Catholic Centrists in Germany. In order to protest effectively against the persecution of Catholicism in Spain and in Mexico, a world-wid movement should have been initiated by Catholics, with Jews (a minority) and others joining in and co-operating.

But the treatment of the Jews in Germany is a test of Chrstianity and civilized humanity. And since the Nazi atrocities are paraded under the cloak of “Christianity” and “civilization”, ets, it is all the more a duty of Western Christian civilization to protect is own honor. Thus, by co-operating, we will be able to discourage any type of persecution anywhere.

Rabbi Samuel Horowitz Sunbury, Pa.Oungre was educated in the classics at the Athenee d’Arlon and in philosophy and arts at the University of Ghent where he obtained his doctorate.

while still at college he came to Paris. Enamoured of the life in this husy and important city he dicided to settle there. He became in terested in banking and in a compartively short time became a man of great importance in financial cireles.

If the Bulletin could boast of a sport section, one item would have been more or less prominent on its pages yesterday. Since it has no such section, this column takes it upon itself to make passing mention of the projected appointment of Benny Friedman, Jewish football star, as coach of the Cyty College grid team.

Friedman has had a remarkable collegiate and professional football career and is rated among the top forward pass artists in the country. If he proves able to transfer his own skill as a player to the team he will coach, there remains only one pitfall to avoid. That is Hollywood. It seems that most Gentile athletes go brode and all Jewish athletes go Hollywood.

Dr. S. S. Goldwater, New York City’s gospital commissioner, was selected by Mayor La Guardia on the hasis of integrity and experience. On assuming his new office Dr. Goldwater devoted himself to a superficial examination of the general state of the examination of the general stage of the city’s hospital system. His findings evedently did not jibe with his own versiion of integrity for, casting back over the remembrance o#his earlier experiences with hospital management, he came out with a statement to the effect that though it would seem unbelievable, a rotten political system could pwcetrate even int the hospitals.

“This city will have, though i may take some time, a hospital department devoted to the interests of the sick and the necdy and to no other,” he promised. The morning papers bring rpoof of his efforts in this directio with in hospital personnel and three unexpected retirements.