only Jewish college in the United States, President Bernard Revel delivered a masterful address in which he analyzed and appraised the situation of the world today from a truly Jewish viewpoint and declared that education is the only salvation for civilization in the present moral crisis.
He pointed out that the world is not safe for peace and democracy today, that it can know no rest while the forces of darkness sanctify the bloody creed of racial supremacy and of ill will toward men, in defiance of humanity’s urgent cry for understanding among men and nations.
Referring to Nazism, Dr. Revel said:
“Medieval darkness has settled upon a great country that was once a home of culture and idealism. We stand aghast, bewildered and humiliated witnesses of the moral degradation of a once great nation. Germany is celebrating a bloody renaissance of cold bigotry and savage arrogance.”
It was most fitting that this eloquent estimate of Hitlerism and of the Jewish tragedy as part of the world tragedy was presented on this occasion at the Jewish institution of learning. Educational institutions should be the first to arouse the world conscience.
JEWS AND OLYMPIC GAMES
William May Garald, promotor of the California Olympic games and member of the International Committee, on his return from Europe, gave the assurance that Jewish teams from Palestine and Jewish athletes from other countries will take part in the Olympic Games to be held in Berlin, in 1936.
The American Jewish Congress has expressed disapproval of Mr. Garland’s statement and pointed to the fact that none of Germany’s promises during the past year with regard to fair play were kept.
I believe that Jewish teams from Palestine and Jewish athletes from other lands will participate in the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936. But before 1936 Hitlerism will have been relegated to the scrapheap of history.
The Palestine teams and other Jewish athletes, in accepting invitations to participate in the Olympic Games in Berlin in 1936, should stipulate that their acceptance is conditioned upon the provision that there shall be no religious or racial discrimination of any kind at that time and that fair play shall not be confined to sports only.
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.
