Sermons Preached over Week-end

The trial at Berne, Switzerland, in which “The Protocols of the Wise Men of Zion” are the main issue, has again focused the attention of the world upon a standing libel against the Jewish race. It seems ridiculous that it should be necessary to put any court or any judge to the trouble of seriously listening to a regurgitation of patent frauds and forgeries which have been exposed more than once. In a civilized society such charges would not even be dignified by an answer. They would be laughed out of court.

Yet such is the deplorable state of popular prejudice in the world today, that it has been deemed necessary by Jewish leaders to summon the villifiers to a court of justice and to show them up for the scoundrels that they are.

The requests of the Nazi defendants in the case for a postponement on the ground that they need time to summon additional “experts” to prepare their case, is a good barometer of the nature of their case.

THE MARRIAGE BOND

Rabbi William Margolis, Temple Ohab Zedek, 118 West Ninety-fifth street: In the midst of the hustle and humdrum of current daily engrossments, the problem of marriage still occupied a vital place in the attentions of thinking humans. There has never been a time when ministers and moralists, psychologists and sociologists ceased pointing out the ills and abuses of modern married life or stopped proposing panaceas without number for the resulting social and moral ills.

I feel convinced that the fundamental reason for the failure of most marriages lies in the lack of permanent marriage ties. Outward union, to be lasting, must be based on inward union. If union be the only result of external authority or coercion, it becomes a bore, a drudge, a fetter. The merest accident or most trivial difference may shatter, in a moment, the whole fabric of affection.

GOOD-WILL IN ACTION

Rabbi Joseph Zeitlin, Temple Ansche Chesed, West End avenue at 100th street: “Say little and do much” is an old adage that is worthy of serious consideration. We have been focusing a great deal of attention upon creating good-will between Christian and Jew by means of the customary good-will meetings, which in the main are polite exchanges of compliments.

The beneficial results are hardly commensurate with the effort expended. It would be to much greater advantage for Jew and Christian if their mutual good-will were created not through words alone but through action.

This Sabbath has been dedicated by the Church Councils of Catholics, Protestants and Jews as Home Sabbath, in which all religions ought to emphasize the necessity of exercising every effort to rehabilitate the home. Such projects as a back-to-religion movement, a united charity appeal undertaken cooperatively by all creeds would be most efficacious in creating permanent good-will among all religions.

SEVENTEEN YEARS AFTER

Rabbi Jacob Bosniak, Ocean Parkway Jewish Center, 550 Ocean parkway, Brooklyn: Considering what the Jewish people accomplished in Palestine during the seventeen years since the Balfour Declaration was published, we are filled with joy and admiration for the pioneer spirit which permeates the settlers of the Holy Land. The survival of the Jew in the various countries of the world constituted a present day miracle. The rebuilding of the Holy Land in spite of many obstacles could be taken as the greatest miracle of the ages.