Discussing the attitude of the famous German philosopher and historian, Oswald Spangler, toward anti-Semitism, the Jewish Morning Journal of October 22, says editorially:
“The fact that Herr Spangler has come out openly against anti-Semitism will not surprise anyone. We assume that philosophers who devote themselves to historical researches cannot but oppose a movement which is not philosophical and which history shows is not justified.
“If, however, we read the book which has made Herr Spangler famous, “The Demise of the Occident”, we begin to doubt if we may consider Herr Spangler a friend of the Jews. He writes that Christianity and Mohamedanism are Arabian products and it is his conviction that the Jews have contributed nothing to the development of culture and civilization.
“While we fully appreciate Herr Spangler’s outspoken attitude toward anti-Semitism. we nevertheless feel that one who denies the greatness of the Jewish past and belittles the contribution of the Jews to the civilization of the world can hardly be considered a real friend of the Jewish people.”
JEWISH IDEALS MUST BE REVIVED
The conclusion of the Jewish high-holiday season gives the editorial writer of The Day (Oct. 21) occasion to draw a parallel between three generations of Jews.
Three generations rejoiced: The old-over the Torah, the middle-aged-over the business page in the newspaper, the young-over the sport page and its news of ball games and prize fights.
“This analogy may sound like a cartoon exaggeration, but in reality it is based on facts. We know that the old generation was always deeply absorbed in the Torah, always remembered the great Jewish heritage of learning and idealism, whereas the new generation absorbed in business and sports has become oblivious to those things.
“This great estrangement between the two generations constitutes one of the most urgent problems in American Jewry. There is a chasm between the old generation and the new and this chasm must be bridged. We must implant again in the heart of the new generation the glorious Jewish ideals. The Jew of today must rediscover his spiritual position in the world.”
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.
