Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-09
THE ORIENTAL HEBREWS.
Sunset Cox Gives Some InfOrma-
tiOm About Them.

sAOsA hDVaAs - HAShsAs
In his lecture before the Young Mems
Hebrew Ass ,ciation. of New York, our
late Minister to Turkey gave the follow
ing facts concerning the Oriental He.
brews:
There are no mixed marriages among
the Hebrews of Turkey. Divorce is ack.
nowledged as it is always acknowledged
among the Moslems. Governmental au.
thoriiy may be called upon to execute
the sentence of the Jewish tribunals on
matters connected with marriage and
divorce.
One thing has struck me as peculiar
in connection with the aspirations of
the Jews in Europe and in the Orient
While the Jews in Austria, Germany,
France. Hungary and other parts of Eu-
rope have filled offices of great trust
have become bankers, editors, musicians,
orators, legislators and artiss-distin.
gushing themselves before those of 9TH
er races in the refinement and skill with
which they have elevated learning, art,
and science; yet in Turkey they seem to
have no aspiration and association with
statecraft. At least they interest them
selves very little in politics. For rea-
sons not necessary to state, but growing
ont of the liberality of the institutions
of the empire, they are attached to the
Ottoman throne. They like the liberal
ways of tine government, which are in
great contrast with the treatment of He
brews in Ru sia, Roumania and Ger
many. They are prompt to recognize
the kindness of the Sultan, and to show
their loyalty to him. l cannot say that
the Jews of Turkey are the equals or
the superiors of the Jews of other parts
of Europe. There is reason for this
and sad one. They have partaken of
the general stagnation which belongs to
the Orient, owing to the everlasting
Eastern question, which by its unrest
has forbidden men to reach out for those
higher aims in life which are the result
of stable civilization.
The Turkish language, or the language
of the country, is not the common Ian
guage of the Jews. Those who inhabit
Syria talk Arabic, and those IN Macedo-
mia Greek. Among the $50, 900 Jews in
Turkey, more than 200, 900 talk Spanish
idiom. But the great body of the jew
ish traders in Constantinople and else
where speak French. The truth is that
nearly all the people of the Levant, in
cluding the Turks themselves, who are
perhaps more reserved on this head,
speak many languages. 1t is one of the
marvels of the East, and almost q matter
of inheritance that even the vocal organs
of the Levantine seem to be readily at
tuned for the reception of many tongues.
There are about six Hebrew newspa-
pers published in Turkey. Two of these
appear in Hebrew; the others are pub
lished in Spanish, but with Hebraic
characters. l may say here that mnch
of my information in relation to the He
brew people which have stated comes
from the editor of the Telegraph at Con-
stantiuople. That journal takes quite
m interest in political affairs, though
under the censorship of the government.
need not say to the Hebrews present
that the customs of their race in and
around the Turkish capital are still pat
riarchial. Indeed, most of the Oriental
customs connected with the family are
of that quality. The family life is al
ways exemplary. The members of the
family are respectable. and rarely, per-
haps never, is there to be found a jewish
Spanish woman of bad fame. They cling
with fidelity to the religion Of their an
cest0rs.
The Jews of Constantinople, not being
blessed in worldly goods, cannot make
hose offerings for the poor of their own
,lasa, or those of other parts of the en-
,ire, which the European end American
|&ro hovo made With such oherito ~,