The morning news., 1889-03-10
H[RSCHAFALSEP PROPHET
MERIoAN JEWS WHO DENY HIS
RECENT STATEMENT.

The Race Not Likely to Become Ex-
tipct Through Intermarriage-1nter-
views With Representative Jews
Ens. and West-How the Daughters
of the Faith Regard Intermarriage.
Copyright, 1897
Nrv YORK, March, 9-Not within many
vesrs have the Jews of this country been so
stirred as by the alleged declaration of
Baron Hirsch. the big banker of Paris, that
thew are destined to disappear rapidly and
become amalgamated with the other peoples
in whose countries they reside. The mean
ing Of this reported statement was, of
course, that the Jews would intermarry,
and thus abandon their faith. Baron
Hirsch is said to have disclaimed the state
ment imputed to him, but, however this
NAV be, it is certain that a large majority
of his co-relgionists in the United States
indignantly repudiate the allegation.
While the tendency among them, espec-
ially in the rising generation, is toward the
Abandonment of much of the old prejudice
against intermarriage, the time has not yet
arrived when even the more liberal Jews
view with favor the union of Jew aud Gen
tile in the bonds of matrimony. Even
whore the religious element is wanting in
the Jew Of advanced ideas, the practical OBJ
iections still exist. This l have learned
beyond question in series of interviews
with Jews who have so far receded from
trer religion as to be properly classed
among the agnostics.
With the idea of probing the alleged as
serton Of Baron HirSch as it applies to the
Jews of America, / have interviewed
large number of his co-religionists. have,
TO q large extent, passed over the rabbs,
who would naturally bs supposed to be pre-
Indeed, and have pushed my inquiries
among the different classes of laymen.
AS already said, however, the great ma
iority even of those backsliders voted nay
on the question, their argument being that
the anti-Jew prejudice of the christian
husband or wife would be likely to assert
itself and cause endless strife to the seri-
Gus detriment of their domestic life.
As a Jewish member of the big law firm
of Hoadly, Lauterbacb & Johnson, a gen
tleman of refinement and culture, and one
of the ablest New York lawyers, said to
me:
1T is not the question of religion but the
prejudice that interferes. Christians meet
me in the most cordial manner in a business
way, dine with me and discuss all topics;
but very few would invite me to their
homes, simply because / am Jew. My
experience, l know well, is that of all my
co-religionists. OF course there are Gentiles
to whom this does not apply; but am now
speaking Of the orthodox christians
Ore Of the most prominent Jews in New
York is Coroner Ferdinand Levy. He is
commander in the G. A r., member of
half a dozen societies, and grand master of
the Independent Order of the Sons of Ben
jamin, one Of the largest Jewish benevolent
societies in the United States Besides all
these, he is president of the Jewish Immi-
grants Protective Society.
81 am opposed to intermarriage in any
form and under any conditions" he said
81 do not think that Baron Hirsch ever
made the statement imputed to him. My
father is well acquainted with q Philadel-
phia rabbi who knew the baron's private
secretary in the old country. The rabbi
wrote to this secretary and inquired as to
the genuineness of the alleged interview. The
secretary replied that it was entirely false,
and that Baron Hirsch was not in Paris at
the time the interview was said to have
taken place. There are many reasons, not
religious, why Jews and christians should
not intermarry, but my main objection is on
purely religious ground