The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-24
STRONG LANGUAGE USED
The Editor of Emanuel Virtu.
ally Told to Mind His
Own Business.
vERACITY ALSO IN QUESTION
Colonel Kowalsky Feebly DISCUSSES a
Charge That Unfounded State
mentS Have Been Made.

Rabbi Jacob Nieto of the congregation
Sheriff. Israel has crossed swords with
Rabbi Jacob Voorsanger of the Temple
Emanu-El. His attitude is thus unmis
takably expressed in his own words, ad
dressed TO his rabbinical adversary:
you have thrown down the gauntlet
l accept the challenge. Let the battle
proceed"
Something over a year ago Rabbi Nietc
brooched the project of building a gym
nasium and lyceum in connection with the
synagogue with which he is connected
His idea rapidly grew i'll favor with the
influential members of his congregation
and in October, 1895, the matter was made
a part of the plan of the congregation in
connection with the proposed new syna-
gogUe.
Up to the publication on last Friday Of
an editorial in the Emanuel, a weekly
newspaper OF which DR.. Noorsanger is
editor, the greatest fri endship and har-
mony of ideas had existed between the
now militant rabbis. On that day there
appeared the following portion of a leader
in the paper mentioned:
The latest agony in San Francisco is the cree.
tlon OF new synagogueS with accommodations
for physical culture. This happy union OF
Pharisaism and Hellenism is heralded as one
OF the great discoveries OF the age. Some OF
our people surely have gone daft. We venture
word OF caution before the disease spreads
too far.
Last winter a bigoted expression in q local
paper led TO Il public discussion as TO whether
Jews should OF could join the Young Mems
Christian Association. Ii was ascerIained that
some forty Israelites of all ages had become
members OF that association, partly as an eX-
preston OF commendation OF the unsectarian,
humanitarian work done under the auspices
of that society, partly to avail themselves OF
the advantages OF the school for physical cul-
ture established in connection with the social
features OF the Young Mems Christian Associa-
tion. 1t was not contended that these Jewish
gentlemen had Joined the society for religious
objects, yet two OF the local rabbis publicly ex-
pressed fear that such bad example as was
set by the forty might nave q deleteriOus in
huence on the rest of the male Jewish con-
tingent, and consequently Judaism was in
jeopardy, IN danger, and all the rest OF the
vocabulary.
Meanwhile the funny thing took a turn.
The discussion opened the eyes OF some we'll
meaning but mistaken people as to the needs
OF our community. 1t was commended that
physical culture was a necessity, and because
II was good policy 10 keep the Jewish youth
from joining the Y. NJ. c. A, the synagogue
mother of all good institutions, should lend a
hand, and in future should set aside part of the
sacred space iOr the use OF athletes who should
understand the happy union between tum bling
and Tephillin, swimming and Sabbath-keepipg
and the like, and they said that only we'll
trained athlete could be good Jew. This re-
ductio ad absurdum found favor with some
credulous reporter was prlmed and put il in
the daily papers that some synagogue or other
intended TO have gymnasium in connection
with It's work. II Is needless to say that no
synagogue or congregation is seriously con-
templaung such a radical step, but then YOU
cal tell reporter most anything and he will
sell II to his principals as long as space is for
sale and must be filled.
The folly we have apostrophized comes from
confusion OF ideas. We need religious wor-
ship and we need physical culture But we
need not. therefore. mix them and 90 X-e
mixture that will be stencil IN the nostrils
OF ialT-minded Jews. We need them both but
ourselves.
The fact is that we need in San Francisco a
general association for the treatment OF civil
and social principles. An association for
culture, mental as well as physical Such an
association has hitherto been a failure in our
midst, partly because the need of men tai
culture was not greatly felt, and partly, also,
because our various congregations and their
n bbls have not sufficiently encouraged such
an institution, which of needs must be non.
congregational just as the Y. NJ. c. A. is non.
sectarlan-
Ii then the need for physical culture is Sc
greatly felt among the Jewish youth, ana il
that need is not satisfied in other directions,
why not establish a general society and make
that old Hellenistic accomplishment one OF its
features? We need Young Mems Hebrew
Association. We had one before; may Is soul
rest IN peace Every culture society in San
Francisco has gone to rack and ruin because
hitherto our people had greater need of enter
talnment than OF culture. But we believe the
times have changed and the people in them
We believe that a society for culture would
now be success, but success requires
patient labor, persistence and the courage Of
opinions. Who has. them herearound? Who
VIII give up his hobby for the geneal
good, and his lad for the benefit OF the Creates
NUMBER? II there are such in our midst we
have this peacef III proposition to offer: Let the
congregations, ali OF them, attend to their holy
work-the training OF children the instilIinf
OF the moral law, the uplifting of the Thors
ana the bringing OF the people to their God
AND let those VINO are willing and ready form
an organization for general culture including
PHYSICAL, and in this way help TO realize the
Ideals OF all good men in our midst We ar,
ready to lend our aid. We have no ak TO GRIND
and therefore can help along But we mrs
somewhat weary of the now one-year-old COS
pei OF athletics and a swimming tank in con
necton with the house of our God.
Some hint reached the ears of Rabb
Nleto OF Rabbi Voorsanger's intention t.
attack his pet scheme and he warned tn,
spiritual head OF the Congregation
Emanuel that he should expect him t,
keep his hands off everything that con
cerned only the Congregation Sheriff
Israel. DIR. Noorsanger, however. showed
no intention to change his attitude, bu
suggested that he would be glad to submit
to Rabbi Nieto the proof OF what he pro
posed TO publish. But Rabbi Nieto de
cllned to make himself a party, even il
slightest degree, TO anything that was il
opposIllon 10 MS project. He informed
Editor Voorsanger that he would leav,
him perfectly free, so that be might hav,
the same privilege in replying to what
ever might appear in the columns n
Emapu-El. He was not, however, Iookin,
for anything of SO radical and antago
nistic character.
So thoroughly was DR.. Nieto aroused
over what he considers an unwarrantet
interference with what concerned only hi
congregation thai he made the matter tn,
SUBJECT OF remarks from his pulpit on Sat
urday morning, taking has adyersar,
severely to task in unmistabable language