New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-19

the son Of a Catholic convert from Protestant
ism, and so fanatical as openly to declare that
every Jew was in his eyes scoundrel, ably
seconded Drumonts efforts. General De BOis-
defTre then Chief OF STAFF. who from his earliest
youth had always been associated with jesuit
circles furthered the aims Of Drumont.
For the moment all the fanaticism and hatred
were concentrated upon Dreyfus. the first Jew
among the few officers Of that faith belonging TO
the General STAFF who ever attained a position
Of confidence at the Ministry Of War. The per-
secutions Of Dreyfus united the Clerical and the
Nationalist press. Jews were publicly insulted
In the streets Of Paris. and their situation be-
came worse than at any time since their civil
emancipation had been guaranteed by the decla-
ration Of The Rights OF Man" The anti-Semitic
war declared in Algeria by Max Regis and his
acolytes brought desolation upon hundreds OF
Jewish families. Jules GuGrn began a similar
campaign in Paris His attempt to pose a
martyr by shutting himself up in the building Of
the "Anti-Juir' in the Rue Chabrol, and trans
forming 1t into a fort" ended In ridiculous
fasco; it seems to mark decline in Paris Jew
batting which in the opinion of the keenest OBJ
servers, has now expended its force.
During the French anti-Semitlc movement,
which has lasted fourteen years, the conduct Of
the Jewish community has been irreproachabe.
The wisdom and moderation Of NJ. ZadoC Kahn,
Grand Rabbi Of the Central ConsistOry of Israel
ties in France. Is reaping its reward. Among the
fourteen members Of the Central Consistory
Baron Alphonse de Rothschild, head Of the great
banking house; NJ Eugene Pereire president Of
the French Transatlantic Company; NJ. Bedar-
rides, honorary first president OF the Court Of
Cessation, and Maurice Levy, Member of the In
stitute and Inspector General OF Roads and
no
the Jews during the antiSemitic outburst was
largely due TO the moderation and foresight Of
this Consistory. Now that the storm seems
about to clear away, II is found that the situa-
ton Of the Jews in France is stronger and moro
prosperous than before.
NJ Zadoc Kahn. as Grand Rabbi Of the Cen
trail Consistory-a position that he has occupied
since 1889, when he succeeded the late Grand
Rabbi LaZare IsdOr-is the head Of the Hebrew
religion in France. He born Mommen-
helm, Metz, in 1899. and was educated at
the Ecoe Rabbnque of Metz. Since 1861 he has
without interruption been attached to the Cen
trail Israelite ConsstOry Of Paris He is an able
writer and a great orator. He lives with his
wife and family in modest house in the Rue
Saint-Georges, adjoining the sumptuous syna-
gogue, the main entrance to which is the
Rue de la Victoire. He is a hard worker. As
early as o'clock in the morning he is at his
desk in his library. He is small in stature and
OF slight. wiry build His eyes dark and
penetrating, and they sparkle behind his spec
tacle5. Besides his sacerdOtal occupations, NJ
Zadoc Kahn devotes much time to numerou,
charitable works relating to hospitals. schools
and mutual aid societies. He also takes an ac-
tive share in the administration OF the vast
charitable funds bequeathed by Baroness Hrsch.
nv Mrna ado Hnip md nv ario
bers Of the Rothschild family.
The importance and extent Of the Grand
Rabbits functions were established by the i'm
perial decree Of December II, 1905 which d.
vided France into thirteen Hebrew circumscrp-
tions. The Temple in the Rue de la Nictoire.
which was completed in 1874, is the place Of
meeting for the Central Consistory and is prac-
tically the headquarters for the higher Hebrew
functionaries. The ministration of the Temple
in the Rue de la Nictoire is placed under the
supervision Of NJ J. II. Dreyfuss, Grand Rabbi
of Paris The three great Jewish rites-the
French, German and POrtuguese-are now under
one direction The relations between Judaism
and the state are regulated by the laws Of 1908.
1914, 1850 1862 and 1872 Jews in France en-
Joy absolute equality and the same rights as
are accorded to all other religious communities
Even NJ. Drumont has failed to prove that the
French rabbis have ever abused their rites, as
has lately been the with the Roman Catho-
lie clergy. During the Dreyfus agitation the
violent polemics of the Clericas and the in
cendiary language Of the "Croix,' the accred-
ited organ Of the Gallican Church, contrast most
unfavorably with the patriotic moderation and
dignity Of the French Jews
In the month Of January. $3.50 an anti-Se-
mite campaign was opened by noisy and bois-
ferrous meeting at Neuilly and the following day
IL. H. nnntI H..