The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-01
THE "PROBLEM OF THE JEW"
Portions of a Searching Discussion by Max
Nordau-The Two solutions.

From the North American R,rtetD.
At the close of the century there is IN every LAM
Of the civilized world the problem of the Jew" It
is question which presents itself in various phases
1t Is best known in its most brutal form as anti
SemitisIn.
The enemies Of the Jew have one statement in In
slant readiness: The Jews are hated because of
their evil qualities. But the statement will not bear
criticism The Jews are not hated because they
have evil qualities. Evil qualities sought for in
them. because they are hated. Statistics handled.
not by Jews. but by their opponents demonstrate
facts in all countries that favor the jew.
Let it be assumed, though do not admit It. that
the Jewish parvenu is more importunate and ohen-
sive than those of other That would be an in
dication OF lack OF culture such might possibly
Justify rejection by exclusive club. but could
never Justify the deprivation Of essential human
and civic rights. vtuperaton and cruel persecution.
An argument frequently used by the opponents OF
the Jews is that anti Semtism is old the Jewish
nation 1t is. indeed true that hatred OF the jew
has been his constant and tragic companion during
the entire continuance of the Daspora. But the
fact proves nothing against the jew. since every
people in every epoch has produced . different
reason. or rather pretext. for its anti-semitism.
The smaller number Of wealthy Jews who come
into no personal contact with tho sentiment are
ready to say "ant-Semitism Is an unpleasant fad
and will pass away rapidly as do all fads." Tho
mass OF Jews however. feel that this is false.
In order suffer hatred and persecution no longer
in order to attain the normal condition OF life tho
Jews must ether cease being minority or they
must cease being dstingushable. This alternative
includes the two solutions Of Judaism for which the
Jews themselves are striving.
Those who desire to have the Jews constitute the
popular majority in some place wish to make
Palestine. the land Of their fathers. that place.
These the Zionists.
Other Jews prefer the second solution. They are
the Assimilationists who consider the salvation Of
the Jew coincident with his disappearance among
| the nations.
Few OF these have the moral courage TO follow tho
thought to its logical conclusion.
He who wishes to be- thoroughly assmiatcd cam
stop half way. He must suppress all differences
that lie between himself and the popular majority.
first and chief ong these Id religion. He must be
| baptized and join of the Christian denominA-
| tions. He must lnngle his blood with that OF the
people by marriage outside of tribal affinity. II he
| does less. 1t will not sufice.
Incomplete assimilation does not change the psy.
Geological origin of anti-Semitsm. the Antipsthy OF
| every majority toward any minority dwelling in its
! midst differentiated and readily recognizable.
The Jews who do not possess equal rights-and
| these &, mprise four.hft Of the rAcs-have pre-
served the consciousness that they distinctive
people They realize that they the hatred
| that pursues them only by ceasng to be recog-
nizahls minority in the midst OF other peoples They
| refuse to sink their identity. Lost identity 10 no
solution of the Jewish problem They look for their
salvation In a reunion in land which shall be their
| own. where they will he the majority. and where
| they develop in u temperature OF sympathy
along their own organic lines. MAX NoRDAU.