The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-26


my people, ! need nothing The Jewish
ethics are, that the giyer is blessed far
more than the recipient: that If he has
been permitted by Providence or fortune
TO enrich himself IL is his bounden duty
10 give share of his income 10 the poor
and the unfortunate. and that instead Of
being obligated to the giver. the giver him
self should thank God for the means given
him TO be just and generous, and thus dis
charge his duty and obligation.
THE kissing of the 'Messuzah' on The
doorpost is strictly Jewish, is practiced to-
day by a majority Of the Jews Of the
world. and is a recognition of the sacred
commandments Of God, and testifying by
the kiss the love of and for law and order,
thus teaching by example. From time i'm
memorial, the Jew in all parts Of the
world has been among the foremost in
recognizing law. and stimulating by his
conduct the friends of order. What a
lesson is taught in the play by the peddler
who comes with bent head and loaded
down with the wares OF his trade when
asked as to the marriage law and its con-
struction, how erect he becomes, and how
his eyes fash with knowledge and the i'm
portance Of his position and when he
says: The law; the law he gives vent TO
The Ghetto condition, evidencing thereby
he is well versed in the ethics Of his faith,
and that the narrow and close confinement
within the walls Of his prison house has
not deadened his ambition for the law OF
his faith
The Christian woman who comes on
the stage TO eXtinguish the fire and to trim
the lights. and finally to put them out, IS
a faithful reproduction Of Jewish Ghetto
life, and Of orthodox Jewish life today.
The food necessary TO The eaten on Sab
bath and on the holy days is prepared on
the previous day, 50 as not to entail on
the day of rest any work whatsoever, and
whatever manual labor had to be yer
formed was ordered the day prior and
thus the Christian servant knew in ad-
vance what her duty was. and, Of course.
faithfully discharged it. The wearing of
the handkerchief around the body was also
a ritual observance. as he was not to carry
anything no matter how triflng. To many
this may seem laughahle. but 10 the piOus,
strictly observing Jew. it was part Of his
life, and the rsbbs taught that all .hese
things were part of the whole. and that an
abridgment or abandonment of one les
sened the whole chain Of faith, and con-
tril uted to the downfall of the Holy
Scriptures.
The Jew is not a Puritan, nor a fanatic
in the matter Of social enjoyment on the
day OF Sabbath. and the love Of the social
and personal liberty has grown that indie
pendent and fearless spirit for right and
liberty that has survived all the persecu-
tion of the centuries. The marriage cere-
mony and the divorce granted by Rev.
Schemuel, and the claim that a Cohen
being a priest Of the Temple cannot marry
a divorced woman, are somewhat tradi-
iional and hay. In Russia today the rabbi
.h- nd Of tho ms
rage relations, and a divorce granted by
him is binding upon the conscience Of the
Jew. and very naturally so.
Where be has no voice in the making Of
the law Of the land. he must cling to the
law OF his faith. and thus has grown up
fanaticism among the Russian Jews which
is repellant and contrary TO the genius of
our modern institutions, and the best
friends Of the Jews in this country are
working day and night TO create healthier
mental and moral condition among the per
secuted refugees, and to plant in their
hearts and in their brain love OF and for
the laws OF The United States, and that
getting a divorce from a rabbi is insult
fcient. illegal. and contrary to the laws of
the land Il, Of course, takes time and pa
tience but the new conditions and the
new generation will bring about results
hat will aid all the friends OF good gov
eminent, and the true friends Of the Jew.
Patriotism and NaIor Of the Race.
You will thus see that the Children Of
The Ghetto, IN its broad and comprehen-
sive term. brings within the focus OF our
observation much that is instructive and
historical. Mr Zangwill could have elab-
GRATED more fully the Passover festival. in
which the Jew celebrates his freedom and
gloriies the spirit of emancipation, that
made it possible for him to fee from the
terrors and inhumanities OF Egypt, and he
could have shown the spirit Of hospitality
for which the Jews Of all ages have been
famous by reproducing the scene where
the head OF the house has on the night Of
the Passover festival two cups out OF one
OF which he drinks TO the health OF the
family and as part of the ritual, while the
other cup is reserved. and the door left
open, for the prophet Elijah. or in fact,
the stranger who may enter his household,
TO drink from, giving an object lesson Of
good cheer, of kindness, and OF human
sympathy, which has aided in the elevation
and salvation OF the jews character.
In Russia in Germany, and in Austria
the Jew is permitted to fight and to die for
the Emperor without wearing any of its
honors In Italy these conditions were hap
PLY changed under the wise administration
Of Cavour. in England from the days OF
the Jews attained equal recog-
milton some Of the brightest statesmen Of
that country having Jewish blood in their
veins In France, from the days Of Ma
poleon up to this. the Jew has been recog-
nized in all the walks Of life, even in the
military. and today there are. according to
an author Of recent date, 900 Jewish Of
in, 9 ha M sTfr he uinpla ag
ception Of the terrible crime Of 1894. and
re-enacted few months ago al Rennes
France has ever shown q broad and liberal
shirt in behalf OF her Jewish citizens. but
ii is here in these United States that the
children Of the Ghetto the Jews are
most happy, and where the broadcast and
widest possibilities are extended to them.
1T Is here where they show the highest
development OF modern civilization, and
from the DAYS Of the Revolution up 10 the
present. the Jew has as I have time and
again stated. come to the forefront. de-
Tending the flag unfolding the institu-
lions. and showing by word and deed, by
self-sacrihce Of life his part Of the duty
he owes TO the Republic. and II Is here
where ali the questions Of the destiny of
the Jew in other lands will finally be
solved.
Lincoln said. for every urop OF blood
drawn by the lash there VIII be an equal
number. II not more. drawn by the sword,
and so ] appeal TO you and ask you If you
have trodden under foot 10y unwise or I'M
Just personal Legislation and treatment
The Children OF the Ghetto, what else
can you expect al their hands but lack
and sitting Of those principles OF Justice
for which man should ever aspire2 When
YOU find "a jew IN this deplorable condi-
fion blame Yourself not him. Give him
an equal chance and equal rights and he
will come Up TO the highest standard Of
vou- demands. and yet notwithstanding