The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-17
THE POLITICAL MISSION or TINE
AMERICAN JEW.


AMERHCAN JEW.
An Appeal ~ D.. lsadsrs sanger - the
Jews - American Citizens.
To THE EDITOR OF THE sux-Sir: Were
there Central Consistory Of the Jews OF New
York city. and had the honor Of being III
president. would not hesitate for one moment
10 open during the present campaign all
synagogues under my Jurisdiction and invite
my rabbits TO transform their pulpits into
political tribunes. preaching therefron. night
In and night out. TO the assembled peo-
pie the gospel Of civic virtue and sd-
monishing the Jew in particular. not
merely as a Jew. but A. An American. 30
he naturalized or q native citizen. to DO
his full duty toward this noble and free
country. which has become for one-tsnth Of
his race haven Of security and has stretched
out protecting hand TO his oppressed brsth-
rem beyond the sea. Alas! the greatest Jewish
community ever recorded In lsraers annals
Ia divided into several hundreds Of mostly
insignincant congregational units without .
general platform to command the undivideo
respect OF Jew and non-Jew alike. The much
Wanted attachment Of the Jewish immigrant
to the ancient religious and national traditions
IL in the main merely platonic one making
way for indifference and sSnosticism-il not
for something worse-as soon - the fathers
have been laid TO their eternal rest In Cypress
Hills and Machpelah.
Have We Jews Of Europe creased the ocean
to commence here anew our religious parisn
policy Of old. or are there men among 10 poe
sessing the necessary intellectually ana
courage to inaugurate on this new continent
. new Jewish world policy. opening . new
chapter not only In Israels but In mankinds
history at large? DO We wish. for sentimental
ity's sake and TO further the interests OF .
handful Of religious sycophants to perpet-
uate the preiudices Of the uentile world
against ourselves and our descendants1 Have
our prophets. on the hills and on the plains Of
Palestine. preached the gospel Of universal
religion. have our martyrs shed their blood
that We. Israelites OF the twentieth century.
being fortunate enough 10 live In this great
land Of the free. should waste our forces In
mere lip devotion and unsystematic retail
charity toward our less fortunate brethren3
Has our moral and religious philosophy. In
deed. run out its course Of life? Are We really
condemned to sit upon the ruins Of our Jewish
individuality. preparing interesting material
for the mythologist and folklorist Of the fu-
tureH II it were 20. we. the descendants OF
the Maecabees. should at least have preserved
manhood enough to throw UP openly oW In
dividual existence. by dissolving our conRre-
Ing the keys Of our historical and literary
archives: in brief. In disappearing as a sspa-
rate entity from the stage Of the world
But fortunately or not. Israel has not vet
fulfilled It's historic mission; the free and
prosperous Jews OF America have not yet
done their duty toward the 100000 OF their
unhappy brethren OF eastern Europe and
Asia. tremendous task awaits them in the
future. and they cannot more nobly and ef1ectu-
ally prepare the ground for the final victory
OF the principles OF humanity and justice than
by allying themselves, not only In New York
but throughout the Union. in every electoral
campaign. be it municipal. State or ma
tonal. with the upholders Of honesty and
decency. Jeremiah's recommendation to his
Jewish fellow citizens OF Babylon to seek tho
peace OF the city and pray unto the Lord for
1t. for In the peace thereof shall We have
peace" never applied with more cogency to
the sons of Judah than in our present situa-
ton. Our non-Jewish American fellow cit
liens must clearly know where we az Jews are
standing; they must learn in an unmistak-
able way through public deeds Of ours that
we are the unfnching supporters OF civic
virtue and national patriotism Then. and
only then. can we hope that the atavistio
prejudices against us, even In this progressive
country. will gradually make room for I'M
reserved friendship and confidence finding
their expression in absolute social equality
and intimate political alliance
And II came to pass. when Moses held up
his hand. that Israel prevailed: and when he
let down his hand. Amalek prevailed But
Moses hands were heavy" therefore. Aaron
and Hur stayed up his hands. the one on the
one side and the other on the other side: and
his hands were steady until the going down
OF the sun. And Joshua discounted Amalek
and his people with the edge OF the sword
And the Lord said unto Moses. Write this for
a memorial in book for I will utterly put
out the remembrance OF Amalek from under
hea ven, Exodus, xvii, ll-i4.
Our Amalek in this campaign Ia Tammany
Hail. our Moses is represented by Mayor Low:
Hur's role Is taken by the fusion Democrats:
Joshuas part is played by the fearless poiti-
cal champion William Travers Jerome To
our, the Jews lot fell Aaron g character 1t il.
then. our duty to stay up the hands Of all and
every one OF the candidates Of the fusion
ticket until the going down OF the sun on Nov.
s. Every one OF US has to contribute, through
his pen. his eloquence. his money. but above
all through his ballot. to the final downfall
OF Amalek.
Open to me the gates OF righteousness:
will 90 into them Psalm cxvi.. 10. May
these words Of the Psalmist find their echo in
the consciences Of the leaders OF the Jewish
community OF this great and glorious city.
May they not hesitate to open the halls de-
voted to the worship Of God to the proclama-
ton of the two foundations OF his divine
throne: Justice and Truth Never will our
rabbis have raised their voices for a holier
cause than this time in fighting against vice
and corruption and for morality and divine
holiness. DR.. lsIDoRE SINGER.
new YORK. Oct Is.