New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-16
No RELIGIOUS LIFE.
Russian Jegcish Women Barred
from 1t as We'll as Social Life.

cit is impossible TO understand the lower East
Side" said DIR. David Baustein, head OF the Edu-
cational Alliance speaking apropos Of his recent
statistical investigations of conditions in that sec
ton ''or the attitude of the people there toward
American institutions. without knowing the condl-
lions from which these people came in Eastern
Europe. For instance. the average Russian Jew OF
the lower East Side will declare that there is more
religious liberty In Russia than in America lie
cannot understand the State interfering with
riage and divorce which in Russia are left entirely
the rabbi He is specially puzzled by the States
attitude toward divorce. There are more divorces
the lower East Side in proportion to the Dopula-
ton than in any other part OF the city; and far
more than among the Jewish population Of any
other country on the globe,
TWO CENTURIES BEHIND HIM
1.-The reason is not far TO seek The man comes
TO this country first Five years later. during which
time he has lived a single man. he sends for his
wife. He finds her not five years behind him.
two centuries He has acquired a language,
new clothes and customs. and a country. lie
finds the union insupportable In the old country
all that was necessary for the couple to go
before the rabbi with a declaration OF mutual con-
sent. and he would divorce them. Some rabbis
the East Side continued TO grant these divorces
until recently and a great deal Of trouble was
caused Here in. America therefore. the immigrant
finds the State interfering. according to his no
tion with his private affairs and ne viii claim
there is no religious liberty in America.
"As a matter of fact, there Is perfect liberty in
Russia far the exercise OF his religion is
cerned- The Jew is interfered with in his
religious observances. He simply loses. on account
Of them. all civic and economic rights. He pays
for his religious liberty with the latter His church
has infinitely greater power and Importance than
In America. The rabbi keeps vital statistics
The rabbi marries and divorces. The rabbi has
charge Of all education He also acts a court in
both civil and criminal cases. Formerly Jewish
contestants were compelled by law to take their
cases to the rabbi In certain classes Of they
may now go before a general court. but If they
agree to take the the rabbi they are re-
CURED by law to abide by his decision.
HIS RELIGION RECOGNIZED
"At every turn Of the road the Jews religion is
recognized. He is taxed as a Jew. enlisted as
Jew No matter how many Jews there may be in
city. or how many synagogues they may have.
representing as many different shades Of religious
opinion, they are all Jumped together
gregatiOn One man represents this congregation
to the government. He is responsible to the gov
eminent for their taxes. The government will sup
port him in any attitude he may take toward any
individual in the matter of taxation. He is re-
sponsibe for the number of soldiers required. fifty
one hundred. the may be. He de-
eide what young shall be chosen.
This representative to the government Is elected
by the Jews OF the city. Their choice may be re-
Jected by the government. but once it is confirmed
the people cannot change their representative. One
easily In this method a fertile opportunity
for tyranny and oppression. But nevertheless 1t
is q distinct and permanent recognition OF the
Jewish church
I'm fact. in Russia a man is first OF all required
to be a member of church, and next a citizen OF
Russia. The very passports describe him. They
begin The Jew so-and-so is hereby authorized to
travel or The Christian so-and-so is hereby au-
thorized to travel And the Christian signifies a
Greek Catholic II he belongs to any other de-
nomination it is specified by The Lutheran or
The Roman Catholic and on In theory no
man IN Russia be atheist. In theory no
man is freethinker He should be a Greek Cath
Ole. and II he is born Greek Catholic he cannot
change There is imprisonment and often Siberia