Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-05-26
JEW IS: PASSING away.
So Says Rabbi Abram Simon
The Well Known Pastor of
the Washington Hebrew
Congregation

Rabbi Abram Simon, tho famous
Hebrew orator, sounds Il h,glo call
to his people in n warning that is
frought with profound interest to Jew
and Gentilo alike the whole world
over. He Is the pastor OF the Wash
ington Hebrew congregation, and
during his residence In Washington,
has firmly established himself rs one
of the nations leading religious work.
ers. cultured preachers and profound
thinkers. With the material aid OF
several prominent Hebrews he keeps
that race TO the forefront in every
big liberal movement hero ana in
the country. A few words about his
early life may he of interest He was
born In Nashville, Tenn, and at an
carly age moved to Cincinnati, O.
ihcre lie subsequently graduated
from the Cincinnati university, and
from the Hebrew Union college, re-
ceiving from tho former tho degree
OF n. b., and from tho latter the CHI
viable title of rabbi His first charge
was In Sacramento, Cal, where he
was for some years the guiding shirt
In the Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Children. Later, he was
pastor for five years In Omaha.
Neb.. and from there he came to-
Washington in February, 1904. So
successful has he been as n rabbi
That lie has been reelected for an
other term of five years. He Is one
of the leading instructors at George
washington university, and Is hibnfy
regarded by all classes of the people,
He was married in 1896 TO Miss Car.
rie Obendorfer of Cincinnati, by whom
he has two sons.
, Discussing Some Jewish Prob.
lens" and reviewing the prosecutions
which the Jews have endured for
the past $500 years. he says that
the Jew rs q rnco is passing away.
The greatest difficulty with which
the Jew has had to contend for the
last 35 centuries, is that of prejudice.
and that because all nations have oh.
jected to the Jewish Interpretation
of tho Ruler of the Universe. His
history throughout all the ages has
shown him to be an intense individu.
alist. believer in the unity OF God,
an din this belief he will accept no
compromise.
ut is because OF his steadfast de.
votion to the faith of his fathers
that he has been made the victim Of
prejudice unworthy Of Christianity.
and of manhood and womanhood. The
lJew as race has practically passed
away, and he is tody the ccsmopolite
of tho world. The pure blood of Abra-
ham does not run in my veins more
thu min yours. The Jews of today
are descended from the two tribes,
numbering $4,000, who returned after
their wandcrings to Palestine How
| much pure blood is left to tehir de
! sccndants, who for the past $500
wears have been put to the vilest
prosecutions?
! Though 1t is said Jew Is known
by his racinl characteristics, his dc.
sire to acquire money, his determine.
ton to exact the pound Of flesh and
an eye for an eve, and tooth for a
tooth. the world is beginning to rea.
lie that these racial characteristics
are rapidly passing away, and that
the CIV Is of that country in which
he resides, an American. German.
!, Frcnchman or Russian. These ma.
tons, however. refuse to accept him
because of his belief that God is Il
unit. The time has come to think
of the Jew as "A human being, and
to realize that all the prosecutions to
which he has been subjected have
done the world no good.
of the descendants of the two
tribes who returned TO Palestine are
responsible for all the sins laid Mt
their door by Russia and other coun-
tries of Europe. what would be the
result If the ten lost tribes were
resurrected? The task of the jew
today is not to burden himself with
the troubles Of his race, or, follow.
| ing the dream of the prophets, to re.
turn to Palestine, there to found a
nation respected by the world, hut
to make that country in which he
lives his nearest and dearest posses