Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-07
DISCUSSES SHYLOCK
ADDRESS BY REV. DIR. SIMON AT
STH STREET TEMPLE.

"Shylock'' was the subject of an adj
dress by Rev Dr. Abram Simon OF the
Washington Hebrew Congregation at the
Eighth Street Temple last evening.
I'm the world of symphonies DR.. ST.
mon said in opening. "a place must be
found for the master dramatist' He
then directed attention to the great force
for good or evil in literature. The evils
that enter our lives" he continued, often
live long after us. The good deeds of
life are often buriedt with our bones.
Literature embalms a lie as we'll as the
truth Therefore literature is power
for evil as well as good. 1t has handed
down SANDERS prejudices and hypocrisy.
The Merchant of Venice has been a
source of no little SANDER to the jew
He thinks of his name with all the hor-
ror the Christian man can contemplate.
1t is by Abraham they say the world is
blessed. By Shylock they say the race
is cursed
DR.. Simon asked: us Shylock a Jew?
Is the drama a vindication? AS L recall
the stories of the past centuries ] am
surprised there is one Jew alive. When
l compare much of the prejudice I begin
to think of the Merchant Of Venice.
DR.. Simon is of the opinion. he said
that the play should not be read in any
school lower than the high school. After
hearing it, the speaker added, Il feel
that no Christian child has any kindiler
feelings for the JeY. Each Jew becomes
a Shylock Or a Shylockess-"
DR.. Simon declared that Shakespeare
was a child of his age who kept many
prejudiceS" The Christian and the Jew
have changed places in the later stories
he said as in the original the Christian
was the moneylender and the Jew the
hapless borrower ''Shylock," the speak
er continued. has been proven. after all.
a man. Rich red blood flowed through
his veins. l would not try to justify
such a character. There is not a Jew who
does not hate Shylock as does the Chris
tan. l would not justify his love for
money or his re fusal of mercy. | would
say he is not d type of the Jew. He
never lived
DR.. Simon said he believes Shakespeare
sought to show to what straits man can
be driven-aS Christian would have done
if he had been SO placed.
''We are no more proud of Shylock.'
the speaker went on to say than the
Christian is of Macbeth or Iago There
would have been no such prejudice if he
had not been made Jew. No one thinks
of Antonio's religion. Shylock's religion
is brought forward as a target. Shakes
peare did not have to bring forward the
Merchant of. Venice to teach the Jew
mercy. He knew it 1000 years before
OF course. Snylock is a merchant All
talk of the Jew as a moneymaker, but
tell you candidly that if Shylock was in
Wall street today he would have to take
a back seat
The Jew, it was declared did not have
the opportunity of going into many of the
vocations of life because he was COM
PEELED to carry his valuables upon his
back or in his pockets. DIR. Simon de-
clared that the Jew was not the only
moneylender. in referring to the Medicis
and Lombards of Italy. He spoke of the
prosecutions of the Jews and of how
they were kicked about for centuries.
Il can understand DIR. Simon said fur
ther. but cannot justify the revenge of
Shylock Talk today about taking d
pound of flesh. If there is anything a
Jew hates to see it is blood"
DR.. Simon, in closing. commented on Sir
Henry Irving's portrayal of Shylock and
his statement that ''he was the only gen
tleman in the drama
II believe better day is dawning.' the
speaker remarked. II believe the world
wants to show us fairness