The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-28

W 1t is even argued by some crude minds that the Jew is not, cannot be, a loyal citizen unles he believe in pro- hibition. If this argument be sustained then in the sight of the law and the people of the land the member of the Hebrew race is to be branded crim- inal under all circumstances. For never will he be anything but temperate in the real sense of the term. The moderate use of vinous liquors and beverages will always form part of his diet. The tenn perance of the Jew will go no further than the proper and timely use, not the abolition, of any or all of these things. They can no more pound prohibition into the head of the Jew than they can con- vince him of the theory of incarnation of "immaculate conception" or of the existence of a dual trinity god, or any other sort of deity beside the Lord One, who is the creator and rIler of all ex- isting beings the God of Israel and all the world.
 Let this be borne iu mind, that with the Jew legislative prohibition is not only question of threatened personal lib- erty but is also direct attack upon his tme-honored religion, his Bible and the rabbinical lore, wherein the proper and timely use of all earthly blessings, in- cluding the wine and strong drink, is commanded on all occasions; In relig- ious worship on Sabbaths and holidays, in public festivities and solemnities of all kinds, in social gatherings and In fam fly events.
 The several instances recorded in the Bible, where in the evil consequences of inordinate drinking are brought to view, are by far outnumbered with expressions of encomium and praise of the noble product of the grapevine. The Mosaic law which is the basis of all civilized re- ligion, treats man as mere man and forms the continuity of substance and soul. It demands the honorable enjoyment or earthly things in precisely the same man. ner as it demands a due abstention Wnen- ever that may be necessary. Judaism which has proven its efficiency as re- ligion of life, positively and absolutely prohibits prohibition, as 1t strictly for bids asseticism and every other extreme meas.;be. It is the dictum of the sages' that man is here on earth to enjoy In moderation of the worlds good things, and never to mortify himself by any sort of teetotalism and abnormalty. And ye shall observe my statutes and my or dinances which man shall do and live py them-not that he die by them," is the deduction and established opinion of the wise teachers in Israel. Hence none mas a right to starve himself uselessiy (lal- mud, Tractate Taanith, ?. ID, and none has right to deny himself the enjoy ment of any of the earthly blessings that the Lord has placed at his disposal; as i. ra6 n der an account and punishment will pe exaoted on him in the future world (Je- rushalmi, Kedushin). The Nazarlte IS uronounced a sinner as on the comple- ton of the days of his Nazariteness, ne was to bring sin offering, because he had sinned concerning his own soui py denying himself for the time being the enjoyment of the wine." (Nazlr, 5'l3'zs' Taanith, III Baba- Kama Ni shopuoln' g. Soth, 15; Keritnuth, 26)
 Regard the matter as one may, put Judaism has aimed at, and really sue ceeded in securing, the physlcal ana moral standard of the Jewish race by way of making 1t religious duty to opserVe the time for rejoicing as well as tne time for abstention, and to know that there Is a time and due season for ev- cry pursuit under heaven Take, Tor instance, the ordinance of the -four cups on the Passover night, which Is duty of vast importance imposed upon every Israelite. so that the Jewish congregation Is called upon to provide the wine even for the poorest of the poor. The sages have ruled that one is compelled, if needs be, even to pawn ones own personal ef- fects in order to procure for himselr ana family enough wine for the -four cups" by which the Passover service may be celebrated. The reason for such string ency in the matter will be best under stood when the fact is brought to light that 1t Is largely due to the grand sig pificance of such happy evens as the Passover and other joyous festivitives fin the Mosaic faith that the Jewish race has outlived all persecution, has with stood the worlds changing scenes, and has been preserved in the face of all an- tagpnlzing conditions and creeds. The ''cup of blessing" on Sabbaths and festi- vals, is an institution in vogue amidst the worshippers of the ancient faith for more than 30 centuries, and will remain an or oinance in Israel as long as Jews and Judiasm exist.
 We may say 1t for a certainty that If it were not for such natural and whole some recreation during the many years of his exile and dispersion, the Jew would long since have succumbed to the pres sure of circumstances, and be no more. With the Jew the question of "abstention and non-a abstention' is therefore @ ques- tion of religion and of life itself. Others may lightly esteem this peculiar mode of living and of religious worship, and yet the fact remains, that the Jew stands forth in the face of all the world, and throughout the ages, as the best exam pie of temperance versus abstinence.
 Certainly not 8 Jewish family will re- main without drinkables, prohibition or no prohibition. Nor will any one Jew shrink from treating his friend at his so- cial cal Ito a glass of beer or liquor of any sort An interesting little story has been related to me by a friend, who is drummer for a big furniture concern up porth and for which he vouches as being a matter of fact. Arrived at a southern little town he had already visited once before, this gentleman approached cus- toner named MT. Mccarthy, with whom he had done business on previous oc- casions. With great deal of excitement the Irish gentleman told the agent what tremendous change his town has under gone since he met him last; namely, that everything there is now as dry as a rock, and that he could not get a drink if he were to pay $5 for a single glass, T guess I can get drink, and without pay, too," said the other, as he looked thought fully through the window and beheld the big signs displayed, from which he read; "Samuelson & Co.,, Dry Goods;" Gold stein Bros., Clothing. etc." The Gentle friend was amazed on hearing the agent boast of such seeming impossibility. You certainly are joking, friend" he queried. "No I am not" Well. bet you any amount you don't get 1t this time," the Irishman said to the Jew. T take your