The Washington herald., 1913-08-03

race, Of which SO much has been written
in recent years, has direct bearing on
the opposition between the nature and
the nurture of men. In other words, does
birth and training determine character
istics? The Jews throw light on this
subject whether they are a distinctive
race or not. II they are, their common
characteristics. shown in such different
parts OF the world, is evidence Of the in
fiuence Of bread or nature. II they are
not the same characteristic proves the
influence Of nurture, education or en-
vironment.
1t would be precarious to deduce any
conclusions as to the relative superior
ity of intellect Of the average German
speaking Jew. as compared with his
Gentle neighbor. Jews are predomi-
nantly Of the mercantile classes. and
ii is from these classes almost exclu-
sively that the professional element,
| which fills out books of celebrities. Is
recruited. Figures. when applied TO
the Jewish phenomena, are often de-
| ceptive. or at least have to be inter-
preted with great care.
| when the walls of the Ghetto fell
some sixty or seventy years ago. the
admission of the Jews TO modern So
| ciety on comparatively equal terms
| raised the question, how far their dis
| tinctive characteristics would survive
I the contact with modern culture. from
which legislation hitherto bad re-
strained them. Could they be assimi-
| lated into modern European culture
and still remain Jews in the character
istics they had retained throughout the
ages? That is the problem which DR..
| Ruppin tries to solve. and the answer
lhe gives is a negative. The Ghetto
| life and culture which continued down
to the middle of the nineteenth CEN
tury with most Western European
Jews, IL still predominant among the
Jews of Eastern Europe. 1t Is being
broken down mainly by Jews them
s, Ives who. in West Europe and Amer
lea, have deserted the "Chedarin." or
special Jewish schools, in which He
brew is taught.
| They frequent the schools and colleges
of the nations, among which they dwell
and in many ways have adopted the In
terest of their neighbors in preference to
or side by side with those of their own
people Dr. Ruppin also points out the
rapid increase of intermarriage between
Jews and Gentiles, especially In Ger
many and Austria, which almost neces-
sarily breaks down the Transmission OF
the Jewish culture in children. In the
same countries baptism has Of recent
years, considerably increased as means
Of getting social recognition and profej
sional advancement.
DIR. Ruppin appears to think that the
congestion of Jews in large towns Is also
a factor tending to assimilation. But
1t is difficult to agree with him on this
point. Surely the bringing together OF
!. many Jews should be rather a cause Of
the retention Of the Jewish spirit than
otherwise. There can be no doubt that,
on the whole, Jews, especially in West
ern Europe and America, have become
more like their neighbors in social prac-
tices and in the adoption Of the sur
rounding culture In its widest sense. And
II this were to result in the disappear.
ance or diminution of the Jewish spirit,
this would be a misfortune, not only to
THE Jews themselves. but for the world
in general
One Of the outward signs OF this Is the
monotony Of dress and furniture, which
Is becoming more and more International
The growth Of inter-communication lie
giving a common set Of ideas and ideas
to the whole world and making II mors
and more dinicult for any special cul-
turo to hold its own.
In ono respect the Jews have certainly