Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-02-12
Ethnology of the Je1us.

q minority-the world did not
recognize 1t. All aroun were hostile
people and the chosen tribes formed
only a little island in the midst of a
surging sea of barparism. They strove
towards the realization of the ideal.
but in vain. The present was at a
variance. Throughout their history in
the Holy land they We're on the de-
fensiye, and thus the struggle begins.
IsraePs SOU was always torn between
the ideal future and the real present,
the struggle assume a still fiercer
form in the exile. In the long 1900
years period all energies of the Jews,
all activities We're centered on that
particular point, how to escape death.
1t is i'll this long struggle for existence
that the spirit of the Jew attained Its
steel hardness, together with rubber
like flexibility. But ever then the Jew
entertained the dream Of the ideal fu-
ture, n 1T is due to the constant
SWaying between two forces that the
variability and contrasts in the Jewish
character arose.
The Primal Trait.
The primal trait in the Jewish racial
character is SUFFICIENTLY, self-centered.
1t is attested by their religion. Ian
guage and belief in themselves as a
chosen people. and in the form of their
literature and poetry, which is lyric,
internal. But their life forced them
to adopt a different attitude. In the
exile, if the Jew wanted to live, he
had to ACQUIRE the character of a reed
and bend TO whatever side the wind
blew. He had to observe all external
incidents. desire and wills of others, so
he became objective. hence the con-
trasts in the Jewish character. You
will find in him idealis1n and material
ism, looking into the future and taking
exceptional care for the present, self
centered and observant of others ac-
lions at the same time.
Summarizing the effects of race and
history on he mental and spiritual
character OF the Jews. we find them
first of all predominating in in
lucidity. distinctiveness. agility and
swiftness of thought. h arises
partly from the inherent subjectivity
Of the people but is mostly due TO their
life. In the exile the only weapon of
the Jews WAS the intellect. III was
through it that he succeeded to sur"
to be weighed. circumstances under
stood, and characters appreciated That
the Jewish mind acquired the nimble-
ness and the accuracy and agility. IL
is there that he acquired the objective
external quality of mind. Hence it IS
that the Jew, though by nature self
conferred, is yet able to adapt himself
to every culture with ease, and esti-
mate carefully the value Of every
civilization. 1t is the Jew Brandes who
appreciates and most accurately the
national spirit of various literatures.
The distribution Of Jewish ability Is
wide. On the whole the Jew possess
less genius but a great distribution of
talent. The curve for Jewish skill, i.
e., the amour Of skilled and talented
men per every 1000 Jews, TX
coed that of Englishmen and Scotch
men. The fields are various. There
is superiority of the Jews as physicians,
philosophers, astronomers, scientists.
and especially p~hilologists. There is
no such thing as special business
talent, which has been claimed for the
Jews. Business ability is only a part
OF general ability, and If the Jew by
the long process of selection has a
higher rate of intellectually he may
also have a higher rate of business
ability.
On the emotional side the Jewish
characteristics are distinct. The Jew
is very emotional, out this emotion is
mostly Of an inner nature, due to his
long life in the exile. He is therefore
specially adopted to lyric poetry and
music. In h ghetto what better mode
of expression could a Jew find to the
deep agonies Of the soul than music;
the most vibrating and touching of all
art. Another emotional trait Of the
Jews is their aptitude for acting in
general, and tragedy in particular. The
great nervous strain, the intensity of
emotion to which the Jew was sub
jected through his life history has de-
veloped a power of spo with
bodily movements to internal stimuli
OF emotion; hence his susceptibility to
acting. AS for tragedy he should have
a special liking for it, since his life
| WAS mora nr lncC Tr1n
Marked by Will Power.
The volitional trait of the Jews is
very marked. The Jews have always
shown a strong will power. In bible
times they were called a stiffnecked
people. They have a high sense of in
d~ividuality n all through history
they strove to express their will to live
under very adverse circumstances, so
that by long struggle their will is
strong. 1t is this strait that accounts
for so many self made men among the
Jews. as the RothschiIds, Beaconsfield,
Gombetta, and many others. These are
the traits that characterize the Jew.
They show him in his special light.
and knowledge of them does conducs
towards a better understanding and
appreciation Of this people, remarkable
in it's life and history.
Signed: Rabbie M. Waxman.
Ansric,n E,rno>. ,.I N..