Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-01-06
A NEW YEAR RESOLUTION
This Article Won First Prize in Con-
test.

test.
Several months ago the American
Magazine offered a handsome prize to
the person who would write the best
story under the caption, MY Most
Successful New Year Resolution" "
The following artice by Israel Katz,
a Jew, was declared to be the best:
Eleven years ago, on a cold but
clear and beautiful December night,
an ocean liner entered the harbor of
New York. Among the many thous-
ands of immigrants on the ship was
one Jewish boy on his way from Rus
sia to the land of freedom. This boy
was myself. Our boat lay in the har-
Dor all night, and 1 shall never for
get how 1 kept awake on deck watch
ing the hundreds Of boats passing by,
the myriads of lights in the harbor,
the Statue Of Liberty with its burn
ing torch, and the mysterious giant
city lying off in the distance holding
in it's bosom so much promise for all
Of us.
The following morning l was land
ed among the seething multitudes of
New York city.
New Years Eve my brother took
me down to see the crowds along the
lower part of the Bowery, where the
Trinity church stands This was a
revelation to me. Over in the little
Ghetto town of Russia where l was
born, the Christian new year was a
day of fear and dread for us Jews. 1
remember how they" used to march
on New Years day through the
streets of our town carrying the holy
images Of the Greek church to dip
them in the river while soldiers stood
with their bayonets lined up in two
rows to inspire" order and rever-
ence. We boys used to watch the pro-
cession from the distance with fear
ness and oppression upon our young
souls, for we were strangers in our
native land, foreigners and outcasts
in a land where our forefathers had
lived for generations. Not one Of us
dared show himself upon the streets
on such occasions.
And here 1 was among people who
called themselves Christians, and yet
saw welcome eyes everywhere. In
fact, l was taken in as one Of them.
And for the first time in my life l
g.. no M Trinity
church began to ring the old year
out and ring the new year in"
1 knew very little Of New Years
resolutions then, for was 1t not
their" New Year. and what had ]
to do with this outside world Of my
Christian enemies? But as I stood
there with my head bare and with
tears in my eyes while the bells rang
midnight, a resolution began to grow
within my heart, resolution that
was not made consciously and in
cold reason as most resolutions are
made, but that sprang up within me
spontaneously, one born out of the
welcome which I received for the
first time from the outside world
the Christians.
1 resolved then and there to show
to this Christian world that love, lib
erty, and justice are never wasted
even when given to a Jew. I resolved
to take advantage of all opportuni-
ties offered to me for education and
advancement so that I might become
in time a worthy citizen Of this great
country, our country.
The next few years were hard. The
wolf had to be kept from the door,
but the little spare time and money
we're used in getting an education.
Every new book I bought was like a
dear child to me and I used to sit late
at night reading lovingly.
At last the great day came, and my
heart was filled with joy and happi-
ness as 1 began my college career, de-
termined to continue the struggle
with eagerness. All barriers, 1
thought, must disappear before this
iron will of the Russian Jewish boy,
resolved on getting the education de-
MED to him in the land Of oppression.
And two years ago, on June
morning, there was no happier and
prouder young man in the whole
world than I, as walked upon the
platform of the College Of the City Of
New York to receive my diploma at
the hands of a Christian, now no
longer a stranger to me but fellow
citizen who gave me his wishes Of
love and affection and told me to go
out into the world as son Of the
great metropolis Of our country"
and carry the torch Of education,
culture. and good citizenship among
my fellow citizens.
I knew then that a great part Of
my resolution had been carried out,
and I hope to God that till the end
of my days I shall continue to live in
the spirit of that resolution and work
for the good of my adopted country,
which is even dearer to me than If
my ancestors had been of those who
landed at Plymouth Rock.