The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-02-12
Ethnology Of the Je1Ds.

always a minority-the world did not
recognize It. All around were hostile
people n the chosen tribes formed
only a little island in the midst of a
surging sea of barbarism. They strove
towards the realization of the ideal,
but in vain. The present was at o
variance. Throughout their history in
the Holy land they were on the de-
fensive. and b the struggle begins.
IlSraers soul was always torn between
the ideal future and the real present,
the struggle assumed a still fiercer
form in the exile. In the long 1000
years period all energies of h Jews,
all activities were conferred on that
particular point, how to escape death.
1t is in this long struggle for existence
that the spirit Of the Jew attained its
steel hardness, together with rubber
like 1exibility. But ever then the Jew
entertained the dream of the ideal fu-
ture. and it 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 subjectivity, s-elf-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
10 duOpC q Inherent dItlIuue. LII Iic
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 idealism n material
ism. looking int 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 the mental and spiritual
character Of the Jews, we find them
first of all predominating in in
te%llectuality. Their mind possesses
lucidity, dtstinctiveness, agility and
swiftness of thought. This arises
partly from the inherent subjectivity
of the people but is mostly due to their
life. In the exile the only Weapon of
through 1t that he succeeded to sur
vive. It is there where situations had
to be weighed, circumstances under
stood, and characters appreciated that
the Jewish mind acquired the nimble-
ness and the accuracy and agility. 1T
is there that he acquired the objective
external quality of mind. Hence it IS
that the Jew, though by nature self
centered, is yet able to adapt himself
to every culture with ease, and esti-
mate carefully the value Of every
civilization. It 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 amount of skilled and talented
coed that of E~nglishmen and Scotch
men. The fields are various. There
is superiority Of the Jews as physicians,
mathematician, chess players,
philosophers, astronomers. scientists,
and especially p~hilologists: There is
talent, which has been claimed for the
Jews. Business ability is only a part
Of general ability, and II 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, but 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 the ghetto what better mode
of expression could a Jew find to the
deep agonies of the soul han music;
the most vibrating n 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 owe Of response with
bodily movements to internal stimuli!
Of emotion; hence his susceptibility tc
acting. AS for tragedy he should have
a special liking for 1t, since his life
was more or less one.
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 stiffneckec
people. They have a high sense of In
dividuality and all through histor,
) they strove to express their will to live
| under very adverse circumstances, sc
, that by long struggle their will is
strong. It is this strait that accounts
for SO many self made men among thu
Jews, as the Rothschilds, B~eaconsfeld
Gombetta, and many others. These arr
{ the traits that characterize the Jew
They show him in his special light
and knowledge Of them does conduc,
; towards a better understanding anc
! appreciation Of this people, remarkabl.
in its life and history.
) Signed: Rabbie M. Waxman.
:.
3 Aooarirao E,na,.. .~J N--