The Alaska daily empire., 1915-07-20
FATE OF JEWS
 IN THE BALANCE

According to Rabbi Moses J Cries, of Cleveland. President of the Con- ference of American Rabbis, the fate of half of the Jews of the world is trembling in the balance as a result of the great war in Europe.
 "A crisis impends for Israel said Rabbi Cries. "The million Jews Of Eastern Europe are buffeted from per secuter to oppressor All mankind has been made eyewitness to Bel gium's misery and sorrow. Galicia and Poland suffer equal tragedy but the world neither sees nor hears. Millions of Jews, always in want and in wrechedness, now experience cruelity intensified.
 Hundreds of thousands are sacri- ficing their lives for their country, yes. even for the flag of the oppress- or. and no promise of freedom Is clearly spoken. The loyal offering of life, in a nations cause. should quench the fire of anti-semiticism in Germany and Austria and kindle the light of freedom-with equal human rights-in Russia.
 Not yet is there any abatement of Russian prosecutions. nor any change in the legal status, nor any removal of disabilities Again, thou sands of Jews have been compelled to take up the staff of the wanderer, expelled from their homes and na- tive villages, the aged and the infirm and mothers with unborn babes, fac ing starvation and the danger of death.
 "The outrageous inhumanities have stirred even a George Brandes to the indictment of Poland in the for um of nations. and Israel zangwil proclaims Polish Jews are living through one of the greatest trage- dies in history
 Again in the face of worldwide misery we discover ourselves unpre- pared and unorganized. To meet ov- erwhelming disaster. we endeavor to create national and international agencies. We are never ready. al- though Jews are ever in distress and have not yet escaped the yoke of the worlds cruelty oppression and persecution.
 Urges United Action
 "The crisis demands unity of ac- tion Let the multitude of commit tees and of leaders surrender their claims to priority and precedence. They must unite to create one conn mittee which shall be permanent and thoroughly representatives. and duly authorized to speak and act on behalf of all the Jews of America. The united heart of Israel will speak with a voice powerful enough to compel the hearing of the ma tions to right the wrongs Of centur- ies.
 "The war has flung a challenge to teachers of religion. What is our eth. ical duty? 1T two mon be fighting at death grips, do we question about neutrality or ethics? We stop the fight! We do not Supply nourish ment for strength. nor weapons for destruction. If nations are battling and are grappling unto death. what is our ethical duty? Humanity out weighs neutrality? Humanity de mands that we stop the fight and dc not supply food to sustain the com batants, nor ammunition to continue
 "The neutral nations seem pitiablS powerless: but if the United State. and the other neutral nations have not the power to suppress the world disorder, they have the power to re frain from helping to prolong it. Lei America unite with other neutra nations to stop the war. under pen alty of severance of relations and. ces sation of commerce with them all Let America endeavor to lead tho world to peace"