New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-14
The Jewish Wars
Examples From History Where Peace
With Victory Prevailed
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In your issue Of the 10th inst under
the heading, "Pacifsts' Peace Plea Inspired
by Russian Radicals" you again cite pas
sage from brochure by Rabbi judah L. Mag
mes containing a speech made by him at the
Garden Theatre on May 80, and circulated by
the so-called Peoples Council" In various
newspapers the bubble of the phrase peace
without victory" has been burst, which Rabbi
Nagnes uses, and the froth Of his expression,
"How futile all wars are" has been dispelled'
The arguments adduced in such retutations
have been drawn usually from the arsenal OF
general history. should like TO dwell II
onIv for a moment, upon that branch OF the
worlds history which is especially dear 70
both DR.. Magnes and to myself, as members
of the Jewish race and as followers OF the
Jewish faith.
No man loves war for its own sake-ex-
cept he be a pan-Germanist or German
militarist-as little as any father or mother
loves TO whip child simply for the pleasure
of doing so or for the exercise 1t gives 10
the arm. Unfortunately, children do need
whippings, just as some OF US older ones
need more than mere corrections OF the lips
I know that DR.. Magnes. is thoroughly
familiar with the history Of his race both
in Biblical and post-Biblical times lie VIII
remember how often-according to the Bioh-
cal records themselves-his forefathers had
to keep unruly tribes in order; how often
they made peace with victory, and how otteh
they fought against the greater powers IN
order to maintain their own state and 10
preserve their religious ideals. How often
did they not Join allies in order to hold
down the strong Assyrian power-the Prus-
slams of those days-who sought TO found q
universal Assyrian empire, which should i'm
press its views and its religious beliefs upon
the whole world Of that dayl
And how about the Maccabees? Did they
make peace with the Greco-Syrians with
out victory? Did they not smite them
upon the hip and drive them out Of the
sacred places that they had desecrated7 In
the Jewish calendar there is a feast called
Chanukah, celebrating this victory over the
oppressor II has been my pleasure in for
mer DAYS to hear DR.. Magnes describe-with
the fine ardor that he knows how to put
into his speech-the wonderful deeds OF this
handful Of his people. and praise and laud
them TO the skies for doing exactly that
which the Allies are doing today-fghting
for victory and for the necessary peace that
must come with it. | challenge DR.. Magnes
TO say whether the war Of the Maccabees
was as futile as he says all wars are.
In the Jewish calendar there is, further,
Ninth Day of Alb; this time fast day; a
day upon which the Jews are accustomed TO
commemorate the destruction of the Temple
in Jerusalem and the beginning Of the real
wanderings OF its worshippers in the desert
Of alien peoples. For a whole year and more
the Jews had fought the great and mighty
Roman people They had refused to place
their neck in the Roman yoke and to SIT at
the feet of "Kultur' which they despised,
in spite Of the many great and splendid things
this "Kultur" had produced. IL is true they
lost the war, but the memory OF the deeds
done in that war has lived ever after and
has steeled the heart and soul OF the Jew
to persevere to his destined end. II was not
a peace without victory; it was defeat with
victory. For where is the Roman state to-
DIV? II is a subject of study for the stu
dent and a memory only. We Jews-and |
say this With becoming modesty and re-
straint-are still in existence and still have
hopes OF carrying AOi"aiN WI NN'~'Nf ''~''~
as a people in the very land that Rome de-
yastated. | ask DR.. Magnes whether the
war that we waged nearly two thousand
Years ago was a futile one for US; and
whether, II we then had urged peace with
naughty and dominating Rome and had, by
so doing, put ourselves in its power, we
should have been able-he and | for in
stance-to work side by side for so many
wears in the cause of the restoration Of
Israel. "They cry peace, peace-but there
is no peace; there is none and there can
be mono until the protagonists OF brute force
and the rulers by the right of Thor and
Odin have been subdued and have been made
TO see that "the eyes OF the lofty are hum
bled"; that kings must reign in righteous
ness and that princes must rule in justice"
Dr. Magnes occupies a prominent place in
the Jewish community of New York. It is
only right that our fellow citizens should
know that in this matter of Americas par
ticipation in the war he does not represent
or express the opinion OF the vast majority
of his fellow Jews here, who-as Americans
know and recognize the duty they owe TO
their country and are glad to see her act
on the side of those who are striving after
tho right, as they are proud to offer their
services in that cause.
RICHARD GoTTHEIL.
Woods Hole, Mass, Aug II, 1917.