The Denver Jewish news., 1919-11-12
Opportunities Presented
by Jewish Homeland
A GREAT ETHICAL AND EDUCA-
TIONAL ADVENTURE FOR TIE
JEWS.
BY CHARLES W. ELIOT.
President Emeritus of Harvard uhi'
versity.

Jewish people the most interesting
oucstion about the Zionist movement
il whether it can contribute to the
eradication Of the undesirable quail
lies in Jews that have resulted from
the eentury-long persecution to whieh
they have been subjected in tine E"'
ropean and Asiatic countries thr"
which they have been scattered.
The worst features of these persee"
lions have been first. the practical eN-
clusion of the Jews from many OF the
lest trades and occupations, best. thar
il. in their physical and moral efiec's'
secondly, their confinement to certain
,,arts of a closely built city or Town.
districts which were ovelcrowded anu
unwholesome, especially in walled
towns: thirdly, their liability at an!
time to murderous attacks on the"
hy the Christian populace who so out-
numbered them that resistance seemed
impossible; and fourthly, from the
times of the Roman Empire. their eS-
,lusion from the exercise of judicial
and administrative functions and from
the privilege or function of bearing
arms, very serious INJURY to the
character and progress of any people.
When the Jew Became u Business
Man"
The exclusion from the best traueS
and occupations was perhaps the worst
OF these afflictions. because OF its III
evitable effect on the character OF thc
Jewish people The Jews ceased to DE-
cultivators of the land, for example
They could not follow. or follow 10
advantage. any of the primary tra"es'
like those of the carpenter. masoh'
blacksmith, wheelwright, farmer, and
sailor. They were forced to become
small shopkeepers, peddlcrs and money
lenders when they had by skill or good
fortune accumulated Il little money.
Secondly, the confinement of Jews
within the Jewish pale had i'll effects
on the bodily and mental qualities OF
the people. 1t limited travel, CONNER
cial and financial intercourse. and the
spirit of adventure, important elements
in the education Of amy people Con-
fincment to the Ghetto in towns ana
cities was a still more injurious iimi-
tntIon. 1t made the Jews an urban
population rather than rural. an"
subjected them to nll the physical aii'
,,oral evils which accompany conges-
tion of population.
Thirdly, the liability to sudden at
racks from their Christian neighbors
attacks they had neither the means
nor the disposition to resist by forcc
since they had no right to bear arms
Ind the inevitable depressing effect
on the spirit of the people. They wer'
liable not only to be killed.. men, won
en-, and children together. but to oe
driven from their homes by enact
ments of rulers or by mere mob vio'
l.nce; altho in various European
countries there were brief Intervals
during which the Jews enjoyed peace
and some degree Of liberty. These in
teryals, however, seldom extended over
more than one reign or generation.
These very trying conditions. under
which the exiled Jewish people have
lived for many centuries. had had Sc
,ious effects on the physique OF the
rice. Having been excluded from
most Of the occupations which require
varied muscular effort, and having mad
no access to the out:of-door sports or
military training which might have
protected them from some of tha evils
resulting from indoor life and loss OF
exercise, many Jews came to have
feeble, stunted. undeveloped bodies,
and morbid nervous systems. This re-
suit is conspicuous today wherever
Jews gather together by hundreds or
thousands. At this moment, in co'in-
tries where active oppression of the
Jews has long since ceased. the Jewish
element of the population is dreaded
at all the large public and private hos
ritals and dispensaries because 1t
rroyides so many neurasthenic patients
The treatment of whom is always pro-
longed and tedious and not infrequent-
ly unsuccessful. The occupations which
the Jews were allowed to follow among
the Christian peoples of Europe were
with the exception of peddling. indoor
occupations which had no invigorat-
ing effect on the body. In addition
to the purely physical effects. their
deprivau lions had decided effect on
their spirit or temperament. They
ware forced to conceal as much as
possible their family life and their
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