The Denver Jewish news., 1919-11-19

one who felt the most kindly was the
most prompted to speak in opposition.
This was the genial and rational
Gideon. who also was not without IA
sense that he was addressing the guest
of the evening. He said:
You have your own way of looking
at things, Mordecai, and, as you say.
your own way seems TO you rational.
l know You don't hold with the, restor-
alton to Judea. by miracle, and 50
on; but you are as well aware as |
am that the subject has been mixed
with Il heap of nonsense both by Jews
and Christions. And as to the connec-
tion of our race with Palestine. il has
been perverted by superstition till it's
as demoralizing as the old poor-lnw.
The raft and scum go there to he main
tanned like able-bodied paupers. and
to be taken special care of by the angel
Gabriel when they die. It's no usn
fighting against facts. The most learn
cd and liberal men among us who are
attached TO our religion are clearing
our liturgy of all such notions as II
literal fulfilment of the prophecies
about restoration and SO on. Prune
it of a few useless rites and literal
interpretations of that sort, aud ou;'
religion is the simplest of all re-
ligions, and makes no barrier. but a
union. between us and the rest Of the
world"
''As plain as pike-staff" said Pash.
with an ironical laugh. ''Hou pluck ii
up by the roots, strip off the leaves
and bark, shave off the knots, and
smooth it at top and bottom; put II
where you will. it will do no harm,
it will never sprout You may make
a handle Of it, or you may throw II
on the bonfire of secured rubbish |
don't see why our rubbish is to be
held sacred any more than the rubbish
of Brahmanism or BUDDHISM
NO" said Mordecai, mo. Pash, be-
cause you have lost the heart of the
Jew. Community was felt before it
was called good praise no super
stition. i praise the living fountains
Of enlarging belief What is growth,
completion, development? You began
with that question; / apply it to the
history of our people. l say that tile
effect of our separateness will not he
completed and have its highest trans
formation unless our race takes on
again the character of II nationality.
That is the fulfilment of the religious
trust that moulded them into Il people
whose life has made itself the IN
spiration of the world. What is it
to me that the ten tribes are lint
untraceably, or that multitudes of the
children of JUDAH have miye:l them
selvse with the Gentle populations as
n river with rivers? Behold our poo-
pie still Their skirts spread afar;
they are torn and soiled and trodhcn
on: but there is jewclcd breast-
plate Let the wealthy men. the mon
aichs of commerce. the learned in all
knowledge. the skilful in all arts, the
speakers. the political corlnsellors'
who carry in their veins the Hebrew
blood which has maintained its HiEor
in all climates, and the pliLncy OF the
Hebrew genius for which difficulty
means new device-let them say, We
will lift up Il standard. we Will unite
in labor hard. but glorious. like that
nr ,,JI Inl (which slYIll
be a worthy fruit of the long anguish
whereby our fathers maintained their
separateness, refusing the ease of
falsehood' They have wealth enough
to redeem The soil from dcbauched and
conquerors. they have tue
skill of the Statesman to devise. The
tongue of the orator to persuade. And
is there no prophet or poet among MS
to make the ears of Christian EUROPE
tingle with shame at the ilideous
cbloquy of Christian strife. which due
Turk glzcs at as at the Fighting 0I
beasts to which he has lent AN arcllaE
There is store of wisdom among uS
10 found new Jewish polity. grand,
simple. just. like the old-n republic
where there is equality of protection.
an equality that shonc like a star on
The forehead of our ancient commnn-
ity. and gave it more tlian the bright
ness Of Western freedom amidst the
despotisnS of the East Then our ipce
shall have an organic centre, II heart
and brain to watch and guide and ex-
ecute; the outraged Jew shall have II
defence in the court Of nations. as the
outraged Englishman or .Ameiican
Aiid the world will gain as israel gains
For there will he 4 community in the
van of tho Ensl which tarIiNs the