The Denver Jewish news., 1919-03-26
Plea For Jewish Banking
In Palestine
THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
BIBLICAL AND PRESENT DAY
BUSINESS METHODS DESCRIB.
ED.
by DIR. &. ID. SPINAK.


l. \ conscious Jew is ore who leads
II Jewish life.
l. Jewish life is made NJ of such
religious, moral, social. csthrtic poll
teal. economic, mental and physical
traits which can be demonstrated an
alytically or synthctically rs being
distinctly. Jewish.
3. OF the many and varied factors
life. the Bible had the foremost and
profoundcst influence.
t. \ conscious Jew while in Golus.
no matter what geographic point he
occupies. cannot lead a complete and
rounded out Jewish life.
3. The long-dcfcrrcd nope of the
Jews to he able to lead IL complete
and rounded out Jewish life is to he
realized only in a Jewish homeland.
q. The present is the appropriate
time to make an effort to restore.
strengthen and develop every moral
and economic .prccept tMitzvallr and
every national custom (Minhag) which
is charactcrisicaliy Jewish.
The Case of the Sabbath.
As an illustration of the above
points. | will cite the case of the Sab
bath. There are great number of
Jews. religious and irreligious. who do
not observe the Sabbath. Sunday has
become for them the day of rest and
recreation. spiritual. religious ana
physical Such Jcws-and they are in
the majority-as far as the observance
Of Sunday is concerned have become
imperccptibly christianizcd.
Now. the precept of observation OF
the Sabbath has always been consid-
cred as one of the cardinal social in
stitutions of the Jews. and the pres
cnt tendency to its abolishment there
fore undernaiNs the foundation of
Judaism. of which the sabbath is one
of the corner stones.
1t is only when the Jews will live
in peace in their homeland that the
Jewish Sabbath will he restored to its
pristine purity and glory. There the
orthodox and radical Jews will both
rest on tile Seventh day. each accord
ing to his way of thinking and hcliev-
ing. The orthodox will observe the
day rcligioIlsly and the radical na-
tiOnally. Both will keep the day
holy.
Hanucca-Gelt.
Another illustration in point is
drawn from custom which oriGinnt-
ed in poSt-biblicsil .time.. IIanucca
was considered the holiday when the
heads of families distributed presents
to their children. grandchildren and
to the children of their friends and
neighbors. On the first night of Han
ucca the children waited with haitrd
breath for the ceremony of the kind
ling of the lights. after which the
Ianucca- -Gelt and presents were dis
tributed. the traditional rcpast of
latkes with goose. fat enjoyed and fol
lowed by playing of chance games 81
drcidlach
IIanucca and Christmas.
1t so happens that Hanucca and
Christmas fall in the same season of
the year. Whether it is accidental
common origin is n matter OF conjcct-
urc Tie two holidays clashcd and
competed for supremacy, during the
last five decades. Christmas won
the day. The kindling of lights on
Hanucca is still observed. but
they defer their gift-bestowing until
Christmas. During the days oreced.
ing Christmas the JewS-youil: and
old orthodox, reform and radical. are
all busy buying "Christmas presents
Christmas dinners and parties are Civ
en- and Christmas greetings arr OK
changed by Jews. IIanucca-;rlt and
latkes and dreidlach have become Oh
solete customs. Christmas the great
est symbol of Christcndom. has he
come of almost rs great significance
to the Jews as to their Christian
neighbors.
As far as the observance Of Christ
iilas Is CoHcerHed' W. niuN h>S'tl 'i'i'
the Jews have become Christianizcd.
In a Jewish homeland. the beautiful
custom of gift-bestowinG on lIunuc"n
minus the pagan Santa Claus will be
restored.
Jewish Economics.
The above preliminary remarks will
make clear my plea for the rest ora
tiou in the Restored Zion of biblical
rreccpt which has fallen into desuct-
udc during the diaspora. Unlike the
Continued on Page Two.)