The American Jewish world. [volume] (Minneapolis ;) 1915-current, 1921-12-09


While, as l have animated, he did
not dlssIpate his energies by accept
ing leadership in many conspicuous
civic enterprises, good cause always
found in HIM helpful friend. I had
the honor to be associated with him
in two modest but uSeIul organlZa-
lions. We were joint promoters of
the Social Service Club, and if mis-
take not he was one of it's early presi-
dents. We also served together on
the Executive CommiL tee OF the local
branch of the American Association
for the Advancement of Colored Peo-
pie, OF which he was the first presi-
dent. His connection with this latter
organization suggests the breadth of
his humanitarianlsm. In Minnesota no
special courage was required to make
this connection, such as would have
been called for in some other parts
of the country. But if courage were
needed he would have had it; witness
his later association with the move
ment for Irish independence.
10 enumerate his civic and social
activities would of course be imprac-
ticable; but among the fields in which
he worked was public school educa-
ton, through the West High School
Parents and Teachers Association,
and philanthropic relief, through the
Near East Organization and the local
Associated Jewish Charities. At the
time Of his death he was member
of the Mayors Committee on Unem-
ployment Of the letters of coincidence
received by his family, some of which
I have been permitted to see, not
few lay stress upon his services as
citizen.
He was progressive and yet hardly
to be styled a radical. He had the
intellectual and moral courage and
the warm interest in human welfare
that mark the disinterested and sin
cere radical; but his religious faith
was anchored too closely to time-test-
ed mornings to permit his drifting too
readily and too far upon the currents
of new ideas and movements.
It was significant of the real quail
ity of the man that in the sermon he
had partially prepared for the eve
ming of Yom Kippur he linked the
service of man with the worship of
God. Repentance, prayer he wrote,
"are meaningless without charity"
His plea was for the poor, and in this
which, if he had been able to deliver
it, would have been his last spoken
word to his people, he urged upon
them loyal and generous support of
the enterprise which claims so much
attention in Minneapolis today,-the
Community Fund.
He was a true American. In time
of war none was more loyal and help
full than he. And if, as we may hope,
his spirit witnessed the great gath
ering of four weeks ago, think no
presence gave him greater satisfac-
tion than the group of disabled SOL
diers, for whose comfort he had done
so much, and who thus evidenced
their gratitude. But he was also
citizen of the world fellowcitizen Of
the straight thinking and forward
looking men of every land. For him
it was profoundly true that "above
the nations is Humanity" And who
can doubt that if he stood this morn
ing in his accustomed place he would
turn his eyes to Washington and pray
with all the earnestness of his soul
for the early coming of the day when,
in the words of a seer of his own
great and ancient people, 'nation
shall not lift Up a sword against ma