The Denver Jewish news., 1921-10-19
Untermyer Replies To
Criticism of His Judaism
Scatl,ing References Made to Morgen.
tliau's Lack Of Jewish Spirit

Mr.. Samuel Untermyer guest of hon
or at the second annual dinner of che
Jewish Telcgraphic Agency, ut the
Hotel BrevOort, took the opportunity
TO answer those of his critics who as
serted that while he might pass mus
ter as a racial jew he was rather an
indifferent brand of jew from che re-
ligiOus point of view. He challenged
former Ambassador Henry Morscn-
thaus 'self-appointed selection of him
self in his challenge to my Judaism"
Guests of the Jewish Tclegraphic
Agency included publishers and edi-
tors of Jewish newspapers. as well as
prominent Jewish writers and journal
lists, Reuben Brainin was toastmaster.
Messages were read from Israel Zang-
will. DIR. Max Nordau. Nathan Straus,
Louis Marshall, Supreme Court JUS
tice Irving Lehman, DIR. Stephen Nj.
Wise, and from publications in the
United States and Canada. Jacob Ian
dau, director of the agency, explained
the workings of the system.
In his address Mr.. Untermcyer said
he was reared in the Jewish faith by
his mother. one of the most devout and
orthodox women he ever knew. Up to
the age of 13 he was destined to be a
rabbi and iC was only because of nee
cssity that he went to work and sub
seQuently became lawyer.
AT the age of % lie married, he said,
and his wife was formally converted
to the Jewish faith and his children
were reared as Jews, 'althO like other
children of Jewish parents in this city.
they have been rather loose in their
observance of Outward forms"
After explaining that he was men,.
bcr of two synagogs and was instru-
mental in the organization and active
support of the Young Mems and Young
Women's Hebrew Associations of
Yonkers, he said that all his life he
had been identified as a substantial
supporter of various Jewish charities.
.sThere has been no Jewish move
ment in the last thirty years in which
IL have not done my part. though my
work until late years has been done
in the ranks rather than in the lime
light" he continued.
After praising the Zionist movement.
MI. Untermyer said:
Mr. Morgenthau is. and has been
for many years reported to be man
of greac wealth, worth many millions
of dollars. If he has devoted any nart
of his great wealth toward promoting
any Jewish cause whatever i have
never heard of it.
'The mere giving of money by men
who can afford to give without sacri-
flee is not in itself very convincing
evidence of the depth of sincerity of
mans Judaism; it is about the casi-
est ching he can do. The real debt
of gratitude of the Jews is to the
men who are unselfishly dedicating
their lives to our cause at great per-
sonal sacrifice, men of the type of Dr.
Weizmann. Mr.. Marshall. DIR. Wise
and DIR. Magnes. OF course money
plays its part in this practical world;
we need the money as well as the men.
hut since neither Mr.. Morgenthau nor
/ have sacrificed very much except 10
give money and practically nothing in
the way of real~work beyond grandilo-
auently expounding our views often
times half baked and unsolicited. per-
haps the best test of our relative use
fulness to the Jewish movement is
measured by the amounr of money we
have given in proportion to our
means.
I'm answer to Mr.. Morgenthau's
self-appOinted selection of himself as
I, representative Jew in his challenge
to my Judaism. may / timidly suggest
that If in the last fifteen years he has
given to Jewish charities and other
movements one dollar for every ten
dollars have given during that time
I will gladly maze up the difference
provided he will do the same thing at
| the other end
| In discussing the breach in the Zion
ist ranks. Mr.. Untermyer said he
hoped it would he but temporary He
believed it could be healed because 1t
was based on trivial personalities ana
not on important questions of prin-
ciple and promised that it would be
his task to attempt to heal the breach.