The Denver Jewish news., 1922-12-27
Anti.Jeuuish Prejudice

| Rabbi Abram Simon, OF the Wash
ington Hebrew Congregation. had been
invited by Dr. Morgan to occupy his
acceptance was coupled, 1t is said, with
1 the condition that he be permitted a
free hand in the choice and treatment
Of his subject. DIR. Morgan IL report
ed to have answered, In effect. go to
it.--and go as far as you like!'
The spacious auditorium was crowd
I'd to the doors. Every part OF the
service had clearly been chosen. In the
hest OF taste. so IA to incorporate no
detail Of worship In which the Jewish
participants could not reverentiy join
J Rabbi Simon had chosen as the topic
of his sermon, "Prejudice-its causes
md Its remedies" vigorously, though
all too briefly. he drew picture Of the
Jew throughout the ages-the outNst
the pariah. 1t was no ''lOve feast" !;
the occasion called for forceful express
sion of the truth, even though 1t hurt (;
for only "the truth sshall make you
free"
The three outstanding causes OF pre-
.udice, Rabbi Simon said, are the
stessing of the crucifxion story on the
minds of little children in the Sunday
schools: Shnkespeare's THE Merchant
Of Venice: and the pseudOscfentifc
licta OF modern German scholarship.
He strongly and earnestly protested
against methods of Sunday School
teaching that gloss over the life and
lesson OF Jesus. to stress the blood and
agony Of his death mt the hands Of
the Jews" There was no need, nor
time. for presentation OF arguments
that crucifixion was a Roman punish
ment. His protest wns against poison
ing the minds Of children in their
most impressionable years with the
virus OF prejudice against people and
n faith. ro
Analysing the Merchant of Venice"
Rabbi Simon characterized it as an
attempt to array hard, cruel, unfeel-
ing Justice. symbolixed by the Jew.
against love, tenderness and mercy,
pictured by the Christian And lastly.
the contention OF German scholars
that Europe was peopled by two dis
tinct stocks. the Aryan and Semitic;
that the development Of the Aryan
stock found its highest expression In
the efficiency Of the vauntetl German
Aultur; and that the Semitic, repre-.
sented by the lew. must he wiped from
the fnce of the earth il the former
were to grow to still higher perfection.
After the sermon, DIR. Morgan an
nounced an ''open forum at which the
Rabbi would answer all questions. This
was by no means the least interesting
part Of the service. as the questions
were intelligently asked and most ably
answered. Such, for example, as the
one asking an explanation Of the Mes
sianic idea among the Jews Of today !;
another, asking the effect OF the rcaii-
zation OF Zionism ON the holy places
Of the Christian In Palestine. In an
swering which Rabbi simon said: Let
me first assure you that am unaiter.
ably opposed to political Zionism !;
knowing this. you may the more read
lis accept my assurance that the Holy
Places Of no religion will ever be
desecratcd by the Jew"
| From the first words Of Rabbi
Simons sermon. to the last Of his
final plea, that the workers In the
cause of truth tunnel. each from his
own side, through the mountain-mass
Of prejudice until. meeting In the mid
die. the road be opened on which all
men may walk in the Fatherhod Of
God. in amity and better understand
ing. nc was accorded the closest and
most respectful attention. 81.
Such an occasion does not make nor
mar an epoch. It Is true; hut 1t is Inn
mensely worth while. None Of his
Christian hearers but will feel tinsle
Of shame in his next act or thought OF
prejudice: none Of his Jewish. but will
hold his head just a little higher.
through the muck and murk Of Ford
ism and Ku Klux propaganda.
HARRY FRANC.
Washington, d. G.
American Israelite.