The Denver Jewish news., 1922-12-20
BY Gers.lOn Agronslsy.

(Copyrighted, 1Ve2 Jewish Correspondence
Burcaub.
The oil claimed 10y death this week
included two Jewish figures of New
York, Peter J. Schweitzer. "A conspicu-
ois leader in the Zionist Movement, and
Phillip Krantz. Il creator of the Jew
isli Socialist Movement ir this country.
II is doubtful even whether the two
men. each absorbed in his own work,
each following the field of his own
choosing. knew each other. Yet,
despite the political interests which
divided them. and the social barriers
which separated them. there are certain
things common to both Of them: Both
Schweitzer and Krantz were educated
Russian Jews Both came here as
young men bringing ideas and ideals
not unknown to any of the hundreds Of
thousands Of Young Jewish emigrants
from Russia. And here the similarity
ends.
Phillip Krantz died at sixty-five, an
age which mitigates the shock the news
of death usually produces He died
poor. of course as poor perhaps ns
college professor who fails Ia marry
money. Krantz. when he came over,
and during the decades he spent here
did not shelvc his ideals. \ socialist,
he turned his attention TO the Jewish
masses and as editor. publicist and
educator. ii became second nature with
sal d int
ingly. to what he conceived the Jewish
workers salvation. Like SO many OF
his colleagues. living and dend, he had
no interest in. bnt conceivable hostility
for. the salvation of the Jews as a
people. Living in close touch with the
masses. he cultivated their tastes aud
distastes. He knew, moreover. that
what is not reduced to, sjmpleness it
self is anaihcmized by the solemn
iconoclasts who preside over the jew
ish workers 'cnlture,'' 1t was his
task to popularize all things-all
science. including political and eco
nomic science. the arts. letters. and
what-not And so. although his was Il
thanklcss existence. if living for ones
self is the aim of existence his cata-
faique was viewed by thousands of
grateful followers. and his coffin borne
on the shoulders of comrades who are
the pillars of the Jewish labor move
mont in this country.
Fationalism is turbulent 1t evokes
strife. hostility and leads to either war
or peace. In the groupings of Jewish
New York we have nothing but abyss.
NAL Indifference. Different groups do
not even take the trouble to hate one
another fiercely. They may cordially
dislike one another. may he contemptu
Gus and supercilious of one another. but
there it stops. Contact is studiously
avoided. although against their will and
predilection. they frequently have to
rub shoulders, -.s.i,ilF
1t is extremely difficult to say
whether this grouping is due to eco
nomic. social or genealogical reasons, or
the combination of all three. Because
Jews are connected by common char
non-Jews are persuaded all Jews are
as one.
The truth is that class distinctions
are nowhere as rigidly described as
among Jews and nowhere among Jews
as much as among the Jews of New
York. The division is all embracing.
1t is geographic as well as political and
economic and social There is n vaster
difference between the Beth Hamedrash
Hagodol and Temple EmanuEl than
between, say, the Methodist Episcopal
Church in the gas-house section and
one Oh Fifth Avenue A common Ian
euage and ritual unites the latter two,
SO that their ministers could exchange
I,ulpis without discomfort. (Imagine,
if you can the shepherd of Emanu-El
in the Beth Hamedrash Hagodol y
And is there difference more con
ceivable than that between the appear
ance and department of the worship
pcrs in the two Jewish houses of prayer
chosen'at random?
Or take the brand of Jewish Cul-
ture" as fostered by the Inter collegiate
Menorah Association and that which
is imbibed by the thousands of visitors
TO the Iecture-halls and forums and cul-
tural clubs on the East Side Sholom