The Washington times., 1923-06-30

GnQ is r0puD11Su6U 116I0'
his article, shows beyond the pos
sibility of misconception how the
Orthodox Jew begins his day.
At the beginning of the morning
service which he recites, he reads
the following excerpt from the
Talmud: These are the things,
the fruits of which man enjoys
in this world, while the stock re-
mains for him for the world to
come: viz, honoring father and
mother, the practice of charity,
timely attendance at the house
of study morning and evening,
hospitality to wayfarers, visiting
the sick, lowering the bride, at
tending the dead to the grave.
devotion to prayer, and making
peace between man and his fell
low; but the study Of the Law is
equal to them ALL This is fol-
lowed by the so-called blessings
which are recited by the devout
Orthodox Jew. The first of
them, which has been deliberately
misstated, reads: Blessed art
thou, o Lord our God, King Of
the universe, who has not made
me a heathen.'
"The original Hebrew does not
contain the word COY 1t speaks
Of the 'nochri'-the accurate
translation of which is a
heathen.' So long as our Chris
tian friends maintain their for.
eign missions for the purpose of
converting the heather to their
faith, do not assume that they
would find fault with one who
thanks God that he has not been
made a heather.
1.-The next subject of thanks is
that he who offers the prayer
has not been made a bondman,
and the orthodox man then gives
thanks that he has not been
made a woman. while the Jewish
woman gives thanks that she has
been made according to the will
of God. Those who understand
the Jewish point of view cannot
fail to appreciate that the prayer
of the man is based upon the
idea that he has imposed upon
him the obligation to perform
various religious duties, and he
gives thanks because he has been
accorded the privilege of perform
ing those duties. 1t is quite pos
sible that there are those who
do not regard the performance Of
a religious duty, or even civic
duty, as sacred obligation. The
Orthodox Jew does not share that
point of view. Far from treat
ing womankind as inferior to
man, the Jewess has in orthodox
families always occupied the post
of honor. Nobody can read the
Old Testament without being i'm
pressed with the thought that
Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah.
Miriam, Hannah, Esther and
Ruth were regarded as on an
equality with the patriarchs and
the sons of Israel. So dis
tinguished an Anglo-Saxon as
Sir Thomas Bradbury few days
ago declared in the House Of
Commons that he had always re-
garded woman as the inferior Of
man. / repeat that this is not
the Jewish concept.
Let me pursue my statement
as to the contents Of the morning
prayer, which you would have
your readers regard as an un-
American creed. The prayer of
thanks continues by blessing God
for opening the eyes Of the blind,
for clothing the naked, for loos-
ing them that are bound. for
raising up them that are bowed
down, for spreading forth the
earth above the waters, for sup
plying every want, for making
firm the steps of man, for grid
ing Israel with might and crown
ing him with glory, for giving
strength to the weary and for
removing sleep from the eyes
and slumber from the eyelids Of
man. The Almighty is then In
voked: Make us all familiar with
Thy law and make us all cleave
to Thy commandments lie Is
then importuned to lead us not
into the power OF sin, or of trans
gression or inquiry, or Of tempta-
ton, or of scorn; to let not the
evil inclination have sway over
us, to keep US far from a bad
man apd q bad companion, to
make us cleaVe to the good in
clination and good works, to sub
due our inclination so. that 1t
may submit itself unto Him, and
to let us obtain this day and
every day grace. favor and mercy
In Thine eyee and In tho eyes
of all who behold us; and bestow
loving kindnesses upon u.s.
"Do you believe in your heart
that a people which for more
than twenty centuries has adj
dressed these prayers to the God
of the universe, are entertaining
an un-American creed2 Is 1t not
possible that those who, like you,
are seeking to disseminate the
poison of hatred, suspicion and
luminosity may advance civiliza-.
ton by assimilating some Of the
ideals with which these prayers
are infused? Do you really doubt
that men and women endowed
with such ideals are as capable
Of being absorbed into the Ameri-
can Commonwealth as are those
who regard such prayers with
contempt? Do you believe that
the fact that you admit yourself
to be incompetent to discuss this
subject can be looked upon by