The Denver Jewish news., 1923-05-30

illness and interest," Editor.
l iI Nsalla -
gcopyright. 1923. Jewish correspoals.c,
Bureau.1
The American Jewish Congress was
not product CT wars fears or hopes
The need of 1t had been making itseh
felt for decade or more before the
World War began. To those who be-
fore could not or would not see, the
war revealed the urgency OF establish
ing n democratically chosen body, which
should speak with authority and act
with adequacy on behalf Of American
Jews.
The Congress hope was cherished
long before 1914, but it remained for
the war TO make clear the vastness and
variety OF Jewish needs, the essential
oneness Of the Jewish problem, the
power and will of the American Jew
to serve. the readiness Of some OF the
great Powers Of earth to take part in
a rightful solution Of Jewish prob
lcms, and the absence Of any agency or
fundamentally, democratic, represen-
tative. effective, which would suffice to
match the inexhaustible capacity for
service of the American Jew to the
needs of world Israel.
was born, the mind and soul Of the
American Jew rcacting to the needs
and problems OF the Jew In all lands.
The easy and obvious thing WINS to give,
and American Israel has given, though
not enough. Harder than to give It
became to live with and for the Jew
ish people. and the American Jewish
Congress became and remains incarnate
of the will Of the American jew tc
think for Jews. to live with all Jews,
us well as to give to some Jews.
And what is the function Of an
American Jewish Congress? To speak
and to net on behalf Of Jews IN all
matters affecting the welfare of Jews
as Jews. This automatically shuts out
the consideration Of any problem which
does nut AFFECT Jews as Jews. No ques-
tion which Is not strictly Jewish may
come before the American Jewish Con.
gress. Every question which Is Jewish
should and win come before 1t. Every
infringement upon the rights Of the
Jews in other lands, whether Poland
or Hungary. Austria or Lithunnia.
would properly come within the pur-
Toe
The very fact of the existence OF such
IA body as the American Jewish Con-
grcss. vigilant. alert, unafrald. would
diminish the number OF occasions for
the need OF action ,hy such a Congress
Wrong and Injustice done anywhere
md to whomsoever arc the concern Of
Jews everywhere. Hurt and injury to
the Jew must be the concern OF right
minded and justicc-loving men and
peoples everywhere.
Questions may or may not arise In
American life AFFECT the honor and
well-hciny of the Jews collectively more
scricus by far than the ink and stink.
bomb campaign of the most productive
vclocipetle manufacturer In Detroit
Such an occasion recently arose when
the charges made against the Jewish
people before Committee Of the House
Of Representatives should have been
answered by the American Jewish Con-
gress quietly, firmly and with unf0r-
getable decisivencss OF emphasis.
Nc one doubts that the great Jewry
of America ought ut times to make it.
self heard and felt vixen the rights Of
Jews as citizens are imperilled or
wrongs threatened against Jews us
Jews. The American Jewish Congress
IL n token of tlIc nascent seif-rcverence
of the Jewish people in this land. The
American Jewish Congress is not an or
gnnization of American Jews. 1t is to
be American Israel organized.
The American Jewish Congress is for
the relief of Jews in need and for the
honor of all who are Jews in deed. Dis
tribution committees are needed war
and postwar instrumentulitics. but the
American Jewish Congress, aiming moi
mt the distribution Of things but mt the
coIisccration of collective Israel tt
Israel's common tasks, Is become III
abiding agency of American Israel un
til the last of the shadows of injus
ticc to Israel flee away.
The Congress was born in bonds. IN
order to win all groups and classes In
American Israel to its support. it fore
doomed itself tci merely temporary ex
fstence as a war agency or as an In
strumentnlity which was to be term
mated by the wars end. This ar
rungcment or compromise was based II
part upon (what we are now agreed