The Denver Jewish news., 1924-12-04

Financc of his country, one Of the
greatest world authorities In economies
and political problems. Is writing a
book now in his aghty fifth year" says
the Jewish Daily News In an editorial
of January 10Th He Is working encr-
getically and hastily" the Daily News
continues. men Of his ngc must hasten
TO complete n work which they con-
slider of Importance.
This work must he very important
to Luigi Luzatti. for Jewish rights or
minority rights that became II part Of
the Paris Treaty which was not car
ricd out so far is most countries where
the treaty was accepted, forms the
subject Of his book.
problems other than Jewish. He was
not among those who denied his an
ccstry. He was always proud Of his
name which proves him to be men,
her Of famous family that Inns
furnished so many stars in Jewish lit
craturc. But he did not occupy him
self with Jewish matters. In Italy
where assimilation has gone forward
with gigantic strides within the last
scores of years, there WIS no room for
great Jew to devote himself to Jew
ish matters Luzatti was great Jew
who accomplished great things for
Italy and nothing for the Jews. And
he wants to mend. In the last years
of his life his former negligence.
1T is wonderfully pathetic sight,
this coming to the surface Of the blood
of people and race that does not
permit forgetfuIhcss and demands its
own. 1t is the flaming up Of an nj
most cxtinguished spark. Luzatti was
too busy during his life with other
things; and he overlooked the Jewish
problem. But before he goes to his
eternal rest he wants to place himself
openly in the ranks Of Jewish cham
pions. He did something in this direc-
tion some time ago but it was not done
publicly. i was born Jew and !
want to return to God as a Jew says
the aged Luzatti. The strength Of a
Jewish soul cannot be over-estimated."
The Jewish Morning Journal does
not share the enthusiasm Of the jew
ish Daily News over Luigi Luzatti's be-
lated interest in Jewish affairs. I'm
der the caption "He Should Be Some
what Younger" the Morning Journal,
in its editorial of January 2Gth, OK
70 presses regret that such men like Lu-
zatti and Georg Brandes do not return
to Jewish interests before it is too late.
1T is pleasant to hear" the Morning
Journal says. that this statesman who
is cighty-tivc years old has begun to
think and feel as a jew and to devote
himself to Jewish matters. His name
is illustrious even now. and whatever
he says on his sick-bed must be i'm
!. pressivc His support ut best now Is
but of moral significance. 1t is some
consolation in these dreary times,
f, some satisfaction that another promi-
ncnt assimlated jew, is nearing to us
at the end of his long life. As lib
' eral and courageous leader in politics,
Luzatti did for us all that he could
even he kept aloof from Jewish life.
The famous Danish critic also did as
much in his own manner and his re-
,turn is just as valuable.
UNFORTUNATELY, the repentance of
these famous old men is not impressive
in such places where it could bear the
best fruit. The active Jew who is Oc-
4,uped with general affairs and does
not pay attention to the Jewish situa-
tion does not read what these old re-
pentent men have to say. He will
land. if he lives as long, where Luz
,zatti and Brnndes landed but let us
hope that he will do 1t n little earlier.
He will lie needed. however. as there
is much work to do to help defend
and win the sympathies of those classes
,oi society whose thoughts have not been
poisoned by the patriotism of the re-
dictionary sort. Many are coming back
to us; but n goodly number of the
greatest and most capable are still
keeping themselves aloof.
"All we wish is that these people
should return to us somewhat sooner
when they are still young and power
full and when they can still do some
good work. We may admit among our
selves that we are in need of tle states
men, the writers, the artists, and the
.,cientists. not so much because of their
own greatness, but because of the in
nuence they can WELD in interesting
Jews who are nearer TO us TO do their
duty. The number of wealthy Jews
Who are not supporting the Jewish
causes that they should, is very large
mud the Jewish celebrities can do won