The Denver Jewish news., 1924-02-28
Antitheses of JeWish
History
Continuation

minoritics. lust as in Turkish the anti
Armenian feeling. based party ON re-
ligiouS grounds, is probably due 10 the
persistence of the Armcnians as DIS
tinctivc group. The superiority of the
literature religion and conduct of the
orthodox Jew over that of the east
European peasant, is an impcdiment to
the absorption of the Jews IN cast
Europe The failure of The Jew to re-
spond more rapidly 10 the ovcrwhelm-
ing nmalgamating influences in west
European countries seems To br the
cause of the anti-s;emitism which pre-
walls there and us u. reaction 10 this
sense of superiority of the non-as-
similntiug jew, the ncn-Jcwish world
develops a compcnsaiing contempt for
the Jew. who it secretly cnvics or even
may admire.
In western Europe and in the United
States the Jewish immigrant represents
unarrivcd 'potcntialiiics,' a gifted race
that comes in the disguise Of the lower
classes of Europe. but as opportunity
presents itself arrives more rapidly and
to higher levels than do the fellow I'M
migrants in the stccragc Whether
America is To capitalize these abilities
rr is To rcprcsS them would seem one
of the American problems of the future.
Is there II Solution:
Physical absorption is held out ns
the solution of the Jewish question. IL
solution in the same sense that ad-
mmisicring II dcath-producing drug -
illness or physiolugic maladjus,mcnt.
Yet dis;Ippearancc of the Jewish pco-
pie is inevitable without center such
as Palestine where the Jews can re-
establish II complete normal social life
containing not merely II merchant class
us in most countries but Il complete
cccnomic, vocational and psychological
pyramid of farmers, mechanics, mcr-
chants and teachers. This is the cen
trail theme of this paper. that the Jews
are very rapidly being absorbed where
conditions permit the free intermingling
with non-Jcws.
Another solution is the survival as
II religious group. & complicated and
elaborate theory, the mission of Israel
has been built up tn justify the sur
viyul of the Jews ns IL scattered rclie-
ions group. However. this theory was
constructed TO fit the facts and WAS
designed to answer the scarchings of
the human soul FOR iustiiications of
courses Of conduct. The question arises.
If mere survival as II scattered rclig-
ions community is to bc the end. Is not
the price too great? The static wing
cf the Jewish religion. thc Orthodox. IL;
losing in attractive power daily, alon:
with the other static religions of the
world, such rs ihc Catholic. On the
other hand. like l'ni'arianlsm or any
pf the progressive Christian sects, Re
form Judaism. the progressive wing
lacks The conserving force of tradition.
is successful? However. the survival
Of the Jews ;tS Il religious group may
he regarded aS II means of facilitating
the rcdcvclopmemt of Palestine as II
normal Jewish homeland. Indeed, this
WAS prominent Characteristic of .Iutla-
ism for two thousand years. The fcsti-
walls of the Jewish religion are prim-
arily palcstinian national festivals
Pcsnch cornmcrncrating the exodus
from Egypt; Succoth. the feast of
booths commemoratiug the iI.ath therin.
nf the harvest of an agricultural pco-
pie in Palestine: ITannukkah, or the
feast of lights, in remembrance of the
spiritual victory won over the Hellenic
forces which threatened 10 crush the
Jewish people. their culture aud tradi-
tion.
The survival If the Jews rs n min
Jrity group in order to develop Palcs-
tine should not he an impossible goal.
Apparently the first two solutions,
analgimatiun and survival rs scatter
ed minoritiCS, which have been tried in
any more successful in the future than
in the past. The rcScttlCmcnt of Palcs-
tine ns the home for the Jewish pecs-
pie and for the Jewish culture and
tradition may offer II solution. OR. rs
Iangwll puts il. the Jewish problem
will have II territorial solution. This
solution was once before tried with
brilliant success by Ezra when only
forty-two thousand Jews. according tu
the Biblical count, returned to PalcS-
tine. And even if in modern times
one or two million Jews should sue
recd III settling in Palestine after scv-
erIl generations and even if the rest
should be, as they probably will he,
physically absorbed. the Jewish prob,