The Denver Jewish news., 1924-04-10
The Nelu Je,uish Danger---The
Jeuish Youth Of Russia
Jewish Children Raised Enemies of Jewish People
Seen by Prof. Leken Chief Rabbi of Central Russia.

Almost the entire new generation
of young Jews is being torn away
from the Jewish community and NOR
ally corrupted. Not only are Jewish
children becoming cstranged from
Jewish life but they are even raised
as enemies of the Jewish people, with
disrespect and hate toward everything
Jewish. If they were brought in con-
tact with some other spiritual force
which STIMULATED them to be noble
and honorable men the above facts
would not be so deplorabc. But the
trouble is that the Communism they
are taught is n cheapencd interpreta
tion of the genuine article replete with
the responsibility and corruption of
the transition period. AS soon as
children reach the age of twelve they
become "free people" who betake
themselves into all those ugly paths
permitted them by the "new freedom"
Thus the new generation is not only
q complete loss but even n distinct
misfortune and danger to the Jewish
communal life. And when we are con-
Sidering ways for caring for the
economic ills of the Russ:an Jews, it
b is equally incumbent upon us to give
consideration to the terrible moral epi-
demic which has come over the Jew
ish youth of Russia. Shoall we ig-
more this problem there is rave dan
ger that there will rcnia i no Jews
TO carry the Jewish cultr.'--l traditions
generation.
The above view of the needs of the
Jews in Russia is brought by Profess
sor G. Leikin, who, as Chief Rabbi of
the Vclga Region, represents over
4,0OO,0 900 Jews. While some concep- |
tion Of the cultural denomination of
the jewish youth could he geunetf out
by the many reports that came in dur
ing the last few years, to date no one
has given us such a clear and vivid
has DIR. Leikin.
Hoses ard the Bonrgeoisie
"There is general belief" he says, |
chat, in the various schools and in
stitutions for children under the sup |
crvision of the Jewish Commissary, |
the children get Jewish education |
or, at least, instruction in the Jewish |
language and literature. 1t is true
that in many schools the instruction |
of the various subjects is carried on in |
Yiddish. But, to give you clear idea |
of what is taught in those schools and
what views of Jewish history, litera-
ture and culture are planted in the
minds of the young, let me tell you of |
a lecture in Jewish history which !
head in one of the schools.
"In Bogorodsh, not far from Mos
COW, together with another prominent
Rabbi, l visited the Communist |
schools to witness how instruction is
carried on, something we could not
have done in our own towns. The sub
ject happened to be Jewish history
and the teacher. very enthusiastic
Young man, was lecturing in Russian
on Moses and the Jewish Exodus from
Egypt. This is how he characterized
Moses to the young children:
AT first, Moses was II splendid
Young revolutionary who fixed the
Jews in>Egypt from slavery and treat
ed Pharoh in approved revolutionary
style. Later, hcwever, he sold HIM
self to the capitalists and his new
bourgeois views are evident from the
Ten Commandments that he issued.
Take. for instance the Commandment,
Thou shalt honor their father ana
mother, What were our fathers and
mothers that they deserve our respect:
Nothing hut supersti ious barbarians
who lived in II system that idealized
Serfdom. supported the despotic rule
cf Czarism and oppressed the working
proplc. Should we honor them for
ihat? On the contrary. we must show
The greatest ha e and contempt for
everything that belonged to them. We
must free ourselves from them and
show them that we will have nothing
in common with them. Or, take an
other of Moses Commandments Thou
shalt not kill, What does that mean?
Al Il time when the capitalist world
and the dark forces of reaction stand
ready TO put down every movement of
liberation and when the sword and
rife are our only means of defence,
Ihe Moral Condition of the Youth
These are the facts of education i'll
general and of Jewish education i'll
particular. No sooner do the children
leave school than the so-called League
of Communist Youth awaits them.
This organization accepts chilrdcn OF