The Denver Jewish news., 1924-10-30
Moulders ofJe,uish Public Opinion
Their Life, Their Work, Their Vews-The Jewish Press
Conceived as an Organ of Religious Thought. vii.
liam Edlin, Editor Of "The Day" Presents the New
Idea to Amer rican Jews
ny WILLIAM 2. srIEGELMAN

Notes; corner Of the world where II
Jewish community is In existence. He
Is Interested In the latest development
Of the colonization attempt In pal
estinc Just Ms much ns In The move
meni for tile establishment of Jewish
Community Ccntcrs on the American
continent. He IL eager to learn the
percentage of mixed marriages in
France In comparison 10 the same prob
lem here; he gricves to hear cf the
outrages committed by IInkcn Krrut-
zlcrs in bavaria or In Austria no less
than in the dolngs of the hooded order
in Atlanta. He anyiousiy aways in
formation Of the real situation OF his
brethren in Soviet Russia. in an equal
manner he would like 10 know how the
millions collected In the United States
for relief work for Jews in the war
stricken countries were spent. The in
iplrctual Jewish reader Is n national
cosmopolitan. II such an expression
could he co.ned. ltccognixing his full
responsibility as member of the COM
munity In whicl, he lives. fulfilling his
duty 10 the country. he Is also sue
rcssful in extending his sphere Of III
ierest to any matter which his Jewish
consciousness will point at.
As one turns the pages Of a news
paper like THE Day" one is amazed
AT the variety Of problems Its readers
are eager to learn and think about.
A literary magazine published daily is
the impression one would get from
reading the editorial pages OF this
paper.
Doubt has often been expressed
whether the Jewish National Idea. as
a creed Of life has made a permanent
impress upon Jewish HE. particularly
in America. There is ample room for
misunderstanding when one speaks ~
the Jewish National Idea. Rome would
he rather inclined to associate 1t with
the Jewish National home In Palestine
or with the doctrine of strict adherence
to Jewish religious traditions. There
is school of thought which runs
parallel with Zionism. This Is not the
Judaism of the SynneOg; Its purpose
is the strengthening OF a Jewish Sc
cular race consciousness. This con-
seriousness while not denying the value
OF tradition does not put the tradition
on the pedestal Of infallibility. 1t
concentrates on urging and fostering
Jewish development along modern
lines.
1t has found its expression in the
eraturc in Yiddish, novels and poetry
which are not inferior to other con-
Temporary literary works. This secu-
lar Jewish idea. having proved its vi
tality by the amount OF valuable con-
iributions to Jewish literature, has its
distinctive viewpoint. II is an at
tempt to replace adherence to religion
and the admiration for the ancient lit |
erary traditions by a belief in the
possibilities and the permanent value
of the new addition.
A remarkable proof of the vitality !
of this idea is the biography of VIII
liam Ellin, the editor of THE Day."
the newspaper which Is foremost in
the new idea to the Ameri-
can Jewish masses.
Born in Pryluki, Russia, he was
brought to America at the age of IL.
Upon his arrival! he found himself on
the shore of the Pacific. in San Fran
cisco, Calf. at the end of the Nine
tecnth Century. presented unique
vista for an observer of social cOndi- |
tcns. Still under the romantic In
fiuenccs OF the early FOrty-niner days,
continuously attracting newcomers
from various parts Of the world and
the Eastern part of the United States.
1t was In miniature the Babel OF Amer
ica. Chinese. japanese, Mexicans,
Spaniards and those brOken-hearted
men and women who came from the
East In search Of relief from memories
of the past or worries OF the future.
combined to furnish the building and
destructive forces of the growing West
ern coast.
A small Jewish community OF hard
working men, separated from large.
distant Jewish centcrs. did not afford
the younger generation the possibility
of acquiring fundamental Jewish
education, or even slight knowledge
of conditions in Jewish life beyond the
Rocky Mountains. However, young
william. had burning desire for deeds
larger than those which his environ
ment could prepare him for. 1t was
during a period OF unrest, n period
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