The Denver Jewish news., 1924-08-28

Sidic Rabbi on the sabbath
Peter Wlernek is positively not a
socialist. I,ut Immediately upon his
arrival in America lie plunged into the
field Of productive labor working as a
composiior for many years In various
newspaper plants. However, the work
In the composing room did not prevent
him from continuing his interest In the
intellectual problems of life and did
not limit his capacity for absorbing
mere and more knowicdge Of the
worlds history. the history If his pco.
pie and It's literature
Setting up the articles Of others In
the course Of many years, he did not
do II as n matter of mechanical work
alone but kept on thinking and develop
ing until he himself became one of
America's most prominent and widely
educated Jewish editors. Taking an in.
terest in all the movements that have
he-n developing in American Jewish
life, beginning 10 years ago when the
wave Of Jewish immigration from
slavic countries began to pour In, he
most logically was destined to become
the chronicler of that important. many.
sided and restless period in the life of
American Jews. His History of the
Jews in America" the only one of its
kind So far, is naturally in its greater
part devoted 10 the history Of the recent
past containing an invaluable amount
of information, documents and testi-
monies which could he saved for the
future al,-embracing Jewish history of
America only by man OF Wierniek' S
type Of intellect and attitude towards
the problem. While standing in prin-
ciple for tradition, he devoted his at
iention not only to the dramatic chapter
of congregational developments in the
life of the Jewish immigrants from
Slavic countries. hut also in the mum
herlesS attempts at organizing the Jew
ish labor union movement which was
rightly characterized ns the constant
ly changing army under unchanging
LEADERS"
When | came to visit Mr.. Peter
Wicrnik at his home | found the
American Jewish historian In most cx-
cellent spirits. Place chemist in n
wcll-equipped laboratory with all fa-
ciities for his work. what more will
he require for his happiness? In n
filed with shelves of books from the
very bottom to the top, containing vol
umes in various languages, Mr.. Wier-
nick felt himself in his element. There
were so many questions which suggest
ed themselves to be discussed. A mere
glance at the titles of some of the books
would Immediately bring up n picture
of this universe. its races and cultures,
of many periods However, the purpose
of my visit was not TO plunge into the
limitless sea of history hut the very
present | asked few questions of
Mr.. Wiernck and his replies came
with such ease and familiarity that one
would not feel like arguing any longer,
since they are the result of lifelong
process of thinking, based not only on
historical study. an outcome of mature
Judgment, frightened by an optimistic
view of the future.
history of the Jewish people," l asked
Mr.. Wiernick.
The basis Of the development of all
races and peoples is, as no one can
deny, the economic motive. No develop
ment of advancement of any race or Of
any neople would he accomplished We're
not the very natural needs of the in.
dividuals and their collective striving
as group forcing towards expansion
races and of all peoples. 1t is equally
true Of our people. To put the purpose
of making in nutshell, one could say
1t is an elemental longing and striving
for salvation of the world. 1t was the
slow process of development, the first
step of which was necessarily the estnb'
fishing of n reign of justice of one in
dividual towards the other, and one
group of individuals, call them peoples
or nations, towards another. In this
respect our people has made one can
say. the greatest of all contributions
proclaiming TINT principle and bringing
itself as sacrifice on the altar of this
ideal This tendency made itself cvi'
dent beginning from the period of the
Prophets and ending with the latest
developments in attempting to solve
the social problems. There are prin
cinally two tendencies in history. The
one described above. represented by
us; the other represented by those who