The Denver Jewish news., 1925-09-24
BERNARD SHAW ON THE JEW
An Intimate Conversation Beueen Bernard Sha relond Supeman
and Reuben Byoinn the Dean OF Hebreo Literature

the threshold of great change OF ideas and feelings
can you tell me how ,ls new pictures itself in your
mind, and how dramatists hasten Its approach? What
message have you TO give at this pregnant momcnty
Shaw-I am not aware OF any such movement fer.
mcnt you TO imagine have l any message TO
give All goods are In the shopw,ndow I have kept
nothing behind. l do not notice any coming.
do not developing Besides. progress is
not nin,le by leaps, but by gradual evolution But
seems to me that The most urgent question of the hour
Is the solution OF the social problems arising the
negrcgntions of mankind In large cities. Modern
humanity has neither the strength the character
/ solve these problems That is why need n
race, race of sipcrmcn
Brainn-l'y what means do you Imagine this
can he brought into being?
shaw--Thnt question should he addressed to a God
not to man. First of all not decided Whit kind
of want. 1t is enough that we should be
decided upon not brecdngs madmen drunkards. That
does not bring very far And If want good
and ylrtuous ask, what is goodness what is vir
uc?" Are yet clear the meaning OF these moral
qualities? There be doubt that before ideas
be possible must get rid of good many old ideas
For example, must sweep away the Darwnian notions
fatasni dctcrminsm which rcgning for
the last fifty years declaring that everything is preor
daned and deprving humanity OF ali WILL purpose, and
energy.
Brainn-I am quite agreed about the parnlysIng ef-
feet of those Dirwnian doctrines, AMI Jew who is en-
usiastc about the revival of his people and their
torul regeneration feel the necessity of destroying
those ideas.
shaw-To help in the advance of tho We
must Danish the idea of terrible Almighty God for the
dissemination of which the largely responsible
Brainn-But in the Old Testament you meet with
constant references mcrcifu God and the Church
conception of God our Father adopted from Juda
ism.
sraw-Tut Judaism does not regard God weak and
helpless That is the conception which would proclaim
aloud God is really impotent, and cannot achieve any
thing lie works through the hands and brains of
men who have TO destroy repair what is evil. In
His cropping perfect world God has created the
tiger and must kill it, He has created cancer,
epilepsy typhoid microbes. and must fight them.
Thus it only through full power OF God
is brought to light and only by tremendous output of
human effort God become really God, when He will
become embodied in man perfected.
Brainn-Is that the idea which you would seek to con-
ycy in your works?
Shawl may not have given very full and clear
preston yet though that is tile idea which DOM
mates the in Hell in MAN and Supcrman.' But
l work play in Which shall give free
expression my religious ideas. 1t is because of my
desire for the coming of that am adher
cnt and advocate Socialism for the be
produced only by the principle of equality in society," and
| believe that only Socialism achieve this equality
this destruction of class distinctions.
Brainin-Your vision of a is interesting
venture think that the Jewish people approaches
the ideal in mind Consider the struggles whicli it
has endured survived how its weakngs have been
Topped OFF and how suffering hr stcced and made it
stronger any case, it will interest You Know that
Jews your most ardent admirers on tile Con
timcn they done most to disseminate yor idtas
in Germany Austria and Russia Twenty live
essay On your dramas in Hebrew newspaper
When play of yours is produced in Berlin or New
York theatre seventy percent of the audience Jews
MaXimilian Harden. the editor of Die Inkunft, who is
Of Jewish birth, has called you the Second lfene"
Slinw-It is much tile here Jews are generous
supporters the drama and Of art in all its forms.
Capyrght ln25 by seven syndicate
Reproduction any form is absolutely forbidden.