Intermountain Jewish news., 1926-04-15

uIlElHul' " anu pIOIhgNHul~tN nave not
kept 1t alive. II is the modern upthrus,
OF nm agc-old hope. II Is the newest
expression Of that unconquerable will
OF the Jewish people TO re-cstabllsh IL.
self into complete NatIouhood
THE wish TO rcdiscOycr the ancient
authentic voice and moods. the wish to
regain the privilege OF genuine greatly
ity through the free and integrnied life
Of the historically stimulating environ
mcnt Of Palestine, is the driving force
OF Zionlsm today. Men say this Is I'm.
possible, that II Is mlracle.nonccring
standing miracle. our modern reuais-
snncc. no Less than our Incredible sur
yiyal through the ages. Is miracle.
The unbroken will to live triumphant
ly which mnnifcsts itself 50 gloriously
In the fervor Of enterprises, Of Jewish
settlements In Palestine today. Is n
miracle. the miracle Of agrs-for what
forces have not been employed to break
that wtllr
Shortly after the formation OF the
Independent order of the B'nai Birth,
the argument was made that there need
BE- no more union among Iews-that
since the formation of the charities to
take care Of the poor, the aged. the In
firm and the orphan--that since the
synagog and temple took care OF our
spiritual wants and since America was
the haven of refuge for the Jews from
all portions OF the world no further
need for union existed, and therefore
he Bnai Birth should disband.
Modern. as well as ancient and med
icvnl history has proven the fallacy OF
this contention Individual groups are
powerlcss to act, and even temporary
world organizations are but makcShiftS.
and perform no lasting good. If the
Jews had not lost their home and had
continued during the last 1000 years
as n nation among the nations Of the
world there would have been no anti
semitiSm there would not have been
the Drcyfus case In France. Bellies
Case In Russia there would not have
been the Spanish InQuisitlon in Spain
Our forefathcrs would not have been
battered about from pillar to post In
Europe, during the medieval period
There would have been no progroms in
Russia there would have been no Ku
Kluy Klan attack In the United States.
The Jews would never have been com
PEELED to wear the yellow caps and The
yellow badges in Europe. Yea, If Pal
estine had continued to belong to the
Jews. we might today be closer to the
retaliation Of the common fatherhood OF
God and the common brotherhood of
man.
My conclusion, therefore. is that
Zionism is the greatest positive force
in Israel today.
CONCLUSION
Leo y. Levi has pointed out In one
OF his numerous talks the defects and
deficiencies of both reformed and orth-
odox Judaism. He called attention to
the fact that the strict orthodox have
too strongly adhered to the immater-
lal forms, rituals and ceremonlals
which are not pertinent to Judaism.
and not consonant with present civili-
zation. He has also pointed out that
reformed Judaism has gone too far to
the other extremes far at times that
one reform Rabbi criticlzes the reform
of another because instead OF combining
himself to modification of unimpor-
tant ceremonials-hc has attacked the
vitals Of our religion. As n result OF
these divergent views, the question has
arisen--what is Judaism? What por-
tlon Is GOd-madc law, and what portion
is man-made law? 1t is conceded that
man-made law is subject to change by
man. The difficulty is-who is To de
termine what is man-madc and what Is
God-made law? And TO what extent is
the opinion OF one Rabbi binding on the
laity. There is no supreme authority
to determine and decide these matters
for the Jews of the world The thought
has occurred to me that when Jewish
State is definitely established, new
Sanhedrin could he called, a convoca-
tion of the rabbis OF the world, who
would come together, review our laws.
and amend or repeal such portions as
are not applicable to present day
civilization. Our lives and our habits
change from year to year, and our laws
must conform to the evcr.changing con
ditions. In my opinion. this can only
be done In Palestine-"when from Zion
shall again come forth the Law, and the
word of the Lord from Jerusalem"
The Victory of the HakUah
Sport Club in England