Intermountain Jewish news., 1926-10-07
Restrictions That Loosen

Restrictions That Loosen
Whereas in other countries the nu-
merus clausus in universities has serv-
ed TO strengthen The faith of Jews. and
to consolidate the faltering ones, the
risiding tide of restrictions in Ameri-
cnn colleges has had incalculable in
nucnce in Ioosening Young Jews from
their religious moorings. Faced with
the omnipresence of his Jewishness,
the young jew has tried TO turn TO any
thing that would offer haven from his
Judaism.
The fact must be faced that the
average Jew loses most of his contact
with Jewish life while ut the university,
and, moreover, abandons any interest
he may previously had had therein.
The symptom Of the present-day uni
versity jew is his universalism. He
processes an infinite humanitarianism.
declaring that the Jews constitute only
an insignificant part of the worlds
problems, that-measured in the bulk
Of humanity-the Jew deserves only
meagre attention. II may be said that
the Jew from the orthodox home is
more affected by this startling meta
morphosis than even the jew from the
liberal religious environment. This can
easily be explained by the extreme re-
action which sets in-after nearly
youth of stringest restrictions and sup
pressed questioniugs.
College jew Vexing Problem
That the American university Jew
is one Of the most immediate problems
in the survival Of Judaism in this
country has been admitted by all the
large Jewish communal organizations
in the United States. Desperate at
tempts have been made to save the
young Jew for the Jewish community.
to make him feel that he is part of
great historic entity, which cannot af-
ford TO lose him. The Menorah Move
ment was the first organized effort TO
Judnize university Jews. The very
launching of the movement indicated
that it was tacitly understood that once
n young man got into the confines Of .
university, and became subject TO its
scientific, rationalistic spirit, his relg-
ion was bound to he adversely affected.
The Menorah Movement began with
the right principle. 1t saw at once
that Jews must meet in body TO be
kept reminded of their faith. But even
the adoption Of the right principe did
not cumteract what some have been
pleased to call the corroding influence
Of the university" Any one acquainted
with American university life will not
hesitate for Oun second to admit that
the Mcnoruh Movement has failed dis
lnnlly. There was nothing inherently
wrong with the organizations Its lead.
ers constituted some of the finest, most
representative Jews in this country
men of intellect and deep understand
ing of the jewish problem But there
were outside factors which outwcighed
principles.
And now the Hillel Foundation has
been launched by the Independent Or
der B'nai Birth It has been function
ing for several years, but it is only
now reaching its high point of efficiency.
II previous conditions are any criteria.
however, | make bold to predict that
the Hillel Foundation will fail, too.
II is backed by a great deal of money
1t is led by fine group of young men
1t has a remarkable program for The
advancement Of Judaism. But there is
something in the American university
which seems to defy any effort to wrest
Jews from its influence--in the sense
Of making Jews forget Jewishncss.
Who's 10 Blame?
Who is to he blamed for this con-
dition? Are the rabbits to be- con
dcnnpd for neglecting the young men
and women of this country Are the
parents to he held responsible for per
mitting their children to drift away
from religion which has been able
to hold its own against all odds for
/ more than two thousand years? or
dn"s the jew who enters the university
deliberately resolve to sever himself
from Judaism, believing himself forced
TO 'bnt act by tho teaching he imbibes
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