Evening star., 1937-03-29
NAz|PERSECUT|0N
OF JEWS ASSA|[ED
Rabbi Wise, in Town Hall,
BIames "|nferiority
Complex"

SIosIuSo tstsSssSI'SJ
Complex"
Scoring persecution Of Jews In
Germany. Rabbi Stephen Wise of New
York City, last night predicted that
NaM Germany would turn against
''the Catholics next, and Protestants
last"
Rabbi Wise told Town Hall at the
Shoreham Hotel that the principal
cause of persecution, in his opinion
was an inieriority complex" on the
part of the prosecutor. But he agreed
with Canon Anson Phelps Stokes OF
Washington Cathedral, that ignorance
and fear played their part in racial
and religious persecution.
The distinguished rabbi insisted
that persecution does as much or even
more harm to the prosecutor than
to the prosecuted. He pointed out
that the Jews have survived q long
line Of prosecutors.
"Of course we are hurt by perse-
cution," he declared, but we survive.
I give you the friendly warning that
no measure OF persecution will destroy
the Jew
Deploring the appointment Of Hitler
as Chancellor of Nazi Germany Janu-
ary 30, 1898, which he named as
sorry date in history for the Jewish
people, Rabbi Wise branded the Hit
Ter book, "Mein Kampf," as q docu-
ment which "reeks OF hatred against
the Latin races"
In response to suggestion from
| the audience that the Town Hall
| next year take up the question
of the Negro in the United States
for one evenings discussion, DR.. Frank
Bohn, chairman Of the forum last
night, said the committee in charge
was considering the question, and
asked the audience to write to the
committee as to whether the subject
should be considered some night next
season.
Rabbi Wise referred to an attempt
to bring back "Klsnism," and said
there were nearly 200 anti-Jewish Or
ganizations in the United States.
But" he insisted, I'VE Jews will sur
vive this latest form Of religious per-
secution."
Prosecutions Traced.
Tracing history Of racial and re-
ligious prosecutions, the speaker paid
glowing tribute to the United States
as the country which has done more
than any other country to overcome
i'll villa meeting place Of races and
peoples OF the earth. Men Of all races
and faiths meet together here" he
said, "in oneness of a common devo-
ton in that ideal which Is our coun-
try"
Both Rabbi Wise and Canon Stokes
referred to movements under way
sponsored by religious leaders in this
country for cooperation Of Christians
and Jews, toward a better understand
ing. Both could unite, the speakers
said, in "the fatherhood Of God and
brotherhood of man" and looked to
faith and elimination OF ignorance to
help clear up misunderstanding
Canon Stokes reported progress here
in Washington by the Committee on
Religious Life, including Catholics
Orthodox Jews, Liberal Jews and
Protestants Canon Stokes thought
most persecution was due to a ''superi-
ority" complex on the part of the per-
secutor. instead Of 'inferiority" COM
plex. blamed by the rabbi.
On suggestion OF Paul M. Pearson,
former Governor Of the Virgin Islands,
a member OF the panel, who was
introduced as a member Of the Society
Of Friends, or Quakers, Rabbi Wise
discussed the encyclical sent by Pope
Plus to Catholics in Germany. and
praised the Catholic Church for this
action
Use a. "Scapegoat" Cited.
Mrs. Helen Howell Moorhead of the
Foreign Policy Association, also a
panel member, raised the question OF
Germany using the Jews as a "scape-
goat" Rabbi Wise considered it 4
compliment that the Jew wa singled
out as the first scapegoat. In Nazi
Germany, he said, Jews as a race, as
group, were victimized because the
All finds 1T convenient to lay sins on
the shoulder of the Jew for enormous
economic difficulties growing out OF
blunders of government and state"
Edward Keating, editor OF Labor
another panel member, speaking as .
Catholic, said "bigotry" was not pc
culiar to any one people or belief. But
he predicted, II believe it's dying out u
Religious prejudice he branded Al
utterly ridiculous and silly" He said
he had seen men voted into high places
on a wave Of religious prejudice and
later swept out.
Closing his discussion on q broad
religious note, Ribbi Wise declared
his prayer as Jew was that "the
risen Christ may rise for the Jew and
the Christian alike on Eastertide. with
truer, deeper, more brotherly justice
to the brothers OF Jesus and to al
the sons of men"
The next program Of Town Hall
next Sunday night, will present Viii.
liam Lyon Phelps on contemporary
Books and the Value Of Good
| RAadjno"