Popularizing Jewish Literature in America
I.
THE WORK OF THE PUBLICATION SOCIETY OF AMERICA.
THE Jewish Publication Society of America has aimed from the very start to popularize Jewish knowledge; not so much the "science of Judaism," which our German scholars have established, but that intimate knowledge of the religious and social life of the Jews which is essential to a proper understanding of ourselves in our new environment. Was this object necessary? Yes.
The condition of Judaism in America not very long ago was extremely dangerous to its preservation. The Jew carries his past upon his back. Like the pack-peddler his burden is also his fortune. But it was not necessary for this burden bearer to take an inventory of his stock in America until the time came when his successor was to take charge of his property.
The heir to the contents of his burden must know what he has inherited in order to use it for the best. Here was the difficulty. The old could not interpret for the young. The ancient difficulty of language which has often resulted fatally to a proper teaching of Judaism to the young, was in the way. How could they sing the songs of old "By Babel's Stream," when they knew not the language of their children, knew not the environment of Babel in which their children were growing? The condition would have produced a sterilized Judaism, a misunderstood Judaism, a worthless Judaism, had not the rejuvenating force of the Jewish people reasserted itself. One of the most effective of these forces working, of course, with others, is the Jewish Publication Society of America.
It is the furerunner of the Jewish Chautauqua ; it furnished the Council of Jewish Women its educational material; it established the younger element in closer touch with the congregation ; and it was partially instrumental in creating the American Jewish Historical Society.
It is fulfilling a good purpose in another direction. It stimulates the publication of Jewish literature issued by other publishers, for it has created a class of readers who have become inte rested in all forms of Jewish light literature. It
has produced a new reading class. In homes where English books were seldom read, it has brought a knowledge of a literature vital `nd progressive. It has created Jewish communities in cities where the Jews were rapidly becoming assimilated. To this material saved to.our people, it has opened the door of intellectual progress and literary interests. It has been sai l that Zangwill's “Children of the Ghetto” and Grætz's “History of the Jews” would have found publishers elsewhere. But that does not matter. The Publication Society has created a Jewish community to read Jewish works. It has plowed the way for the sowing of seeds that will bring forth a rich harvest and whether it itself will hereafter foster the growth of thefield or whether it has been nurturing it alone, does not in any way effect its value as a breaker of new ground.
It has been largely instrumental in leading the young people in Israel to some conception of their national history. It is no exaggeration to say that it has bridged that chasm which looms between Jewish youth and its elders, when settled in a new land, the name of which chasm is Dissimilarity of Language and Tradition. How pathetic it is to find that the fine things of the passing gener: tion are being lost, gradually, and only the uncouth things remain to discourage us. Who does not remember in early childhood the beautiful traditions imparted when they were still fresh in the parental memory; the fine old legends; the customs and themode of living in that old country nestled away somwhere beyond the expanse of surge and sky? How human all the old Jewish traditions appeared, and how stimulating. And then as the years progressed, the pictures of memory became dim, our own lives changed, the old things had no meaning and drifted far away into the sealed chambers of our memory; what a loss! The Publication Society has been instrumental in unsealing the chambers of our memory. Its own books may not have kept the memory green, but they have shown the way and for that it deserves unstinted praise.
Of books that directly arouse the faint early impression, there are first and foremost Zangwill's Children of the Ghetto, Abraham's Jewish