barians conquered Rome, the conquered were the real victors, for they imposed their culture on their conquerers. It was so also with the Jews. A victorious war is the foe of national individuality. Forces that should go to culture go to purely external organization, domination, and subduing of rebellion. But a defeat tends to strengthen national self-consciousness, since it throws the people back upon its inner resources. (c) Note the conquest of more civilized by the less civilized peoples. (d) Note the Roman Empire. 3. (a) Wars destroy the monuments of art, and place the artists behind guns in the trenches. (b) The arts of peace cannot be practiced at the same time as the arts of war. The resources are used up. The great man reflects the soul, the will of his people. He is unusual only in his sensitiveness. He is supremely normal. What truly expresses one people, appeals to all peoples. Therefore, great art is the bond between nations, is both national and universal. Small nations, because of their close intercourse and easier self-knowledge, have done most for the world. Note: Israel, Greece, Holland, England (in pre-imperialistic days) Switzerland, Germany, before the Empire, and others. (c) In a tyranny everyone imitates the rulers. In a democracy people have at least a right to be different. It takes individualists to be truly democratic. For in a democracy every man's judgment counts. 4. (a) Not likeness, but mutual understanding and appreciation lead to peace. Civil wars prove that likeness is no protection. (b) Languages enrich the individual. Differences of language do not antagonize, but stimulate to learning. (c) There can be harmony only if there is difference. Note different notes in music, different colors in painting. Repetition, sameness, is not harmony. Different developments in industry and art would make nations interdependent. One would supply bread, another wool. 5. (a) It may be that in a federation of nations, true internationalism, we shall find that all ports, waterways, etc., must be internationalized, that Socialism among nations will be necessary. We shall need an international commerce court, since almost all national disputes are commercial. (b) Except for war, the number of people in a nation does not matter. What counts is their solidarity, their loyalty, and their quality. Those who migrate cannot and should not be held. New geographic conditions change the character of peoples. The human body continually changes its physical substance, yet its character and quality remain unchanged. Nations, too, have characters. (c) Is international morality impossible? It may be said that all nations have not the same standards. That is true. Identity of moral standard for the world must be a slow process of development. It is the Jewish national ideal. 6. (a) Patriotism does not imply hate of other nations, or even necessarily a conviction of superiority over other nations. Each nation, like each man, has its peculiar gifts. (b) A Russian revolutionist may be the best Russian patriot. State and nation are not identical. (c) The fine qualities developed by the national misfortune of war are not the cause but the effect of that misfortune. We must find other means of stimulating them. The moral evils generated by war far outweigh its moral benefits. 7. Jewish nationalism has its distinct culture, which so far has successfully expressed itself in religious and moral creativeness. We had also other forms of expression in the past, but history has preserved for us only our Judaic or religious past. This natural selection seems to point to religious development as our greatest gift. Its import is national. (a) Democracy has its only justification in the belief in God and in all men as his children. Judaism gave the idea of democracy to the world. Christianity, through its insistence upon personal rather than national righteousness, almost destroyed its value for national life. (b) Impersonal law, a constitution, developed by the judgment of the people, is the only authority possible in a democracy. It eliminates the need of a human arbitrary ruler. (c) Three poetic expressions in the Bible show the Jewish ideal of international morality. (1) "The Holy Land"—the land holy to the Jewish people. Imperialism, the acquisition of other lands, is forbidden. (2) Sinfulness of the people is a cause for banishment. Unless the nation is righteous it has no right to its life. Note the contrast with the European national philosophy that "necessity knows no law," that anything is right to preserve the nation. (3) "All nations shall walk in the way of the Lord," means one moral standard for all international dealings. The only lasting power is the power of righteousness.
I Hope (After reading "Homing" by J. E. Sampter)BY GEORGE SCHEFTEL
MY voice is frail, my spirit weak, and dulled The yearning of a long ago, I speak, And yet, the spark of youth is gone ; my speech Is like a melancholy rain that falls On stony ground; it wets it well, but still, It cannot bring the vegetation forth. Perhaps the Call, that shouts its message forth Across the oceans, to the distant lands Where dwell the master-sufferers of the world, Far from their home, exiled, giving their minds,
Their hearts, their souls, to those who torture them. Has not yet reached me? And perhaps my heart Is not attuned to feel the pain and longing Of my people's heart? I know not; but My voice is frail, my spirit weak, and dulled The yearning of a long ago! Perhaps, Some day, I too, may hear that call, perhaps The longing of a long ago may then Return, to bring me youth, strength, life and eloquence.