The Maccabaean

WHEN the war ends the Jews of America hope to aid in the solution of those problems which most deeply affect their brethren abroad. Every one recognizes that without unity this is impossible. But many fail to understand what unity means, and what the essential conditions of unity are. When the meaning of unity is made clear, and these essential conditions set forth, it must appear that a congress is indispensable, if the end sought is to be attained.

Unity means not oneness in opinion, but oneness in action. Division in opinion may be helpful. Division in action is fatal. Differences of opinion are inevitable among thoughtful men, if the question under consideration is one worthy of discussion. Differences in opinion are not only natural but desirable where the question is difhiceult; for only through such differences do we secure that light and fuller understanding which are necessary to a wise decision. On the other hand, when action is contemplated, some decision must be made. Then some one opinion must be accepted as the basis of action. It may be one of the hitherto opposing opinions, or it may be a new opinion developed out of and possibly reconciling those previously conflicting. But when a decision is made all division should cease. Only so can effective action result.

The making of a decision implies the existence of a body which has authority to decide. Such a body may be either autocratic or democratic. It is autocratic where it is self-constituted, and imposes its decision or will upon those for whom it purports to act. It is democratic when it is selected by and expresses the decision or will of those whom it actually represents. Among a free people the body which makes a decision must necessarily be democratic, since among a free people there can be no self-constituted body of men possessing the power to decide what the action of the whole people shall be.

Gr tele TR Br Absence of discord does not imply unity. Absence of discord may be due to indifference. Unity implies interest and participation. There may be acquiescence in the decision of a self-constituted body purporting to act on behalf of a free people. But there cannot be unity of action of a free people unless the decision is the act of that people participating through its prop- erlv constituted renresentatives.

N A er en Te NER What is demanded of the Jewish people now is action, not acquiescence. We must seek to put an end to those conditions which through the centuries, and not merely during this war, have brought misery and suffering to the Jews. We must consider more than the superficial effects of the war, grievous though they may be. For the Jewish suffering in this war would rot be so great if the Jews had not been victims of oppression and persecution during so many centuries. The position of the Jew is not entirely unique. The history of the Bohemians, Poles and several other Slavie races, as well as the Armenians, provides remarkable parallels, and among all these nationalities hopes are now high that in the peace that will follow the war their elemental wrones will be richted. Sev-

eral of these peoples are actively participating as believers. The Jews as a people have joined neither one side nor the other. But the Jewish people cannot stand by and simply look on with folded arms. We must take other action after careful deliberation and with a thorough understanding of what is at stake.

But we can do this only if the Jews of America will that those conditions shall end; and undertake to express that will through action. What this action shall be involves decisions which are both difficult and serious; decisions on which reasonable men will necessarily differ. The Jews are a people of thinkers; and they have a passion for freedom. If we acquiesce in decisions made for us and not by us, it can only be because we are practically indifferent; because we do not care, or, at all events, do not care enough, to assert our views. And if we do not care enough to assert our views, we certainly will not care enough to make the sacrifices necessarily.. involved in saving our brethren. and solving the problem of the Tewish people.

There are certainly a large number of Jews in America who are not indifferent to the suffering of their brethren abroad, or to the injustice to which these are subjected. There are a large number of Jews in America who are eager that something should be done to remove the causes of their brethren’s misery. These Americans have views differing widely from one another as to what can be done, and what ought to be done, and how it should be done. They ask to be heard on these questions through their duly constituted representatives; and they ask also to hear the views of others in order that the different proposals may be subjected to the test of public criticism. They deem it necessary that in view of the grave and difhcult problems involved, the minds not of a few, but of many, should be turned towards their solution. It is for these reasons, among others, that they have demanded a Congress, and have demanded that it be convened on a democratic basis, and that the proceedings shall be made public. The deliberations of such a Congress would be enriched by the public discussion from others who are not delegates to it. And the Congress itself will create needed public opinion in support of the measures which it determines upon.

But the Congress is essential also for other reasens. Besides those Jews who have already given evidence of their readiness to aid in remedying the condition of their brethren, there are many in America whom the present need of action has failed to arouse. They are indifferent largely through lack of knowledge. We have such faith in our people as to believe that with most of them knowledge will overcome indifference and will lead to active participation in the effort to solve our people’s problem. We must bring home the situation to those seemingly indifferent and make clear to them not merely the intensity of existing suffering, but also that they can play a part in ending it, and indeed that they must do their part or we cannot succeed. And for the awakening of interest the Congress is a necessarv means.

The Congress is not an end in itself. It is an incident of the organization of the Jewish people—an