The Maccabaean

Was it an accident? Anyway, the other day a very bright Gentile asked the reference lady of the Birmingham Library to point out to her some prominent Jews of the Past and Present. She did. God! I chanced to overhear the bright lady's remark: "I find a good deal in the Jewish Encyclopedia, but the present Jewry makes no impression."

Good lady! You put it very kindly. If the impression of this book were merely negative!

You know, there is something like Kidush-Hashem! I threw reserve to the four winds. I stepped straight over to the bright inquirer and said thus: “I am a Jew. I am a student of Jewish History. Trust me. The Jewish Encyclopedia is gilt-edge inside and outside. This here Ohio volume is an ambitious fake gotten up by beings, Jews in name, who do not realize the limitless harm they inflict on their already inflicted nation by attempting to fool a world that the Jews have so far disgressed from a Gaonic past, have grown impoverished to such an extent that they must at last resort to successful peddlers and thriving wholesalers in order to point out present Jewish eminence. Lady, I swear to you, it is untrue. We are not a mere husk of a bygone substance. We are not the ruin of a former mansion. Do you wish to know of our modern princes of commerce? I can tell you something of Schiff and Strauss. Are you interested in our up-to-date scholars? Take notes on Brandeis, Frankfurter, Zeligman—one hundred per cent Americans.”

Did I feel happy after the querying lady had thanked me with fervent lips and flashing eyes? Did I feel contented when the reference lady took the Ohio volume out of the shelf, away from the dignified Jewish Encyclopedia into an obscure corner of the old stock room where rats hold converse over eminence in the dead of the night? Was I at ease when I had persuaded the librarian not to remit the $7.50 asked by the American Hebrew Publishing Company, of 403 Gardner Building, Toledo, Ohio, but instead, write to them that they may get their book back if they will send to the Librarian of The Public Library, Birmingham, Alabama, return stamps?

a eat * How could I feel at ease with the gnawing fear in my heart that such Toledo “Chevras” are mere symptoms of a general drift! of things? For with all its ignorant mischief a publication of this sort is too insignificant to center one’s whole attention on it. Does it do a great deal of harm? Yes. Does its distribution give the uninformed readers a most niggardly scale of what Jews today term national eminence? Most assuredly. But what is far worse is dur indifference in the face of which alone the like can thrive and mıltinlv. ‘ h

Certainly, the fighting blood of the Maccabaeans will rise to the occasion. A voice will be heard coming out of the pages of THE MACCABAEAN Magazine, saying: I will not permit worms to eat the heart out of the Cedar of Lebanon.

ISADORE SPERLING.

Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, Massachusetts: 1 have already declared publicly more than once that I was cordially in favor of Mr. Balfour’s statement in regard to Palestine made some time ago. The decision at San Remo appears to carry out the policy suggested by Mr. Balfour, and I am, of course, cordially in favor of such an arransement.

Governor William S. Sproule, Pennsylvania: Many wonderful things have happened in the past five years, but nothing of greater sentimental and historical importance has been recorded than the decision to establish Palestine as a National Home for-.the Jews of the World. The rescue of the Holy Land from the infidel and the setting up of a Jewish nation marks the'realization of the hopes of thousands of years. We should be thankful to have lived in such a time and to see the accomplishment of the hearts’ desire of the great race to whom we are indebted for the foundation and the records of the great religions of the world.

Governor Alfred E. Smith, New York: The Jews of all the world are to be felicitated upon Palestine now being a Homeland for all the members of their faith who desire to go there. It is to be hoped that the plans for the restoration of the Holy Land will go forward with great energy and speed. The three great religious beliefs of the world whose origin is in that small territory can unite in rejoicing that that country will now be restored and renewed.

Senator Medill McCormick, Illinois: As you know, I have long believed that as a measure of practical statesmanship it would be possible to establish in Palestine under British sovereignty a Homeland for the Jews. I have held to this belief despite the incredulity of many. It will open the ancient and holy places of Jerusalem to pilgrims, both Christian and Jewish, from every clime; it will assure civil order, religious tolerance, peace and prosperity to the land which was wasted by the misgovernment of the Turk. Finally, as it will open a refuge for the Jews long oppressed in Eastern Europe, so will it thus serve as a deterrent to future oppression. : God prosper the New State.

Governor Henry J. Allen, Kansas: With eager anticipation have I looked forward to the results of the San Remo conference returning Palestine to the Jews. It gives me the keen satisfaction of knowing that the Jews have been recognized internationally as a people with a country. The intense persevering strugglefor centuries against overwhelming odds has borne fruit. Such a fight for freedom and liberty wins the hearts of all-America in its sincere wish towards

the manifestation of the new Palestine as the state wherein the Jews may at last enjoy a national recognition. I hope the American Zionists will accept my heartiest congratulations for the part they have played in the successful fight.

Secretary of War Newton D. Baker: The re-establishment of Palestine as a National Home for the Jews marks the beginning of a great historical epoch. It means the restoration of a race which through long years of oppression has still succeeded in giving to the world many of its strongest and bravest characters. The renationalization of the Jew in his old home is one of the good things which go to repay all peoples for their great sacrifices in the world war and means the creation of a state which will command the attention and respect of the whole world.

Senator Arthur Capper, Kansas: The Christian world rejoiced when the victorious British armies entered Jerusalem and freed Palestine. It is now most appropriate that through the decision of the San Remo conference the Holy Land is to be restored to the Jews and they are to be afforded the opportunity of establishing themselves as a distinct nation. I congratulate the Jewish people upon this happy culmination of centuries of suffering and persecution.

President Emeritus Charles W. Eliot, Harvard: The assignment by the San Remo conference of a satisfactory area in Palestine for Jewish’occupation under a mandate accepted by Great Britain is one of the happiest results of the covenant and treaty of Versailles thus far. It gives the Jewish nationality its natural home. It gives the prosperous Jewish race scattered among the freer nations of the earth the opportunity to devote money to making the Jewish portion of Palestine a fertile region provided with adequate water a, and convenient ports. It also gives the rich Jews throughout the world the opportunity to establish at Jerusalem a Hebrew university where the language, literature and history of the Hebrews .can be deeply studied, accurately recorded and progressively made kno It gives the Christian nations a chance to make some amends m the suffering they have inflicted on the Jewish race and to recognize that the roots of Christianity are imbedded in Hebrew soil and the Hebrew religion. N

Senator William M. Calder, New York: Together with” many freedom-loving citizens I hail ıhe Jews of America on the occasion of the decision of the San Remo conference to make Palestine the National Homeland of the Jews. The great part the Jews have p in the last war must be given full value by America and its ı