Page:Famous Living Americans, with Portraits.djvu/276

 EMIL G. HIBSCH 257 with the historical outlook of the Jew. The purpose of Zion- ism is to concentrate Israel on a given territory — the object of historical or reform Judaism is to spread the Jewish con- cept of man and God over the entire world. As an exponent of the spiritual message of Israel — with emphasis on the eth- ical instead of the ceremonial — the position of Dr. Hirsch can be foretold. He has not been insensible to the urgency of the movement in Europe in view of the galling events in Russia and Boumania, to mention only the most brutal. But as a solution of the Jewish question — if there is any — Zion- ism is a survival of that nationalism with which all Europe has, of late, been obsessed. He has, theref ore, opposed it con- sistently, but with sympathy — giving welcome to its advo- cates and leaders, supporting morally and financially such un- dertakings as the establishment of trade schools in Palestine. Dr. Hirsch has opposed all tendencies toward Jewish na- tionality. ^^The Messiah was bom on the day the Temple fell" is a mysticism of the Talmud which reflects a wonderful thought and explains the contention of the reform movement. Israel is to go forth and teach all mankind its truths. The ultimate hope is that from the rising to the setting sun, from the north to the south, every place and land will become as sacred as Jerusalem and that the word of God will be spoken everywhere. **A11 my people shall be holy," saith the Lord. Another tendency of the present era which is engaging the attention of Jews is that to institutionalize the synagog. At first Dr. Hirsch opposed the introduction of institutional fea- tures but later he came to see that in large centers of popula- tion, institutions unfettered by commercialism must be cre- ated to counteract the debasing influences of amusement re- sorts whose sole purpose is to prosper the owners. When the new Sinai Temple was built the need of a social center was recognized so clearly that a separate building was constructed for institutional work. Sinai Center aims to afford the peo- ple of the conmiunity a means of ennobling and enriching their lives. Jewish teacher. When the University of Chicago was found-
 * Baise up many disciples," is the admonition of an ancient