Page:Jews and Judaism (Morris Jastrow).djvu/7

 issue is not brought forward. They have grown weary of the perpetual bickerings and sneers, of the imputing of dishonorable motives to opponents, of the haughty tone which declares, "I alone am right and you are altogether wrong." And what is saddest of all, during all this time most precious opportunities are lost. Such methods remind one forcibly of the story told of the hunters, who were discussing the qualities of the deer they hoped to catch. While they were quarrelling among themselves, the deer whizzed by and—out of sight. Some years ago, in speaking of Jews and Judaism, we could still point to the rising generation of American Jews and paint in vivid colors the hopes we placed in them. That generation has risen and is before us. It will not do to console ourselves by putting off our hopes to a still further future. It is with the present that we have to deal. Earnest discussion, however, and calm debate is always in place, is what we sadly need to-day, and is in itself already a contribution towards that positive work, which we ought ever to have in view. It is in this sense—not in a spirit of controversy, which is utterly repugnant to me, but in the hope that my words may aid to some extent, however small, in clearing the situation that I now ask the question, of what nature are the differences that divide Jews to-day, for that behind all that we see going on around us there lurk differences however concealed they may be through quarrels and controversies, so admirably adapted to hide the real issue, no one can, no one will doubt?

I include under the term Jew not only those who have identified themselves with any synagogue or congregation, or who take a more or less active part in charitable and other institutions founded by Jews—a very important part of religion—but all those who lay claim, by the mere accident of birth, to the name. This definition is not without its importance, for it warns us not to put a too narrow interpretation upon the term. The same warning applies to the use of the word Judaism. There is of course, as we shall presently see, such a thing as a too wide interpretation of it, but there is also a too narrow interpretation,and while we should