Jewish influences in American life : $b volume III of the International Jew, the world's foremost problem : being a reprint of a third selection from articles appearing in the Dearborn IndependentFord, Henry
Religion
Jewish influences in American life : $b volume III of the International Jew, the world's foremost problem : being a reprint of a third selection from articles appearing in the Dearborn Independent
Ford, Henry
Antisemitic literature; Jews -- United States; United States -- Ethnic relations
Non-Jewish defenders of the Jewish program have pretended to much
indignation because of references that have been made to the Oriental
character of certain Jewish manifestations. The references in these
articles have been two in number, once regarding Oriental sensuality as
it has been introduced to the American stage by Jewish theatrical
panderers, and again in quoting Disraeli, the Jew who became premier of
Britain, to the effect that the Jews—his people—were “Mosaic Arabs.”
But it never seemed to have occurred to Leo N. Levi to deny the Oriental
character of his race. Instead, he asserted it. On page 104 of the B’nai
B’rith memorial, he excuses certain social crudities of the Jew on the
ground “that hailing originally from the Orient and having been
compelled for twenty centuries to live in a society of his own, he has
preserved in his tastes much that is characteristically Oriental.” Again
on page 116, he excused the multiplicity of religious rites as being due
to the fact that the Jew “drew upon his Oriental imagination for a
symbolism that appealed to his ideal emotions.” On page 312, he speaks
of the Jews’ “Oriental devotion to their parents.” This easy recognition
of the fact is commended to those bootlicking editors who, out of the
vastness of their ignorance of the Jewish Question, have seen in the
reference to Orientalism an “insult” to the Jews and an unfailing
indication of anti-Semitism.
The Jewish Question! Ah, that is another point which pro-Jewish
spokesmen hasten to deny, but they will be somewhat disturbed by the
candor with which true Jewish spokesmen admit the Question.
In a strong passage on page 101, Mr. Levi says:
“If I have dwelt so long upon this subject, it is because I recognize
that if the Jew has been denied so much that is rightfully his, he often
claims more than is his due. One of these claims, most persistently
urged, is that there is no Jewish Question; that a Jew is a citizen like
any other citizen and that as long as he abides by the law and does not
subject himself to criminal prosecution or civil action, his doings are
beyond legitimate inquiry by the public at large.
“This contention on his part would certainly be well based if he claimed
nothing further than the right to live in peace, but when he demands
social recognition the whole range of his conduct is a legitimate
subject of inquiry against which no technical demurrers can be
interposed ... nor must the Jew be over-sensitive about the inquiry.
“The inconsistencies and the unwisdom exhibited in the consideration of
the Jewish Question are not to be found altogether on the side of those
who are hostile to the Jews.”
“Since then the refugees from Russia, Galicia and Rumania have raised
the Jewish Question to commanding importance. Since then it has dawned
on the world that _we are witnessing another exodus which promises soon
to change the habitat of the Jews to the Western Hemisphere_.” (Page 59)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account