Religion and Americanism as Seen by a Rabbi

Julius T. Loeb, “Religion and Americanism as Seen by a Rabbi,” Washington Daily News (Washington, DC), Oct. 7, 1924.

RELIGION AND AMERICANISM AS SEEN BY A RABBI

Editor The News:

    It is a sad situation, indeed, when a “Christian gentleman,” eager to propagate the cause of Christianity, chooses to traduce and abuse all who many differ with him in the conception of religion.

    A correspondent in The News of Oct. 2, who signs his name Hank Reid, referring to a recent editorial in this paper anent the religion of the American presidents, starts forth with the following invective:

    “Your editorial staff must either be the victim of shell-shock or Jewish propaganda.”

Klan

    The above should be fittingly paraphrased: One must be either shell-shocked or Klan-tainted to see Jewish propaganda in the matter of religion.

    “It is absolutely untrue,” the writer continues to argue, “that the presidents were anything but attendants of Protestant Christian churches and believers in Jesus as the Son of God.”

    It would be wholly without purpose to enter into a controversy with Mr. Reid on this particular subject. Any one having recourse to history, and studying the life work of the presidents and founders of the American republic, as enumerated in the editorial referred to, may readily see the fallacy of such an assertion.

    The subject at issue may nevertheless be open to discussion, among Christian denominations. Similarly, the question as to whether or not America is a Christian country. It all depends upon the predisposition of the individuals dealing with the question (facts and figures notwithstanding). And it is always to be what you make of it.

The Fathers

    One thing, however, is certain beyond the peradventure of a doubt; i. e., that the noble figures of American history and destiny have never designed this country to be dominated by a Klan-Christian religion tending to disrupt the citizenship and rob the people of its most precious possession—religious liberty.

    Viewing the sad experiences of past times, and in their earnest endeavor to preclude all possibilities for a repetition of tactics of medievalism and malevolence, they simply ruled out religion of the affairs of the state. 

    “Church and state separate,” therefore, became the basic principle upon which the American republic was reared and established.

    The populace has not been then, nor is it now, mature to conceive and understand religion in its broader sense; to appreciate the blessings of a natural religion which knows no discrimination of race or creed, and which recognizes the image of God in all His creatures.

Washington

    George Washington declared: “Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.”

    This is the reflex of a master mind seeking to grasp the true meaning of religion, and to eliminate dogmas and creeds over which man and people have fought most bitterly thru [sic] countless generations.

    However, it were plainly an injustice to brand Washington, or any of the founders of the American republic, as infidels. “Theists,” perhaps, most of them, unwilling to be fettered by any sort of particular and partisan church affiliations to the exclusion of all else; yet recognizing God in their won words and works, and quoting freely from the Bible on all occasions.

    According to Jewish philosophy, all that tends to the betterment of mankind is an act of religion; is, in fact, religion itself. (See Judaism and Its History, Vol. I.—Abraham Geiger.)

    “Even an idolator performing the precepts of the heavenly law, is as great as the high priest himself” (Talmud, Baba Kama, p. 38a). 

    “The pious ones among the worldly nations will participate in future salvation” (Tosefta, Sanhedrin, Chap. 13).

Proselytism

    Such and similar passages in the Talmud and Midrashic literature may explain the reason why missionizing or proselytism has never been in vogue among Jews.

    The insinuation, therefore, of Jewish propaganda in matters of religion, is rank stupidity in itself, and a wilful [sic] disregard of living facts.

    The Jew has never been guilty of disrespect toward the religious faith of others. One has never seen a Jew preaching on highways and byways in an attempt to missionize others. The Jew has no salvation hidden away for himself. The Jewish Torah is the common property of all civilized mankind. The God of Israel is the Lord of the Universe, the Father of all created beings.

    What Christians may believe or disbelieve is no concern of the Jews. But what the Jews are anxious about, especially at this time, is how to safeguard Americanism, and to keep intact this free commonwealth, who wonderful growth and development is chiefly due to religious liberty.

    RABBI J. T. LOEB,

    Chev [sic] Sholom Congregation.