The Jewish advance., September 13, 1878, Page 2, Image 2

About The Jewish advance. (Chicago, Ill.) 1878-1881

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
sentiment, but it always does more harm
than good : it encourages laziness and
ignorance, it fosters misery instead of
banishing it.
Here is an account how the alms
which are sent to Jerusalem are distri
buted among the recipients. The alms,
as it is well known, come from all parts
of the world in the form of Machzis ha
shekel and in various other forms. The
distribution is called by the Hebrew
name of Chalukah. There is a great
Chalukah and a small Chalukah. The
former is the distribution of the moneys
coming from a certain country among
the natives of that country ; thus for
instance the Russian and Polish Israel
ites divide among themselves the
moneys which are sent from Russia, and
the Sephardim do the same with the
alms donated by Sepha.rdaic congrega
tions (such as hold their religious ser
vices according to the Spanish ritual.)
The distribution of the moneys coming
from France, Germany, Holland, Eng
land and America is called the small
Chain kah, in which all the Jews of Pales
tine take a part according to the*follow
ing proportions :
The Sephardim receive 11 1-6 parts,
The Perushim “ 6 3-6 “
The Chassidim “ 8 5-6 "
The Chabads 13-6
Total, . 28 parts.
All persons whose names are on the
roll take an equal part in that Chaht
kah, rich or poor, young or old. Only
the Ilabbins receive a somewhat greater
portion than the others. According to
the regulations of the great Chalukah,
the portions of the recipients differ ac
cording to the place or the city in which
they have been born. There’ are some
persons who receive from both Chalu
kah together no more than $14 a year,
others again receive as much as $38 a
year* which is about half as much as a
person needs for his livelihood in Pales
tine, It is estimated by Samuel Mon
tague (report to the committee of Sir
Moses Montefiore testimonial fund,
London, May 13th, 1875, pages 10 and
11), that all the moneys which are sent
for the poor of the Holy Land from
Europe and America amount to the
sum of £35,000 to £40,000 per annum.
* Here it must be remembered that the given
sums are for each individual, and as children
receive an equal portion with grown persons
this sum is multiplied by the number of mem
bers in each family. Thus it is profitable to be
a pater familias in Palestine, while from the
preceding statements it becomes apparent
that the increase of population is one of the
causes of misery in that country. A great
moral evil lies in this fact inasmuch as that
whicJi is a detriment to the social welfare be
comes a legitimated material benefit to the in
dividual.—[Ed. Jewish Advance.]
| Copyright Sea red. J
A Biographical ami Characteristic Sketch.
[Adapted from the German.]
Part T.
Lassai.ee Before the Aoitation.
Y.
It has been mentioned already that
the time of Lassalle’s life which has
been spent on the study of Heraclitus
and on the Hatzfeld process was also
the period in which his first political
activity has been manifested.
A few months after the process of
Cologne we find him again on the de
fendant’s bench at Duesseldorf, and to
use his own expression, “as full of
criminal processes, as the warrior’s coat
of mail is full of arrows.” The great
political movements of 1848 have torn
him away from his private struggles.
Notwithstanding his youth, he was at
that time one of the most influential
and active members of the republican
party ; notwithstanding his young age
he was recognized as a leader. He called
together political assemblies and spoke
before them ; he caused bills to be post
ed in the streets inciting the people to
take up arms when the Prussian govern
ment had unconstitutionally suspended
the national assembly in November,
1848. Hated on account of the Hatz
feld case and feared because of his fear
less and determined manner, he was
thrown into prison as soon as the party
opposing the revolution gained the upper
hand, and by all imaginable chicanry
his enemies contrived to prolong the
time of the trial and even of the ar
rangement before the trial took’place, to
a term of over six months. The oration
which Lassalle held before his judges on
that occasion was, in my estimation, one
of the most remarkable evidences of
manly courage and eloquence in a young
man, which history can boast of. If we
had not known it so well, we could not
believe that a youth of twenty-three
years was able to make such an address.
Lasalle is simply grand on this point.
He stands animated with the loftiest
motives, illumined by the noblest and
purest pathos which has ever filled the
heart of a man. The earnestness and
depth of his sentiments cannot be doubt
ed for a second. He sways in this in
stance the weapon of eloquence with
matchless power and skill, with elegance
and effect and seems to be quite igno
rant of his brilliancy and grandeur. For
the first time he is seen in this oration
at the lofty heighth of his greatness.
His speech has all the freshness and
coloring of the first youth and is at the
same devoid of the superabundance of
imagery and of the verbosity of youth
ful orations. The eloquence of Orla
Lehman seems to be an effort of fifty
years behind the time when compared
with this effort of Lassalle. It is im
possible to describe a political oration
on a subject the particular points of
which are not generally known, the more
so, since the strength of that speech
lies in the equal division of force on all
the points, so that one must know the
whole of it if he should appreciate it at
all. Extracts might be given but they
would only afford a faint idea of the
animation which fills the whole oration.
The oration opens in a truly charac
teristic manner. The speaker docs not
wish to plead his defence but to proffer
charges against the accusations form
ing the corpus delicti of the act of ar
raignment against him. More charac
teristic is the first declaration which
Lassalle makes, that he will always
gladly confess his adherence to the re
volutionary ideas of the time, that he is a
revolutioneer by principle,” But his
defence shall not be represented from
this view, because it is but natural that
the government should not recognize its
validity. “One can never seriously
wound his enemy if he stands on a dif
ferent platform than he ; the weapons
do not reach one another, and the con
testants fight in the air. ()ne may
prove his enemy to be wrong, if he
takes a position diametrically opposed
to him, by proving the unsoundness of
his principles; but he cannot put him
to shame, he cannot demonstrate his in
consistency with the principles he con
fesses, he cannot show how those very
principles are betrayed by their profes
sor. In the interest of the arraignment,
therefore, and its keen-edged sharpness
I shall condescend to the standing point
which must be taken outwardly at least
by the State.attorney as the representa
tive of a constitutional government; I
shall argue from a strictly constitutional
point of view and from thence my de
fence shall be brought forward.'
[to be continued.]
Gorrespondence.
£*?"' We do not hold ourselves responsible
for the opinions and assertions of correspon
dents.
Chicago, Sept, 10.1870.
Editor of the Jewish Advance :
Knowing the interest you take in
work of benevolence and in the progress
of our charitable organization, I beg to
submit to you the following reports for
publication in your valuable journal :
I. 0. B. B.
'J’lie Lodges of D. (!. L. No. 0 are
responding to the call of their lion.
President, Chas. Kozminski, with their
usual liberality ; some have already
contributed large amounts of money.
Hillel Lodge, No. 72. in this city, came
out nobly with the handsome sum of
$200 ; llamah Lodge, also in this city,
one of the oldest and richest lodges in
this district, donated $100, while
Illinois Lodge, the youngest of the city,
donated $50. This act of generosity
reflects great credit on Jiillel Lodge and
deserves special acknowledgement.
i. o. k. s. b.
The executive officers of District
Grand Lodge No. 4, comprising 16
lodges of this ()rder have some time
ago issued the following appeal to the
fraternity in behalf of the afflicted
South :
District Grand Lodge, No. 4, lx. S. B.
Chicago, August 20,1878.
Brothers:—You are no doubt fully aware
of the frightful state of affairs existing- in the
yellow fever stricken districts. With every
hour the fearful malady is spreading, and the
sufferings of the afflicted are terrible in the
extreme. Whole families are stricken down
with the scourge, without attendance of any
description, on account of which the mortality
is increasing with rapid strides. From every
quarter of the affected districts we are be
seechcd for assistance.
The tidings of this dire calamity, which be
fell our brethren and our fellow-beings in the
South, have called forth the most heartfelt
sympathy throughout this continent, and the
cry of help of the distressed is heard every
where. In the face of such appeals and under
such circumstances, the Kosher, cherishing
The principles of benevolence and relief, can
not and will not remain passive and indiffer
ent, Convinced of your charitable disposi
tions, wo request of you such assistance as
your own hearts may dictate. Requesting a
speedy compliance, we remain, yours fra
ternally,
S. WOOLNER, Pl’OSt.
I. Zoislneu, Sec’y.
P. S.—Contributions will be received by the
Secretary of this Grand Lodge, and will be
accounted for in due time.
The following Lodges have already
answered in the usual way of charity,
which is sweet to every Jewish heart :
Moses Montetiore, No. I”),'), Peoria,
111., §30.00 ; Garden City, No. -10, Chi
cago, $25.00 ; Daniel, No. 70, Milwaukee,
Wis., $20.00; Germania, No. 83, Chi
cago, $10.00 ; Chicago Lodge. No, 88,
$25.00 ; Teutonia Lodge, No. 122, $25.00;
La Crosse, No. 166, $10.00.
One Lodge in Aurora has already sent
direct to the South about $100; this
speaks well for the few lodges with several
more to hear from. 1 have learned that
Chicago Lodge, No. 88, has passed a
resolution in its last meeting to draw a
voucher of $25 for the same benevolent
purpose and I have no doubt the rest of
the lodges will follow these noble
examples.
I. O. F. S. of I.
Also the Lodges of 1). G . L. No, 2, of
this young and noble Order are doing all
they can to help the sufferers in the
South. From the fifteen lodges of this
city the following have donated their
contributions: *
Judah Turo, $20 ; Fortschritts Toech
ter, $10; Abraham Lincoln, $25; Ex
celsior, $25 ; Esther, $25 ; Phoenix, $25.
This Order, though very young in the
West, has developed to wonderful
strength and already occupies a promi
nent position among the other Jewish
Orders. A few years ago the lodges of
this city formed a corporation and
bought a burial ground on the the West
Side, near Waldheim, and fitted it up in
a very proper way becoming a
where we lay down our dear and
beloved ones to rest in the eternal sleep.
1 hear that this F. S. cemetery is splen
didly managed and can favorably com
pare with the beautiful burial grounds
of Chicago. It is to be hoped that the
spirit of peace and harmony will con
tinue to prevail in the lodges of this
city, that the brethren will not permit
any discord and petty jealousy to
break the tie of this brotherhood, and
injure their standing in this community
by seeking improvements that are not
needed. A division in the noble work
of benevolence, in the blessed practice
of Friendship, Love and Truth will not
be an improvement, but a change to the
worse, an irreparable wrong and incor
rigible mistake which will surely bring
| failure and regret. My brethren will
understand me, and I hope they will also
take the advise of a true and honest free'
1 son of Israel.
NEW CONGREGATIONS.
The North Side is the seat of war
this time. Some time ago about thirty
gentlemen went together and organized
a congregation to be known under the
name of Congregation Emanu-el ;
they adopted "Minhag America,” and
rented a hall for temporary services.
While we ought to be glad and happy
to see the Israelites of Chicago wake
up and give some signs of their interest
in Judaism, still our joy is not com
plete, for it is marred and disturbed by
the way the work for the holy cause is
inaugurated. Our brethren in Chicago
do not try to open schools for the chil
dren of the poor Israelites, who are de
prived of this blessing. 0, no, they
start new Congregations! as though we
had not. enough temples in the city.
The fact is that we have here too many
Congregations and only two of them
are able to enjoy an easy existence,
the vest, even those that have
rich unci prominent members, have to
struggle very hard indeed to meet their
current expenses. One has built a tine
temple but cannot afford to keep a min
ister, etc. Why then divide the house
ot‘ Israel ? Why not unite and support
those congregations already in exist
ence? Echo answers : Why? But I
forget we have not enough variety of
Minhagian, and it seems to me that this
is the only cams belli in this community.
About the same time a number of
Israelites, also on the North Side, organ
ized a new congregation with Minhag
Bolen (they have already erected a Sy
nagogue which is to be dedicated next
Sunday) An attempt was made by the
better elements of these two chevros to
unite in one congregation on a sound
basis. Commitees were appointed, but
unfortunately could not agree (the terri
ble Minhagim were the stumbling blocks)
and Chicago is going to have two more
congregations.
Au re voir,
Ben. Mosheii.
* Among the contributions we have received
at the office of the Jewish Advance was that of
Isaiah Lodge. No. 2.', the sum of $25 (reported
in No. 11), and Moses Lodge. No. 18, the sum of
$10 (reported in last week’s issue), both lodges
of the I. O. F. S. of I.—[Ed. Jewish Advance.]