The Jewish Herald (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 15, Ed. 1, Thursday, December 30, 1909 Page: 6 of 28
twenty eight pages : illus. ; page 10 x 13 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
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BNai Brith day has become a cus-
tom and yearly we gather to pay a
tribute to the order and yearly will
such gatherings continue not that
they might be necessary to perpetu-
ate it for its > ears of usefulness and
activity and success has long since es-
tablished the order as repiesentative
of the Jew but merely a pause to re-
flect upon its work and each year as
these people gathertheir thoughts will
turn to the men responsible for its
firm place in the histoiy of our people
and as such thoughts come to us we
think of one whose life ended while
lighting for the principles for which
the order stands and as the yeais
roll by and the Jews ot the future
gather in assembly to them the his-
tory of todaj will place on the scroll
of honor the name of Leo N Levi
Reared as he was in a small Texas
town without any Jewish influence ex-
cept the immediate Jewish family life
yet demonstrating the true Jewish
qualities of honest manhood a love of
race and religion not a meie respect
for it by reason of birth but looking
upcn it as a noble inheritance Be-
ginning at an early age when thoughts
in the aveiage mind are not serious
he enters the University of Virginia
there taunted because of the fact that
he was a Jew and ridiculed because
of his birth does he accept the slan-
der and play for friendship by declar-
ing himself interior to his student
associates Does he do as the average
Jewish youth of today allow insults
to be heaped on his people and believe
himself superior to those at whom the
insult is aimed No because in his
veins flowed the same blood and as
Judiaism knows no class or creed Leo-
N Levi knew only that he was a Jew
that the insult was direct to him as
much as to the one hampered by per-
secution and who has not had the ben-
t efit of more pleasant surroundings
THE JEWISH HERALD
jiHuypr E ptjujuer
He realized that the honor of his race
demanded an apology and failing to
receive same a fight was inevitable
I cite this incident because it stands
out in bold lelief of this man who at
so early an age respected and loved
the religion of his fathers Because
his stand gained respect and brought
him honor because it taught those
who are narrow that an honoiable her-
itage is mere to be prized than riches
because it is a lesson we should take
MEYER C WAGNER
to cur hearts and make ourselves
woithy of the name
This was the beginning of his fight
for Judiaism and to his death he con-
tinued to battle not personal encoun-
ters but through logic and persuasive
powers to impiove the conditions of
the Jews not alone in America but
throughout the lands where oppres-
sion reigns into the hotbed of anti
Semistism his messages were sent and
while in many Instances they received
no recognition his voice as he spoke
through dur order was heard and
through fear of this power to bring
down the condemnation of a civilized
world upon them some relief was
granted and while not absolute not
all we desire yet he made the fight
and handed down the lead to those
who follow acting as a united people
through the great organization ho
loved so well in which he had the
utmost faith as the spokesman of the
Jew Of the order he said
Our organization is not a union of
men alieady perfect It is noc an end
in itself but only the means to an end
It seeks irather than Nexpresses the
ideal It is a practical device to make
men better not a mere agency for ex-
hibiting men who are in need of no
impiovement It is not an aristocracy
of brains or virtue because it is es-
sentially democratic It unites all
classes to the end that the good may
improve the evil and the best the
good Like a mighty torrent events
are rushing upon us We must battle
with disease poverty immorality ig-
norance crime and debasement The
prospect is truly appalling but God
helps those who help themselves
Believing then in the order as the
exponent ot all that is best he urged
upon all Jews the necessity of co-
operation that it might be strengthen-
ed and grow and under his leadership
it advanced until his prophecy as to
posibilities culminated in the Kishineff
petition receiving due recognition from
the chief executive of the United
States as well as being joined by all
highminded and wellthinking men
throughout the entire country This
petition rests in the archives at Wash-
ington and will forever be preserved
as a declaration of independence on
behalf of the Jews of America crying
out in protest against the horrors of
oppression and persecution In distant
lands and not until there is peace will
the work be ended Truly a leader in
Israel appeared to carry the banner
in Judiaism for righteousness and free-
dom
I can recall a night In the city of
Washington when the wintry winds
and heavy snow had blocked traffic <
when conditions under foot made Mi tf
nearly impossible to venture outlnt o
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Goldberg, E. The Jewish Herald (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 15, Ed. 1, Thursday, December 30, 1909, newspaper, December 30, 1909; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth84800/m1/6/: accessed May 5, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .