The Menorah Journal, Volume 1, 1915 | Page 5

chosen by the
founders of the pioneer Menorah Society with a view to the two-fold
task of the light-bearer, to enlighten a surrounding world, and to foster
self-respect in the hearts of the Jewish students by spreading the light
of Jewish knowledge among them. Now, if I understand correctly the
purpose of starting a Journal as the organ of the Intercollegiate
Menorah Association, it is to give to these endeavors a more permanent
and classical literary form, and thus successfully defend the cause of
Judaism. Wishing this enterprise all success and Godspeed, I venture to
express the hope that true to its name Menorah, the Journal will
become a real banner-bearer of light not only dispelling clouds of doubt
and of prejudice within and outside of our camp, but also aiming to
spread the truth of Judaism in all its spiritual force and grandeur. Not
nationalism, which in these days of a cruel world-war with its
barbarism puts our much-vaunted modern civilization to everlasting
shame and which has split the Jewish people also into warring camps,
but Judaism as a religion, which notwithstanding the differences of its
various wings as to form is in its essentials and fundamentals one,
should be the watchword, for it is the light of the Torah that is both law
and learning, religion and culture, which is to unify and consolidate all
the forces of American Israel.
[Illustration: Signature: Dr. K. Kohler]
From Irving Lehman
Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of New York
[Illustration]
I CONGRATULATE the members of the Intercollegiate Menorah
Association upon the fact that in their Journal they are obtaining a new
instrument to carry forward their work of bringing to the Jewish youth

knowledge of the old ideals and lessons of the Jewish past. During
these dreadful days, the Jewish students of almost every country except
America have been called from study, and preparation for a life of
usefulness, into pitiless war and useless destruction. The oppressed in
Russia, the student in Germany, and the free Englishman, all have
answered the call to arms of the country in which they live, and each is
fighting, firm in the belief that he is defending his Fatherland against
foreign aggression. The loyalty shown by our brethren even in those
countries where their treatment might well have furnished at least an
explanation for disloyalty, is a new demonstration of the ancient spirit
of devotion to their ideals which, I believe, has always been the true
spirit of the Jews. But the ideal of national physical strength is not the
ideal which we Jews had when we were a nation and which we must
strive to make the ideal of the modern nations in which we live. Dark
though these present days are, yet humanity must progress into the light
of a permanent peace, and though the Jews are doing their full share of
the fighting in this war brought on by their rulers, we must do more
than our share in bringing to its fruition the ancient prophecy: "For the
law shall go forth from Zion and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
And He shall judge many people and rebuke strong nations, and they
shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into
pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither
shall they learn war any more."
The voice of this Journal may be only a weak, small voice, but if that
voice speaks in the spirit of the prophet and brings home to us the
worth of the prophetic ideals, it may well prove an important factor in
enabling Israel to fulfill its mission as a messenger of peace to all the
nations.
[Illustration: Signature: Irving Lehman]
From Julian W. Mack
Judge of the United States Circuit Court of Appeals
[Illustration]

MY hopes are high that the Menorah Journal may prove a valuable
means not only of linking together the Menorah Societies of the
country but also of bringing to the individual members a clearer
conception of the culture, ideals and traditions of the Jews, thereby
increasing their interest in all things Jewish.
This would inevitably tend to strengthen the religious faith of the
Jewish members and to awaken in all of the members a keener and a
more intelligent appreciation of the contribution which Jews and
Judaism have made to human progress.
[Illustration: Signature: Julian W. Mack]
From Dr. J. L. Magnes
Chairman of Executive Committee, Jewish Community (Kehillah) of
New York
[Illustration]
I SEND hearty greetings to the members of the Intercollegiate Menorah
Association upon the publication of the Journal. If the Journal can be
put upon a sound business basis assuring its permanence, its
publication will mark an important event in the development of
Judaism in America. What we need above all things is