The Menorah Journal, Volume 1, 1915 | Page 6

sound thinking
on Jewish affairs. I have no doubt that proper action will result from
sound thinking. The Menorah Journal ought to become the medium for
publishing the best thought modern Jewry is capable of. The present
catastrophe overwhelming Europe has conferred upon the Jews in
America the leadership of Jewry. We can assume this historic
obligation only if our theories be clear cut and well thought out.
[Illustration: Signature: J. L. Magnes]
From Dr. Martin A. Meyer
Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El, San Francisco

[Illustration]
IT is a pleasure to know that a journal is being launched in America for
the benefit of thinking Jews, which will stand between the technical
journal of the "Quarterly" type and outside of the purlieus of our
numerous "Weekly" gossip sheets.
Jewish journalism in America has done little, if anything, to justify the
numerous calls which it makes upon the people for support. On the
other hand, there is sad need for a journal representative of our best
thought, which will be readable and which will represent rather than
misrepresent us.
The field of Jewish culture and ideals surely has not been exhausted by
our European brethren. No matter what they may have contributed to
the exploitation of this field there surely remains ample ground for the
American Jew to express himself in the light of the old standards of
Jewish conduct and belief.
It goes without saying that your Journal will make its primary appeal to
the college man and woman. If successful, it will have saved for Jewry
its most valuable elements and enable us to build in the future on a
better and broader basis than the purely financial and commercial
leadership of the past.
From the far West we join hands with you in the far East and unite in
fervent hopes that the new Menorah Journal may grow from strength to
strength.
[Illustration: Signature: Martin A. Meyer]
From Dr. David Philipson
Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati
[Illustration]
SOME seventy years ago the celebrated Jewish scholar, Abraham

Geiger, charged the Jewish intelligenzia of his day with indifference
towards Judaism and Jewish interests. This accusation of Geiger's has
since been repeated frequently. But a rift is appearing in the cloud.
To-day as never before our intelligenzia as defined by university
training and education is identifying itself more and more with Jewish
life and aspiration in our country. And I feel that due credit should be
given the Menorah movement in our colleges for this change of attitude
of Jewish students and professors. This movement, still young, has
accomplished much in bringing together the young men and women
who form our intellectual elite into associations for the study of Jewish
history and the consideration of Jewish problems. It has awakened an
interest in Jewish matters in many who have been lukewarm and
indifferent. It has brought as lecturers to our colleges Jewish men of
light and leading from many communities, who have voiced their
messages and given food for thought to the future leaders now sitting
on university benches.
The call of the ages sounds to the intellectual nobility of our day and
generation. Learning has been extolled among Jews from earliest times,
and the wise man has been the accredited leader, so that it was declared
that "the wise man is greater than the prophet." I would have the
learned classes come again into their own. I would have our university
men in coming years the staunchest Jews in the community through
their intelligent interest in everything that makes for its highest welfare.
To achieve this is the task of our university men. The possibility of this
achievement I see in such significant signs as the Menorah movement,
the institution of student congregations, and the launching of this
magazine by the Intercollegiate Menorah Association. What has been
called the "Jewish consciousness," a term which has done yeoman's
service during the past decade, is being aroused through these agencies
to an even greater degree. This aroused Jewish feeling will, I am sure,
be translated into active service more and more as the years pass and
the present generation of college men carve out their careers in our
communities throughout the country. This is the great Jewish
opportunity of the present generation; in this will they reverse, such is
my hope and my belief, that condition and that attitude of the Jewish

intelligenzia in the past (and still largely in the present) which evoked
the statement of Abraham Geiger. May this new undertaking prosper so
that the young generation whom this magazine represents may be
helped toward a realization of its ideals, and become an inspiration to
all Jewry throughout the length and breadth of the land.
[Illustration: Signature: David Philipson]
From Dr. Solomon Schechter
President of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
[Illustration]
I WISH to