Holmes Sees Inferiority of Jews As Miserable Superstition

“The inferiority of the Jew is a miserable superstition, a damnable lie. There are objectionable Jews and objectionable Gentiles; you cannot condemn a race. I often think, when I run up against this anti-Semitic attitude, that it is the Gentiles who are inferior.

“On the part of the Gentile you have bitterness and hatred and a despicable lack of intelligence. On the part of the Jew you have often a cringing inferiority, which is pitiable and to be deplored; but in the Jew you haven’t the psychological attitude of bitterness and hate, resulting from discrimination, that you might reasonably expect. I think the New York Jew, on the whole, bears the burden of discrimination admirably.”

These were some of the statements made by the Rev. John Haynes Holmes, pastor of the Community Church and noted liberal preacher, in an interview with Evelyn Seeley of the New York Telegram with regard to the discrimination which prevails against Jews in New York City. The interview appeared in Monday’s “Telegram.”

“A good part of anti-Semitism is the prejudice of defeat,” said Dr. Holmes. “The Jew has gained leadership in ownership of real estate, ownership of newspapers, theatre management and in many trades. Very well, let him own our homes, our theatres, our newspapers. He has won his success fairly, the world being what it is.

“The Jew is condemned as an over developed materialist. “What else could he be, out of his Ghetto experience, his struggle against cold and hunger and cruelty? What else are we Americans all, but one hundred and twenty million materialists?”

Anti-Jewish discrimination in New York, which is worse than in other places because there are more Jews here, should be denounced at every opportunity and an educational campaign, which would teach Gentiles to understand the Jew’s background and experience, should be conducted to offset prejudice, believes Dr. Holmes.