LANGUAGE FOR JEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 1 September 1933, Page 4

LANGUAGE FOR JEWS

YIDDISH OR HEBREW? WIDE DIFFERENCES OF OPINION. Wide differences of opinion exist among leading Jews concerning the language of the ‘’Chosen Race,” says a Melbourne paper. Commenting on the statement by Mr. Melech Ravitsch that Yiddish was the only language that could bind Jewry together, and Rabbi Cohen’s contention that it was merely a jargon, Dr. B. H. Shein, emissary of the World Zionist Organisation, said that he thought both views were rather extreme. “Yiddish, like any other language, is a fusion of the roots of many languages, principally German, Hebrew and Slavic,

and from this a new tongue has emerged,” said Dr. Shein. “The fact that a grammar" has only recently been introduced proves nothing, as language produces grammar, not the reverse. “On the other hand, I feel that the view of Mr. Ravitsch is far too extreme. Yiddish is only about 300 years old, but the Jewish nation is 4000 years old. Hebrew is the national language of Jewry. In Palestine the official language is Hebrew, and all speak it fluently.

“It is not true that more than 12,000,000 Jews speak Yiddish. I would say that 6,000,000 to 7,000,000 was the maximum. “Generally, and especially in Englishspeaking countries, the tendency is for the children to adopt the language of the country in which they live, but an increasing number is now studying Hebrew. “Certainly great works in all branches of literature have been written in Yiddish, but it cannot be considered the national language of the Jews.”