Weinberger, Moses. Dorosh Dorash Moshe: Collection of Essays and Lectures. Vol. I

A RABBI DECRIES ANTISEMITISM IN AMERICA In a sermon delivered in Congregation Ohev Shalom of Philadelphia in 1893, Rabbi Moshe Weinberger wonders aloud: “Thousands of immigrants enter the gateways of this land, among them the dregs of society, people devoid of any manners whatsoever, illiterate boors who have but a single desire: to eat heartily and drink merrily. These primitive types (with the exception of the Chinese) reside here unmolested, whereas the Jewish people, who have enriched the land with wisdom, commerce, and manufacture, who are unceasing in their philanthropy - this people is forever subjected to racial slurs. Thousands of homes and rentals are off limits to a Jew. Why is it that only Jews suffer such discrimination? Why are there no signs stating, “No Italians / Poles / Hungarians allowed”? Why is this distinction reserved for Jews?” (Dorosh Darash Mosheh, p. 52). Besides touching on sociological issues affecting the American Jewish community, Rabbi Weinberger’s well-reasoned text reveals his complete conversance with both the realms of Halacha (Jewish law) and Jewish thought. A native of Hungary, he served at various times as rabbi of Scranton and Philadelphia, PA, and New York’s Lower East Side