22. PRESENT STATUS OF THE JEWS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. With the enforced emigration which marks the Jew in every age, and to which' the past century was as little an exception as the present bids likely to prove, it is difficult to regard the status of the Jews as fixed for any length of time. The population is as shifting as condi tions. Within the past three and a half decades there has been a Jewish migration of fully 2,500,000 from eastern Europe to western lands, and across the sea to North and South Amer.. ica, Australia and South Africa. Even if the new environment be permanent adaptation takes time,• and one must be prepared for in egualities in many ways. Yet it is possible to give an accurate and fairly comprehensive sketch of the present-day status of the Jews in every land.
Australia.— In the gradual settlement Jew ish merchants and men of affairs took a prom inent part, and as a result they have entered largely into colonial life, and form an import ant factor in its prosperity. Their population is about 20,000, with the greater number in New South Wales (7,000), Victoria (6,000), New Zealand (3,000), with communities in South and West Australia, Queensland and Tasmania. The discovery of gold in 1892 drew emigrants to West Australia, and a flourishing Jewish congregation exists• in Pertk, although it is liable to decline, if the mines cease to at tract, 'as happened in Coolgardie, where tht synagogue 'built in 1896 was sold for a Masonic hall, owing to lessening numbers. Throughout Australia, in most of the capitals and many of the smaller towns, Jews have been mayors; the agent-generalship of New South Wales has been held by Sir Saul Samuel and Sir Julian Salomons. Many have sat in the various Par liaments, and some have been colonial min isters; for example, V. L. Solomon (1899), Premier of South Australia, and Sir John Vogel, long Premier of New Zealand. In Adelaide J. Lazar, J. M. Solomon and Lewis Cohen (1883-84) have been mayors; M. Laza rus has been president of its Chamber of Manu factures. In Melbourne Edward Cohen was three times mayor, E. L. Zox being his suc cessor in Parliament. I. A. Isaacs was attor ney-general (1894-99), his brother J. I. was a member of Parliament (1894), other members being N. Steinfeld of Ballarat, Joseph Stein berg of Bendigo, F. J. Levien of Geelong, Theo. and B. J. Fink and D. B. Lazarus. In Sydney the name of J. G. Raphael is preserved in several of its streets; he with Charles Col lins, L. W. Levy and J. J. Cohen occupied official positions; George J. Cohen, Richard Gotthelf and other Jews were presidents of the Chamber of Commerce; H. E. Cohen was one of the judges of the Supreme Court. In 1905 J. J. Cohen, Daniel Levi and A. E. Collins were members of the legislative assembly. It must be added that intermarriages have been very frequent in Australia, particularly in Sydney. Exceedingly handsome synagogues are in Sydney and Melbourne, and smaller ones elsewhere. The better class of Jews are well
represented in professional and mercantile life. In 1912 Arthur M. Myers was called to the New Zealand cabinet, and Hyman Herman ap pointed government director of Geological Sur vey of Victoria. In 1913 John Monash of Vic toria made brigadier-general; • 1916, major general in the European War.
Africa.--It is not easy to give exact tics as to the Jews in Africa, but to follow the figures given by Isador Loeb, about 25 years ago their numbers were then 468,000—the population of the different localities being Abyssinia, 200,000 (a palpable exaggeration); Algeria and Sahara, 43,500; Cape Colony, 1,500 (since then increased probably to 50,000) ; Egypt, 8,000; Morocco, 100,000; Tripoli, 60,000, and Tunis, 55,000. In Abyssinia exists a colony of Jews called Falashas, who have other appellations in different parts of the country. Their origin is obscure, but they pre serve Jewish customs. Agriculture is their chief occupation. They are ignorant of He brew, but preserve the Mosaic religion based upon the Ethiopic version of the Pentateuch. They are found in various districts of Abys sinia and have had an eventful history. In Algeria, the condition of the Jews was greatly improved by the French conquest, and their re ligious status is on a par with the Jews of France. The consistory of Algiers has five congregations and 14 outlying communities; Constantine's includes 21 communities and Oran 3& In 1891 Leroy-Beaulieu gave a total Jew ish population of 47,564. Practically due to M. Drumont and the French Clericals anti Semitism raged in Algiers for some years, but has grown less violent. Of the Jews of a recent census showed a large proportion fol lowed handicrafts. It has 19 synagogues, 13 being private. In South Africa the Jewish population may be stated to have reached nearly 50,000, including the Transvaal, 25,000; Cape Colony, 22,000; Natal, 2,000. Cape Town has four synagogues, and they are scattered in every district, the large influx of Russians be ing noticeable. Kimberley's synagogue has a memorial tablet to Jewish officers and soldiers who fell in the Anglo-Boer War. Natal has two synagogues. Jonas Bergthal (1820-1901) was a member of the assembly, while in the 90's A. Fass and M. G. Levy held official positions; in the Orange Free State Isaac Bau mann was twice mayor of Bloemfontein; M. Leviseur and W. Ehrich have had civic honors. In the Transvaal the Jews enjoy a large share of prosperity, and among the men of prom inence can be mentioned Samuel Marks, the Barnatos, Neumann, Albu, Eckstein, Alfred Beit. In the Boer War about 2,800 Jews fought on the British side and many were in the Boer ranks. Jewish services are held in Rhodesia, where communities are growing — Buluwayo has a synagogue, as well as in Bechuanaland and in Portuguese territory in Lourenco Marques. There are numerous Zion ist societies, and the religious training of the young is steadily improving.