Victims of Persecution

Judge Aaron Margolies of New York prepares a speech for a rally in which Jews and Gentiles plan to show solidarity to halt intolerance and religious persecution, which is engulfing Europe, from spreading in the United States. Aaron's daughter Ruth and one of her suitors, John Carter, interrupt Aaron and his secretary Herschel, who is secretly fond of Ruth, with the news that John's father George, the state chairman of a major political party, is going to nominate Aaron to run for governor. Just then, Aaron receives a radiogram from his eighty-two-year-old father-in-law, Judah Rosenbach, stating that he is coming for a visit from the Holy Land, where he went to live ten years earlier after his wife died. Frederick Morgenstern, a wealthy backer of the march, arrives and when he gets Ruth alone, proposes. Ruth is miffed when he says that he plans to contribute to her father's campaign because of his love for her. Sometime after the rally, Aaron and Herschel prepare for a controversial case concerning a black man, Peter Johnson, who, Aaron feels, has been wrongly convicted of murder by a lower court. George arrives to speak with Aaron, and a few bigots, who think he is Aaron, harass him as he enters the house. Aaron's black servant Henry shows Herschel a note that was stuck by the kitchen door with a knife, which reads: "Take warning--Don't play God to the niggers--If he don't hang, you will." Unaware of the note, George warns Aaron that he cannot put through the nomination unless Aaron gives up the Johnson case. Later, Aaron discusses the situation with Judah and delineates his dilemma: if he withdraws from the case, Johnson will probably be sent to death; yet if he persists, his action will arouse increased persecution against his own people, the Jews. A gunshot from a passing car nearly hits Judah. Early in the morning, Judah hears ticking in a bag of groceries that has just been delivered. He immerses it in water, and as a cloud of smoke encircles his head, his eyes are damaged. When it is examined, the bag is found to have contained enough nitroglycerine to blow up the house. George, John, Frederick and Ruth argue with Aaron to give up the case, but Judah takes Aaron's side when Aaron says that justice is the most precious of God's gifts to mankind. To illustrate his reasoning, Judah tells the following story: In the small European principality of Bedenitz, Prince Karl refused to sign a document, which his anti-Semitic chancellor had drawn up, to drive the Jews into exile. Karl warned Mendel, formerly the royal collector of taxes among the Jews, of the chancellor's intention, and Mendel's daughter Leah offered herself to him to save her people. Mendel, when he learned of Leah's actions, was greatly saddened because he felt that she was lost to God. Karl, who fell in love with Leah, destroyed the chancellor's edict, and the chancellor rallied soldiers for a march on the palace. As the battle raged, Karl abdicated and fled with Leah. They climbed to a high spot, and Leah revealed to him her plot. Karl forgave her, and they died together. Mendel, although he lost everything, still praised God. At the completion of the story, Judah states that Leah's sacrifice was in vain. Now, Ruth, George, John and Frederick all tell Aaron that they will support him no matter what he decides. When Aaron and Judah are alone, Judah speaks of a vision of a new day of peace and brotherhood, with no more hatred, envy or ignorance, and Aaron asserts that only through righteousness and justice will they reach that day.