| Joseph Friedlander, comp. The Standard Book of Jewish Verse. 1917. | | | | I Would Reply | | By Milton Goldsmith |
| | | IF one should say, “Thou art a Jew, | |
| Of race for centuries downtrod!” | |
| I would reply: “So was he, too, | |
| Whom you’ve exalted to your God! | |
| Is it a stigma kin to be | 5 |
| With him who preached in Galilee?” | |
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| If one should say, “What are the deeds | |
| The Jew has done!” I would reply:— | |
| “The corner-stone of modern creeds | |
| Was laid by him in years gone by. | 10 |
| He broke the gyves of tyranny | |
| And taught the world humanity!” | |
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| If one should say, “Thy cult is old!” | |
| I would reply: “Why, so is Truth! | |
| But like the brilliancy of gold | 15 |
| It still shines with untarnished youth. | |
| Whatever truths your church may show, | |
| The Jew professed them long ago.” | | | | |
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