The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-08-31
ISRAEL.

|
| Church Reform Among the Jews-lirand In.
transitional Congress OF Rabbis-gIosais
Worship in Change Of Form--Relision and
Science In Conflict.
CAssEL, Hesse, August II, 1858.
A grand international congress Of Jewish rabbis
was opened yesterday at the town hall, which had
been literally offered by the magistrates. The nu
merous rabbits who had come from all parts Of Ger
many, even from Vienna and Switzerland, were wei
coined by DR.. Lazarus Adler, Rabbi of Cassel, who
expressed regret at the sudden indispostion which
prevented DR.. Wolf from Gothenburg (Sweden)
and DR.. Gottheim, from Manchester (Engandl, to be
present All the rabbis had been quartered in the
private houses Of Israeite citizens and left
for some more yet expected to arrive Dr. Adler was
then appointed by unanimous vote President OF the
assembly, and two Vice Presidents were elected in
the persons Of the rabbi from Berlin, DR.. Aub and
the rabbi from Bonn, DR.. Phillipson.
The OBJECT Of the rabbinical congress having been
stated by Dr. Adler. e.. solution Of the conflict with
which the Hebrew Church is threatened, conflict
between religion and science, between old rites OF
worship and modern ones-he was followed
by Rabbi DR.. Phiipson,' ST., Of Bonn,
who reviewed the efforts Of the last two
rabbinical congresses In Frankfort and Breslau
In 1874 and 1s46 He admitted that the frmest char
acters would modify their views after lapse OF
years, as all and everybody were but creatures OF
time; but he desired that the assembly should pass
resolutions which, though not binding the Israeltsh
congregations may serve them as guideposts. They
needed such guides very much, and II the present
generation would not accept them the rising one
would. He compared the Jewish religion to an old
though once seaworthy ship, In which many Of
Israel's children had crossed the waters In safety
But now the sheathing is gone, the timbers rotten,
and who accuse those who try to repair and i'm
prove what Is left Of destructive tendencies,
of hierarchcal ambitionS Every Jewish community
is entirely at liberty to follow its own dictates, but
the resolutions Of this assembly would serve many
as beacon light.
This brought out Dr. Geiger Rabbi of Frankfort-on-
the-Man, who proposed to settle first the character
OF the assembly, which, as he considered It, had met
to discuss but not to decide questions 1t Will not
do for us, he said to proceed independently In these
matters without allowing delegates of communities
full share In the debate and the voting. The
communities are eminently Interested in ques-
lions on worship and we here, rapbis only, should
organize first regular synods to be held every second
third year. and to which representatives of Israel
ito communities and theoogists should be admitted
DR.. Aub, Rabbi of Berlin, supported this position
taken by tie previous speaker. He considered that
dictate.
Rabbi Phillipson opposed these and several other
colleagues he demanded action they ought not to
consider themselves only q consultation body, nor
should he like to 60 home empty handed. What he
wanted to propose and resolve upon reforms Of
'ynagogcal ritual for which purpose he had drawn
Up thirty questions had them printed and distributed
70 members. Mosaic worship ought to assume again
The simple forms IL has once possessed allowing Of
It's performance In the smallest community with Inn
tied means. Shall the reading Of the Thora within
circle OF three years be preferreds Is the Hafara to
be kept upY In what languages Is a choice Of por-
tons OF 1t to be made every two or three years, or
shall II be LEFT to free ehosef Are select parts Of the
Schema, Thefllla, Kedusha, priestly blessings and
Kaddish for orphans to be retained in the old idomY
Il the public service 10 begin with Borchu, with an
Introductory OF one or several psalms, with one
Nishmath, &C.. or with q songs Are the parts be-
tween borchu and kriath Schema, and between the
latter and Ihenla to be altered and to be spoken in
Hebrewr Shall Mussaf-Thehlla be left out SO that
Mussaf will be followed by Haftara in song ser
mon Olenu. Kaddish, &C, and finally with halle
lujahs In Minlan TO be retained IA hithertOY Shall
changes be made respecting a. the calling up OF
angels by their names: b, the sacrifices; c. the per-
sonai return to Paiestiney But should not on the
other hand. new prayers treat the religious mis-
sion OF Israel, on provdentia protection in its his
history. on the principles OF Judaism, &c.s
Relating 70 the three high festivals, shall, as
sabbath, the festive Thenla, Thora, Kaftara and
other songs be introducedS Snail ualel be said In
Hebrew Or IN the LANGUAGE Of the land and shall II
The1a and Hallel explicatve OF the meaning OF the
festiyalf Shall prayer be said on Pessach for the
weather In spring and summer and on Shmini Aver
eth for that OF autum and winter dew and rain)S
Shall al the Piutin be left out In futuref What Is
to be done with LaiaiY And what with Slmchath.
festivalsf Shall full and additional sermon be
preached on Rosh-hashana and JONI Kippur morn
portion OF the Thora heretofore be read Rosh-
hashanaf In Jom-Kippur TO be further divided into
Ecshamoth be said between Shachrit and MussafS
How shall IL be with Abodaf And shall that portion
OF Thora heretofore In use be said in addition to
hinchahf Shall the singing during service be
unisono2 May the organ he recommended Shall
. choir and musical performances be admissible,
though to be recommended only In cases OF sufficient
and capable performers and barring ali profane
musicf
majority of the Congress OF Rabbis decided,
however, that before entering upon the consdera-
ton OF these and oil other questions relating 70 rites
and ceremonies the primary question OF Rabbi DR..
Geiger, Of Frankfort, should be first disposed Of.
The motion OF that gentleman, TO witt
their meeting grslimnay g succeeded ~
gates from CT nnunfes shah be admitted
Of snro S 1. s,ssd By 5 be
port 10 the present or 10 . luure assembly.
This was voted upon and carried BY o majority.
The next object OF the debate Was the composition
Of future synods. SonIe opposition was made 20 the
admission OF theoiogsts other than rabbs and 60
laymen representing comuunities but II was finally
agreed In liberal spirit to adopt no such rstric-
tons. was further suggested that aside from gem
eral biennial synods there should be annual pro-
vncial, district and local meetings.
The assembly adjourned at late hour IN the after
noon 70 ING following ascoxn nav.
AUGUST 13.-Prayer having boon said. the assembly
greeteda newly arrived rabbi Dr. Goldsmith, from
Leipsc who presented coneratula;ory address to
tho congress from his congregation. Similar adj
dresses6ad been received from Amsterdam, Rotter.
dam AMI various other sections. The committee was
then appointed 70 make the requisite preparations
for fuure synod said committee consisting OF the
rabbis rom berlin Bonn and Frankfort.
The dbate now turned again upon the important
reforms proposed In the ritual liturgy, and 70 which
end number Of other motions aside rom those
mentioned had been handed II. the more radical
rabbis IRE not adverse 10 taking up the matter,
while tie conservatives Of the assembly are hesitat
ders q O committee TO report at the next synod.
The di,cussion grows quite lively, ana u becomes
evdentthat the views Of Fortschrt rsbois the pro.
eressvet devste much from tne ,rs