The New York herald., 1870-02-14
JEWISH REFORM.

Lecture by DIR. ID. EiuhOrn at the Temple
Adath Jeshurun the Second Resolution
Passed by the RubbinicnI Conference in
Reference to Marital Rites.
In the preceding lecture the reverend preacher had
shown the different conception entertained by mo-
dern Judaism OF woman's position, how the new
mode OF an exchange Of rings Is . sympolical ex-
preston OF the more civilized idea. The second re-
suuti0n OF the Conference had substituted the for
mula. ''Be welded unto me as husband respectively
as wife, according to the law OF God" for the old
formula, which read. "Be welded unto me with
this ring according TO the law OF Moses
and Israel" The marriage by the means
OF ring Is described by r. Cars as
follows:-The groom delivers 10 the bride in pre-
sence OF TWO witnesses q copper coin, or the value
thereof, reciting the words. BE welded unto me
with this.n The words 'according to the law OF
Moses and Israel" were later addition. The sub.
stituuon OF ring for the coin was already step
IN advance, as II the people felt . repugnance 10
acquire woman as they would a piece OF merchan.
disc though the insIgnihcance OF the piece would
indicate that the ceremony had only symbolcal
meaning. Ihe ring was introduced with reference
70 the words IN the Song OF Solomon, WILL. 6-Set
Inc a signet ring upon tiny heart" The words
according TO the law OF Moses and Israel" were
duties deyOlvng upon . Jewish woman, aud
to the validity OF the marriage as subjected
to the RaDDnical authority, SO that q rabbi couid
dissolve marriage, which, according TO the Mosaic
law. was valid aud legal and Oh the principle tiat
every marriage Is consumniated IN Rabbincai
and Its validity at any time subject to kapbini.
Cal arbitration. The retention OF such principle
would indeed, endanger the moral foundation OF
the marriage institute, and 1t Is our sacred uuty 70
abolish formula based thereon. The formula owes
Its origin 10 another circumstance. Ia tue eieVenh
century RABBI Gershom called the light OF the exile,
abolished while ut the head OF synod the lmnorai
institute oil poiygamY and proclaimed the ecces
astcai ban against H. This reform found opposition
IN many congregations, and Ia the thirteenth CEN
tury IL was not yet generally adopted folygamy
Was practiced yet by Jews III the ORIENT as well rs
the Occldent. the addition then, according 10 the
law OF Moses anu Israel, seems TO have been inGro
duced by these ayoring polygamy rs leaning on the
authority Oi Moses auo the Bible, which permits t
IL Is certainly owing 10 Christian influence that
mouogamy became the rule With tine Jews the
Occlden5, as IN the ORIENT 1t Is practlsed TO day yet
by sone Though the Bible tolerated polygainy as
concession 10 human nrejudlces, when could not be
rooted out at once yet toe spirit thereof tells us only
monogamy is divine Institution, the marriage Win
two or more desecration or the divine sanctum OF
humanity. The spirit OF The law stands far above
the letter. He who cannot read between the lines
OF biblical text must dcny divine character either
TO the aw or reason or to the bble The kabDnlcal
Conference therefore gave expression to the modern
consciousness Oh the divinity OF monogamy, and IN
accordance herewith introduced cnange III the
marriage formula.