The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1870-03-02
What is Judaism?

We some time since alluded to the preva-
lence of theological rationalism among the
Jews. On the Continent of Europe, espe-
cially among the Germans, still more in Eng
land, and to no small extent in this country,
their old traditional system seems to be
thoroughly disintegrating. 1t may be sober
ly said, we think, that no religious commu-
nifty in the world is experiencing more
powerful influence from what's called "mod-
ern thought" in proportion to its numerical
strength, than are the Israeltes The new
and splendid synagogue on Fifth Avenue is
a temple of Jewish rationalism. The superb
synagogue in Cincinnati is another. There
are such Jewish congregations in Brooklyn,
Philadelphia, and most of our other cities.
These advanced thinkers" take the lead,
we suppose, among their race generally in
the New World. They sustain vigorous
Journal in this city.
The great achievement of the party has
been the overthrow of the Talmud. This
was their supreme authority in not only mat
tiers of faith, but of ceremonials, of man
ners, and even of morals, for if the sacred
writings took precedence at all, it was but
alphabetically; the Talmud was supposed,
of course, to include substantially the He
braic Scriptures, but also gave their inter
probation and applications 1t has been for
nearly two thousand years to the Jews what
the Church, with its Traditions, Councils,
Popes, and Popes Bulls, have been (rela-
lively to the Christian Scriptures) among the
Latin races. And the overthrow of the Tai
mud is as great revolution with the Jews,
as was the overthrow of the Papal system
by the Reformation among the Teutonic
Christians. 1t has let loose the spirit of
universal inquiry and universal reform. 1t
was time that such an emancipation should
take place; for the Papal traditional system
itself did not surpass in superstition and
puerility, nor in paralyzing, mental deSpot-
ism, the absurditjes of the Talmud
With this emancipation from Tradition
must necessarily come many new follies; it
is one of the retributions of great and long
sanction of error that its correction, like the
surgical elimination of disease, shall be
painful, sometimes dangerous, And the re-
action of credulity, of superstition, is always
more or less toward unreasonable skepticism
and Generalization. This effect, however,
can be but temporary with the race, though
it may be fatal with individuals. The pro-
cess is good one, therefore, though not
without its incidental evils.
"What is Judaism?" is again relevant
question in the religious world, for these
changes are making it new thing. A
learned Jew of the reformed school, Raphael
Die Levin, has just put forth book with
this interrogatory as its title. (AppletOn s
Company, Nsv York; Without giving the
history of the new reformation, it discusses
the question of what compoSeS, theological
ly and morally, substantial Judaism---Juda-
ism as accepted by the rationalistic Hebrews,
and destined to prevail, henceforth, among
the Abrahamic race, at least throughout
Europe and America, if not the whole civil
lied world. The upshot of the whole theory
of the book is, that the pure Monothesm
and ethical system of the Old Testament are
the only enduring Judaism. lie admits and
advocates the continuance of some of the
commemorative festivals of his people, as
useful aids to religious devotion and as
salutary social recreations, but they are not
authoritative, like the Monotheistic and
ethical systems. One pregnant paragraph,
which the writer gives in capitals, shows how
sweeping the rationaliStic revolution has be-
come: Sacrifice is dead The Jewish nation
atty, as a separate political organization, is
overtF own. The belief in the restoration
of Israel to the land of their fathers, and
that the Redeemer will come to Zion, is an
exploded theory; and God be praised for all
his merces!
There are over two hundred Jewish con-
gregations in the United States. There are
more Jews in the city of New York than in
the Holy Land, or indeed in all Syria. They
are also the most enlightened, and, taken as
a whole, the most wealthy and enterprising
of their race. Their power must therefore
be important in shaping the future of Hebrew
history. In cooperation with their ration
aliStic brethren of Europe, they can hardly
fail to succeed, though it may be long time
before the sluggish Jewish populations of
Russia and the Levant may feel their infu-
ence. The movement, however, has become
too profound, we think, to fail.
What will be the result? Rationalism,
invading pure and salutary faith, may be
morally disastrous; but breaking up a sys-
tenn at once of superstition and unbelef, like
that of Judaism, of Northumberland, or
Popery, may be real reform, and an aid
to improved morals In this instance it may