The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-04-19
"Tke Peculiar People,"
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE MILLION JEWS
IN THE UNITED STATES.

NO Onc Uul IL jew can cO1DmcNSu-
rately appreciate the intense happiness
of the Hebrew people in this country.
Free America is the modern Moses
who has delivered them from European
bondage, perhaps far worse than the
Egyptian. They have not been made
to drink the bitter waters of Marah in
this land; they have not thirsted in the
wilderness of Shur,N nor hankered after
the tlesh-pots. They have sped to this
hospita5le province, this modern
'Elim,' where there are more than
twelve wells of water, and three score
and ten palm trees and they are wan
derers no more" This is the language
of a clear headed Hebrew, Mr.. j. j.
Noah, who has contributed to Mr.. Ea-
tons new Report on Education,- one of
its most valuable Apprentices. Osten-
sibly, this appendix is an account of
Hebrew Education in the United States;
but it is more than this. We do not
knOw'Of a better historical and social
sketch of the American Jews than that
which Mr.. Noah has put together, nor
one which congresses so much curious
information within limited space.
There are in the United States about
one million resident Jews; and it is a
singular circumstance that the MAORI
ty of this number no longer consider a
knowledge of the Hebrew language es-
sential. On this point we quote Mr..
Noah, who says: Education in the
Hebrew language is now purely secon-
dairy, audit is only taught for the pur-
pose of enabling them to participate in
the various religious ceremonies which
are given in Hebrew. Modern Ameri-
can reforms introduced in synagogue
worship, do away with the exclusive
ness of the Hebrew, and sermons OF
lectures are now commonly preached
in the English and German languages
Some reformers insist that all the ser
vices should be conducted in English
or German, so that all the congrega-
ton should understand; for it is true
that the percentage of Hebrews at
tending synagogue, and employing the
Hebraic Understandings, is very small
In other words, it is evident that the
Hebrew language is fast losing its inn
portance among the Jews, it being no
longer necessary to employ it lermeti-
cally, although the orthodox Israelites
cling with great pertinacity to the old
habits and customs, and refuse to be
separated from the ancient landmarks.
1t is but question of time, however,
with orthodox Judaism-it must give
way to the reformatory spirit Of the
age"
The Talmud Continues the writer
is no longer taught in Jewish schools
as an exclusive study. 1t is referred to
and inte.woven with other school ex
i erclses, but it is not speciality. The
lsraelites do not, as heretofore, compel
their children to an exclusive study OF
Hebrew, and of Hebrew law, at the
age OF five OF six years; but they i'm
part to them general knowledge OF
Hebrew, SO that they may read it flu
emily, even if they understand it but
imperfectly, to the end that when they
become Bar mit-rah, or thirteen years
of age, 1.-THE Oriental age of manhood
when parental authority is considered
to ceasa,) they may read their portion
of the Icrdh, or the law of Moses, il
the synagogue, as the first witness anf
exhibit of heir entry into the mysti,
rite of manhood. The Hebrew ha.
, been heretofore wrongfnlly classified
among the dead languages. 1t hal
never expired, but has constantly hat
, life. When it is considered, however
that the Hebrew youth are no longel
compelled to master it, or to use it as
language of conversation, it is fast go
ing into decadence, and, like the Latin
, will only serve the purposes of Ian
guage of religious ceremony.
: On the general subject of Jewisl
education, Commissioner Eaton re
f. marks: "The hereditary characteristic
of this peculiar people are shown to b
: in remarkable degree the result of
training at once so minute and so com
prehensive as to embrace almost ever
: act in the life of an Israelite, from tn
I cradle to the grave. Education wit
D him is not thing apart as with tn
0 other nations it is rather the com
/, panion of his whole existence. Hi
relations to his family, to his fellows
: to the synagogue, and to strangers, hi
a habits Of life the preparation of Iii
II food, the ceremonies of his religion
S are all ordered in accordance with trs
ditiOns centuries old. This consta1
education has produced homo gene
i, GUS people, whose characteristics, pre-
q served under so widely varying cond
tons, have outlasted the most persi:
% tent and fearful prosecutions. The
f0ndness for American liberty, an
t6a;r Of tho onn.,,n,, cala