The New York herald., 1871-03-19
Tho P.lp,. Light. Of Jsdaisn.

Tho Pulpit Lights Of Judaisa.
During the past few weeks we have pub
lshed each Sunday carefully reported abstracts
Of the sermons delivered on the Jewish Sab.
bath in the principal synagogues Of the city,
They have been taken at haphazard, the only
standard Of selection being the high reputa-
tiOn Of the preachers, and, therefore, fairly
represent the general tone of pulpit teaching
among American Israelites And their tone
has been 80 high and the principles
advanced so noble and liberal that
we are sure our readers will welcome
what we propose now to glve-brief criticisms
of three great representative Jewish preachers.
First of all We shall take DR.. Gutheim, Of
the Temple Emanuel, comparatively young
man, but with worldwide reputation for his
scholarly requirements, for the progressive
and concliatory attitude he has assumed
toward the outside Christian world and for
an eloquence which, though rarely impas-
stoned, is thoughtful, earnest and impressive.
He looks at every injunction of the law, every
tradition of his race and every ancient Jewish
custom In the naked light of absolute logic.
He accepts nothing until it has been ad-
judged acceptable by the unbiased de-
cision of the intellect. He so to speak,
untwists the very Gbres of theological
dogmas, and holds fast only to such threads Of
divine light as seem agreeable to the spirit Of
the age and the genius of the people among
whom he has been thrown.
We shall next take DR.. Isaacs, kindly but
stubborn conservative. Here and there in his
sermons plainly crop out doubts whether the
old scheme of Judaism must not, perforce, be-
somewhat modified But, as a matter of
principle, he is ever anxious to tread in the
ancient paths of thought and worship and
custom. He evidently thinks that all change,
even though it be for the better, is misfor-
tune and necessary evil. As a scholar he
holds deservedly high rank; but even his
scholarship is colored by his habits of thought
and is tnged with not unpleasing tint Of
pedantry. He is so genial, however, in the
expressed tone of his discourses that all,
Christian and Gentle alike, learn to love and
respect him.
And now we shall say few words about
DR.. Vidaver, e rabbi who stands between tho
two extremes we have thus briefly sketched.
He sees that, like every other faith, Judaism
mnst adapt itself to the altered surroundings
of nineteenth century civilization, and is willing
to cheerfully accept all inevitable changes.
Such changes as are forced upon him in the
present he, indeed, considers as harmless;
but running through all his pulpit speech is
plainly marked undertone of dread at the pos
sible changes of the future He is q prey
to two opposite hopes. He desires to
see every barrier broken down between Jew
and Gentle socially and politically, but.
proud Of the noble blood that runs in his
veins, he shrinks from the possibility, how
ever remote, off the two races mixing together
and ceasing to be distinct. In the synagogue
he is eager to discard the absurdiies that
have, like some unhealthy excrescence, grown
over pure Judaism but he wants such re-
form to have definite goal, and he fears that
innovation will no. stop at the limit which he
would fain mark for it.
In conclusion, we can only say how glad we
are 10 notice that Christian ministers now
largely attend the synagogues. To public
religious teacher nothing could be more salu-
tary, as it cannot hut induce feeling of wider,
deeper and more earnest tolerance. Good
men and pure livers are too scarce in these
latter evil days to be kept apart BY the narrow
prejudices of doctrinal differences.