The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-07
TNGRTY.E0tRTH STREET SYNAGOGUE.

Whnt Judaism Is, and Where and by Whom
Prenched-f he sermon the Mount NOtli-
ing New--Dr. Vidaver Christ and Moses.
Yesterday the Congregation Bnai Jesnurun began
the reading in OF the second book the PEN
tateuch (Exodus, from the second chapter and
tenth verse OF which the Rev. DR.. Vidaver dis
coursed eOquenty on the relative merits OF Judaism
ana Christianity showing that the latter has moth
ing good save what 1t has derived from the former
The text describes the finding OF Moses aud his
adoption by the daughter OF Pharaoh, King OF
Egypt, who named MIN Moses because she had
taken him out VI the water The very
first page OF this second book OF tile law
said the RABBI, ia emblazOned with n name which
no lsraelite should pronounce without feelings OF
admiratl0n-Moses. What sancifyIng thoughts and
heaven born inspirations are In That name, ana
what soothing consultations 1t suggests Not only is
the moral grandeur OF Israel, but
THE RICHEST BLESSINGS OF HUMANITY,
even the salvation OF mankind. are associated with
that name. The ancient rabies tell us that when
glory. and the room was illumined with u supernat-
ural lighta symbol OF the light OF divine truth and
through him TO Israel, anu through israel to man
kind, ana which, like yonder orb o! day, has bright
God revealed himself TO Noses but The bush was NOT
cOnsum ed The flame OF ldOlaJry alone consumes,
anu leaves nothing but ashes behnd but the rame
OIL love and ruin shines, but does not consume.
When Moses came down from the mount with the
two tables oil the law his lace also shone with a
divine glory. IL was not the mission OF Moses
merely to raise his own people 10 the acme Of
true Ialtn, but those tables which be bore
which humanity should ne lifted up ana DC mace To
stand firm and sure. lie was TO elevate mankind
IN general ana the institutions founded by aoses
were 10 breathe LIE anu peace TO all men. Whether
we view
MOSES AS A WARRIOR,
q legislator or u poet whatever light we look
at him. he must excite our warmest admiration.
lie Is sreat not only in comparison with the an
clients, but as measured by modern standards OF cu-
ture The religion given by him TO lsrael-the unity
OF God, an invisible and indiyisble being together
the purest conception OF the soul wnen invigOraed
by latin and charity ana Is the only religion which
can spread Its 9gis over mankind and have nothing
lear from science or philosophy or modern in
ndeli;y The more science and philosophy are de.
veloped the more shall Judaism be exalted. And
yet Moses Is not raised to the point Of mysticism
10 be a kind or Goldman. No prOph ct has ever APP
peared like unto him, and yet he was the meekest of
men, flesh and blood like ourselves. We therefore
worship not Moses nor any man born OF woman,
put we worship the true God. We are not
every ASPECT Of Iife~as a prince IN Ed5nt "a y,
shepherd In the deserts OF Arabia was a divine
legislator to Israel Love and truth We're dsrinctye
elements Of his characters Abraham was our father
after the flesh, but Moses Is moral father. Love
and truth are the foundations OF Judaism and those
mankind. The heart OF Moses was filled with these
emotions, and he iorsook a royal palace that he
brethren In slavery. lie finds MIdianltlsn women
at the well, and he draws water for their nocks lie
Is great VINO assist the small. lie ~ who
helps the weak. And Moses has taught us that
GOD is NOT A LOCAL OR A NATIONAL GOD,
but that He Is the Great Am, the omnipotent, ON
niscient Creator and Ruler OF All. When Moses
asked 10 see HIS Glory AdOnai-Jehovah declared
that lie would make all his goodness pass before
hlm-goodness beng the leading attribute OF the
Almighty. Is not such conception OF the Godnead
IN harmony win science ana philosophy And
OF liberty and Of love- and tie snaekes 'U Of
tyranny and OF slavery-thOse eycrcscences
Of superstition and ldolatry--must break and
Atyn-
Dor as myself. Why Because | am jehovah. Love
the stranger that is within my gates also because
We were strangers, anu all are the children OF God
Three thousand one hundred years have passed
since these commandments were gwen Nv Moses 10
JewIsn cIvIllzatIon. Men OF culture wiz sometimes
speak OF Judaism as temporary dispensatiop. as
II the dispensatlon OF love and truth and virtue
could he temporary OF transient No; the grass
may wIlher and the mower fade. but the Word OF
which nils up every cnasin. IL cannot aud wnl not
cease. IL j. absurd ~ suppose that Win thc advent
OF Christianity were arst manifested TO The world the
elements or Jewish laith-lo,e ana truth ana mercy
and goodness We assert that all these things
taught ana believed long, long before the Nazarene
began his ministry. There L. not "a truth IN
TIE SERMON On THE MOUNT
which every little end IN Jerusalem did not Know
by neart long before. The Doctor then referred To
the tyranny OF sO-called Christianity manifested
for centuries IN the Inqulsiton, the slaughter Of St.
Bartnoiomew's day aud OF lne Waldcn-es and OF
Jews and Christians alike. The lnquiItlon cease Il
IN spain only 1910, ne said. after II had destroyed
sss3.oO0 souls. We defy any student OF history,
Ism. Ihat Christianity which Is bul ialnt Imlta-
iioD OF Judaism could not have pefpctfated these
crimes. They the Ouigr0wth oi morbid ianati-
clsm born IN the BRAIN OF priests--a system winch
degrades divinity and makes God "A piece oi nesh-a
dOgnatism winch teaches That religion can tie had
only certain line; that the Keys OF heaven are
given 10 one ndivIdua and MOI TO another, and that
Cot i not one, but many. such system Is not the
offspring OF Judaism, and never can he. Its ~ new
ulspensaon altogether and Tor centuries II bore the
name aud wore the garD OF Christianity. In an edi-
,orlai IN leading paper OF TINS city On December
% II was stated ina,
. JUDAISM HAS FLorHfsHED AND FAILED.
MOI so. judaism still GOurIs1es wherever love ana
uuth anu Ruouness are preached whether IN the
magnincent church III fiith avenue, or IN the village
cn'pei' or IN the halls Of Jnsice legislation
WHERE liberty ior al u declared. I;ut OF you
Inlay teii me tilat yon don't near other Radius
preach this KIND OF Judaism. Tney talk VI siam
pulocks. ana goats, and lambs. ana imposing
ceremonlals. Dou't talk 10 me- said the Doctor,
about sucn things. they were gwen for one age
ana were preserved until greater culture and en-.
l&ntenment prevailed. But the true Judaism of tile
Bible IL love, and Truth, aud Justice and poodness
and mercy 10 all, until the knowledge OF the Lord
shall cover the earth the waters cover the great
deep. Then shall the Gentiles remember the law OF
Moses the servant or God, ana he couyinre, thai
JUDAISM has NOT GCuri5hcd and lalcI