Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-07-16
OLD AND NEW JUDAISM.
Lecture by Che Rev. DE. KRliseh The
Mosaic DispensatiOn and tlEe New

A very interesting lecture was delivered
Sunday evening to a large and intelligent
audience, by the Rev. Dr. IsadoF Kalisch,
of Newark, N. j., at The North Market
Street Synagogue ia this city. DR.. kalisch
is a learned man and an able representative
of what can be termed the liberal school CT
the Jewish sect, his views in several re-
spects spproximating these of heterodoX
Christians. Ex-Governor Henry s. Foote
introduced the lecturer, who at once enter
ed upon his subject, showing that the differ.
ence between old and new Judaism was
much greater than ID generally supposed.
The Mosaic law, the speaker thought, was
intended exclusively for the times and state
of the people to whom it was given. Tho
changed and modified. The advance made
has been almost immeasUrable.
Instead of the sacrifices In the wilderness,
the burning and offering up of flesh sacri-
fees, the sprinkling Of blood and other GER
emonies pr scribed BY the ritual, there are
to-day magnificent places Of worship, the
congregations instructed by culGTed men
and men of liberal thought. The music Of
the best masters is sung and performed by
trained Artists, and other exercises con-
Quoted in striking contrast with those of
former times. These religious exercises
have in fact-perhaps almost unconscious
ly-been adapted TO the tastes and necessi-
ties of the age. The Mosaic dispensation
was an ancient tree from which have been
produced the wonderful fruits Of Judaism,
Mohametanism and Christianity, and
still ripper fruit from which all mankind
shall procure nourishment may yet be borne
on the same tree. @
The Mosaic dispensation and Judaism
are not, however, identical. New Judaism
has some things in common with the old,
and at the same time that it contrasts
strongly with it, is notin opposition. The
faith of the old is possessed by the follow
ers of the new. But higher spiritual pow
er and vitality pervades the new, as is
consistent with the modern era. After the
Israelites emerged from Feticism an Isra-
elitic empire-as a theocracy-was estab-
lished. The following Mosaic system then
prevailed: Jehovah is the sole Creator, Su-
preme Lord and possessor of heaven and
earth, the Father of all nations, of whom Is
rael is the first born. All other nations
were, however, placed under the care of in
fsrior deities. I'll a. r.- ~
Deuteronomy iv; 10: "And lest thou lift
up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou
seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars,
even all the host of heaven, sho1ldst be
driven to worship them, and serve them
which the Lord thy God hath divided unto
all nations under the whole earth"
Concerning this verse the lecturer said
the Talmud states that it contained such q
positive justification of idolatrous worship
that during the reign of Ptolemy, King of
Egypt-270 years before the comlnon era
the interpreters deemed it best to change it.
Polytheism was also exposed in many 9TH
er places. In the slime of the Psalmist this
ship Him all ye gods" "AmOng
the gods there is none Like unto Thee. For
the Lord is great God, and King above
all GODS" ETC., etc. These gods we're evi-
IDENTIFY not regarded merely as chimeras,
but beings differing from Jehovah in degree
and not kind. In fact subordinate deities.
This was then the reason that the Israel
ties were constantly falling into error, run
ming after the gods Of other nations. The
Mosaic dispensation aimed at a conduct Of
life through which good and virtuOus
character might be attained. There are,
therefore, no mysterious doctrines to be
found in the system; everything taught
therein is comprehensive, and serves to
promote the welfare Of the spirit and body.
One singular fact may be noted, by the
way, that in the whole Pentateuch the ex-
preston 'sbelieye" is never to be found.
The new development of the religious
idea went forth from the institute Of the
al H. or
philosophy, poetry, music, law, politics and
all that could develop the growth of
humanity and lead the soul to absolute love
of God were taught in that school. The
ideas disseminated from this school greatly
aided in moulding the national character,
and exercised highly beneficial Influence
up to the time of the Babylonian captivity.
From the writings of the prophets it was
also shown that the Israelits were not the
only people that were to bow the knee to
Jehovah, but that he was to be "King over
all the earth" GAN the ends of the world
shalt remember and return unto Jehovah
and all families of the Gentiles shall wor-
ship before Thee" The poets also fire.
quently gave expression to the hope of a
religion.
A full account Of the "Scribes" was also
given, and the important part they perform
ed in the work of reformation. Very in
teresting citations from their writings mot
in the Scriptures) were also read, from
which it was conclusively shown that much
we regard to-day as liberal and progressive
came from this school of TefOrmers. The
same speculations and attempted solutions
Of problems that modern thinkers have puz-
lied over were INDUCED in by them. A
century before the Christian era Rabbi
Hlllel wrote the golden rule as follows:
80 not unto others as thou wishest not to
be done" Ito thee). He also wrote: "Judge
not thy neighbor until thou be in his stu
ltion."
Coming TO the structure of Judaism
he lecturer gave the following new or
Second Decalogue."
l. They believe in an eternal, invisible,
md immutable unity of God, who is the
ource of all, the Father of all mankind,
rearing the prayers of all His children,
Without any mediator.
2. Man is gifted with an immortal soul
o be good and to do good, to love men, and |
Tod, and thus to be contented ia the pre-
ent state of life as well as the next world. |
3. The Mosaic religion is capable of an in |
mite progress.
4. The spirit of the Sacred Scriptures
must be conceived, and all and everything |
hat proves itself as temporary and local |
must be discarded from Judaism. Having |
cquired perfect knowledge of the subject |
free inquiry and Interpretation may be ex-
rciseo, and the Scriptural text eXpounded |
" common rules of grammar, logic and |
hetoric (Articles 5, 6, Z and are omit |
ed, being substantially embodied in the
thy
9. A Messiah who shall lead back tie |
sraelites to Palestine, is neither expected |
Ior wished for. The true israelite cOnsid-
rs the country where he was born, or
7here he gained his citizenship, his Pales-
inc.
10. The idea of Messiac destiny of |
srael is to be retained. Israel's holy mis-
ion is to become the redeeming Messiah Of |
Il mankind, teaching and preaching the
ruth.
Notwithstanding the Indictment evening
here was large congregation, all Of whom I
7ere very much interested and probably |
ntertajned by this distinguished lecturer. |