The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-07-22

The HERALD some time ago was the first to
call the '-ention of the Israelites of this city
and of the country to their great need of English
speaking rabies and preachers. The Jewish
press took some notice of our article at the
time and commented upon it-some favorably
and some otherwise. The editors and their
patrons thought they were pretty well of be-
cause three of their largest and finest syna-
gogues and most wealthy and fourishing con-
gregations in this city were supplied with
English preaching. They rested there, and
though more than year has elapsed nothing
has been done and no effort has been made to
supply this want any further. But the leaven
has been working ever since, and now, when
an emergency has arrived the Jewish press
re-echoes our cry of need, and the Messenger
for last week has q couple Of doleful articles
on the subject. The two leading synagogues of
the city, and indeed of the country, are liable
to be, and one is certain to be, deprived of
English preaching after the end of this year.
The Rev. DR.. Gutheim has resigned his
position as English preacher in the Temple
Emanuel, FIFTH avenue, and has re-engaged
with the congregation whom he served in
New Orleans before he came to New York.
The Temple congregation have been advertis-
ing for q successor for q couple of months past
but, as yet, have not found one. And now the
Congregation b mai Jeshurun, in Thirty fourth
street second only to the Temple in size, num-
bers and influence, are looking for preacher
to succeed the eloquent DR.. Vidaver. And
where are those congregations to look for the
snen they need? Not to America, for they are
not here. The Jesoish Messenger utters the sad
lamentation that "there is not single Jewish
pulpit in America occupied by a minister in
structed on our SOIL" And should DR.. Vida
yer leave the city there would then be but one
English speaking rabbi left among us-namely,
Rev. s. M. Isaacs, of Forty fourth street syna-
gogue.
Nor can the congregations look to England
for the supply which they SO greatly need,
since the Messenger, which ought to be good
authority, asserts that 'there is no seminary in
Europe which can furnish ministers capable of
supplying the American Jewish pulpit" And
yet the Israelites Of this country have known,
or they might have known these many years,
that just such time as the present would
come upon them, but they made compare
lively no provision against it. A few years
ago, it is true, they established the Maimo-
hides College in Philadelphia; but it has never
received any support worthy of the cause or of
American Hebrew wealth, and to-day it is re-
ported in a languishing condition, with just
three students in it. And the extremity be-
comes more alarming when we consider that
this is the only Jewish rabbinical college in
the country.
Looking away from our own metropolis,
which can command at best but three English
speaking rabies, how many do we find else
where in the United States In Cincinnati
there ore Drs. Wise and Lilienthal, radical re-
formers; in Philadelphia there is Rev. Mr..
Jacobs, and In New Orleans his brother, Cana
dians, and consequently speaking English
Auently enough; and in Evansville, Ind, Rev.
George Brown, who has given up the professions
of law and medicine and taken to the pulpit.
These, SO far as we can ascertain, are oil the
English speaking rabies in the United States.
But what are they among so many? The diff
fculty hitherto has been in supposing that
American Jews would remain forever content
to study Hebrew and German for the sake of
worshipping God in those languages 1t was
q great mistake, and its fruits are but just ap-
pearing Far easier would it have been to
have educated one hundred ministers
In English than one hundred thou
sand people in German and Hebrew.
Israeltes born on American soil can
not be expected to have as much sympathy as
their fathers with those languages, nor with
European natonalities and ideas; and to
maintain Judaism in America something more
than mere recitation of prayers in Hebrew
and German is necessary The people now
are much more intelligent than they we're
century or half q century ago, and any re-
igous system that keeps not up with the
progressive spirit of the age must expect to
meet just such crises as this in which the
Jewish Church in America now finds itself.
The rising generations demand a form of reli-
gion which their hearts can appreciate and
hold fast to, though they ask for no change in
the true spirit of religion OF all and it is the
attempt to confne them within the iron bands
of the systems Of bygone ages that has pro-
.duoed that result which the Hebrew press so
generally and so frequently lament-namely,
that the young Israelites do not manifest that
love for the synagogue which their fathers and
forefathers showed. Rightly understood this
very religious indisposition is sign of pro-
Eress which calls loudly and earnestly on the
Jewish Church to furnish such spiritual food
rs young American souls can digest Give
them religious as well as secular instruction in
their vernacular, and there will not be much
cause to complain of empty pews and neglected
synagogues. We make no such mistakes any
where as in religion, and nowhere so fire.