Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-12-25
REMARKABLE CONVERSION.
A Christian Woman Voluntarily
Turns Jewess.

IS not prOSelyJlng reilg1On. Anc NsAiv10
sects of Christians have their missionaries
ever at work in all quarters Of the glceei
and even now, we believe, they have IA
England church fairs to raise money for tne
conversion of the Jews, with no success 81
all. The Jews, however, have made noneof
these attempts; their religion has been con-
fined almost entirely to the chosen race OF
Coda race which has enjoyed and eelebrz-
ted that religion for over forty centuries
since the very birth Of history. Occasion
ally, however, converts have been made OF
persons outside Of the race Of Israel, but
these have been made at long Intervals,
and were In all cases men who had mar
ried or who desired to marry daughters OF
Judea. The conversion Of a woman TO
Judaism has seldom, II ever, been known
before. The Church of Israel does not re-
gard woman as mans equal, and treats her
to certain inferiority that would seem not
to invite female converts.
Yesterday, however, singular case OF
this kind occurred of a woman, mature in
mind, who voluntarily resigned the Christ
ian religion and Joined the older, the jew
ishj religion.
The person making the change was Mrs.
Caroline Socha, who married an Israelite
of this city some six years ago. Mrs. Socha
attended the jackson Street Synagogue, the
sGates of Prayer" and after hearing the
Jewish faith and tenets, as explained by
the Rev. Marx Moses, Rabbi Of that Syn
agogue, announced that she was more
pleased with them than the belief and GER
emonies of her original church, and desired
to adopt Judaism After long catechism
and questioning, Mr.. Moses became con
Vinced that Mrs. Socha was true believer
and honest in her determination. The re-
suit was the ceremonies yesterday, august
and interesting as are all those Of the jew
ish Church, whereby Mrs. Socha was made
an Israelite in religion
Afler the usual service and ceremonies in
the synagogue, Mrs. Socha made her ap-
pearance in the aisle or body Of the
chu-ch-which, by the by, is in Jewish
temples reserved especially for the male
portion of the congregatron-accompanied
by three lady friends. .se.s
The ceremonies were opened with q
prayer by the Rev. Marx Moses, the Rabbi
of the church, after which the following
ceremonies ensuedr
RABBI.
Blessed be he that cOmeth in the name
Of the Lord
Mrs. Socha, you have to-day entered the
house of God ard approached the sanctuary
OF the ever-present Jehovah with firm
resolution to embrace Judaism as that sys-
tenn of faith which you hold to be the mOsl
rational in its doctrines, most beneficial 10
the domestic happiness of individuals and
the welfare of humanity. If this opinion
OF yours were but of to-day or yesterday, |
would call the ceremony Of this hour con-
versiOn-a change Of religious ideas; but l
am glad to say that, with you, IL is only
the public adoption of that which you be-
lieyed long ago. You were a JeweSs al
heart long since by the libeTality Of your
religions sentiment and by the superiority
of your reason above mysterious dogmas
and miraculous conceptions. II it is, there
fore, vet your earnest desire to be one Of
ours, l request you to state what you believe
to be true in regard to Gods attributes, hu-
man dignity and Israel's mission.
sHEMA JIsRAEL ADoNAI.
Elohenu Adanoi Echol- Hear, o Israel!
the Lord is our God, the Lord is one. /
believe with perfect faith that the Crea-
tor is the first and last of all things. / he
lieve that the law which We have pC'E. in
our possession is the same law whie4l was
given 70 Moses, our instructor, for the hap
piuess and salvation of man.
| also believe that there is no other me-
diator between God and man, and other
salvation for sinners except the abandon
ment of evil; that the soul, being immOr-
tai, will partake ofreward and punishment
in the world 10 come, the manner Of which
is only known to the Almighty. l also be-
lieve that God has selected Israel to be the
Messiah Of the world, to redeem mankind
through the everlasting truth of a pure re-
ligion, which will unite all mankind into
one brotherhood by the means of truth,
love and peace, when they will all acknOwl-
edge that God is one and His name one.
Rabbits questiOn-DO you freely and OF
your own accord join the Jewish faith?
Answer-I do, in the presence Of all
these people in this House Of the Lord, de
clare my purpose to join the Jewish nation
and recognize the unity Of God.
QuestiOn-Are you acquainted with the
principal doctrines of Judaism?
Answer-I am well acquainted with
them, and hereby do declare them. be
lieye with perfect faith that God blessed
be His namel) is the Creator of all created
beings, and that he alone has made, and
ever will make, every production. j be
lieve with a perfect faith that the Creator
is the only God, and that there is no unity
whatever like unto Him; and that He alOn'
is our God, as it is written in the HOLY
Scripture.
Question-Can you inform me of th'
most important words of the holy law?
Answer 1 can. The most impOrtan
words are those in the Second Book, chap
ter 10, sixth verse: "And God said untC
Israel, Ye shall be unto me kingdom Oi
priests and an holy nation"
Rabbi-These are the principal doctrine
Of Judaism as they are held by its confess
OTIS, and destined to redeem the world iron
error and fiction. | bid you now approach
me, so as to allow me to endow you with ;
name in Israel, and to invoke Gods bless
ing upon your future life.
With this Mrs. SOcha approached the
Rabbi, and with bended head listened tC
the following blessing: A legend of the
Bible relltes how Jacob, meeting an ange
of the Lord, wrestled with him until day
light, after which the agel addressed him
"YOu have overcome me; therefore you
name shall not be called any more Jacob
but Israel, meaning champion Of God.
So have you, my dear sister, wrestled will
superstition and the powerful influences o
life, but have, like Jacob, come out yictori
ously. From henceforth your name shall
be called in Israel Leah. Blessed be thoI
in entering the blessed temple of Judaism
Blessed be thou in going out as daughte
of Israel, as a child Of the eternal indivisi
bic Father. Amen.
Rabbi-The congregation will pleas
rise for prayer.
PRAYER BY MRS. SoCHA.
Thou eternal and indivisible God, be
seech Thee in this solemn hour enlighteI
my understanding and strengthen M
spirit, so that the beauties Of Thy eyerlast
ing cOnvenant be displayed before my men
tai vision and its rational doctrines be i'm
pressed upon my miod. o, Father o
Humanity, my soul rejoices in the belle
of its original purity; delights in the di
rect communion she holds now with Thy
divine power, and feels exalted in the sub
lime conceptions she has formed
Of Thy unity, all redeeming power
and all-saving love. Thanks to Thee
0, Infinite Jehovah, that beheld the ligh
of reason which, shining forth from Sinai
sun, is d. stined to redeem the world ant
create universal fatherhood, God, and
common brother hood of man. Oh, let M
cling with ardent zeal to Thy sacred be
hest, to love my nAighbOr as myself, so a
TO become a worthy co-wOrker in the hol,
mission of Judaism. As child approaches
his father, so baye |, o God, drawn M