The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-03-06
CHANCES nv JEWISH uoRsnIP.
Tue Inauguration Of nm Orthodox Rabbi Over
Liberal Congregation.

A large audience listened TO the inaugu-
raj discourse ~ the Rev. Henry 8. Jacobs IN tho
Jewish temple Bna Joshurun IN West Thirty
fourth street on Saturday. This congregation
Ia n liberal ofrshoot Of tho oldest and most
orthodox synagogue in New York. The parent
synagogue In Elm street divided many years
AGO. thu Rev. Or. Raphael, who has died since,
becoming minister Of B'nai Jeshurun, and the
Rev. s. NJ. Isaacs, the venerable rabbi Of the
Forty-fOurth street synagogue, becoming min
lister Of the new congregation. Both at that
time were orthodox. That Of Mr.. Isaacs's is so
still. DR.. Raphael was succeeded by DIR. Vida
yer, VINO subsequently accepted a call to San
Francisco. For time B'nai Jeshurun was with
out regular minister, the services being
chanted by the Hazan, and Mr.. Solomon, lay
man, occasionally delivered discourse IN Eng
lish. Besides being embarrassed financially, the
congregation soon experienced new trouble, a
movement being made by some Of Its most In
nuentlal members TO substitute for It's own
ritual observances those OF the liberal Jewish
congregations. In orthodox synagoguee, like
those In West Nineteenth street and West Forty
fourth street, the oriental custom OF males and
females sitting apart, ana the men covering
their heads, Is still observed. No organ IL used,
and there are no women In the choir Every
man wears a tallas "a white scarf, confirming n
thre Of biue), IN obedience to Mosaic ordi-
n NE, and the tabah, or reading desk. stands In
the middle OF the synagogue, opposite the
Haychol. or nrk. In reformed" synagogues,
like Temple Emmanuel, In Ftfth avenue, the
tallas Ia discarded, the men uncover their he d.,
and sit with their wives and children In pews (;
there Is an organ, a choir OF male and female
voices, and the minister STANDS at a desk with
his back to the Haychol.
A majority OF the members OF Bnai Jeshurun
decl RED Tor adopting the ritual OF the reformers.
The rest appealed to the courts, which decided
against them. A Kind OF compromise followed.
Family Dews, an organ. n choir OF male and 70.
male voices, reading desk In front Of the Hav-
chOl, In place OF the bah, have been ad opted (:
hut the PRAYERS are all read m Hebrew, the men
wear their hats ana II IL optional with them to
wear the tallas, which Is adopted, however, by
the wardcns and the new minister. rhe Rev.
MIR. Jacobs comes from the Nineteenth street
synagogue, very orthodox congregation, and
To how he will reconcile his views with the radi-
cal opinions OF some Of his new flock. In his
discourse on SATURDAY.. he declared himself con
servative "a u the doemas " Judaism, hut IN
favor OF adapting the rttu i to the necessities OF
the country ana the century. He said that he
would not ally himself with either party, but
would strive to unite both in peace. lie an
nounced that there would be n public connrma-
ton Of all boys and girls over thirteen years OF
age whose paren desired them to Join the
class TINS is new feature in this congrega-
ton. Among the orthodox Jews. only the males
are confirmed, the ceremony consisting merely
OF calling up the candidate to the tabah where
he reads aloud a portion OF the law. Among
the reformed Jews confirmation means regu-
lar course Of religious instruction for both bows
the presence OF the CONGREGATION, public pro-
% ia j