The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-03-11

the reform movement. Drs. Einhorn and Adler
of Thu city were prominent advocates Of reform
in Germany and continued tho agitation all
through the twenty-five years or moro that they
have iived here. These rabbits were men who
were not only learned in the Talmud, like many
OF thcir predecessors OF earlier times. but they
had also imbibed from modern iOuuts Of
kn9wiedse, were nHcd with progressive iioasl
and desired to fl Che faith NJ thclr fathers in nll
ia nshges and Appearances 10 tho moro liberal
ana humane age III which itwas their fortune 10
live.
Among the reforms 10 which thcy cnrlinst
turned their attention were those relating tO the
sprvio,s in tho synaEogues. into which tnoy de-
book Of Hebrew hymns and prayers was then
in use which was thought susceptible OF n large
amour. OI us.iuI enrNiilihs. ne pfa]ers woio
tOOm many ana too dinuso, prplpnE ny thrsciVlces
us rssiy and requiring iniol' rnh hast' IN thcir
rr"tal Other prayers. again, Wcro olpc'tona-
bio on account O thUir contents. as Tor usEin -.
the PETITIONS Tor "a $40 'dy return 10 the Holy
Lana and the restoration OF tho monarchy Oi
Duvid. During the services the mon and the
women Oi tho CONGREGATIONS wcro vigorously
Separated. the mon sittins together IN The BODY
OF the synagogue, while the women were
usually confined 10 gallery. On lhe annl-
vrrsary Oi the second temples destruction. II
was the prptlcc 10 sit on tue iioor Of the syna-
gOgue IN stocking 1eot ana rectO the lamentt-
Tons. On tho Day oi AtOncmcnt tho elders
entered tho synagogue in their burial attire. u
wniUe cotton robe. and ~ tlat attire worsh ppcd
the cntifu DAY. ana frCpu ntly the whole OF the
preceding night. without food or drink. ana in n
state of the lNtrcmest abandon No prayers IN
German were pcrmutod. No organ or choir was
allowed SERVICES ON many Orcariuns began bn-
lore dity ii AK ana iustud until near noon. So
there were also IA regard to the burial OF the
dead, many supnrstltious pructlceS that needed
impt pVumcnt. There was too much haste in
mo burihis, the departed being hurried la
the grave as soon ~ cold Tho relatives
were not permitted 10 $50 the dying beings lust
moments. They wcrc removed from the apart
mont and were iIgidiy dcbarrcd from contact
win Tie remains. strangers preparing tho body
lur INT srment AMI d"posiung II in the grave.
The rnh,tN -, how yer, were required 10 give
expression to their grief by rendlng their eur
floor N mourning. At the grave there were also
various al -urd ceremonies And of a similar
character were otncr customs and ObseiNances
that IN The interest OF reason and decOIum theSo
rhoois declared must be changed OF diseon-
Among those German rabbis there were others
who adhered GENEROUSLY to the old custom Is
and the iuterof the old law. They opposed re-
form OF any kind. AMI there followed a bitcr
and ung onIprUmiolng warfare from tho pulpit
ami ia ths religious press. Tho rabhis OF Pulnhd
were particularly Jealous in their support of
the old order Ut things. AMI they resisted the
lnuONdi9rs WIN lusc ana hatred, ana on II
WITH threats of violence and curses;
Their followers hardly over mentioned
these men Of new tangled idcas without
expressing the hope TINT all kinds
Of calaAlitivs might oNctgke them; and every
dispcasure at their inndcllty.
Tue opposing parties acquired the designa.
tons 81 rriormers AMI orthodox,
ana as such they are known to-day both
n r. Germany and The United stats.
who can be cnsscl under those heals,
one believing one definite sci Of doctrines and
practising one deinlt. rltuul. and tho other
another. On neither side aro there any TWO
M II VINO are entirely Nfr"rt and wnpin III n
private ii'" r,tun and huyn DIR urdcd the same
shar" OF tnr OIL r.tual. Tho " reform rs are
iairly Il s'riD'd - those who. wthou, being
a., re sd aiAuu.. tleIS I've some Drlug iuucu IN
advance OF the others IN their dcqnnis, are
constantly ondeNoring To inetitute changes amt
improvements ana the orthodox are SIMPLY
those VINO are resi- tlng them. Reioriners IN
one ronLr cation would not necessarily ue So IN
~ ~ very
orthodox congregation ike mat old one IN
Thirty -ipurtn street IN the city of New York.
and thrr tn qul htoms about which war II
waged urr such as the Introduction Of choir
or the institution OF family pews. the ortap-
doA There oppose these changes. Ihr rciufnlt r.
demand ihen. But one who should ~ ? Jmr-
what further AMI propose TINT the cOn-re-
cation rrmoN" their mats ia the syniu- ur a. ~
usua custom ia hou@cs oil Wotnhtp Ia riNl,
llzcd European and American countries. would
lind himself altogether too daring Tor ir most
extreme OF III, - rciurmcrs. Yet thai has BEEN
the custom IN the conSrcgaton of the filth
Avenue Temple emanuel. IA the sam city. for
many ycur.. The relorurrs OF the Thirty
fourth Street Synagogue would. therefore. In
extremely orthodox AZ the llith avenue sOtiety.
The h.urin's- mat cl"i ieier.1"i me conn
no Wise Annt"l. Ii T. to-day marked IA every
country 10y a ry great degree OF par ison ie"i-
Ing. The rabbits nssnil each other unsparinsy
rom their iniilt-. al conventions. IN t!rJewsh
press. anu IA Pamphlets ana books The lay
lhrtcipn' 10 some extent IL ne controversy.
anu ne ";sn press. III Whl'h the man slhd .
81 Opini n hay" their pronounced organs. Is
largely drtItHli $50 %. In TIC Inluru States tls
!, Geo 2 res ANA the Jefish W. 'senl1, pun.
lshei ia " Nurk. and tine Israeite. published
IN Cln'lnuati. have long been known a. the
leading jewish journals the Times being the
advocate OF the more advanced reforms, tho
MeSSeuyp' roprtso ntng the orthodox. and the
Isr0elat holding position between the two.
In most congregations the rabbls Ake the
lead in advocating reforms. and they surely
bring thpln ABOUT in tn end. though IN some
POSSESS TAFT and tor sight. they remain on har-
MOnluus term, with their Hooks but where they
gre hot-t mpcrsd ana hrad,ong. the most N!o,
lent guHrr'is often occur. \ congregation OF
IA" old Scotch CnVeuHnt'rs could not have been
more unruy Hook to one ol the priests OF
Btul than lIe OrnoI0N members u an average
Jewish congregation to such rabbi Personal
collision, riVe more than once occurred be-
tween tnr iCHchcr and tine taught, contracts have
boon bros u, rAubis have suddenly lott their
congrc-at uns. and eonsro CATIONS have repuii-
atHd their ruhh-. Vhr~" tcurrHnces show how
ule reverence Is paid TO tho office of rabbi.
highest respect AMI affection of their congrega-
tons but u - invariably their personal superb
With this constant open agitation for change
and reform hN minds dlr-a,Istlud with the old
customs and oi..AryuncDs, other cuuScs COM
llne; dissertation with people of other faiths.
tho indlerrn'r, ana. upon some points. the
fldlrutr oil ihf younger generation. even IN"
an thr result h. W.iI ai. even tho most oltAo-
tON. an almost un uns 'uus but r"Itnin aIVanro
from tn lr oii standpoint of view and ir"ling {:
SD NAT dND th" "fuodoA grow i,ss Orthodox,
and the r'iprmors mora advanced IN their no.
toms of r-lorun. 4 man. who, ten years ago.
wound nav ri rect To- tak" up arms ia lppusl-
ton o. tlt iutr'dN tIpn of am organ into tut
svnugogu Wiii. to-day. be- unnni' to undrrstAn /
low anylrilt could lf.rOi..U 90 excited over nuH
% matter. AMI tn, change Will have boon
Effected Witup.t hl- hsin- able to r. 'uil ia
sius"s %! lac Transformation. or over relltctlns
ulon IT,
There nrr indivlual- who provo an cxr'n-
ton T. TINS IuIo. and VIII NOT 20 with Tine world.
every ceremony and repeats every rAyrr 40
ltthluil} duu a. accurately 49, Mnei .,'I ur " a,