Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-09-03
Alexar(0r(a Qazettt
MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 8.
Reformed Judaism.

eutifc journal" Jewish phi!Glosy and Jewish
theology hava been ioseparab'y connected. T''
attempt detailed account Of the latter would
involve the necessity of frequent reference 70
the former, 40 attcmpt 10 which We can hardly
assume the reader Interest would bear Us out.
Unwilling to test his paticacc by such a course.
we shall c)atent ourselecs with stating tho
main principles Of Reformed Judaism. and
briefly indicating the successive steps by which
it advanced to its present positions.
The one great fact which the Science Of Ju-
dasm bad iDdsputably established was the fact
Of evolution 10 the sphere ct the Jewish re-.
leon. Each generation had leg!s'ated tor it.
self The authorities OF the Middle Ages had
Introduced changes IN the ritual; the IaImud
itself, that corner stoae OF orthodoxy, was .
stupeudous Innovation CD the simplicity Of the
Bible religion. Applying the thcory OF evolu
tion to their own case, the modcrn lsabbis as
sumcd 90 their part the right to institute what
ever changes the cxigcncios Of the age had rcn
dered imperative. The very fact of change, il
is true, presupposcs the eXiSterc, of sub
stratum that remains Interchangeable. What
that substrltum in the case Of Ju iasm is
claimed to be We shall presently dlscovCr. Tie
measures Of the Eciormcrs we're 10 the main
| dictated by the sentiment OF patriotism and the
desire TO remove the barriers that ntcrp0s@d
| batween them aod their fellow meo. Tbcy
would cease TO be state within the state,
| cease to separate themselves from The fellow.
| ship Of the Gentiles. Hence tho leading ptopo
| sition upon which Reformed Judaism is found.
| Cd. The jewish people have ceased TO he a
| national unit, aod will exist hereafter ~ c'n.
| federation of religious societies.
IF fhc hnv, n b,, a then
| the re!ormcrs must abandon the idea Of q na'
tioual restoration. They did 81. 1T they have
ceased to be nation they must give up thc
hope Of persoua Messiah ~So should lead
them back to the promised land. They did 3d.
X they desired uu logger 10 dwell 10 soc!us!1n
they must abolish the dietary laws, wnlch i)r-
bid them to taste OF the food Of Christians,
though commanded by the IalGiud and found
Cd apparently On the authority Of Moses. THIS.
too, they were williog to do. O:hcr changes
were Inspired by the rhilosophc teachings OF
the day, and were undertaken with equal read
iacss Thus the doctrine oi resuirecloa IN the
flesh were set aside Tic ilhrie Of cercmoria
observances had hc2D :ulclY Sh::Ecu, and 500:
gave way altogether. Changes IN The Jiua
followed. The prayer book reflected thc gloomy
spirit Of people whose !it2 wis lmbIttcfed 0y
constant trias and dangers. Naturally they
the pan3 Of the saayi;icos, TIC advent OF The
iIessiah, the iu'ur, rcstorllion Of the kingdom
of David were th. themes CO which ihey loved
to dwell. Al this wa no !onge: suited 10 :hc
temper OF the modctn Jew, ani ra!!cal al!tra'
,ions became necessary. Many Of the festivals
and fast days also ware struck from tho calen.
dar. Oae Of tho most distinctive CUSTOMS OF
the Jews, the so called rite Of Abraham 5 Cove
nant, was boldly attacked, and though the abe
ition OF this aoc2nt ptac:lc2 u still stTeou)u5!y
resisted, there is little .!ouDt that it will u!t!
matey go with tie res. Samuel !l0Iihcim
advocated the proor!2tg Of incrm.Er2g" be
tween Jews and Christians.
The manuer ID which th2sc conclusions were
reached may be described IS follows At lrat
an attempt was made to found each new measure
of Reform on the authority OF The Talmud ihn
Talmud vas attacked win It's o%i Wcap0hS.
The falIacy OF such q m:tbol becjming app!'
rent, the authority Of the lallnui WAS en'lreiy
set aside, n return to the B:bic was mex! III
order. But even the laws Of the Bible proved
to be 10 longer capable of !u!!i!m mt in their
tOtalily. j distinction was therefore draWh
between the letter and the Split Of the Bible.
rhe letter is man ) handiwork, the spirit alone
ought to be regarded aa the Div;ne rule o.
iaith. The spirit Of the Blolc' Is the esienc'
of Judaism, which cannot chauga. 10 the pro
cess of evolution it constantly assumes ne"
forms, but remains substantially the same. Nor
could anv motives Of cXpcdlchcy, nor cou'
even the ardent desire Of political emancipation
have Induced the keiormcrs to pursue ih.
course they did, bad they Tor one mome", tr
licved 1t contrary to the substanllat teachiH;'
Of the Bible. The spirit OF tn, Bible Is x
messed 10 two fundamental proposlt!oo me
existence of one God, the author aDd governor
of the universe; and the Alcsa!&p2 mission o!
the people Iraei. The former is no longer tie
exclusive property OF Judaism; 'he 'a'.et .Ls 20
distpotVcIy its owD totb together express IN"
simple creed of the RefOrclers --Ifot. FclH
AdIey, IN the North An,ericuN RericW.
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