The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-20
REFORMED JUDAISM.
What Rabbi Gotihcii says of Modern
Changes IN Jewish Forms and Thought.

Changes In Jewish Forms and Thought.
The Rev. Dr. Gotthcil preached yesterday
to his congregation in the Firth ayrnuu Temple
Emmanuel. Particular reference WAS made in
the sermon to the Feast OF Tabrrmuclcs. which
II now being observed by the jew, all over tbs
world. This 10 Kind Of harvest festival. but Of
Religious character. It's Observance being COM
manded In the Bible. In Palestine It was Il ma
tionnl festival OF II weeks duration. and WAS
enjoyed 10y the whole people. who passed seven
days in booths adorned with the filircst ui their
fruits and foliage. This manner Of observance
has been continued ~ far rs practicable ever
since the dispersal and during the long con-
turtles Of the middle agcs down to the present
day the synngogues and the dwellings Of the
Weather Israclitcs have had summer houses
or booths built in the rear. where proiane
eyes could not see them. and there. with
fruits. flowers. and green boughs hanging
overhead, and FURNISHED candlesticks bearing
brightly flaming wax candles or with the
illumination Oi polished brass lamps, ia" Load
ors of the congregations Dassed evenings in
positions " the text, while the more youthful
and loss learned paid attention. There were good
things to eat aud drink. and those celebrating
were cheerful and happy Even ~ the present
das, and in The city Ot New York. those OlscrV-
anccs are still maintancd but % h. only th"
orthodox who udherc 10 them here. lSrunlltcs
50 advanced III their efforts to reform and re-
model their religion IA those who belong to the
Temple, Emmanuel. have long since .discon-
Dr. Gotthcii said: "Ifauywhcre. it is in our
religion that ". s"cm to hav" the auplcst cause
for saying the former DAYS wer" better than the
present ONES and myself have not been spar
ing in complaints Look at what this festival used
60 be- ind what II IL now. Large numbers of our
people hardly know OF It's presence and our
celebration Ut tit has not single element Of
true herrty Joy In it. Compared 20 the upronri
Gus REQ cingS Oi our fathers, II Is the sober
and me lsuTcd step of our procession TO the
merry dances % the young. An lsraclite claims
now not Il little credit Tor toleratng tho drsig-
nation aud doing something for his rcii giun.
Formerly he could never do enough. mud he
never ialtercd even for moment when H. had
was paramount In his life. Must we. then. adj
NIT that ours are days OF evil with no good in
them do not think 50.
IL IL true that our faith ~ much weakened
that skeptica and material lstic IDEAS have eaten
into the root and destroyed much Of It's vitality.
How often can you hear people admit. after
much hesitation and many apologies. that they
do believe in Deity: but then, how many SUI
Ierstitone have we discarded How many
unreasonable and untenuble idens have becn
brushed away. We have lost the flNity aud pos
itivenese OF belief; but We have gained ia free
depth has been compensated for by breadth.
Again. we have grown much poorer IN helps to
E'il( nv " ~. 'i lh' ''T.lHphNlN are = mr.
not only out of observance, hut vanished from
memory even. Prayers. dnys OF rest and re-
loicing were restrictions and fences against cX-
ccsses in pleasures Of the world have been
broken down and our domestic life has been
robbed ot many OF the sources whence bless
ings innumerable flowed to our fathers. We
cannot but lament the too rauid descent. the
clear sweep that wHs made with muny things
which were most servceable 10 our best in
teress.
burdens were AZ the same time taken from our
shoulders How many barriers thrown down
that INSTRUCTED our Intercourse with our fellow
men without yielding us any adequate rompcn-
sation in religious feeling? Would tho most
ardent lover OF Judaism among Ms have the
~ Af
head was considered a siny When the touch "
candle was looked upon rs "A violation ~ tho
vygl,
To mention another gain: II our worship is
moro seldom performed. Is shorter. colder. and
more iormal. nave We not eliminated from Il all
the excrcscenccs that disiAurcd IL. the vain rep
Editions. all the bitter sentiment IN which NAT.
uruy enough the oppressed heart of Israel
found venti Have we not restored iu our SER
vice the dignity and sucuuity II had lost in the
DAYS OF misery and degrndution2 Have ~, NOT
succeeded in restoring To- tho Jewish synagogue
the resuef In the eyes OF the GENTLE which Il
had iorieiu,d-not relieved 1t Of the rdiculo un-
der which II was lying Tor So long tlnef
II Ia true that the heart Of the jew has lost
some monsure Of its former fervor OF its noble
enthuSlasm for tho cause OF his race. OF its in
domiiable courage. OF ts high hcroismY But.
ON the other hnnd when was Judaism, in its
proioundest thoughts. better appreciated Ny the
world than II l. ut this day Whom was it, his
tory. It's literature its philosophy studied so
widely ana with So much fairness NJ now
Whom were the services which the Jew rendered
servant 10 tho only true God hut in every
department Of intellectual nctivity. acknoWl-
edged with such unstinted praise. as WIS done,
for Instance. by our distinguished toWuSmuu.
Prof. Draper or the German Prot Schlrideu
II II true. the study OF our literature has now no
longer that fascination Tor the Jewish mind II
possessed for long centuries. Hebrew learning
II not now regarded with thnt reverence II -
cciyed in the bygone days then. our culture
has eplarged We are no longer aliens To the
worlds hterAtures. we have become naturgliged
not civilized only. but intellectually also. and
H.
nucnce in great questions 90 the world than al
nuy other tine. IL our children know less Il
Judaism. they know more OF other religious
and have learned TO be more Just and fair 10 all
OF them"