The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-10
REFORM AND ORTHODOX JEWS.

CONSERVATIVE IsRAELIrEs DENoUNcE THE LIB
EeALIsN or THEIR RADICAL BRETHREN
The new system of interchange of pulpts among
orthodox and reform Jewish ministers and among
reform Jewish ministers and Unitarian preachers.
first reported in the HERALD OF Saturday has ere
ated decided stir in orthodox Jewish circles. The
Israclites who still cling traditional Judaism re-
gard this movement as dangerous to jew
ish interests and as threatening the perpe-
tuity of Judaism IN the United States.
With view obtaining the views of representative
jews this matter reporter called yesterday upon
the Rev. DR.. De Sofa Mendes. minister of the Forty
fourth Street Synagogue. one OF the most iniu-
entail congregations in the country. DR.. Mendes
said 1.-THE conservative Jews. and indeed the
reasonable Jews Of all classes. have no sympathy
with this movement II there were any need of
efforts to bring about better understanding be-
tween the orthodox and the reformers they should
have been made twenty years ago. when the line was
much more distinctly drawn and the lack of har
iaony much more noticeable. But this claim of
desire to restore peace and good will
ia hardly in good faith. At the funeral
of the Rev. DR.. Einhorn last week. the Rev. DR..
Hirsch. of Philadelphia. of the leaders of the
reform movement took occasion to animadvert in
the strongest terms upon orthodox Judaism and to
denounce its professors and supporters. This
tainly did not betoken any particular desire the
part of DIR. Hirsch or his colleagues bring about
that era of pretended good will when the refofm
lion and the orthodox lamb shall lie down together
i'll peace.
between reform ministers and orthodox rabbiesy'
Il am not. For example. would certainly not
exchange pulpts with DR.. Hirsch, do that
any good could DO accomplished by such an ex-
change"
Would you exchange pulpits with Unitarian
Under no circumstances would surrender my
pulpit to preacher of another faith. would
undertake to preach anything more less than
l believe in the pulpit of another. Reform has
gone too tar for conservative ministers in any way
relgiousy to identity themselves with it. You
may go into the average reform temples and.
excepting that you Will not see the cross
not in a Christian house of worship. The only good
that can see III this movement OF exchanging pull
pits is this-that some Jewish congregations will
are accustomed to be treated to-"
LAYMEN.
Mr.. A. T. Cohen influential member Of DR..
Mendes congregation. said:-"I think this whole
movement very injudicious. 1t only breed
strife without any corresponding advantage"
A prominent member OF the Portuguese syna-
gogue in Nineteenth street Fifth avenue-the
Oldest and one OF the most influential in the United
States, having been established nearly two hundred
years ago and numbering among its members such
families AS those Of Hendricks Nathan Hart, Phil
lips. Gomez. Abecass and Cardozo-said:-
THE HERALD's article of Saturday stated what is
actually the present lainentabe condition of affairs.
1t is true That the reform ministers are exchanging
pulpits with some so-called orthodox rabbies; but
these latter do not represent conservative Judaism.
The radical reform rabies and the extreme Unia-
rians both stand on the same patform-that 49, they
both profess pure mnonothesin only. But
you will not find any real orthodox minis
ter exchanging pulpts with Unitarans. or
even with reform rabies. Our Judaism
is dearer than any parade of Reconsideration.
jews. who are Jews. have no sympathy with this
burlesquing OF Judaism. The most orthodox Jew
does not want to make converts. Our rel gion
teaches that the good of all faiths will tho
grace OF God. There is no need OF any new tangled
notions to make Judaism acceptable to Jews or ex-
cusable in the eyes of the Gentiles"