The New York herald., 1879-07-07
..wILL SOME ONE EXPLAIN?"
New YORK, July G, 1879.

New YORK, July G, 1879.
To EDITOR THE HERALD
One of the most significant signs Of the times is
the coming great Convention of Hebrews 1 think
few can realize how suggestive the event is to all
students of history. 1t is something for Jews
to publicly meet and to publicly legisate for the
benefit Of Judaism material interests. l say ma
terial interests, because the Convention is consti-
tutionay interdicted from interference nagoga
government, which might grow into such influence
as would it to act also for the interests
spiritual. Various schemes of what almost amount
national grandeur talked Of and the dry bones
of Judaism seem taking snew. flesh and skn be-
coming erect and walkng--a thing of life. A
grand resurrection ye shades of Crusaders strange
freak of that jade. History. 0 ye Torquemadas and
Loyolas, that the hated shall again rise from
the dust where 80 did your best to keep while ye
stamped out its life, or rather tried to! And now
that this heroic people is allowed to be at peace,
and they find room to grow. behold how they
increase in the land! Their synagogues are
ornaments to the city. their institutions charity
models of management, economy ana efficacy; their
influence in society great. acknowledged and ever
Increasing. noble picture. truly, but alas there
is a In times of old, sunny SPAIN beautiful
France and sultry Egypt. where Jewish hnanciers
and ply sicians and statesmen were useful to
OF such toleration as did obtain sometimes. like
glances of sunshine amid the storm clouds Of big
otry which often burst upon them, not in
compatible with fidelity to their religion, emf
ncuce aud power in erudtion which render their
works to this day of standard value and reference.
Mamonides was the Sultan's physician, but his
writings searched to-day tor decisions in
Jewish Abravancl was councillor to Aphonso
W. OF Portugal. but his comments the Bible
renowned-while the history OF those days
sufficiently attest the fidelity OF the masses.
NOTE THE DIFFERENCE.
But now, as careful observer, cannot help no.
ticng the difference. The Hebrews i'll this country
every right and privilege that free Americans
do but do not the same fidelity to their law.
l find their men throng the business haunts the
seventh their day of sabbath rest lind their wives
and daughters at matinees in the day. Mt concerts
IN the evening, sleigh riding III winter, driving in
summer. But neither men nor women can thus be
said TO keep the sabbath holy, for these things
opposed to the placid holiness which should OBJ
tan and are tar more noticeable on the sabbath of
the Christian. Will some one explain thisg Nay
more. notice an announcement OF ban
quet to b. given some time during the Con.
il is to be at Dcmonico's where know no jew
dare say it is permitted to eat. Will some
one explain thisy l am sometimes told that these
are advanced times and many things held to be for
hidden before are now allowed. Is this the reason
that they may to-day eat OF Christian cooking and
yiands, such shell fish preparations, larted meats
&C.? Ii so how is 1T that ii not discovered be-
fore that these prohibitions OF food laws and sab.
bat ath trade mistakcs--that they exist notp In
days of Jewish intellectual activty--activity far
more evident than IL is to-day-the Spanish Of the
tty of the sabbath general that either of
them u favorite method of the Inuuisiuon in
discovering jew when IL wanted. Now, 1T the
Inquisition happened TO be alive, 1t would have
great difficulty in discovering Jews by these and
such means that their safety would be assured.
Will some explain to QUESTlONERi