New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-11
1HE CorhcLL or HERREFS.

THE COUNCIL or HEBREFS.
No more significant index to the meaning
and temper Of the age in which we 1--we can
be found than the proceedings OF the Council
of American Hebrew Congregations, whose
sixth annual session was closed in this city yes
terday. Similar organizations exist among the
Hebrew race in Germany, France and
England. and like councils are held bur as
this country is the only one in which this or
any other sect is free to carry out its p1in-
cIples, wishes or whlms, without restraint, it
Is 40 this convention we must look TO dis
cover the place and work III a political and
social body to winch the Hebrews would
graSitate when left absolutely to themselves.
Nobody will be surprised to learn that the
Council represented an enormous amount Of
capital. The Hebrew in all ages and in every
country has shown the shreWdness of his father
Jacob in making money, and his keen in
tckeeHce in investing it. The point Of in
tcIest to the public will be not that the
American Hebrew has made money, but
the uses to which he proposes to put it.
fIstly, If our readers Will note carefully
the proceedings of this convention, they
will find that there is no American more
wisely liberal with his earnings than the
" dcspi,ed jew" The charities distinctiycly
Hcbraic III our large cities are assuming proper
tons of muniiicence and wisdom in bestOwal
which challenge comparison even with those
of the Friends. 1t would become Chris
tlans to look into this matter. With TOO
many Of them, we acknowledge with shame,
the ideal jew " is Shyiock or an Old clothes
man. If they would visit the hospitals
ogt-ltt vglu
ported by this sect they would find that
many of them are open to the needy
of all religions, countries and colOTs, and are
supported by every grade OF Hebrew, down to
the cold clothes man. with an eager Hber-
atty which would put many poor Christians
to the blush 1t is time that justice was done
TO our Hebrew brothers in this particular;
the badge Of their tribe which Shakespeare
hung upon them does not belong at least
TO the American jew.
Secondly, this Council Of Hebrews is the
first religious body which, rs a whole, has
perceived that the great social evil Of the day
is the gurplusage of idle population in the cities,
and proposed to take practical means TO remedy
If. The means are identical with those urged by
THE TRIBUNE for two years. namely, the
purchase of land by capitalists, who shall lend
money to poor families to colombo upon ii,
tbe amount remaining a lien on the prop
erty until repaid, on easy terms. The coun-
cil had such scheme as this under
consideration, and determined wisely to
begin the experiment on small scale,
which, if successful, might be enlarged to
international proportions. Sir Moses Monte
fOre's plan was to send back the poor
Jews of all nations to Palestine; but this
Council looked upon the United States as
the new Promised Land. As a COrollary TO
this scheme, it was also suggested that the
orphan asylums under the charge of the
Hebrew synagogues should be converted into
farm schools where lads might be taught
farming both in theory and practice.
Individual colonies of this kind have been
sent out to Virginia, North Carolina and the
West by separate Catholic, Quaker and Pres
bytelian churches but the Hebrew Is the first
sect which has made this most effective of all
charities a work for the whole of its people.
Ii argues an exceptional clearsightcdness as
to the immediate needs OF the country, and
wisdom in seizng on the means of relief.
Other measures suggested or adopted in
the Council such as the establishment of a
system Of circuit preaching, n seminary Of the
highest grade for Hebrew women, etc, show
that our Is1aetish felow-citizens are ready
to adopt good ideas wherever they may find
them. However few or many of these
schemes for reform may be carried into exc
cution, their discussion has at least shown us
distinctly where the Hebrew body stands
among us.