, 1879-07-06
JEWISH INDIFFERENT
TIE RADB1Ns NOT IN SYMPATHY WITH THEIR
pRnpTE

JEWISH INDIFFERENT1SM.
THE RApB1As NOT IN SYMPATHY WITH THEIR
PEoPLK.
The last number OF the Jetuish ADVANCE deyotes
much space to the 'indifferentism OF the Is
racl1tes toward religious matters: and con-
side1ation OF its causes. It is complained that
the syuagogues are empty. Few care to SUD-
port them, fewer still to visit them; the Rabbins
preach to empty benches. Is not indiferentlsm
the cause of thiss The Advnncs is inclined to
ascribe the emptiness Of the synagogue to other
causes. The greatest OF all those causes is the
inadoquatcness Of the Rabbins to their present
position, or rather their losing sight OF the rab-
binical situation as it ought to be. No one can
assert that the Israelttes class, are indiffer-
ent to Intellectual recreation. Large numbers
OF the brethren flock to hear Unitarian preach
ers, ecturers on liberal subjects, and on the
philosophy of the times. It is Informed that the
temple Of Drs. Huebsch, Mendez, aud others,
Of New York, are very well attended on the
Sabbath. Even IN this city it will he found that
Rabbi Adler's temple is always filled with an
aporeciatlye audience on Sabbath.
Those rabbins whose temples arc not popular
With the people are the cause Of this evil. Some
that are learned are too anxious to display their
vast Information; others that arc not as we'll
informed are too anxious to- be considered
scholars. The former give the people that which
is too lofty to become popular, which only
specialists can appreciate; the latter indulge III
Vu.aries and nonsense witch no c0tnmOn-5ense
man can enjoy and no one can De edited by. IS
it q wonder then that the temples are empty I
Or should the people at large be accused OF ln-
tiitfereDtism because they are too earnest about
religious -matters to enjoy In the synagogue
what sayors Of aggrandisemcnt on the part OF
the Rabbin2 Young people are sulnmary dealt
with by most of our ministers; they are simply
scoldcd because they will not live like astrttcs en-
tirely or partly,-bccause they will comply WITH
the practical demands of life. Old age is upheld
!. as an example Of decay and sober reflection Ut
once; youtbis represented as tleetiny shadow,
spoken Of as transient things which
bring evil consequences in their tralI,
aud idea1tsm vague and underlined
(which naturally cannot be understood
On account Of the vague expressions in which 1t
is rcpresentcd) is gloridcd as soul-savng and re-
dccmfng. This is the reason why the Young men
snuu the shrines OF worship. This Is the reason
why they do not come to listen to the RAbblus.
This is the reason, moreover, why they Will
flock to listen to an Ingcreoll, whose jokes 4ilu
bon-mots they Gnu aI least understand. This is
the reason why the practical ethics OF Prof Ad-
Ter aEe appreciated BY them, and why they TO
more good than the vague and underlined rc-
liglous 1waddlc OF the brethren OF the cloth.
II the kabblnE would fully UNDERSTAND Lo ave
with the people, and to preach out OF and d1-
rectly for the natural religious cravings OF the
masses, they would lind sufficient listeners, the
synagogues would not be empty, and "1ndi1ter~
eotism ~ would not be so much talked about.
Is it indifferenttsm which. dots the land with
shrines OF worship, with benevolent Institutions,
and lecture-halls2 Is it indifftrentisn which
keeps ministers in otiiccl Can members Of Il
congregation be accused Of Indifference II they
raise issues on matters OF principle atnbng them
selves, and on one side and the other advocate
the recognition Of their views With equal zeal
and ar1or!
Even those who will not join congrega-
ton, advancing the reason that the same is not
adequate to supply their religious wants, or
simply telling you 1t want to pray, can do
SO at home, e,'-eyen such persons should not
be called tndiGereutists, for by advancing such
reasons they 90 not deny their adherence to
and their respect for religion.
There are IN reality very few genuine indilfer-
entists among us. There Is no religious code
OF religious prescriptions suitable for the pres
cut. The Rabotns have as yet no system to
supply the want OF such an Institution. But
there is au inward religious conviction pre-
vailing with the large minority Of the orethren.
They ieel that every man can be, and actually
ought: to be, his own priest. When the Rab-
bins will feel tile same, and will SO shape the
religious lessons as to make every one feel at
home In tho place OF worship, they will have
no cause to complain of 'indifferentism."