The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-07-19
THE JEWISH SABBATH.

To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD
As the HERALD is generally a fair reflex Of popu-
lar opinion it proper to assume that the article
on the proposed substitution of Sunday for the
Jewish Sabbath published in last Sundays edition
is the opinion, il not the cherished WISH Of very
large number of intelligent Observation-Disclosures
In the usual acceptstion but not students of his
tory and close observers of the motives which actu
ate the Jewish people. All precedents against
such u change. and were it possible for the great
Founder of the Christian faith to reappear in our
midst He would continue, judging from the
past, to observe the seventh day Sabbath
devoutly He did when last earth.
for it will be remembered that the change
of day made long after His death and without
His sanction approval while. on the other hand.
sanctity of the day dates back far that it be-
memorial OF the creation itself Genesis H.,
q. and observed anterior to the delivery of the
Law Exodus XVII 4-l6D, when the children OF Israel
wandering for forty years in the wilderness
about $50 years b. C.-and each succeeding week
received their double portion of mamma on the day
preceding "Shabat," thereby indicating the exact
"a sign between God and Israel forever" Exodus
XXI 13-l7) Tradition. with unerring accuracy, has
stamped this day of the past the identical day
now kept more or less holy by the Jews through
out the world, and while it would be much more
to the credit of the Jews and their just of
God If the day observed as it should be- yet its
partial neglect in this country is but trfing
dence and indeed is In striking contrast with the
stricter manner it is kept by the millions OF Jews
elsewhere. But say you, AS the mouthpiece OF lib
eralism. mo silly enough to believe that God
has any special regard for day above another
that He is affected by the diurnal motions of the
earth. II He affected He would not be
worthy of worship God either on Saturday
Sunday" and therein lies the mistake Believers
in the inspiration of the Bible hold that every CON-
mand given by the Almighty IL for some undoubt-
edly good purpose and has a positive meaning.
II He INTENDED any day OF the week to be selected at
option the Sabbath He would not have explicitly
commanded. Remember the mot ~ Sabbath day to
keep it holy Genesis 81. and repeated 1t again and
again in variety of forms throughout the whole
Bible. Conceding. then. this self-evdent fact,
il change of day IL to be made-which, We submit.
is not desired by the well-wshers OF revealed reli-
gion. whether jew or Gentie--why not 20 back to
first principles. and all faiths keep the original Sab
bath, the Sabbath of Jesus and His Apostles and iy
more the supposed sanctty of tine first day
of the week. commonly called Sundayg" 1t
will be further remembered that the He
brow word "shabat'' (sabbath) means not
only "seventh'-mark you, not frst-but has
the equally comprehensive meaning. rest" The
convention OF the United Hebrew Congregations
recently held in New York. were of course. familiar
with all this and very properly decided not to affirm
deny the identity OF the sabbath day, there
could be but one Sabbath" and therefore, the
question was not open to intelli gent disputation.
aud. further little comfort be drawn from the
examplars of reformed Judaism of its
stanchest advocates aud most advanced and pro-
nounced leaders, the Rev. DIR. Einhorn. declared in
his valcdctory address, reported in the same eoi
ton of your paper, 'Since the assum pton of
my ministerial duties in this city New York;
the Sabbath question has often been the cause
of considerable agitation. and not few have urged
that ihe day should be changed l. for one, never
could agree that change. neither will any other
reputable Jewish rabbi who deserves well of his
flock aud has the fear of God before his eyes,. 1t
not likely that sensible men OF the present day Will
SELF and ignore logical consequences OF failing TO
remember the sabbath day to keep 1t holy" and
therefore we have no apprehension OF the result of
the present scussion. SEMI-OCCASlONAL.
WAshISoIoN. d. c.. July IL, 1879.