Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-12-29
TIE JEWISH RELIGION.

lhE dENASh h6AluADN
 Tine movement started in Rochester
 by the rabbi Dr. Max Lansburg, to con
 duet the religious services in EnglisL instead of Hebrew, has been the cause of much discussion and the expression of various opinions among the Jewish believers throughout the country. J. P. Solomon, editor of the Hebrew Standard, said 10 a reporter: "Ihe Talmui says that the prayer of the Jewish religion may be used in any language, but the moment that the use of the Hebrew language Is generally done away with in our services the cos- mopolitan character of the Jewish religion k destroyed. F1r thousands of years the Jews have prayed in Hebrew, and all understand it. It is only thirst for rnot1riety that has urged Dr. Lansburg to adopt this measure. In some of tine temples German and English prayers are introduced, to which there can be no objections, but such a radical change Rs that suggested by Dr. Lansburg would be acceptable only 10 She few who think 1t unfashion- able To learn Hebrew, or who think their children incapable of learning the language. The Hebrew language is one of the most ancient and 1t Is ir the language iu which Psalms were written, and prayers would naturally lose their force if put into English. The use of the Hebrew language in the prayer is the wall-mark of antiquity. The proposed change may be fashionable among that class who are desirous of change of the Sabbath from Saturday to Sunday, and who, thInk, had better organize themselves at once in a hody and style themselves "rhe Church of the Convenient Believer" An pttempt was made few years ago to have the entire servlce ID synagogue in Ger many conducted in the German lan- guage. but the movement was failure. There i' no synagogue at present where such a service IS conducted"
 There Is perhaps some truth in what Mr. Solomon says, that 'the moment the use of the Hebrew language IS gen erally done away with, the Jewish re- Hzion < destroyed" But the question l naturs.iy arises: If the Jewish religion | Tests upon such a frail foundation, is 1t worth preserving? But 1t has long ] been a question among intelligent Jews, of the liberal type, whether this exclu- siveness. this holding aloof from the people in all countries in past ages, has | not brought more trouble and suffering upon the Jewish people than all other things combined Then, on the other hand. the faithful. who believe in the | Jewish relIgion. would have had to de- eide between holding on 10 their re!iS- iaus tiltn and adopting liberal policy i which might endanger it. That the lib eral Jews are gaining ground ID this country there Is DO doubt, and Dr. Lans- burg i- wIse enough to see 1t; and in- stead of allowing himself to become l follower in the adoption of measures | that mast be adopted sooner or later, he purposes taking his place as a leader. | It is not likely that any radical changes will take place at present among the l Jews of Europe, but there IS no doubt | but dIsintegratiOn has begun Tn this l country, and 1t Is the impression Of many that there are more distinctive Jews in the United States at this date l than there will be fifty years hence.