New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-30
THE REFoRMED JEWISH CHURCH
A STATEMENT FROM DIR. GOTTHEIL-
TRAINED RABBITS NEEDED


TRAINED RABBITS NEEDED.
The condition and prospects, of Judaism in New
York were discussed by the Rev. Dr.. Gustav Colt
he'll. rabbi of the Temple Emanuel. Or. Go.theil
said: IL have read with interest the article in last
Sppdav,s TRIBUNE on church work IN New-York but
wa are ON somewhat diff eTent ground. and you must
nudity youruuestions in measure to enable
me to answer intelligenty One of the main pur-
noses of Reformed Juda n Is to eliminate the ma
tiona element ard 20 substitute for 1t purely re-
ligio Ms bond based upon community of faith tra-
dtions worship aud religious work. This being so,
many are Jews who do not belong to auy congrega-
ton and in this way the number OF church MEM
bers'is no indication OF the actual number of those
who still have the cow tons and the religious
nractices OF that denomination. cannot make any
comparison between the Jews and other dtnomlna-
tions as regards expansion because 7 take no more
than general interest in The latter and canr OF tell
bow orr own progress 1 compare with that of
others The NUMBER OF sgi Igogues is not in keeping
with the increase Of Jewish worsnippers, and this Is
due TO the fact that present supply OF competent
rabbis is barely sufficient TO fill existing pulpits
ar ia for the same reason that in spite Of our
deep sense OF what ought to be done with the
tenement Hebrew population in the lower part oil
the city, we have so far boom unable to carry OUT
anv extens,ee measures for mlniserne to The relig
ions wants or 80 ulauy tuouSehuo VI Jul SN-tShS-
,on,sts. But let me say tia 1.-THE need for
snccial unstrniou to the poorest Jews is not to
ma classed with the religious needs of any other
nooulation Such Is the essentially God-obeying,
reIipious-fecing character OF the race that He
ireSys no soouer arrive here Ii an they form them
se!yes into little societies anu hlie room where
Yhey Worship God with \ fervor = real ana as
strong as they did when they trcd the wonderful
tpmpie of thelr own great city IN oluen times
You ask me what distinctive steps OF progress
have been made by us. l answer that the Reformed
movement is the greatest. IL Sept within tho foid
and m sctual membership very large class OF Jews
who otherwise wen nave remained without any
lind of organized worship. Moreover ~ has
hroupht into bolder relief and more salient signih
cat,on the essential teachings OF Judaism and has
revealed them in their purity unencunoered oy
ceremonlas for The comp henson or Jew ana
CHRISTIAN alike. With regard TO attendance
altbonoh sufficiently large, it has not IN
creased This IS solely for he reason that the
dav of worship becomes more and moro DAY OI
necessary attendance on business matters ana pro
fsssiona dutles The relIr feeling OF me oider
members Is strong enough 10 eslst these oemanus
Int among the Younger nlemDers, WGo were Dorm
and educated in this couu try, and VINO enter lie
without any disqualified rs Whatsoever the case
| is otherwise. H.. ,.-oo,
| the lavish and other ~ urches l viii answer
| frankie. Attempts to 20 abiish rdpDfochemcnt
! with of her denominatiors have been made ny us,
e.uecally with such as seemed to avow nonotbe-
ISM But Thought they were VOL received ana mol
atopetbrr unfrutful they were nor reciProcated 10
| any appreciable extent. Upon the whole am nos
! dirsatIstied with the pos non Judaism IN this
CITY II has taken depari ures IN some directions
| which may develop greater covers OF usefnlhSSs
! than the Jndaism of EuIOpe as found AZ pgGsent"