The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-12
CONVERTING TIE JEWS.
A Reply TO Bishop Whitiie by Rabbi A. Hnr-
ris, Congregation Beth Ahaba.
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keply TO Bishop Whtttie by Rabbi A. Hnr-
ris, Congregation Beth Ahabu.
To the Editor Of ht Dispatch:
Will you allow me the use OF your col
umns to say few words on the pastoral
Of Bishop Whittle published in to-day's
papery In this pastoral the worthy and
esteemed Bishop says: "Perhaps one rea-
son why our efforts to spread the gospel
are not more largely blessed OK God may
be the fact that we have done so little for
the conversion OF His ancient people. to
whom we are indebted, and in whoni we
ought TO feel more interested than In any
people in the world"
would respectfully invite the worthy
Bishop TO try personally what he can do
in Richmond towards converting the Is
raelites. will bespeak him courteous re-
ceptiOn wherever he may feel inclined 10
go, and then let him report to the public
the result OF his labors.
Surely this will be q case OF ser uno
disco 0mneS." and from his success i'm this
city we may draw fair inference as to
what other energetic, whole-souled con-
versionists may be able to effect in other
cities.
know full well that the learned Bishop
may quote passages from the Bible and
give them meaning different from what
Israelites attach to them. ! know full well
that in argument he will by his learning be
much superior to many with whom he will
come III contact, but that is not here the
question. The question we have now to
deal with is simply how many will he sue
ceed in converting 10 Christianity.
The Israelite is taught from his infancy
IN haliayp that God il MIRO unity not
composed of persons or parts; that. He is
purely spiritual being, and that it is im-
possible for Him or any part OF Him ever
TO assume human form or likeness.
The Israelite is taught to believe that
every human being is created i'll the image
of God as far as His spiritual nature is
concerned; that God is his loving Father,
aud that he does not need 4 mediator in
order to approach that Father.
The lsraeIte is taught TO believe IN
Redeemer, but in an everything Re,
deemer.
The Esraellte docs not believe that man is
born in sin because nearly six thousand
years ago Adam and Eve did an act which
he condemns, nor does he believe that he
is culpable because nearly two thousand
years ago the ignorant and uuenlightened
death Of Jesus, an act which he likewise
denOunces and strongly condemns. The
educated Israelite does not ignore the
worldwide influence OF Christianity; he
feels proud OF belonging to q race whose
religion was the mother OF Christianity.
and whose sublime moral code Christianity
reproduced.
A few years ago q great sensation was
L., d arft ftnln on 10
Talmud from the pen OF DR.. Deutsch. The
author showed therein that the advanced
moral ideas OF the New Testament are to
be found in the post-Biblical writings of
the Hebrews. The Christian believes "thou
shalt love the Eternal thy God with all thy
heart, with all thy soul, and thy fellOw-man
as thy self"; and so does the lsraelite.
| The Christian believes in reward and pun
| ishment here and hereafter, and SO does the
Israelite; hut the Israelite does not attempt
| to define them. He leaves them as things
! hidden from lis, in the hands OF an all
loving Father.
The Christian believes God is love, and
so does the Israelte. The Israelite does
not believe in eternal punishment, nor
does he believe in hell. To his mind
| God OF love and hell are incompatible ideas.
virtuOus, and pious Of all creeds, are heirs
of eternal life. Six centuries ago, Maemon-
! ides, in his great work on the teachings OF
| Judaism, used the following words:
Every man whom reason and know
ledge bling near to God, no matter under
what name he serve Him. so that only he
reverence and worship Him, so that only
| he regulate his life according to Gods
will, as far az he knows how, is holy in the
highest sense Of the word. God is his
portion and inheritan .e throughout all eter-
nifty"
Christianity teaches Glove thine enemy"
Judaism teaches eff thine enemy be hun
gry give him bread TO eat; il thirsty give
him water to drink" When David spared
his mortal enemy Saul be acted in the true
spirit OF Judaism.
The Israelite believes IN every grand
moral truth that Christianity teaches, be-
cause Judaism taught it before the birth Of
Christianity but the lsraelite must differ
from his Christian brother on the question
OF the number OF persons in the Godhead
and as to who is the Redeemer.
With the deepest reverence for the hon
est convictions OF others the good Israelite
begins his daily prayers with the words:
"Hear, O Israel, the Eternal, our God
is one, pure spiritual unity. He Is my
God and my living Redeemer-the Rock
of my support in time OF trouble. Into
His hand i commit my spirit when sleep
and when am awake, and with my spirit
likewise my body il the Eternal God Is
with me fear nothing"
/ believe that ain my Fathers house
there are many mansions "a mansion for
tbe good Catholic; a mansion for the good
protestant. no matter what his sect; a
mansion for the good heathen VINO gropeu
after light as best he knew how; man
Sion for the good IsraelitP, even If uncon-
yerted. / believe in "by their fruits ye
sball know them" Man must be known
and appreciated here below, as he will be
hereafter, by the fruits OF his life.
am, yours obedientiy'
A. HARRIS,
Rabbi Congregation Beth Ahaba.
Richmond. April 1ltb.