Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-11-18
MODERN JUDAISM.
A Platform Of Faith that Is Simple,
Clear and Plain. Resting Upon
Basis of
Common Sense and Reason, and In Ac-
cordance with the Growth and De-
velopment Of Rationalism.
Immortality Accepted, but the Resurrec-
ton of the Body and He'll and Heaven
Rejected as Untenable.

PirraBuRa, November 1.-THE National
Rabhinieal Convention of the Reformed
Hebrew Church, III session befe, adopted
the f,llowine platform to-day, after
lenghthy discdssioni
THE PLATFORM
In view Of the wide divergence of opinion, of
conflicting ideas in Judaism to-day, we, rep
resent .tives Of reform Judaism in America, in
ip sSs united upon the oewns prime pie
Firss.-We reeognigs 10 every religion and at
tempt to Rras tb infinite. and in every mode,
source or book of revelation held sacred IN any
religious system. the consciousness of the in
dwelling Of God in man; we hold that Judaism
as taught in our Holy Scriptures. and eTeioped
and spiritualised by the Jewish teachers in ac-
cordanee will she moral ana philosophical pro
Judaism preserved and defended, midst eoptin-
pa strOggies and ana ahc ptt EMO iso
truth for the human race.
lSecond.-We recognize in the Bible the record
Of the conservation of the Jewish people to its
mission priest of the one God, and value it as
the most potent instrument OF religious and
moral INSTRUCTION. We hold that the modern
discoveries of scientific researches in the domains
Of nature and histors are not antagonistic to the
do trines of Judaism the Bible rejecting the
Jog its conception of divine Providence and
Justice, dealing with man in miraculous nara
tiyes.
Third.-Te recognize in the Mosaic legislation
Il system of ira nIng the Jewish people for its mis-
sion during its national life in Palestine, and to-
day we sept as binding only the moral laws, and
maintain only such ceremonies as elevate and
sanctify our liver but reject all such as are not
adapted to the views and habits of modern civiii-
Fourth We hold that all such Mosaic and
rabbinieal 1awsps regulate diet, priestly purity
ence of ideas alt gether foi eign 10 our present
mental and spiritual stat, They fail TO impress
their observance in our day is apt rather TO OBJ
strn than to further modern spiri ual elevation.
FJth.IWe reeosnize in the modern era of uni
ing of The realization of israe's great Messiah c
hope for the establi hment of the kingdom OF
truth justice and peace among all mea. We
consid ou selves no longer a Iation, but a re-
lgious immunity, and therefore expect neither
under the sons Of Aaron, nor the restoration of
ang Of he laws cenccrning the Jewish State.
rs;SioS In In ba al ,b
postulates of REGION. We are convinced or the
moral necessity y preserving the historical iden-
being lighter .elieiors of Judaism we appre-
cla'e their prov;denti ! mission to, and in the
Spreading of monotf estic and moral truths. We
acknowledge thst the SD rit of broad humanity
of our age Is our ally and the fulflment of our
mission. and the efore We extend the hand Of
l'shment of the reign Uf truth and Righteousness
among men,:
SeUenth.-We re assert the doctrine of udaism,
that the ul of man is immortal, grou DIN this
belief on the dis ne nature of the human spirit,
misery in wickedness. We reject as ideas not
ooted in Judaism the beliefs both in body resur-
rection and in Gehnanna and Eden (hell and
Psradsel, as abodes of everlasting punishment or
reward.
Eighth In full accordance with the spirit of
Mos aic legislauon, which strives to regulate the
relation between rich and poor, deem it our
duty to partici, ate in the great task Of modern
times to solve, on the basis OF justice and right
eousness. the pr blem presented by the contrasts
and evils of the present organization of society.
After the adoption of the platform, the
question of the admission OF proselytes
without the rites of circumcision was
taken up. A committee of five, consist
ing Of Rabbis Wise, Hirscb, Hahn, Sale,
and sonneschein, were appointed, with in
structions to report at next years meet
ing.
A resolution declaring in favor OF Sun.
day services, instead of Saturday, pro.
voked heated discussion, and the matter
was finally laid over until to. morrow morn
ing. The idea OF holding Sunday services
was generally favored, but the abolish
ment of Saturday services met with de-
tsrmined opposition.