Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-02-02
A RABBI ON JUDAISM.
A HOPEFUL VIEW or IT'S FUTURE
Judaism a Broad Idea. Not Merely the
Rites of kationality-The Law OF
Life tor Lite Obsolete.

exercises al Powers's Opera House, last
night, after which he introduced Rabbi
Cohn, w,io spoke of Judaism and It's Flu
ture." The Rabbi spoke with strong, clear
voice and AT times with eloqnence. The
term Judaism. he said. should not be ms
construed TO mean a national faith, ca
clusiyely. that of Israel, bot ss the faith OF
all enlightened and progressive men by
Judaism he did not mean tho doctrines or
ceremonies OF iliterate men who cling 10
! externalities. in q word not the Jewish
church as commonly understood. but the
substance OF Israel's religion. Judaism.
in it's right sense, is only q name represent
ing an idea in reference TO the spiritual ma
ture of the highest ideal, named God, and
the unity OF that ideal spirit II took its
name from the tribe OF Judah. but il be-
came the heritage of the world Judaism
should not be considered sntagonistic 10
other supposed or speculative ideas in the
same strain Of thought; or ae an irreconcil-
able enemy to other views accepted ne unde-
niable facts" Its promises were not Para
disean pleasures after death. the heaven of
| travelling in the road to perfection
Undertaking TO unveil the future of Juds-
ism was undoubtedly difficult task, for who
could foretell coming eventsi The first
question is whether Judaism has future.
| To confirm the fact of its future We must
consult the past and the present The soil
| OF the human race in the past was not caps-
L. -. a. \ al ~ he sHaa
of Gods unity. Only email part was be-
coming fit for cultivation. This part was
| Israel. The past testifes that Judaism was
the only saving medium to which the world
could look. But the question will arise, has
Judaism been SAVIOR to the human race!
4 savior is not deliverer from danger; else
Christianity boasts in vain OF having
| Savior. The meaning of savior is a deliver
er from sin. In this sense Judaism was a
savior.
| The Rabbi digressed for few moments 70
speak of hanging "a a punishment for mur-
der. In this he could not find, he said pun
ishment for the sake Of correction bat
| merely destruction. The purpose of punish
ment IL 10 correct the culprit and restore
! But IL such correction is fruitless then keep
the murderer in close confinement for life, 90
as to restrain him from doing further injury.
Perhaps the audience, the speaker said. would
be surprised TO hear this from an Isrselite.
who should adhere TO the law of Moses. that
| he who sheds mans blood his blood shall
| likewise be shed. But do We shed mans
/ L. f~xx =
! to be understood igurativeiy, we could not ac-
cspt it at the present day for two ressons
| first, il the law in reference TO the shedding
| of blood is fgurative, then we may take that
in reference to imprisonment for life fgur-
atively, and say that life is freedom and the
destruction of that freedom is death: second
because of its uncivilized nature and inn
moral tendency. Not that the Law Of Moses
was barbsrous, but IT was not civilized one.
Returning to his subject the Rabbi said
that the consequence OF evil is punishment,
but to save ones self from wrong actions is
in the power only of ones self. In Judaism
every man is his own savior. But IL Juda-
| ism IL such a savior. Why uas Israel despised
| and ill-treatedf Because Israel always
| opposed the cruel law of coercion. against
the combination Of church and state against
a monsrchicsl government. Driven from
place 10 place Israel has worked through his
writings and preaching. In favor Of Repub-
lican government For this reason was
Judaism rejected: but night conquered
might The second witness. the
present, shows achievements Wherever ne
| look We En- traces of the blissful influences
! of this saving medium. The spirit Of Juda-
ism pervades the whole sphere OF enlightened
humanity Tolerstion is the breath il
| breathes. After hearing the evidence
ue must conclude that there 10 a most elori-
ous future for Judaism: future of brotherly
love and good will; future in which the
blessed teachings Of Judaism vill reign
supreme Formerly Israel stood alone. but
now a helpmate is given This faithful help
mate is the Unitarian fraternity. Like
Judaism. IT teaches the fstherhcod ~ God
and the brotherhood of man.
The Rabbi closed with sn eloquent perora-
ton picturinG vision ~ sie contamination
of the work Of Israel
/ Rev Mr. Powers srose after tho ci0=e II
the Rsbbi's address and spoke for few mo
usnts. ssying that Jodsisn7. ga represented
by the later prophets. vas az Il had been re-
presented by TIE Rsbbi. The religion u ths
Jews vAs rejected becsnse of The igDorhncs
and sin Of the Christian world. lie believed
Il uas hecause sesus Christ vss dehed that
there came ~ be q nnio4 of church ard state
under ihs Roman EnIire Throurh All
these eighteen centuries Judaism had
stood frEn - the unify - God. TIE 1evs
heve TIE rhs~ncterisfscs thsv haze t~~can=s
80 Christians have compelled tbsu Tfsr
sere traders brosn~s nhsy fnnzf hsvs thsir
Effects n portable form. TIE fnndarnentsl
prsncsg,ls ~ gsdAi~rn is rssss~ou<ne-s. tlss~e-
fers Is~> thar ons F<s osnt - tAs criminals
IA oef rrf@cns sre lsv~. TAs tifns had couns
tAaf Chfiakian sseai3 tsAs ~ Tsw ~ a.