Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-04-11
JEWISH REFORMS.
AbOliShing Hebrew Prayers, Cir.
cumcisiOn, and the Saturday
Sabbath.

B. Lowenthal, president, in an address
to the Chicago Sinai congregation. issued
a few days ago, falls in with the spirit of
the radical reform movement among the
Jews, and what he has to say will. no
doubt, attract considerable attention. He
takes strong ground in favor of abolish
ing all Hebrew reading and prayers, in
the following language:
1T has frequently been stated from our
pulpit that stereotyped forms of PRAYER
are no indication of true devotion. That
this statement finds an echo in the hearts
OF our members can be readily observed
on those holidays when long PRAYERS are
the rule. Few are interested enough to
take up the prayer-book. Nevertheless.
III spite OF this fact we continue to insist
on having read for and to us PRAYERS and
chapters from the Bible in language I'M
derstood by a few of our members and
not at all by the younger generation. 1t
certainly speaks well for the latter if out
OF feeling of piety they do not ridicule
inns. Will not discuss the question of
virtue In prayer, but will content myself
by saying what no one will gainsay-that
IL there is any virtue in it, it can not be
when offered in a language not under
STOOD. such praying or reading has no
more effect than Chinese prayer machines
or Latln mass. Both of these methods
OF devotion do seem very ridiculous to us,
and yet we substantially go through
similar exercises. Let us then be con-
sistent and abolish at the earliest mo-
ment practicable all Hebrew reading ard
prayers"
He also takes stand against the prac-
tlce of the rite of circumcision, which has
been denounced as disgusting relic of
barbarism" by the pulpit, which, ''if
true, as most of us concede it to be-" he
says, why is it not our duty to declare
In unmlstakable language that the prac-
tlce OF the rite of circumcision is sacri-
legious and should be discontinued, and
also make known the fact by resolution
what may be inferred from the silence on
that point in our constitution ?"
In reference to the observance of Sat
urday as a religious holiday, he thinks
the custom should be abolished, con the
principle of the greatest good to the great
est number" and recommends that
change be made to the Christian Sabbath
by the Sinai congregation. To meet in
advance the question that recommends
tons of this kind should proceed
from the minister instead of the
president, he says: 81 have fully consid-
cred the propriety thereof, and am fully
satisfied that it is not only the privilege
of the President to make any recommen-
dations, which in his opinion, would adj
vance the interests of the congregation,
but also that it is clearly his duty"
In conclusion he says: "When preju-
dice and superstition have given way to
reason and enlightenment, be it in the
near or distant future, our efforts will be
recognized and emulated by those who
now oppose us. We can bide our time
and in the meantime be doing our duty
without fear or favor, and when darkness
gives way to light Sinai congregation will
have the proud satisfaction of having
served in Ethe front ranks among the
founders of religion broad enough for
all humanity to stand on"