Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-18
JUDAISM'S DECLARATION.
A BROAD AND PROGRESSIVE
PLATFORM.


Every Religion Respectfully Recognized
Recognition of the Bible-Only the
Moral Laws of Mosaic LegislAtiOn Ac-
cepted-The Hebrews Now Only Re
ligiOus Community.
PITTsBURG, PA, Nov. 1.-THE National
Rabbinical convention OF the Reformed
Hebrew Church, IN session here, adopted
the following platform to-day after a
lengthy discussion:
In view OF the wide divergence of ofopiniOn and
OF the conflicting ideas in Judaism to day, we,
rs Representatives OF Reform Judaism in
America, in continuation OF the work begun
at philadelphia in 1863, unite upon the follow
ing principles;
EVERY RELIGION RECOGNIZED.
/ We recognize in every religion an at
tempt TO grasp the infinite, and in every mode,
source or book of revelation held sacred in
any religious system consciousness OF the in
dwelling OF God in man We hold that Juda-
ism presents the highest conception OF the
God-dea. as taught in our holy scriptures and
developed and sp!ritualized by Jewish teach
ers in accordance with the moral and philo-
sophical progress OF their respective ages. We
maintain that Judaism preserved and de-
Tended in the midst OF continual struggles and
trials, aud under enforced isolation, this God
idea, which is the central religious truth for
the human race.
RECOGNITION OF THE BIBLE.
2. We recognize in the bible. record of the
consecration of the Jewish people TO its mis-
sion, as priest OF one God. and value IL ms
most potent instrument OF religious and moral
instruction. We hold, tnat the modern dis
coverles OF scientific researches in the do
mains OF nature and history, are not antago-
nissic TO the doctrines OF Judaism, the bible
rejecting the primitive ideas OF its own age
and times, clothing It's conception of divine
providence and justice, dealing with man in
miraculous narratives.
MOSAIC LEGISLATION.
8. We recognize in the Mosaic legislation a
system OF training the Jewish people for its
mission during it's national life in Palestine,
and to-day we accept as binding only the
moral laws, and maintain only such ceremO-
nies as elevate and sanctify our lives, but
reject al such as are not adapted to the views
and habits OF modern civilization.
UNsUITED TO THE AGE.
4. We hold that all such Mosaic and rabbin-
ical laws rs regulate diet, priestly purity, and
dress originated in ages aud under the infu-
ence OF ideas altogether foreign TO our present
mental and spiritual state. They fail TO inn
press the modern jew with the spirit OF
priestly holiness; their Observance IN our
days is apt rather TO Obstruet than TO further
modern spiritual elevation.
NO LONGER A NATION.
8. We recognize IN the modern era Of uni
versal culture Of the heart and intellect the
approaching OF the realization Of IsraePs
great messianiC hope for the establishment OF
a Kingdom Of truth. justice and peace among
all men. We consider ourselves no longer a
nation, but religious community, and there
fore expect neither return to Palestine nor
sacrihcial worship under the sons OF Aaron,
nor the restoration OF any OF the laws con-
/ cerning the Jewish state.
PROGRESSIVE RELIGION.
| 6. We recognize IN Judaism a progressive
religion, ever striving to be in accord with the
! pOstulates OF reason, Ne are convinced Of
! the utmost necessity of preserving historical
| identity with our great past. Christianity and
| Islam beng daughter religions Of Judaism.
we appreciate their Providential mission tQ
aid IN the spreading OF mOnOtheistlc and moral
| truth. We acknowledge that the spirit Of
broad humanity Of our age IS our ally and the
/ fulflment OF our mission, and. therefore. we
| extend the hand Of fellowship to all who OPP
| crate with us ia the establishment Of a reign
Of truth and righteousness among men.
IMMORTALITY or THE soUI.
7. We reassert the doctrine OF judaism that
1 the soul OF man is immortal, grounding this
| belief on the divine nature Of the human
J spirit which forever finds bliss in righteous
/ ness and misery in wickcdue-s. We reject as
/ ideas not rooted in Judaism belief both in
bodily resurrection and IN gehena and eden
/ thell and paradsel rs abOdes for everlasting
| punishment or reward.
3. In full accordance with the spirit Of
! Mosaic legislation, which strives 10 regulate
| the relation between rich and poor, we deem
/ it our duty to participate in the great task Of
! modern times to solve Oh a basis OF justice and
| Righteousness the problems presented by the
/ contrasts and evils OF the present organization
/ Of society.
! ADMISSION OF PROsEL YTEs.
| After the adoption Of the platform the
| question OF the admission of prOselytes
| without rites of circumcision was taken
up, and committee OF i've, consisting Of
| Rabbis Wise. Hirsch, Hahn, Sale and
SOnneschin, we're appointed, with instruc-
| ti0ns to report at next years meeting.
! A resolution declaring In favor Of Sun
| day services instead Of Saturday pro-
! vOked heated discussion, and the matter
was finally laid over until tomorrow
morning, The idea Of holding Sunday
services was generally favored, but the
/ adjustment Of Saturday services met
] with dafarmlned nnnnalLinn.