The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-19
THE RABBINICAL SYNOD.
Expressions of Leading Jews Concerning the
Work of the Pittsburg Convention.


The telegraphic account of the proceedings of
the rabbnical convention, at Pittsburg, pub
lished in yesterdays Journal, was generally read
by the Hebrews of this city, and generally dis
cussed The Jews of Indianapolis are among
the most enterprising and intelligent of our cit
liens, and the majority of the membership of the
Market-street Temple have long been known as
progressive or reform Jews. Journal reporter
interviewed a number of these yesterday and
here presents their views:
II. Bamberger-As far as I am concerned,
have held the majority of the principles set
forth IN those resolutions for long time. My
belief, as jew, is in the only living God, as
gwen In our second commandment, and to me,
as jew. 1t has always appeared sacrilege to
believe IN any but one God Aside from circum-
cision which | strictly believe in from a sani-
tary point of view, and also as a commandment
from God, am not greatly different from Uni
tartan. L agree that the jew is to go back
to Palestine, and say our Messiah has not yet
come, and will not come until all prejudice and
| prescription for opinions sake has left this
| earth We are no nation but religious sect,
and are affiliated with the nation with which we
i've. With all the progress the Christian re-
| hglon mas made, there is barrier of prejudice
| constantly Kept up against US. 1t is maintained
| by the Christian Sunday schools, where 1t is
implanted in the children, and which they can
| not dlvest themselves of until they become men
ana women-and not always then Christians
| say that Jesus said: ''Vohafto lreacho comocho'
love thy neighbor as thyself. Now that is in
| the Old Bible, and was there long before Jesus
| ever said it. l have been a reformed Jew all my
| life. have done with all the old services l
| do not believe in them, my children have no
| interest part in them, but raise my children
as Jews.
Edward Ducas, Vice president of the Indi-
| napohs Hebrew Congregational am in full
cord with the resolutions | never in my life
believed that the Jews were to go back to Pales-
tine am an American citizen, and am here
given the right TO worship as | choose This
Plttsburg meeting has also been called for the
purpose of making uniform prayer book
Perhaps, you do not know that the reformed or
progressive Jews, a class, in this country go
under the title of American-Israel.
Is. Gundelfnger-l approve of their action. I
belong TO the branch known progressive Jews.
believe that some day there will be religion
In which the entire human family can partici
pate, and 1t will be founded upon the old Bible.
Louis Newberger-The resolutions are ex-
presslve OF the most advanced thought of Ameri-
can Jews, and are the result of vigorous and
long-continued contest with the advocates of the
orthodox theology This, as you know, recog-
nlzes the laws, forms and ceremonies of the Old
Testament and Talmud as established by divine
sanction, and they are obeyed and carried out as
essential elements Of the religion itself. 1t is
olfhcut to express how very far the race has
religion, many of which do not differ essentially
from those still preserved in the Catholic church.
recall the fact of nightly repetition for series
OF years child's prayer in Hebrew, without
without caring to shoulder the
mighty responsibility of calling for
an English translation. The reform" Jews
are battling for the substance of religion
and against its Anticipated FORMS and, as
you may Observe the resolutions embody
declaration Of the unity of God, the immortality
of the soul, and expression concerning the
duties OF the race IN regulating the relations be-
tween the rich and poor. There is every reason
TO believe that the advanced ideas expressed in
the resolutions of the convention, backed as thew
are by the foremost priests Of the church, will
be generally accepted. The great contest has
been with respect to the forms, usages and cere-
monies or the Jews in and out of church
The ''reformers' do not consider forms and cere-
monies as essential to religion, or. as in any
wise necessarily connected with it. They believe
man can be as good in the synagogue with his
hat off as with it on and they now propose to I'M
cover because such is the prevailing practice in
public assemblies. Accordingly, you find the
convention declaring against such of the Mosaic
laws ana ceremonies as "are unadapted to the
views ard habits of modern civilization" and
among these you will notice that the
restrictive laws concerning diet and dress
must 60" The Jew who subscribes
to the new creed" may be AS free as the Chris
tian to eat what is set before him." and need
cock to protect them from deadly sins in eating
food not dressed cooked, according to the
ancient faith. The convention WAS composed of
many scientific men, whose influence is seen in
the resolution classifying certain facts of the
Bible as "a record rejecting the primitive ideas
of it's own age"
Rabbi Messng-I had, of course, an invitation
to the rabbinical synod, but l could not attend
You ask who was the father of this reform move
ment. L think it dates back to Prof. Moses
Mendelssohn. the great German philosopher
who made German translation of the Penta-
touch and an admirable version of the Psalms
His book Jerusalem" published in 1883. is
vindicatlon both of religious tolerance and Juda-
ISM and is still considered one of the best of
books on those topics In this country the
movement was, fifty years ago. taken up by Dr.
Elnhorn, of New York, afterwards by Rabbi
Wise, in the West, seconded by Rabbi Lilien-
thai. Rabbi Wise's paper, the Israelite, has
ably carried the movement forward Our con
gregations have long needed center
and system system This could only be formed
t by sa st,en ths s synod One thing
book. At present we have over
twenty different kinds in use. This synod may
adopt from all these one prayer book for the
entire Union and it will be in English with but
little Hebrew in it--much as | use it now for my
Friday night service. My congregation is a
progressive one, but moves slowly. l myself
made the proposition looking to proselytism
which grew out of case in my congregation of
Jew who had Christian wife, and asked per-
mission to buy. lot in our cemetery, and that
in case Of DEATH she might as we'll as himself
be buried In our cemetery. My congregation
was at first against it. not on account of religious
scruples but through fear of acknowledgements that
might arise from it. l had a conversation with
DR.. Wise and Professor Melzener, of the
Cincinnati Hebrew College, and the conclusion
arrived at was to let him have the lot, but that
no ceremonies attend his wifes interment
This is, | believe the first instance on record
where such thing has been allowed. Sunday
may be made lecture day; that is all The
Bible specially sets apart the seventh day, and
that day must be our day for religious worship
At the Market street Temple we have services
on Friday evening and Saturday morning, and
school for the children on both Saturday and
Sunday