The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-06
REV. DIR. I. NJ. WISE.
An Eventful Life Devoted to the Cause Of
Judaism and Humanity.

An Eventual Life Devoted TO the Cause OF
Judaism and Humanity.
From the Jewish Spectator.
Certainly the most active and ambitious
member OF the American Jewish clergy Is
Rev. Dr. |. NJ. Wise, minister OF the con-
gregation OF "B'nai Jeshuruh," president
OF the Hebrew Union College and editor OF
the American 7Uaclite, OF Cincinnati. lie
has had most oyentiul, honorable and
useful life, and, whatever his faults may
be, It must be conceded that American
Judaism has benehlted greatly by his
activity, his courage and his devotion to
Jewish interests.
DR.. Wise was born at Steingrub, in
Bohemia, April ., 1919 He received his
early education in the city Of Prague,
and. after course OF classical study in
Vienna, he was appointed TO the position
Of minister Of the congregation OF Radnitz,
where he remained until lsi0, when he
resigned his position TO come TO America
Shortly after his arrival he was called TO
the charge OF the congregation in Albany,
N. Y. lie found American buddhism a
chnos. lie found congregations without
leaders, formed alter the most irrational
and pernicious principle OF nationality;
but he saw Also ,.ru hIhd, and he saw that
"A -rss~r land Flowing with milk and
honey" lie studied It's laws, and found
that they were the most liberal under
which lsraoites had ever lived. lie
adopted America at once M his country,
and bestowed upon II all the love which a
man can bcstow upon the land OF his ma
tivity. llo saw in II the promised land
of which Israel had dreamed for no many
centuries II Jerusalem had ever been
destined TO live, 10 grow, and 30 win for
itself a respected position among the ma
tons Of the earth, here was the place
where those hopes could DO realized.
Tho difficulties which he encountered
while serving q congregation OF the old
style In Albany arc how pleasant recollcc-
tons 10 him and 10 those survivors who
witnessed the rupture, but they are too
inconscqucn,ial 10 DO entered into the
book Of general history. II We wish 10
understand his work we must examine his
ideals; then only shall We b. able 10 Judge
whether he adopted the right means,
whether lac accomplished what he desired,
and whether and wherein he failed. Three
ideals must have risen before his vision n
very short time after his arrival, because
the unprcjudiccd eye secs him constantly
reaching after them, no matter how often
ill-succcss would push him back.
His first ideal seems 10 have been that
all national distinctions among the Jews Of
America should be abolished. II healthier
should be established, they
must cease 10 be German, Polish, Russian
or English Jews, they must cease 20 be
split into ~ many congregations. thoy
must become American lsgaclitcs,' they
must become citizens Of this Republic in
the widest sense Of the word. One com
mon ritual would then suffice for all Of
them, a ritual which should correspond
with the demands Of the time.
Second-1his uniform religious body
should bc governed, not by pope, not by
one or several abbis. and surely not by
the rabbinical authorities Of Europe; II
should be ruled by u synod. In which every
congregation should be NJ we'll represented
~ the smallest State In the Union was In
Congress. This synod should decide In
oil matters Of religion, aud, being the ex.
preston Of the popular will, II should have
binding force.
Third-Thc leaders Of American Judn-
ism should be Americans, and not foreign
ors, who, with all due respect to theil
superior scholarship, proved TO be utterly
unable In many cases 10 grasp the spirit %
| American Institutions Their importation
/ from Europe should be discontinued. nnf
means should he adopted 30 train youn,
| men for such offices upon American soil.
Far In the rear fourth vision ever
might have arisen before him. lie woul,
see the fertile plains OF the West doltc,
with Jewish farms aud Villages. lie woul,
see whole States springing mp under tn,
tillago OF jewish hands They would b.
controlled by jewish legislation, rcpro
scented by Jewish Congressman la the Ma
iional Government. and they would sho'
TO the world that the Jew could adap
himself TO any kind Of work, aud wou
cease 10 be the inyadablc trader, II m OF
portunity were given him.
Let Us now examine those ideals an
see how Ear they have mnicfinlizcd. ca
there bo anything morc absurd than sui
division Of n religious community inl
national groupsy What In the world hl
the part Of the couniry whcro a man
born 10 do with his religious opinion,
one can easily understand that Cougr,
} cations might form on thc basis OF al
ference of opinion In regard 90 fcligot
icncis, that thuse who hold the same r.,
ligiOuB Views shout, flock together la ord,
10 accomplish morc by union. but viii
should animosity aud prejudice split n
Z camps Of both the orthodox and the n
, formers into inuumcmhlc small congtrg
! lions on the ground Of provincial 81
! traction, which, In the new country, ar
, under nov orlcr OF things, had
b | meaning whatever DE-. Wise work.
With all his might and during his who
e life, 10 break down this absurd prciudic
d "a rCluic what hardly needed Wiuiau1
I lie Insisted that the English lauguag
D | being the language 81 the Hynugugu
{ that the lsmeliiol should learn 10 lo,
= upon themselves ns members Of "a lar
J body OF as urge q country as America. ]
would have liked 10 unite them under o
q ritual, aud 90 give into the hands VI u
r. dovuut worshippcr pfhycrbook which
e would ilnd Horyircablu la the smallg
q Jewish congregation u Maine as well as
n the largest Of California The prayers co
p tninod therein should express gratitude
j. God Tor Use largu, prosperous and IN
y country which lie has given us,and nhOu
y cease 10 express n wish TOT restoration
~ lsrtc. upon AFiatic ground; wish While
u In fact, nobody hafborcd aud hobo
4 would help 90 realize, but. notwithslan
Z. ing which, still Oils The pages Of the 4
= icrcnt Polish, German aud Sciaill
ii praycibooks
E. II cannot be denied, and his most
yelcraic enemies must conCcde, that
ic has beer instrumental In soflcning a
g. weakening these provincial prelude
r. Young America, IN whom he placed
Or trust has already done nway with u