The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-04
TINE sETrvrH oar slaBlrH.
A Movement 90 Secure Its Better 0bssTv-
nuco hy HSbrayya.

A Movement 90 Secure Its Better ObssFv
| auco By Hsbrswa.
On some day this month a meeting Of del
eRates from all the Jewish congregations nortl
OF Canal street will DO held to consider way
and means for providing for the better observ
ance Of the Hebrew Sabbath among the jew
OF this city. The orthodox and reform faotioni
are united upon this subject and possibly
some new and positive action may be taken
upon this much discussed problem. For years
1t has been under consideration. and has al
times caused the bitterest controversy be-
tween those who professed to look at 1t from a
lofty religious point OF view. and those who
held that the practical civilization OF to-day
necessitated compromise as to labor on Sat-
urday While the former dilated upon the SUI
periorlty OF the Divine commandment over the
mere laws OF convenience, the latter holly re-
piled that this was IN age OF reason and com
mon senss, and that It was pure nonsense to
endeavor to upset the customs OF the age.
The present move ia inclined to be viewed as
Of moro practical Importance than any taken
hitherto, because Of the fact that 1t is to DO
discussed from the practical rather than the
merely theological point OF view. II Is the out
come OF conference Of Hebrew ministers held
at the club house OF the Jewish Board OF Min
listers at 721 Lexington avenue. several weeks
ago. At this meeting the Rev. DR.. Henry s..
Jacobs OF the Madison Avenue Synagogue pre-
| sided. He lie orthodox. rs Is the Secretary tho
| Rev. Dr. Pereira Mendes.
! Invitations had been sent out some time be-
| fore. and 1t WINS generally known by those
| present that the meeting was designed to dis
cuss means to have the Hebrew Sabbath moro
generally observed among the Jews of New
York. number of the laity had been invited
to be present, and these took part in the ds-
| oain A Of fnot a hoI laa
| intention Of the promoters OF the meeting to
have only the views of laymen brought before
| 1t, but many Of the rabbs present
| were 30 enthusiastic upon the subject that
| they could not be prevented from airing their
| own minds. or course they looked at the ques-
ton merely from the theological point OF view.
| and expressed the usual patience at the sug-
gestion Of practical consideration The lead
era among the ministers, who were in favor OF
letting the laymen work out q practical solu-
ton OF the problem. were sufficiently, strong.
however. to overcome opposition, and 1t was
finally determined to hold another meeting.
when views could be presented in more sys-
II was decided that each of the congregations
represented in the jewish Board Of Ministers
should appoint two delegates from It's laymen
to represent It's views upon the subject and
body made up OF those delegates will, 1t is ex:
pected. be appointed Committee OF Ways and
Means at the next meeting. 1t was ordered
that each congregation should send the names
Of It's delegates as soon as they were appointed
to President Jacobs, who will, as soon as he
has RECEIVED sufficient number. call meet
ing. The. Jewish Passover. following closely
until now, and another Jewish hoidayi Is in the
near future 80 that the meeting will have to be
held very soon.
Among those who expressed their views at
the original meeting was Mr. Lewis May.
PIresident Of tho Board Of Trustees of Temple
Emanu- III. the wealthiest and most powerful OF
tho Jewish congregations In New York. He
was heartily in favor of some action that should
fhn IntH frNF 3 h.At-
apathy. Ex-Coroner Ellinger. Editor Max
Cohen. and Lawyer Hayes also spoke In sup
banker. and knows as we'll as anybody the diff
ficulties attendant upon the attempt to cease
every eifort should be- made to induce the jews
OF the city to abstain from work so far as pos
sh he argued that their obseryanse Of half
The spirit Q, compromise and conciliation
suggested in the present movement Is so con-
trary to all previous actions on this subject as
TO give to the more conservative persons inter-
ested in the undertaking considerable hope OF
emit opinions have defined their own arguments
In radical, clear cut statements which they re-
afford, with the severe competition OF the bust
ness world to cease work for two days every
toms and manners Of the community TO ab-
stain from labor anyhow. aud he has hitherto
it has therefore been the case that Of ali the
Jews engaged In business In New York, prob
huIb Oue III really ODb0rN0 inc SHDDHtn.
The chief danger that existed 10 this non-ob- |
servance was its influence upon the whole |
doSb tedy there has been marked Increase In
the laxity Of religious observance on the part |
Of the Jewish merchant and the jewish pro-
the great majority no longer observe the diet
airy laws, aud this hitherto important element
largely discarded. Even those Jews who main Gn
tanned an observance OF them at homo disre-
relations. The Jewish merchant finds It in
convenient to seek out a restaurant In which
t ines laws are Observed every time mat he de-
chants. he finds 1t necessary 10 economic his
time. and the Jewish restaurants are few and
fact that very few of :hese restaurants are Of
the quality that would recommend them to a |
for he single jew. he must either betake him
self TO Jewish boarding house, or set up in
serve the dietary laws. aud the result is that he
does not usually observe them.
The same condition that prevails In this re-
spect IT, also powerful as TO the observance OF |
the sabbath. The Mosaic law on this su beet de-
mands that not only shall the jew himself at;
also see 20 II that none In his employ violate
the commandment One OF the first efforts at
been 10 refrain from going 10 business them
selves on the Sabbath dAJ. leaving Il 70 be con
Quoted bV employees 10 whom the seventh
dhy In OF no religious consequence This Ii
iheieourss now pursued BY the strictly faithful
observers Of the Jewish sabbath. but it Is not
TiKii tbeologiAn. who viii not AbRie one jot
from the meaniuR OF the commandment aud
looks upon ali attempts at compromise be-
tween the law and the present Deriod as sinful
Far back ~ Jewish history II was deter
mined hat tile laws and obsergAncss incul-
GATED b. the prophets an rabbits were binding
upun ever Jew except whore they Ihtsftofod
with llio. But sgeD tbIr compromises MAS not
admitted until after great suffering lad been
endured, if IN tho battle " the hAeeabsss
ADd AhtlOchuk the jewish Warriors uIheld the
hirleihs.s Oi the sabbath even 10 the pOlnt -
refusing 20 defend themselves on that day and
frequently allos sd thsnsssss 10 he pHsslgslY
E4alEliofsd fn'bnI tbEI take W. RrinB 1n the
bhbiath ~ WAC A!tof hrknIhl hurL DH Iasflanrpn .
ihsi t4o TAbI lh concluded tIni BuI ga MI ~
tend a. . lOs tL1 htflr' leit.f 81 tito las ~
iltsfinfT ~ nH'ieJs u ITO ~ dpA' h. aud lllnTr-
Eitnf tie AeNlrh holdi0fB barklHd uu tLslT
HtiHpf on that dsy 10 HnY ~ EuD Vl.0i loI de-
inprisH burbgnHs
Jhurr 40 uHd ,ub'sdiy mArF hil0ig the
rhlrynf ufiLsapl JUhF |aulrulATlB TO- tLs nd
y vfAd, $40 huulu faillnf rufnI thr uaIt 30 %
hl'tih htlut thhh hJfA ui 80 rnis.iiI. bll itr.
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