The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-22
The Jewish Race and Religion In til
United States.

A worry interesting question has been
raised BY the Jewish-American papers since
the appearance In The Sun short time
ago Of few remarks about the social rcla-
tons OF the jewish race with other races OF
mankind. It was saidMere that in no coun-
try Of tho world since the days OF ABRAHAM
have the people Of the jewish race ANAL
gamntcd with the people Of any other
race: that even in tho United States we do
not hear much about the intermingling Of
Jewish and Gentle blood through mar
riag0, and that 1.-THE Jews are certainly not
blameworthy for maintaining the unity OF
their type through the aRes." These SEN
fences were Immediately made u subject OF
debate by the Je,rish I1din0s Of Rochester.
the Hebrew Journal OF this city, and other
organs NJ Judaism. Tho comments OF the
.,epcish 7vdings were surprising. It declared
that I" the intelligent Jews In this country
to-day do not desire to preserve the unity
Of their typo" that :" the question Of the in
termarriage Of Jews and Christians Is grad
ually solving Itself. as such marriages are
Of frequent occurrence" and that, when
the social equality OF the two great religious
divisions is established, intermarriage will
follow as a matter OF course" It seems
that the Jepish TMings even looks for the
6bliteration OF all lines Of distinction be-
tween the Jewiah race and other races:
the Jews have no longer racial identity: the only
bond that binds them Is religious the Jews
called because tbeyars adberenis Of Judaism.
and man Of any race who Acknowledges n belief in
the Jewish religion Il a jew"
Our only comment upon these astounding
statements was that. II they are correct.
the Jewish spirit must have undergone a
transformation In our times, and the ancient
Jewish traditions must have lost their in
fuence in the United States. In view OF
this remark the Jeacish Tsdings replies:
THAT may b So But the Jews of to-day moro
thoroughly imbued with the spirit OF progress than
with traditions and In their desire to meet the people
Of other religions upon equal footing they glad
prefer lberalty and to the customs Of their
forefathers"
Tho opinions OF tho Hebrep journal do
not. in all respects. coincide with those of
its contemporary. It asks for proof OF the
frequency OF marriage between Jews and
non-Jews. but it weakens Its position by
especially asking proof THAT Jews who
acknowledge belief in the jewish religion
do so intermarry." rs the question at issue
Is Of racial, not OF religious nature. The
HebreH journal says further:
The faacy consists In supposing that social equality
involves necessarily the surrender OF racial Identity
and that people cannot plano OF social well
a. commercial ana political equality. without inter
marriage. SO outspoksn reformer Dr. x. KoHLss is
Just nrm 10 Dr.. II. MExDEs In opposition to the
views Of the JeaiA 7Ydings."
In reply. the Jepish Tdin0s maintains It's
original ground. 1t af1lrms. while intImat-
ing that the whole Jewish community Is
aware OF the truth Of the affirmation. that
the intermarrisge Of Jews and Christians
is growing in frequency. and it adds: I'VE
say positively that many Jews who have
married Christian wives continue to &C.
knowledge adherence to. the Jewish re-
ligion." 1t repeats that 1.-THE racial iden-
tIty Of the Jews no longer exists" and
that allegiance to Judaism does not imply
belief In the necessity Of q distinct race
Of people to maintain that religion
The debate on this very interesting sub
ject that has been started in the Jewish
papers is interesting to people Of all races
and religions in the United States. 1t would
seem to US that IL the Jewish customs and
traditions which have come down from the
days OF ABRAHAM and MosRs are ever to be
changed. ages Of time must be needed to
bring about the change; and yet. for all
that. 1t Is fact that large scroll would be
required for the record Of the marriages
between Jews and nonJews" that have
occurred in this city within few years.