The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-23
JUDAISM AND REFORMED JUDAISM.
The Jews or Awerica and the Ancient Ren.
gion-ConRtct OF Rabbits wise and Joseph.

| fence Of Rabbi Joseph we're 1t not for the
| questionable standard OF Judaism by which
| his detractor and assaiant has become known
| to the Jewish public. Therefore. far from
| prcsuming 10 ask for space In which to de-
| fond man who needs no defence. whose ex-
| emplary life since he has been in America has
| cndeared him to all whN know him, whose
| strong individuality STAMPS him as the posse
| sor OF extraordinary scholarship aud innate.
though perhaps rugged refinement. would
ASK Tor permission to point out to such very
| human minds as DR.. Wise and his school OF
followers how all such petty exhibitions OF
temper and unrensoning prejudice appear to
the observing Jews compelled to look on.
Not having the honor OF personal acauaint.
ance with Rabbi joseph, and never to my
knowledge having como within the visual
radius OF DIR. Wise. desire to be credited with
the opinion OF an observer merely OF tho drift
OF jewish sentiment, and incidentally 10 shed
some sidelight on that element OF Judaism
called reform"
Ono would better understand Dr. wise's
belIigerent attitude toward this man. IL tho
fhl had insisted upon DR.. Wise's acknowl-
edgment OF him as the hcad Of jewish affairs
in America. or i! he Ind ventured to call Dr.
Wise to accountfor tho number OF BiJlo-de-
nouncing. irresponsible minds no periodically
graduates from his college. But no such
''S"S JUL nus ptcu gwen. ana from the Splr-
| itual heights upon which Rabbi Jos cph dwells
one may be certain the idea OF temporal power
over recreant Jewish CONGREGATIONS has never
presented itself to his mind. But one instance
eau be recalled in which Rabbi Joseph es.
sayed to raise feeble protest against Amer
lean cultured rabbis." At tho conference OF
American rabbits held last summer IN
this city. gathering OF men mostly
from the towns and villages OF the
INTERIOR constituted themselves into body
empowered to act upon all the vital questions
OF Judaisu,. Their subsequent action OF set
ting aside the ancient Abrahamiti. covenant
invited tho rdculs and scorn Of tho entire
community. and it was then thnt Rabbi
Joseph's diGnined protest against the action
OF this august Assem- lage as having no bear
Ing ,lp?n the lives OF Jews belonging to con-
Terence. o: refusing to attend It's councils
ought to have rallied around him those Of our
have givcn Rim fullest surport, "' Int handi.
Canned by too slight an aeuua!n'ance with the
iE nrM languaGs to make his antaxonls'n
that portion Of tho cultured rabbinicnl school
Which Is still true t" jewish tradition. his
effort vas appreciated only W the few coGni-
That Eabbi Joseph has. undergone some
Ams1ic9 can readily I've conceived. but thor
snEny os s , IN tho nimnd and earnest
has cleaned sufficient patience and wisdom
hehn thG hs sr,ihEs Of thopght to
i Is all to him part Of the etsrna! ruling Of
Wise conte mptuous y says the Chief 'E Ia us
E nnj! tto is to write ritual bills q divorce.
iahhin,sm In peculiar jargun. inspect the
es1 ,6 %! the butchers bread Of r. baksr
most dissruntied OF critics must conceIe that
katbi Joseph's official duties keep him pretty
for athar n Ss BE ns1
and allow little time for that Am erican culture
pr. Wise is 50 sure Of in himself. and of which
), Lacking, this so.caied american culture
thssde which all other kinds, sink into in
whose con;seneS and executive ability Slti have
liz ISL f"s OF S" "%d yorE of
a inns no mneai.sl,for attack OF most rabid ra!i-
doxy compels each ihinkin: indlvidta al nm nm
n 1I1lTrss to to b shsd some Gi that s"ra
is "A safe armor In tines Of controvers I''e il
one were given the task Of lndn. out lust
what the present ttitnde Of tho Jews OF Amer
lea Is toward their religion. 1t might iaiTiv he
described by the word rumiaatvn. Tho tear.
ing away oy such men a. Wi*c Of ancient GER
emonlai Mt home and in Tho synnEoruo-r
moonIh which in nl! ages have bound the heart
OF tne jew by holie,t ties Of ASSOCIATION to his
anything but tho most prosalc ana mnteriI.
istc forms oil Worship. have lett the .Jewish
m in'nns IN a state OF unccitainty and confusion
~, II' T. e2noslas,ic frenzy that distinguishes.
snares nothing, not oven tho virtues and sio-
rioIs arcompli shmcnts of Biblical heroes has
both achieved ana defeated is own enIs.
achieved in so FAR as mnterialistic bias has
been given to mini> that might otherwise have
been reyerential. Ieiea;ed in that tho fever OF
sumsd in Its own fierce flames. The creat
,a.n 81 wth"ash,lu Jews now say to these
ried your material ism too far" and Us "Vux
porui, fox Del" even those ministers once
hat they ro 20 , whrwinI 10 Tr own
sh9rts!Ehl sdness has sowu. To-day the sem
mize mach in thenncient Jaw and ceremonial OF
the Jews that is worthy 81 to be handed down
tired Dr. Wsa e try sI n
YAM yam TO destroy that which the naturally loyal
namely. some Wis ibn sign in his home n nd The !
ssynnG9gne that he is jew now. to-day. and |
~ the periodica! lapses from the spiritual
which from the time Of Moses have vi, tied the |
IIs s%nr thess rni"rmers seen to he the real
dscry and depreciate the intellectual Standard |
OF sueh Jews as prefer to Worship according |
selves on having achieved n higher soul cu- |
lure. which seemed Impossible. under tho
the rutrinrchs and lawcivers Of ,ha race ~
s 1t ls iayorits claim Of these reformers that
sHy otTer Knd a or for TINT natter
tIrt Judaism. y by culture is meant
. anns elevation, .l OF SOU! and sentiment that
superficial draughts from the, fountains OF
science. art. and music. it Is hard 20 UNDER
stand Why 1t should rot come Ms readily and
Easily TO the one as to the other Cultured.
nishiy cuitured men and women. ara found !
within the ltoman Catholic. Pro,e stant.
alathodlst, and Episcopal churches who are
dsvotedly attached to their faiths. viii any !
Gns dare to say that those men and women are
nebaiIed from or incapable OF culture. hecnuse
they age stnnch orthodox uphulcgs Of their
respective creeds? On the contrary. III all
age - religion and culture have gone hand ia
hani; nor can the latter exist in fullest pcr-
lection without the former. Tina most refined
anu cultured superstructures ar" built upon
natures. INTO which religion has first instileu |
reverence Tor and love OF Cod.
me cult OF Greece an Rome. Of Egypt |
hhu carthage, lives but as W. strive to repro
ouce them out Of tho ruinS Of time; Tut mo
culture Of to-day il the outcome Of centuries
p, reliGlous and moral warfare against pagan
ms share. has given his Likelihood freely in Inc
struggle, has Undergone persecution. mar
tyrdom. and exile. and stands to-day in the
YIN with the rest OF the civilized world bat