The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-10
CHEF RABBIT JACOB JOSEPH
His Title Brought irto :srutc-Hns lie
the Right to BearIs

Rabbi Isaac NJ. Wise has challenged the
right Of Chief Rabbi Joseph OF this city TO bear
the title which is ordinarily associated with
his name; and many OF the adheren,s OF Juda-
ism in tho United States give heed to the
words OF Rabbi Wise. who is President OF the
Hebrew Union College. director OF the Rabbin-
ical Conference. editor OF tho iuo'irdn iTdcids.
| and n venerable sage in Israel. Rabbi Wise
| speaks boldly upon the subject. under tho
authority OF tho Central Conference of
American Rabbits" Ho says that there
exists no Chief Rabbi OF the American Jews
that the letter recently printed. which bore
the name and seal OF one calling himself Chief
Rabbi. was not written by jacob Joseph. who
cannot write English German. or any other
language besides the rablinical Hebrew. and
most litcly has no knowledge of tho gist Of the
letter: that tho Jewish congregations OF this
country jealousy preserve their autonomy
under their own rnbbis. and that 1t is ridicn-
lous to- speak Of tho existence Of II Chief Rabbi
in tho United States.
The Central Conference repudiates the au-
thority OF any Chief Rabbi OF American Juda-
ism. That body announces. In document
which 1t has issued. that " 1t is in no wise con-
nected with any OF the Russian Polish soci-
cites or any other rabbnic-kabbalistic indi-
vidual or association in any form: knows no
religion besides God and His word; cannot
aud will not come down to the notions Of any
culture below the American. and can only find
1t impertinent IL our wards OF yesterday come
to be our judges or compeers in matters or re-
ligon. especially If this is Attempted by men
perfectly unknown to our community. and
without the least influence on the Intelligence
OF American lsraClites. 1t is u ridiculous sup
position that the Russian-Polish immigrants
IN New lor; represent orthodoxy and that
AmTsrlram Judaism III Is sort S3rt OF neresS
". OF thief Rabbi originated III the United
states. He SAYS
'.Sume ten o. twelve OF the so-calcd Russian
Polish societies. ont Of the one hundred or
more similar bodies formed in New YORK of
Immigrants from Russia and adjoining roun.
tries. soma few years ago united into Il sort II
GnniotC,atiun and called from Russia certain
i Hnhnl i , iIserh TO- whom they gave the
KahUil. whose authority reaches not beyond
that circle Of the con'elcraton, and in i, he is
butchers. akcrs of Passover bread. liquor
sellers ami other trafrkcrs in eatahle- and
ceremonial ulensil :. with Icons" H. r"rfocm
marriage ceremonies aud write ritual bills Of
diNoEre. He also breaches occaS iunaliy for his
reore rahninicai disGcourses in their peculiar
largon. which they ca II sermnnc.
The foregoing language OF Rabbi Wise has
met, with the ii'alr:ooral of many of tho
lavish reorle. Of New, York. under the jurs
that thcv have no means Of caiIin. Eahni Wis,.
t. account for it, AMI that they en- only brand
Ito has sought to abolish som" OF the ancient
rites OF .IuHa -m. that he does not comprehend
the Jornh. that he Is not a Hebrew scl.ulat,
that he is "A disturN"r of the peace. and that hc
has permitted meniters of his family TO inter-
marry with Gentiies, who disregard Abraham.
y short time ago Chief Rahbi Joseph got Up
project for holding coMclave Of orthodox
rabrlS IN tins clly as u protest AGAINST tho
heccsies o: Rabbi Wise: but he abandoned tho
Project under the apprehension that it would
I've IisadvantaScous to Judaism in the United
States. 49,
The Jsir;si fittings is ono OF tho Jewish.
American pnpcrs that unholds Rabbi Wise.
After declaring that jacob Joseph j. not tn,
- He is Chief liabi Of II handful Of congrcgu-
tons in New York city, whose members arc
recent arrivals from Russia and Poland. Tho
better class OF Jews III this country have no
Chief Rabbi and desire none. They certainly
do not acknowledge the authority Of Mr. JV-
scyh."
1t is proper to say that Chief rabbi Joseph
does not profess to exercise any authority
over those of the svnagoGues of this city which
DO not voluntarily come under his lurisdic-
function is analogous to that Of a Bishop Ct i.
diocese III the Christian Church.
thicf itabbi Joseph is Il man OF impressive
appearances. with marked Hehrac features.
be is ~ years of age has n full beard which
flows like that Of Aaron. and wears skull
cap In tho early part Of this year he had n
stroke Of paralysis in the right hand. with
which. however. he is now able to write hen
Rabbi Wise says that the Chief Rabbi cannot
read or speak the English language. he must
refer to the fact that he could not DO SO when
no ranc TO this country from Russia four
wears ago The report which was print ell boz
fore the Presidential election that the Chat
fabbi had ordered the people of til" eighteen
tain l,litical candidates. has been denied by
himself.