The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-03
APPEALS FROM THE RABBITS.
AN 0UTCRY AGAINST THE DECLINE OF
SABRA TH OHsERVAHCE

Anertcan-boru uebrewe De Net Remember
q A. the Seventh Day-The wonen Bpa
the Rees-They Market ana sew. ana &c
to the Matir>> Issseaa OF the Synagogue.
For number OF years the most important
Question In the jewish Church has been the
increasing Indifference Of the native born
mcmbers. This has manifested itself In many
ways. but chiefly in n disregard for tho Jewish
Sabbath and In tendency to prefer business
or social pleasures to the observance Of Jew
tsh customs Tho rabbits have Numbered
against tho Jews who attended to business
on Saturday instead OF going to tho synagogue.
and have predicted all sorts OF dire conse-
Qucnoes to the irrelglous. Their denucta-
lions have been In vain. however. and the lack
OF attention to religious duties has spread
sIarmingly, so that now even the foreign born
parents OF tho original backsiders have be-
como contaminated and gray haired Jews OF
German or Russian birth. who were extremely
devout and attentive when they arrived In
tk.s country. rarely enter the synagogue ex-
cept on those great holidays which are still
regarded with reverence by oil Jews not to-
tally estranged from the Church.
This neglect Of the Sabbath extends beyond
the failure to 60 to the synagogue. Even In
his own homo tho backslider is unmindful Of
the day. Tho initiation Of tho Sabbath by tho
lighting OF the candies immedintely after sun
down on Friday night and the reciting OF
prayer Ia regarded by only very few OF the
Jews who do not 60 to the synagogue. The
faithful have chung to that feature OF Jewish
observance for ages. Poets and romancers
who treat Of jewish subjects almost invari-
ably weave In references to the mother and
children sitting at the window on Friday
evening. waiting until the appearance Of the
stare proclaim the beginning Of the Sabbath.
The orthodox Jewish Sabbath Ia In harmony
with the most rigid Puntan's idea Of the holy
day. To ride, to smoke, to write. to light .
match, to tear . piece Of paper. to cook. to
shave. in fact to do anything which even In
the remotest sense involves labor Is to COM
init grave sin Outside Of a limited number
OF the very orthodox. however. this strict OBJ
servance is not adhered to. although no Jew
would think Of driving up to the synagogue In
his carriage.
The neglect Of the Sabbath has hitherto
been attributed chiefly to tho men. who al
legged as excuse tho need Of conforming to the
customs Of the community in which they lived.
They could not afford. they said. to cease work
n two days Of the week. They could not do
business on Sundays for obvious reasons. and
the competition was too severe to allow them
to stop on Saturday. too. 1t was Just
two years ago that the local Board Of
Jewish Ministers. which includes all
tho Jewish ministers. both orthodox and
reformed. above Canal street. made it's
first earnest attempt to check the neglect OF
the Sabbath. AT that time The Sun depieted
the demoralized condition OF tho Jewish
Church in this city. and told how the minis
,hs sis nae9sns
sws e sense thn Hf thsir peril since then the
grown much less. and the sermons OF rabbits
spirits not confined to the Jews Of New York.
considered the bulwarks OF tho Jewish re-
ligion. are now charged with neglect and in
alleged "a give s s1Rs
t. %n u9s to
ride. sew. attend amusemonts and In other
ways break the sabbath; Thoy, neglect to
teach religion to their children. and encourage
above duty to God Whers will all al this s snds
ask the Jewish religious z; teachers solemnly.
can Judaism has INSPIRED. the leaders Of the
Church to more heroic efforts TO bring. back
TO the problem OF the better observance OF the
TIE ss IF ss ESSse
and Gustav Gottleil. stand united with such
eham IL Ms Of dostnod91X as t1s Esy PRS s
Sabbath question, contributed sum Of money
ish Ministers q large nambsr q pa% N
containing extracts from notable sermons in
TiesdinSs These have been Widely , aistriS
uted among the jews q the CITY. a an intro:
the Rev. .n Dr. 1S the
Committee fIInmI the purpose OF the
'The object OF tho publication is rot literary
In its nature. but it i, meant as 4 prelude to AN
earnest attampt +" grapp;e with tho grayest
with the great and increasing ,ae;lert OF the
Sinaitic sabbath. and how t. restore that sab
large jewish community.
OF late years the conviction. always firmly
held by the orthodox adherents Of our. faith.
has been spreading among the representatives
Of all the varying SHADES OF Judaism. that this
wida.spread NEGLECT .! tho sabbath means
the sanctity ofthr true God Given Sabbath or
right belong e Israel's historic day OF rest.
the Jewish sentiment Il, can have none: ali
attempts to institute such must and will re-
Inspired by this conviction tn. Local Board
OF Jewish Ministers. together with other earn
est and jealous believers, in Judaism. have for
promotion Of Sabbath obserSanee The ' s ."e
mons now published represent the first step In
arousing OF public sentiment in order 70 pre-
TIE ts i9T the
Ali tho sermons are full Of earnest argu-
ments and entreatios. some are more pract.-
that business expedieary can 10 Justly quoted
g. an excpse for neElecting the Sabbath. The
nov. pr Bernard Drachman OF the Congrega-
= "Alf tho minister's OF, our religion in this
great metropolis. as well as those most ra dical
and pronopneed in their s0.ca!Ied reform
views rs those most earnestly orthodox and
strictly attached to the ont faith IN its hts
t3ric aeceptat,on, have the same theme upon
heart Of the devont Israoiito with eager hope
and joyful anticipation the Sabbath and the
urgent need Of nromating its obseryance. Nor
contented with the mere expression OF
their sentiment. After the autumn holi:
days. u strong and determined effort
is TO he made to arouse, tho public
sentiment of our community In the matter. and
together the servants OF religion. the minis
tors o. Jqdhism. reform preachers. and ortho-
dox rabbis. will strive to restore the holy Sab
bath to the position and the Importance it
ssss In the mi,lst Of Israel : There are
those, AMI they are not fow who In theory are
most Jewish. They will tell. with voices al
most trembling with pnthos, Of the beautiful
rents homes Of til? deep effect produced
upon them by the solemn obseryunces OF the
day The he synagogue, ,. Worship; the Kid;;
their very, soul. Of the higher feellsg which
/, pervaded them on tho sacred day. the memory
nf NuttI