The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-25
AT THE BRINK OF A CHASM.
JUDAISM rs wow THERE. SAYS THE
CHIEF RABBI

tesinni-n - Tho Lenders Mt tho Front
Hard Words in tho Fray-A Peculiarly
OF judaism Points In the Quarrel Tho
Ahrnhnnnic Rite ut Stnke--vnrious Con.
Glowing Hope. OF Rabbi Wise
The Jewish World on tho Watch.
The breach between tho Orthodox party and
tho Reform party In Judaism. which has been
Widening for years In this country, was made
manifest in q surprising way last summer in
tho Central Conference OF American Rabbis In
this city. 1t was then made known to the
world at large that there Is war in the Jewish
camp and that both OF tho parties to 1t are
very much in earnest
JUDAISM AND PREsBYTERIANIsM.
There is no doubt that this dissensIon in
Judaism bears some resemblance to that
which exists in several OF tho branches OF tho
Christian Church. and that there are features
OF It very much like those which have been
made prominent during the trials OF DIR.
Briggs and pr. Smith OF tho Freshly
terian denomination. Tho jewish Reform
ers are accused OF attempting to UNI
defnine Orthodoxy. OF propaCa,ing ideas
thsfare destructive to faith. of misintorpret-
ing important passages in the Biblical and
rabhincal books of dsrcGarding the ancient
traditions OF their religion, OF doing away
with rites and ceremonies that must abide
forever. Of seeking to abolish the seal OF tho
Abtahamic covenant. OF favoring marriage
betEeen Jews and Genties. nnd. in short. OF
taking up paradoXea and vagnries which are
utterly hostile to Judaism. and the nsccndancy
OF which would DO destructive thereof. 1t
will. of course. be easy for those who have
read the reports OF tho Presbyterian trials in
New York and Cincinnati to see how strik-
In al ~ nynti npa l1
some OF those that have been brought against
profs. Briggs and Smith.
The jewish Icformers deny tho truth Of the
main allegations made by their adversaries.
while freely admitting that they arc at enmity
with the "Obscurantist party" that they ro-
pudiate many Of the opinions and practices
which are upheld by the Orthodox bigots."
that they would suppress antiquated forms
and customs which arc not essential clements
OF their religion. and that they are determined
20 bring Judaism into accord with tho enlight-
ened spirit Of the nineteenth century. In de-
Tending tho ground Which they have taken.
the Reformcrs appeal. Just as the Presbyterian
Prot Briggs appeals. to sacred writ to eminent
authorities, and to reason. They belong. in
reality. to the higher school OF criticism"
which has Prof Eriggs AMONG its opponents.
The influence OF this criticism is as obvious In
tho Hebrew Union College Of Cincinnati rs in
the Presbyterian Union Theological Seminary
OF New York.
THE LEADERS OF TIE HOSTILE PARTIES.
It Ia perfectly fair to speak OF Rabbi Isaac
H. Wise as the leader of the Reform party in
Judaism: but many Orthodox rabbis here and
elsewhere would refuse to admit that Chief
Rabbi Jacob Joseph is tho leader or the proper
exponent Of tho Orthodox party. There is no
doubt whatever OF Rabbi Wises leadership on
one side. He appears at every Reform Con-
ference as Its President or ruling spirit: there
are ] 10 raj bis organized In the union which
he established: there are many others who.
while not enrolled In the memberhip OF that
union. are practical supporters of its objects:
and there are both Western and Eastern syna-
goCucs which now obtain their rabbis from
the college over which he presides. His lead
ership is acknowledged by all radical
Reformera. executing those who have Who'll
ly forsaken Judaism. and everybody who
reads the Orthodox papers is aware
that no Is there denounced Us the
embodiment OF the evil genius OF Reform. On
the other side. Chief Rabbi Joseph Of New
York stands up as tho antagonist Of tho Wise
party. and rs n representative OF old Orthodox
Judaism. its faith. its ceremonies. its rites.
and its customs. He is MS rigdly Orthodox in
his Judaism az tho Rev Dr. james McCosh OF
not only the Chief of eighteen synaGogues but
he Is very highly respected by the Orthodox
rabbinate. and the growth Of his influence is
made manifest by the fact that he is frequent
~ asked BY congregations not under his jur-
isdiction to pronounce judgment upon intri.
Interpreter. Hebrnist. Tamudist. and rab.
bincal scholar. lie is Unsurpassed by any
member OF tho orthodox ruDbinate in tho
United states and il is on this account that he
holds the Office Which is Indicated b. his great
title.
THE UNAvowED ALLIES OF REFORM.
1t has recently been u matter OF regret in
some quarters that tho Chief Rabbi has not yet
issued q call for the Orthodox coneuvo which
the acton Of the radical Rctormers WHO arc
disturbing Israel 1t is his opinion, that. if
those ranbis who are now. 10 use an American
phrase. sitting on the fence would have
tSss1 TO TAXI taxi as i" the eGnGSt E
that in his city us well as in other parts, OF
tain views like ,hos" Of EabTTi Wise Wise.
adopt tho ways Of TIL" Wise School make light
neglect the duties that are inculratcd in tho
Talmud Some roman kab!e facts about tho
synnGoGues OF New ! ork havc been gathered
TO tho Inclusion that there mr." hut iow rabbits
hore. outside OF the Chief rabbits camp. who
could be rallied under tn" Orthodox standard
which is upheld by tho chief Habit. or who
observe the law and tho ritual according to his
Wow pl lIcNl.
HARD WORDS OF TIE CoMBATASTs.
Rabbi Wise. ms tho leader OF Reform. has
within the past hall year. made impetuous AS
saults upon the Chief Rabbi as tho representa-
tive Of Orthodoxy. In the 4mr'icd, Isydpi,ir
OF which hs Is the editor he has ridicuel tho
Chief RABBITS title. has Expressed tho utmost
contempt for his kind Of Orthodoxy. has scori-
fed him for his lack of modern culture: and
has described him us n Observation-Disclosures
tndividual' who babblcs in jar.on. wears an
old hat IN the synagogue. and gets fees FOR
telling the difference between flesh which is
kosher and that which Is tr"pha. lio recently
printed m account Of tho conEregat ions under
the charge of the Chief !iubbl as gatherings Of
ignorant and superstitioms immigrants from
Russia and loand. They stand apart"
no said. from tho American Israel. arc in
no way identified with, i. and arc not under
its covenant oi peace, We care not for their
opinions ceremonies: We must pity them.
as they get rid OF the yoke of despotism while
yet PROSTATE under the burden Of self imposed
observances which they look upon n religion:
but We can give them no voice in our councils.
Our standpoint Is not theirs. and their clvili-
cation Is not ours.
Thus IL is that Rabbi Wi5e Of the Reform
party uSsIils the rabbi who represents the alb
so!ute typo OF Orthodoxy: AMI thus it is that
he Describes the congregations which recnC-
nize his leadership. Even by many Of tho h.
formers his language Is regarded as in-
lie