The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-10-25

Hebrew is the name of an ancient race
from which the Jew is descended, but
there have been so many admixtures to
the original race that scarcely trace
of it exists in the modern Jews. Inter
marriage with Egyptians. the various
Canaanitish nations the Midianites, Syr-
ians, etc. are frequently mentioned in
the bible. There have also been addi-
tions to the Jews by voluntary CONVEX
sions such as that in the eighth century,
Of Bulan, prince of the Chasars, and his
entire people. We can. therefore, not be
said to be a distinct race today We
form no separate nation and no faction
of any nation. We form merely an in
dependent religious community. We are
often charged with exclusiveness and
ciannishness. with having only narrow
tribal aspirations and with being averse
TO breaking down social barriers. Few
outside of that inner close circle that is
to be met in the Jewish home or social
group know aught of the Jews domestic
happiness and social virtues. If there is
any clannishness in the Jews it is due
not to any contempt for the outside
world, but to an utter abandon to the
charm of home and the fascination of
confreres in thought and sentiment.
However If there is a remnant of ex-
clusiveness in the Jew of today is he to
blame for it? Did he create the social
barrier? The fact that Jews are, as a
rule, averse to intermarriage with nom
Jews has been quoted in evidence o.
Jewish exclusiveness. The historical
fact is that the Roman catholic council
held at Orleans in 533 A. c. e.. first pro-
hibited Christians TO intermarriage with
Jews. This decree was later enforced by
melting out the penalty of death to both
parties to such union. Jewish rabbis,
then, as a matter Of self-protection, in
terdicted the practice of interharriage.
And though today men are free to act
according to their taste, there exists on
the part of the Jew as much repugnance
of intermarriage as on the part or the
Christian. Such ties are, as a rule, not
encouraged by the families of either
side, and for very good cause.
So little is Judaism understood by ed
ucated men outside of our ranks that it
is commonly believed that all Jews have
the same form of faith and practice.
Here the same error of reasoning is
used TO which reference has already
been made, I'm speaking OF the character
Of the Jew as an individual and as a
class. Because some Jews still believe
in the coming Of a personal Messiah,
or In bodily resurrection, or in the es-
tablishment OF a Palestinian kingdom,
the inference is at once drawn by many
that all Jews hold the same belief. Very
little is known by the populace Of the
several schisms in modern Judaism de-
nominated as orthodox, conservative, re-
form and radical. II is not my province
to speak exhaustively Of these sects,
and il must suffice TO merely remark
here that orthodox Judaism believes in
carrying out the letter of the ancient
Mosaic code as expounded by the Tai
seeks to retain the spirit only of the an
cient law, discarding the absolute au-
thority of both bible and Talmud. MAX
ing reason and modern demands para
mount; that conservatism Is merely
moderate reform, while radicalism de-
clares itself independent of established
forms, clinging mainly to the ethical
basis of Judaism. To prevent the infer
ence that Judaism IS not positive guam
tity, and that there are irrconcilable diff
ferences dividing the various sects, I
will say that all Jews agree on essen
tials and declare their belief in the unity
and spirituality of God, in the efficacy of
religion for spiritual regeneration and
for ethical improvement, in the univer-
sal law of compensation according to
which are the reward and punishment,
either here or hereafter, in the final tri-
umph OF truth, and fraternity of all
men. 1t may be briefly stated that the
Decalogue forms the constitution of
Judaism. According TO Moses, the
prophets, and the historical interpreted
ton Of Judaism, whatsoever believes and
practices the "Ten COMMANDMENTS is a
Jew. The meager results achieved by
missionaries and tracts have proved
how futile are all efforts to convert the
Jews.
The Jew is tolerant by nature. toler-
ant by virtue of his religious teaching.
He believes in allowing every man