The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-01-18
THE JEWISH PEOPLE.

is proportionately more valuable as an
advertising medium.
THE JEWISH PEOPLE.
Some Popular Errors Concerning
Them Pointed Out and Cor
rected.
IBev. DR.. Silverman, in Menorah.I
"Hebrew is the name of an ancient
race from which the modern Jew is de-
scended, but there have been so many
admixtures to the original race tina,
scarcely a trace of it exists in the
modern Jews. Intermarriage with
Egyptians, the various Canaanitish
nations, the Midianites, Syrians ETC.,
are frequently mentioned in the Bible.
There have also been additions to the
Jews by voluntary conversions, 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 distinct race to-day. We
form no separate nation and no fac
ton of any nation. We form merely
an independent religious community.
We are often charged with exclusive
ness and clannishness, 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 Jew, it is due not
to say 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 to-day, is he
to blame for it? Did he create the
social barrier? The fact that Jews
are, as rule, averse to intermarriage
with non Jews has been quoted in evil
dence of Jewish exclusiveness. The
historical fact is that the Roman Cath
olic council held at Orleans in 533
A. c. E. first prohibited Christians to
lntermarry with Jews. This decree
was after enforced by melting out the
penalty of death to both the parties
to such union. Jewish rabbis
then, as a matter of self-protection,
interdicted the practice of intermar-
riage. And though to-day men are
free to act according to their taste,
, there exists on the part of the Jew as
much repugnance to intermarriage as
on the part of the Christian. Such
ties are, as rule, not encouraged by
the families of either side, and for
very good cause.
"So little is Judaism understood by
even educated 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 re-
ference has already been made in
speaking of the character of the Jew
as an individual and as class. Be.
cause some Jews will believe in the
coming of a personal Messiah or In
bodily resurrection or in the establish
ment of a Palestinean 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 denominated as orthodox
conservative, reform and radical. 1
is not my province to speak exhaus
lively of these sects, and it must suf
flee to merely remark here that or
thodox Judaism believes in carrying
out the letter of the ancient Mosaic
code as expounded by the Talmudit
rabbis that reform Judaism seeks tt
retain the spirit only of the ancien
law, discarding the absolute authorit,
of both Bible and Talmud, making
reason and modern demands para
mount; that conservatism is merel,
moderate reform, while radicalisn
declares itself independent of estab
lished forms, clinging mainly to tn
ethical basis of Judaism. To preven
the inference that Judaism is no posi-
tive quantity, and that there are IRE
concilable differences dividing tn
various sects, will say that all Jew
agree on essentials, and declare thei
belief in the unity and spirituality c
God, in the efficacy of religion 70
spiritual regeneration and ethical i'm
provement, in the universal law c
compensation according to which ther
are reward and punishment, eithe
here or hereafter, in the final trump
of truth, and fraternity Of all men. l
may be briefly stated that the deca
logue forms the constitution of Juda
ism. According to Moses, the pro
phets and historical Interpretation {
; Judaism, whoever believes and prae
, tices the Ten Commandments is
Jew. The meager results achieved b
, missionaries and tracts have prove
how futile are all efforts to convert tn
. Jews.
, "The Jew is tolerant by nature
= tolerant by virtue of his religion
teaching. He believes in allowin
every man what he claims for himse
the right to work out his own salv;
ton and make his own Peace Wi,
God"
There is nothing that encourages
man so much as an occasional woi
of commendation. The most enc
1 getic often become disheartened whe