The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-06
4 SPLIT AMONG THE JEWS.
The Orthodox and Reform ChuTChmel
Clash in a Convention.

The Annual Grafton of Leo Levi at New
Orleans Plunges the Delegates in a
Vortex Of a Peppery Charaeter-He
Makes Severe Structures on the At
tacks on Reformed Judaism - The
Rabbis Resent Mr.. Lewis Criticisms
as an Attack on Them, and They En-
ter Protest to Be Printed With the
oration-Dr. Wise Lashes Mr. Levi
With whitening scorn.
New Orleans, Dec. 5.-Judaism would
seem to be torn up into two rival factions
II the delegates representing the Hebrew
congregations that are now in session can
be accounted as representative men. The
ancient faith of Israel, according TO the
view Of the average Gentle, is being
attacked from within it's own citadel, and
the glorious tradition of the ancient faith
would seem to have been handled of late
in rather an unceremonious fashion, or,
as the profane would say, without
gloves"
The annual grafton Of Leo Levi of Gal
weston provoked such an amount of ad-
ment that at the afternoon session the
delegates were plunged into a vortex of
a most "peppery" character. There was
lots Of ginger incorporated into the ses-
sion Of the association and it's surround
ings were in marked contrast with the
placid events which preceded it.
The grafton of Mr.. Levi comprehended
a series Of severe structures on the at
tacks on reformed Judaism, which, it was
asserted, was endangering the very edi-
flee Of the Israelite faith. Particularly
was the speaker severe on the rabbis,
and coming closely on the heels of sort
Of "unspoken desire" to shut out "the
rabbis from future conventions" the sem
sation became profound. Mr.. Levi was
accorded thanks for his literary work, as
we'll as a motion to print the grafton.
As constructed as present, the conference
seems to be composed of a majority of
reformers. At least the lay delegates are
reformers. 1t is even said that Mr.. Levi,
whose grafton has caused such a hubbub,
is described as a reformer, and reliable
authority has it that the reverend rabbis
are nearly all to man in sympathy with
the principles of the reform movement
Inc dlldCh OF MT. Lew was OF course
resented by the rabbis present as being
in great measure an attack upon the
CLOTH and therefore to be vigorously
fought. DR.. Wise is said to represent
| reformed Judaism, and the college over
which he presides is naturally the expon-
ent Of the tenets of those views of the
administration of the ancient faith.
Briefly laid out, the differences between
the two schools of thought amount to
this: The orthodox Jew believes in the
closest adherence to the ancient ritual doc
trnes and practices. He accepts the BIZ
be as the absolute revealed word of God
and is strict in his attention to all die
tary and other rules of the church. He
holds also that Judaism is accomplished
The reformed Jew accords more liberty
Of thought than does the orthodox men,
her Of the faith. He is not always firm
on dietary rules and believes that forms
and ceremonies mean little and are GER
tainly not essential. For the Bible he has
great respect, but does not accept it
as literally inspired. Indeed, the Jewish
reformer is a sort of q. free lance, holding
| airy views on matters for centuries con-
/ sldered as vital truths He is a broad
gagged man, "giving and taking" and
one who lives on good terms with himself
and the rest of the world.
The first business of the meeting to-day
was protest from the rabbis to be made
part Of the printed Levi Grafton. The pro-
test denounces the Levi structures as un-
Just and their conclusions as erroneous.
Ihe protest was signed by DR.. Wise,
president of the Hebrew College, and other
leading lay and clerical delegates. This
precipitated a discussion which at times
assumed very personal character and
IN all respects the meeting was about as
'urbulent as a ward mass meeting. Fin
any, Dr. Wise rose and hush fell on the
NOISY meeting. The nestor of American
JeWdom stood at his full hight and his eye
ndshed as he took in the meeting. With
Wlthering scorn he lashed the author of
the adverse critique on the Jewish rabbis,
ana scored the turbulent character of the
meeting to-day. He said: "The newspa-
per men are here and your proceedings
VIII be published to the world. What posi-
sioh does it place you and me in? You
Iepresent Jewish congregations; am the
representative of the rabbinate of
america. That is the position we find our
SeVes IN. Are you going to allow such
syIctures to be cast upon the rabbinate
wIthout protest? TO do so would be an
outrage and must not be permitted"
Much more the doctor said and one thing
ne was accorded, which no other speaker
NaS granted, and that was an absolutely
SuIel' respectful hearing. The speaker re-
si'eu TO the compromise made between
cue cue orthodox and reformed Jews when the
toHese was first organized, and told how
y was agreed that all debatable or contro-
rveIslal subjects should be avoided. Dr.
Use was loudly applauded as he resumed
- me protest then came up for debate on
,it iie motion to have it spread on the min
r,I Ts OF the conference. The chairman
u'eu mat the ayes had it, and the motion
ordered fIa