The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-12
IN BEHALF OF ORTHODOXY.
The Pastor of Beth Israel Tells
Why He Is Opposed to
Reform.
DR.. Levy Thinks the Old Creed
Eminently Adapted to Repub-
lIcan Communities.
During the Sabbath service at the Geary-

During the Sabbath service at the Geary-
street Temple yesterday morning Rabbi
Mayer S. Levy took up the cudgels in be-
half of orthodox Judaism. His action was
called forth by some remarks of Rabbi
Voorsanger in recent lecture entitled,
"Why l am Reform jew"
DIR. Levy prefaced his remarks by saying
that his pulpit had never been used for
denunciatory and accusatory discourses.
He proposed to base his discourse on the
subject, why am l an Orthodox Jew?"
The rabbi disclaimed any attempt to
apologize for his views, neither would he
take refuge behind the stock excuse of FAC
cident of birth" Orthodoxy" said DR..
Levy, sis in perfect harmony with Scrip
tural doctrines. The beauty of orthodoxy
is in its universally. Divide it up into
sects and its beauty and usefulness are i'm
paired, its force as beacon light to hu-
man kind is destroyed"
The speaker then discussed the funda-
mental principles of orthodox Judaism
and their relation to science The doctrine
of one God is the first principle of or
thodoxy, and it is one that is upheld by
science. The dietary laws which are OBJ
served by orthodox Jews in their entirety
have been stamped with the approval of
scientists.
Another reason for DIR. Levy's adherence
to orthodoxy was that he found that
Judaism as taught in the Mosaic code was
peculiarly adapted to republican communi-
ties. The establishment of equal rights,
the impartial administration of justice are
all enjoined in the laws of Moses. Jus
tice shalt thou follow" eye shall not
deal falsely one with another" "Thou
shalt not defraud thy neighbor," Gust
balances, Just weights" were given as
illustrations of the rabbits meaning.
These laws" said DR.. Levy, "are the
perfection of just legislation. The fact
that there exist some orthodox Jews who
do not observe them cannot be advanced
as an argument to prove that they as
body are dishonest and inconsistent.
Orthodox Judaism teaches morality to
greater extent than any other religion. Do
not understand me as saying that the fol-
lowers of other religions are immoral.
What l desire to emphasize is that what
is moral in other faiths is derived from
orthodox Judaism" In support OF these
ideas the rabbi made copious quotations
from the Talmud and other rabbinical
writings.
81 am an orthodox Jew" continued DIR.
Levy, because orthodoxy teaches the lof-
test patriotism and loyalty to ones native
country. We read in Proverbs xiv 81, Fear
thou the LORD ana the government. Ihe
ancient rabbis said, The law of the coun-
try is the law In every country where
the orthodox Jew lives prayer for the
Government forms part of the Sabbath
service. Can the reform Jew, who prates
so eloquently of his love for the flag, say
that he prays in his temple to the same
end2
1.-THE charge of dishonesty and incon-
sistency that has been made might more
reasonably apply to those who make their
religion conform to their own ideas, when
it becomes necessary to lay aside every
racial hope and Jewish aspiration. An
cient rabbinism is far to be preferred to
modern rabbinism. The modern rabbi
wants the Sabbath day transferred to the
first day of the week. He has no use for
Hebrew as the language of prayer. He
would like to observe Passover concur
rently with Easter and Dedication with
Christmas. Yet / know one of these re-
form rabbis who will religiously observe
the Jahrzeit anniversary. even though its
observance be consistent with rabbinical
law"
DIR. Levy concluded by disclaiming any
intention to attack his reform neighbors
II appear as the champion of orthodoxy"
said he, simply because it appeals to my
reason. II don't want to pass sentence on
reform or upon its sincerity or con-
sistency."