The San Francisco call., 1895-11-05
Congregation Ohabai Shalome
Now Among the Liberal
Churches.
HATS WILL STILL BE WORN.
Rabbi Fryer Tells How the Decision
to Have the Service in English
Was Reached.


rolled now among the liberal Jewish
churches. 1t has until Sunday been a
stickler for even the smaller forms which
the orthodox church prescribes. In fact,
its existence was due to the fact that its
organizers disapproved of the liberal ten
denotes of the Congregation Emanuel, to
which they originally belonged. When
that CONGREGATION decided to worship with
heads uncovered, these members left the
synagogue and formed new congrega-
ton.
The new congregation met with many
setbacks 1t clung tenaciously to exist
ence, however, and struggled bravely
against adverse fates. A new rabbi was
advertised for some time ago. DR.. J.
Fryer, young man of liberal tendencies,
was chosen. Under his care the congrega-
ton prospered. On Sunday he was re-
elected rabbi at the yearly meeting of the
| congregation.
! At the same meeting the liberal ideas of
| the rabbi were approved. 1t was decided
| to have the service, with the exception OF
one or two prayers, read IN English in
! stead of the Hebrew. This met with some
opposition from the more orthodox men,
bers, but these Welded before the opinion
of the ma iority that the change was for
the welfare of the congregation, and
would aid in building up its membership.
| The change is one OF several which the
| new rabbi has in view.
81 do not wish to offend any of the ideas
| of proprietv of the older and more ortho-
dox memb bers OF the congregation" he said
yesterday. ''The change made to-day will,
| I am satisfied, result III increased interest
! in the services by the younger members
and will add materially to the present list.
THE change cannot be unexpected. I
am a graduate of the Cincinnati College,
and as such would naturally be inclined
| toward liberal views as to the method of
worship. l knew the congregation was
| extremely conservative when l applied for
the position of rabbi. They knew l was of
! the American school, and when they chose
me over fifty or sixty other applicants,
many of whom were of the old English
orthodox school, | felt that there was an at
mosphere of mutual concessions.
The younger members and some of the
older ones felt that English services were
essentials for popularizing the services
| Some of the older members felt that such
a step would be detracting from the sacred
ness of the ritual. They yielded, though,
to the general good, and | am satisfied that
our congregation will receive great i'm
petus."
will the matter of worshiping with the
head uncovered also be yielded to?' was
asked.
II think not" answered Rabbi Fryer.
"To enter the temple without their hats
on would seem almost sacrilege to many of
our members. This does not affect the
younger generation so intimately as does
the putting OF the prayers into a tongue
they understand readily. While we will
retain our head-covering we will be in
keeping as much as possible with the gen.
eral welfare"
DR.. Fryer said that the matter of new
| class OF mem bership would come up in a
short time. The new members would be
those who, while not able to comply with
all the conditions of full mem bership.
would like to be connected with the CON
gregation and to send their children to the
Sabbath-school. An amelioration of the
terms OF membership would probably be
made for these.
On Novemb Der Is a course of Friday even
ing lectures will be begun at the new Syna-
gogue on Bush street, near Laguna.
AT the meeting yesterday the following
officers were chosen: President, A. Alt
mayer; vice-president, L. Lasar: secre-
tary, NJ. Stern; treasurer, E. Reiss; sex
| ton, S. H. Selling; directors-M. Wolff, I.
Frohman, P. Stern, E. Raas, A B. Bloch.