The morning times., 1897-01-02


stllltea the regular observance OF the Sun
day OF Christendom and has the doors OF
the building closed on Saturday. In this
step, DR. Hirsch has the support OF his
own congregation and of a handful OF sup
porters scattered over the country.
Ma ajority in Opposition.
Opposed TO MIN and his radicalideas stand
at present almost Tie whole uouy oT Aineri-
can Judaism.
Those congregations known as orthodox
cry out in loud protest, claiming that DIR.
Hirsch and his followers have aimed a blow
at The very foundations OF Juuaisu, ard
that with the non-observance OF the els
tinCtive Sabbath, the individuality of the
Jewish Church would disappear, and the
people who have hitherto preserved their
identity through all the centuries, would
eventually bc swallowed up by the nations
Of ChriStendom
Even among those OF the Jews who iavc
enrolled themselvesin the reform movement
in other directions the vast majority de-
clare that the hiCago reformer has gone zoo
far. The reform in Judaism, they say,
should extend only TO those customs and
usages which can be Topped off without
doing harm Ia the essentials OF the Jewish
faith. But tampenng with the Jewish
Sabbath and other fundamental lns,itu-
iions, they say, means a cutting into the
in the ruin OF the whole structure
The reform congregations OF many cities
have adopted middle course, and, while
they celebrate the Sabbath with appro-
pirate CbServances, have also adopted Sun
day meetings, in which the observance of
the day ranges all the way from mere lee
tureS to the regular rituaIiStIc services.
Such congregations, as rule, have also
declared against the extreme radical move
ment, and say that the plan they have
adopted is the only feasible one which will
preserve the necessary traditions OF Juda-
ism and at the same time conform to the
spirit of the age.
They claim tnaU while it is necessary to
make Some provision for the man of affairs,
who could not neglect his business on Satur-
day without placing himself at great dis
advantage with regardto his competitors of
other denominations, nevertheless the Oh
servdnce of Saturday is also an absolute
necessity. For the Saturday Sabbath has
become so entwined with the very spirit of
Judaism in the hearts OF true Jews that
the abolition Of the former would so shake
all faith in the latter as TO menace the fur
| ther life of the religion.
sabbath Observance Reviving.
Ii is claimed by many Jewish observers
| that the raising OF this issue has started a
| mUch-necded movement in the diametrically
opposite direction. The claim is advanced
! that revival OF sabbath observance. which
accordingto the complaints ofthe rabbis has
been on the wane for some time, is now
becoming noticeable.
The question of the Saturday Sabbath is
not agltated in this country alone, but has
| also become one Of the disturbing questions
among the European Jews. Germany and
France, the homes OF the reform or ration
alstic movement in Judaism, are naturally
| the foremost. while in England, where Jews
are, perhaps, more honored and received
| more gene rally on a footing Of social
| equality tnan anywhere else in Europe, the
| orthodox Jews greatly preponderate. The
! Sabbath among the English Jews is OBJ
| served not only by attendance upon wor-
ship, but also an many Instances by entire
| abstinence from all work.
The question of the substitution Of Sunday
| for Saturday worship in the synagogues was
| raised in the recently concluded conference
Of Jewish women in New York Some
members OF Or. Hirsch's congregation spoke
IN favor OF the change, but it was soon
| evident that the council as whole was
| bitterly opposed TO it.
Washington Jews Conservative.
The Hebrews OF Washington. as a rule, are
| members of the reformed synagogue but
nevertheless, they are almost unanimously
| opposed to the substitution of Sunday for
| Saturday as a day Of worship.
What Is your opinion OF the proposed
| change?" was asked Rabbi Stern or the
| Washington Hebrew congregation.
Il think" was the reply, that If tho
| Jews Should abandon their Sabbath. sur
rounded as il is with tradition and history,
their religion would soon degenerate into
| a mere theism, and the Jews themselves
would soon lose all the chara cteristicS
which have enabled them to become such
a factor in the progress of culture since
Biblical times. Ny plan would be to at
| tract the men and young people to our
| Friday evening services. These latter then
could bring all the advantages that are
claimed for Sunday worship
No, do not believe that any day can
| ever be to the Jew what his time-honored
sabbath had been"
Rabbi Hirsch's prediction that the Sat
( urday y-Sabbath will become obsolete is pre-
0osterous.' said Mr.. Isaac Cans, manager
| for Lansburgh 6 Bro, The time will
never come when the Jews do not observe
| Saturday as their Sabbath, and if they
should do SO, they would very soon cease
| TO he Jews"
Hon. Simon Wolf, when his opinion was
| asked upon this subject, said:
~ disapproye entirely of any moyem cnt
which would tend to the disuse of our his
torical Sabbath. While / am not one of
those who cry out sacrilege ever time
| Some superfluous ceremony or unnecessary
| prayer is dispensed with, still think there
are limits to desirable reformation beyond
which every step means retrogression
| rather than an advance.
1.-The Sabbath, think, lies without those
bounds and TO place sacrilegious hands upon
it is to disturb the very foundations of the
Jewish faith.
Fifty Centuries-of Worship.
For fifty centuries, twenty of them
passed among a people who worshlpped on
another day, the Jews have observed Sat
urday as a day Of rest and thrived. Why,
at this late day, should they desire to
change 1t? To me, as to all others who
| are Jews at heart, the Sabbath is a day
nallowed by the traditions of century
! upon century, filled with the history OF
our people, which to abolish or change
would suck from the veins of Judaism
its very Likelihood. think, no owever, there
| is no fear of this movement becoming gen
eral. On the contary, 1 believe that q
/ +o1 t.,