Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-21
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They are today a relic of the ancient
race with no elements for the worlds
progress of the nineteenth century.
Next follows the conservative jews. In
many of the enlightened countries OF Eu-
rope, notably in the German empire, France,
Austria and England, large Jewish com
munities have emanciDated themselves
from the extreme dogmas of the oriental
Jews, and have materially abrogated the
formulisms of the past ages. They adhere,
however, to the revised codes of marital
and sanitary injrnctions. They do not,
however adhere to the Palestinian recon
struction theory, but desire to observe
more particularly the ethical principles OF
Judaism, which is comprised in the idea of
belief in a supreme being, the life here
after, exercising benevolence and charity,
and become citizens in all countries where
they are domcled. They worship yet with
covered heads and the talith, but inter-
sperse their ritual;stic formulas and pray
ers with Hebrew ard the language of the
country in which they are denizens.
The thir>. cult are the reformed Israe.ites
and comprise the more educated and in
teligent Jews in all countries They are
not imbued with the sentiment that the
biblical record was dictated to Moses by
Jehovah but that it was the work Of Ezra;
the Jewish Babylonian exile who collected
all the legends and data relating to his
people, and which laws served them
through the two historical statehoods with
all its levitical and priestly institutions.
Reformed Judaism is, however. imbued
with the prophets in Israel-religious for
mulisms are to a large extent abrogated.
They do not share the opinion for the re-
establishment of a messianic period in the
holy land with the other Jewish cults. Re-
formed Judaism aims supplant a Spir-
ftual religion, one designed for a pure
monatheiSm. They have within the past
thirty years introduced many marked in
novation in their rituals, which are in con-
formity with modern civilization. Their
services are with the highest musical tai
ent. Their ratbis and ministers speak
from DulDltS with elOulppt and anprOnri3ta
sermons They are generally the prime
movers in FL prominent benevolent and
philanthropic institutions in all countries,
supporting them with the most lavish con-
tributions.
Opinions Divided.
Opinions of leading Jews are divided on
the organization of a Jewish state in Pales-
tine. Some of the noted Jews in the west.
ern and northern states have enunciated
their opinions both for and against such a
project.
DIR. B. Felsoathal of Chicago, rabbi enc
ritus of Zion Congregation, says: Il am
Gopeful Of che results to be attained of the
flunich congress and that the Jewish ques-
tion may be satisfactorily solved in the
near future. There is some reason that
tie JewJ of Russia, Austria. Germany and
Danubian principalitie5 should be saved
FROM the perniciouS anti-Semitic attacks.
believe thai coion:zing them in Palestine
and Syria, which latter section has fertile
Soil, would give Them a home and an asy-
}um ever if they do not establish q king
dom for themselves. Tncir domicilia ton in
that country is by far the most economic
and practicable. Coming to this country
would entail extensive and costly voy-
age. The Mohame dan people are not sucn
anti-semitics as the Christian governments
OF Europe. better autonomy awaits them
there. and they could till the soil with
profit to themselves and the Ottoman en-
pre-
Mr.. /. Zanwill, the novelist of London
who has just returned from a journey TO
Palestine, said before the "Maccabee So
ciety'' of his city: Il do not think that the
barren and rock-laden country of Israers
former home could maintain a large influx
of colonists comprising several millions.
Nor do 1 believe that Jewish state could
be erected without insurmountable diff
culties, There are some sections which
may be titled and give employment to peo-
pie in a limited sense" Among scientists
who have knowledge through geological
and meteorological sources is the writer
of this article. The nature and condition of
the Palestine of today is far from the
status it occupied during biblical times. 1t
was described then land wherein milk
and honey flowed spontane )usly. At best
1t is now only a terrane, harborlng some
nc madic races. The iSothermal lines since
the past 3, 500 years have materially chang
ed. The once extensive forests that
eled Palestine have been RACED, volcanic
erupticns and the tillering cataclysms that
have produced yawning abysseS and dykes
show now the primitive eOsin rock forma-
items. Their sloH disintegration by the ela-
ments offers no inducement 20 the yeoman
or husbandnan. And yet some of the val
leys and sections near the waterways are
redeemed and certain Asiatic products give
excellent results.
|. The Jews of the United States are not
prone to emigrate to Palestine or Syria, and
in general sense are averse to the es-
tablshing of a Jewish state anywhere.
They look however, forward to the DELHI
Grafton Which the congress a Munich m,
evolve. JULIUS SILNERSMITH, NJ. A.