The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-04-06
THE JEWISH SaBBaTH.
SERVICES ON SUNDAY ONLY IN THE
HEBREW SYNA60GUeS.
CONSIDERED A RADICAL STEP.
One Congregation in Chicago Follows
II

The only Jewish congregation IN
this country that holds an exclusively
Sunday service is the Sinai coDgrega
tion Of Chicago, Of which Rev. DIR
Emil q. Hirsch once Rabbi Of the
Har Sinai Temple Of Baltimore, is the
spiritual advisor For some years the
Sunday service in this congregation
was simply an additional service TO the
regular Sabbath service bat the num-
Der Of .worshipers grew so small at
the Sabbath service that it was decid-
ed to abandon it altogether and now
only one service is held.
Recently the Sinai Congregation Of
Chicago commemOrated the twenty
fifth anniversary Of the Introduction
OF its Sunday service. This naturally
again opened the question rs to the
success and adyisibility Of the move
ment. 1t goes without saying that a
step so radical as all this is antagoniz-
ed by the majority Of the Jews II this
country. The Jewish press, with but
few exceptions, takes Il decided stand
in favor Of the Sabbath If the Decalo-
que and opposes any and every attempt
looking toward it, transference TO
another day or even that of holding
a Sunday service alongside Of the Sat
urday service.
RESOLUTIONS or RABBlS
At conference Of rabbis, however
held at Pittsburg in 1850 the necessity
for the introduction Of Sunday sryices
was felt aud resolutions to that effect
were passed. These resolutions read :
Whereas we recognize the importance
Of maintaining the historical sabbath
as a bond with our reat past and the
symbol Of the unity If Judaism the
world over, and
Whereas on the other hand it cannot
be denied that there is a number Of
won kingmen and others who for some
tturt ~ Dthti oiN h'N doiV ~ o't' u"
services on the Sacred Day Of Rest be
II
Resolved, That there is nothing in the
spirit Of Judaism or its laws to pre-
vent the introduction Of Sunday ser.
vices in localities where the necessity
for such services appears or is felt.
Some time ago one Of the Jewish
jargon papers Of this country had sym
postum on the question. What shall
be done for the Russian Jews who are
becoming estranged from the faith?
Among those asked to contribute TO
this symposium was Mayor Sulzberger,
of Philadelphia. His suggestion was
thatra second day Sabbath or the Sun
day, be introduced alongside the Sab
bath as a day Of worship, so as to give
them on opportunity to pay their de-
votions to God on a day on which they
are able to attend the synagogue.
The agitation for Sunday service is
not confined to this country alone. In
several Of the European cities the mat.
ter has been taken up and vigorously
discussed In London, Paris, Berlin
aud Breslau there is movement on
foot desirous of instituting the Sun
day services. There is one congrega.
tion in Berlin that has had and exclus.
lively Sunday service for more than
fifty years. This congregation and tie
congregation in Chicago are the only
two congregations in the world that
have abrogated the Sabbath entirely.
VIEWS PRO AND. CON.
1t is stated that there is not a rabbi
in this or any other country who would
not prefer to retain the old Sabbath
hallowed By 50 many memories and il
which so much OF thier history il
bound up, but they claim that they are
facing a condition and not theory.
They assert that the only reason fol
their having introduced Sunday wor
ship is that they cannot reach theil
people on the historical Sabbath, anC
in order to have them become instruct
ed in their faith they give them the
opportunity to visit the house
of God on day when the wheels O
business are at rest and they can de
vote their thoughts and feeling
wholly and solely to God and spirit
ual upliftment
Those who antagonize the SUNDAY
movement claim that 1t is concess
ion TO Christianity ; that its promoter
are takiug away one of the main pill
lars upon which the religious struct
ure of Judaism rests that they are fol
lowing an ignis fatuus, because theI
can never invest Sunday with the same
sanctity that surrounds the Sabbath
that their services are not religious il
their character, bat aim at a colorles
cosmopolitanism that they are sensa
tional in their nature. destined 20 pro
mote 3 spirit of skepticism rather thar
that of awakening true and religion
fervor in the soul Of the worshipers
Rev. H. Pereia Meudes. of the Por
tuguese Congregation of New York
one Of the leaders Of the Orthodox Ju
aism in this country, recently said il
an interview had with him on thi
this subject that Sunday service is
cancer that is eating out the heart o.
Judaism 1t gives to Sunday Sll that
the Sabbath means. and hence helps Il
Ohristianize Jewish life and Jewish
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