Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1900-06-07
WHY | AM A JEW"
Rabbi Moses States His Reason and
Pays High Tribute to Christ.
louisville Times.)

Rabbi Moses yesterday delivered
his sermon on "Why 1 Am Jew"
1t was brilliant and eloquent adj
dress, and made a profound i'm
preston. 1t was first delived here
three years ago, and there were
numerous requests to hear it again.
Since tho first delivery DIR. Mo-
ses has revised it somewhat, and it
, remains one of the most effective
comprehensive statements of the
case made by any reformed Rabbi.
Summed up, the chief reasons
that DIR. Moses presents for being
a Jew are these:
Because, first of all, I believe
in one only God; because l believe
in the absolute and indivisible
unity of the Supreme Being.
Because l cannot accept the
doctrine of salvation and incarna-
ton.
Because / do not and cannot
believe in the Christian dogma of
vicarious atonement.
Because 1 cannot believe that
an all good and all just God de-
creed that the sin of the first man,
if sin it was, should descend as a
moral blight and inextinguishable
curse to all his descendants.
Because 1 believe that t he ri
ghteous live by their own faith,
justice and mercy, and the wicked
perish through their own degrade
ton and sin.
Because l stand face to face
with the Majesty of my Judge,
and between Him and me there is
no Savior"
DIR. Moses, in discussing the
unity of God, said that the mission
of the Jew was the preservation of
universal monotheism; that trini-
tartan Christianity is ever in dan
ger of degenerating unconsciously
into polytheism. He said that the
Jewish Church of Jehovah serves
the Christians asa warning against
the polytheistic tendency. THE
Jew is the living witness of I'M
compromising monotheism intrust
ed him by the seers and the mar
tyrs.of Israel" he said.
Discussing Christ, DIR. Moses
said: christianity without the
trinity, without the divinity of
Jesus, without incarnation and
vicarious atonement is but the un-
iversal faith of Jehovah, such as
it was conceived and proclaimed
by the greatest prophets and wise
est teachers of Israel, among whom
1 count and reverence the immo"-
tai prophet and teacher of Naza-
reth, Christianity without Chris
tian dogma is not religion of the
genuine historical Christians chur-
ches. 1t is the universal faith, the
universal religion of broad human
ity, of justice, of love and holiness;
the religion of Moses, Isaiah, Jere-
miah and Jesus. 1t is the ethical
monotheism of Israel which | ard
all enlightened rabbis teach. The |
teachings of Jesus are identical
with those of the Old Testament
and the Talmud. The Sermon on |
the Mount is only glorious sum-
mary and Incompatible presenta-
ton of the moral and religious
IDEAS and ideals which the spirit |
Of God had through fifteen centur-
les slowly but steadily, with ever
increasing power and light, been
unfolding through the soul of
Israel"
DR.. Moses paid this tribute to
Jesus:
I'VE Israelites claim Jesus of
Nazareth as our own; as one of
our best and greatest Masters and
Is one of our immortal fathers, as
me of our saintliest heroes of RICH
eousness and love. Whatever
crimes have been committed
lgainst us by cruel and misguided
nen in His name we verify do not
harge against Him. Those blind
nd heartless fanatics did not learn
ruelty from Him, the teacher of
owe. Surely the example of the
neck and lowly rabbi of Galilee
vhn thOnuhf NTH tbo ,>,o..lI