The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-31
ORTHODOX HEBREWS MEET.
BIESNIAL SESSION HELD IN NEW
YORK CITY.
Held to Maintain and Advance the
Interests of Biblical and Histo-
rical Judaism-Nany Congrega-
lions Represented-Thc odicers.

NEW YORK, Dee Se.-The biennial
meeting of the Union Of Orthodox He
brew congregations was held today. at
tended by representatives from ninety
six orthodox congregations in the United
States and Canada. Rev. DR.. Fl. p Men,
deg, president of the union. occupied the
chair, and among those present were L.
". Denbitz, Of Louisville; DR.. S. s. Cohen,
of Philadelphia: DIR A. Friedenwald. Of
Baltimore; II. X Shrasch of New York;
Rev. NJ Desola, of Montreal Rev DR.. F.
Klein, Joseph Blumenthal. DR.. Cyrus Ad-
Ter, l.. Napoleon Levy, 7. Silverman. Max
Dutschmann and Jacob Heeht. The union
was organized two and a half years ago
for the purpose Of advancing the inter-
ests OF biblical rabinieal and historical
Judaism. Not being a synod. the meet
ing has no authority over religious ques-
tons. but. as an asylum of report. men
and congregations can take such steps as
VIII help the advancement % the creed.
IL II Mendez made the opening address,
IN which he explained what the union de-
sired to do. and said in part
I'VE differ from reform Jews In our In
sistence on thorough knowledge Of the
teachings Of our Holy Book, combined
with loyalty to the principles of obedience
to established rulings. which shall no, be
amended except by the best attainable
wisdom Of experts. and perhaps we differ
from some uph0lders OF one form OF
stitutes orthodox Judaism which to us
seems TO compose council to regard the
interests of our religion by defining Jew-
ish duty in response 70 new conditions
which 50 frequently arise.
The evil Of reform Judaism Is that
changes are made frequently by men VINO
do not claim to be experts. The standard
OF learning among the older ministers was
very high. but among the younger ones
who have received their Hebrew edsca-
tion In this country only. the standard Is
not so high as IL should be. Even law
men. as trustees Of congregations. pre-
sumo 10 Introduce innovations, and the
logical result OF this is that as individ-
uals. they carry the principle of liberty
to do as they please IN their homes and
personal lives. The Jewish features Of
orthodoxy are gradually omitted. and
sooner or later nothing Jewish remains
Need of Worldwide synod.
1.-THE necessity Of a synod that should
be a permanent body and composed OF
representatives from all parts of the
world. so that Judaism in one country
VIII be the same as Judaism in another
of the action taken by the eighteenth
council Of the American Reformed He
brew congregations held ia Richmond In
December of last year. ~ that session
they adopted resolutions declaring that
Jews are not nation; America IL our
Zion. Against such radical departure
of the teachings of Judaism we most en-
phatically protest"
DR. Mendez then dwelt on the fact that
many Jews are content with such d.
vorces as they can obtain from the civil
courts, the custom Of widows marrying
the brothers OF their deceased husbands
and Of the intermarriage Of Jews and
1ientiles, all OF which he denounced as
being inimical to the interests of Judaism
DR.. Mendez spoke of correspondence he
had with Seth Low. OF the American
peace commission TO Tho Hague. con-
corning the proposed act Of the peace con-
ference in connection with the Gensea
Red Cross Society. 'Fhe letter to Seth
Low and another TO the president were In
relation to the substitution of another
emblem than the red cross for Jewish
physicians, surgeons and orderlies, who
had conscientious serupies against wear
ing what Is an emblem associated with a
religion whose doctrines are antagonistic
to their own.
Seth Low replied that the commission
would do what they could to carry the
idea into effect and the president replied
saying the matter had been brought 10
the attention Of the secretary OF state.
Officers for 1901 were elected as follows
Rev. DIR. Mendez. president. DIR, a Fried
enwaid Boston. and nr. X. III. Sarasch
New York. vice presidents; Jacob Hecht,
New York. trea siirer. w. r. Lucas Max
Cohen Isadore Htrschield and J. Buchai.
ter, all Of New York. secretaries.
Trustees and an executive committee
were also named. those chosen being
mostly from the East