The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-07

Jews to be members of the Jewish COM
munity, but in no way further regulating
the communal life. When the Reform
tendencies commenced TO make them
selves felt in the larger Jewish communi-
ties, the Orthodox members safeSuarded
their own interests by making use of the
law passed in 1873, mainly through the
efforts of the Jew Lasker, which enabled
the people to declare themselves con
fessionslos' and form their own syna-
gogues, thus nearing in a measure the
system followed in English speaking
countries. In England and America no
such organization was effected, as the
state does not there take cognizance of
the religious belief of the people. In both
these countries attempts have been made
by the Jews themselves to organize under
one head upon purely religious basis,
but without much success. In France
there is n Chief Rabbi of the Jews who Is
recognize by the State as their rabbi
and head. But the Chief Rabbi of the
Jews in the British Empire. though he is
nominally the head of the Jews in the
kingdom, has no actual position as such,
and is even not recognized by certain
schools of Jews themselves. The Sefar-
dim, or descendants of Spanish and Portu-
guese Jews have always kept themselves
distinct, and have their own Chief Rabbi,
or Haham. In the year 1910, the more
liberal-minded element among the Lon
don Jews cut themselves loose from the
United Synagogue and formed Reform
party, their example being followed In
Manchester and Bradford. Neither they
frTr1
who have formed their own Federation
of Synagogues' recognize the authority
of the Chief Rabbi. This more congrega-
tional system has been carried to its ut
most limits in the United States, where
each congregation is law unto itself
and absolutely rejects any interference
on the part of any larger body. From
time to time a desire has been manifest
ed to supersede this purely congregation
al system by some form of union. The
late DIR. Isaac NJ. Wise. of Cincinnati,
had at various times attempted to bring
the Jews of the United States together
with an authoritative synod at their
head. Out of this and other attempts have
come the Central Conference of Ameri-
can Rabbits and the Union of American
now comprises about ninety-one congre-
cations. These organizations, however.
do not by any means represent either all
of the Jewish ministers or all of the Jew
ish congregations, and the Union itself is
merely deliberative body having no
power to do anything in the internal af-
fairs of one of its constituent synagogues.
Since the union of American Jewish con-
gregations comprises only such as stand
upon Reform platform, a union of Or
thodox congregations was formed in New
York two or three years ago, and it Is
hoped that this organization will do much
toward binding together the very many
congregations of those who adhere strict
ly to traditional Judaism.
But the organization of Jews as a
Church has not been found sufficient.
Spread over so large a portion of the
earth and coming under such varying in
fiuences, it was inevitable that the theo-
logical differences which already existed
should grow apace, and a great cleavage
he made between the Orthodox and the
Reform wing of the synagogue. 1t was
early felt that some more secular bond
must be found which should unite the
and concerted action. The first attempt
in this direction was nobly made by Mar
cisse Leven. Eugene Emanuel. Charles
Meter, and a few others, in founding
GsSO the Alliance Israelite universelle'
in Paris, whose object 1t was to aid in
Jewish disabilities wherever
they might exist and to raise the spiritual
condition of their coreligionists in North
ern Africa. Eastern Europe, and Western
Asia by the founding Of schools. From
these small beginnings the Alliance has
grown to be an important factor in the
OF Jewish interests. Faith
full to its programme. it has established
a large number of elementary and techni-
cal schools and has interviewed actively
in Algeria, Morocco, the Turkish Empire
and Persia whenever Jews or Jewish in
terests were in any way threatened. Its
attempt however. to represent the whole
Jewish people has not been successful; for
the reason that it has been allied too
closely with French national interests, and
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