The evening times., 1902-07-12
Interesting Program OF
Summer Chautauqu1.
ARE HEBREW MANUSCRIPTS
Pof. Schechte- Lectures on the Eishna-
Hax KohIer's Paper on George Eliot.
Many Men Prominent II American
Judaism Present at Meeting


.Edais.n. added another to the Gro1p
d Jewish leaders at Atlantic City tg
rsrtIczpate IN the Jewish ChautauqJa s
SINNER assembly program "ita se>A
zen as Prot Solomon Scbechter- e. the
Jew York Jewish Theological Seminary
he Rev. Dr. Henry Berkovirz. Chancel-
br Of the Cnautauqua: the Rev, DE-
Joseph Krauskopf of Philadelphia. the
Rev. Dr. Kaufman -zohier- OF New York
theological Judaism Is represented here
by lis most eminent expoHeuts iu This
country
At yesterdays session the feature OF
special interest was the lecture by Prot .
schechter or The Uses Of Hebrew .
Manuscripts. Professor Schechter, Vsho +
was for many years reader g Fab5inic .
at tie University CT Cambridge. E1gIa1t +
achieved international fame Some years (
ago BY his discovery OF many rare ana
ancient manuscripts in tie Genizah at
Cairo. Egypt. some OF these manu- (
scripts we're shown and commented
upon Among them we're an auto
graph letter Of Naimondies. The period
OF which, as Maimondies died IN
1904, was OF the twelfth century
responsum by the son Of Maimonidss-
together with the autograph OF ritual
decision the writer Of which, having
died in 1240. its period, OF course, ante
dated this date: a letter by Rabbi Solo
mon Ben Abraham, OF Damascus, in
which greetings are sent to Gaon
(Eminenee) Rabbi Hal. The writer Of
this manuscript died in 1040, making its
date precede the English conquest. Dr.
Schechter also described a Ms OF the
Mishna belonging to Judge Sulzberger.
OF Philadelphia This fragment was in
portant, owing TO the fact that the
Hebrew was provided with the vowel
accents. that IS, the vowels Of the super
IineaI system The date was the eleventh
century. Other documents shown related
to controversial matters written By sec
tariaEs- Copies Of these MSS are now
in press.
The speaker explained the value of
these old MSS. in the correcting Of false
readings and the reetifyiHg Of the xari-
Gus clerical cTTors into which scribes
we're liable 10 fall. The restoration OF
these MSS was important IN The coEec-
tiCu ef historic data As Autographs,
certain human interest. in view OF their
Antiquity.
Dr.. SchechteI's Lecture.
IN the discussion which followed /
Elsenstaedt. OF Chicago, asked whether
the manuscripts IN the Vatican were
kept from the public.
Dr. schechter replied that they were
not. and that he had seen al he wanted
10 examine during . four weeks stay,
despite tne many holidays beings Oh
served there at the time
Miss Andrews. CT Boston. asked
whether the Pope was a Hebrew scholar,
and was answered by he lecturer taat
he vas not.
The Rev, Dr. Kofler expressed him
self as thankful to Dr.. Schechter for MS
valuable lecture. which, though OF sur
passing interest TO the learned, taught
others not to consider themselves ar
biters IN these matters. Questions that
might prove OF importance IL Bible his
tory and literature should, be thought
be taken up scientifically Questions OF
relatively small importance should ECi
be despised. Dr.. SChecter had put lesser
persons on their guard and students On
their metJic.
Chancellor Berkowitz thanked DIT
Kuh.er for his timely remarks 2 bout
Pro. Scascnfsr The Jewish ChaUtaaua
sessions were the first Jewish eGuca-
tionsI gathering IN this country since
Dr. SchechteT's arrival. and he felt
era tefuf to the lecturer that he mad
come 20 tell them Of his great mission
IL America-
Max KohJeT IN Flint
Max J. KohIer. Of New York. concIud
ed the paper on George Eliot and tht
Jews, scheduled for the previous ses
sion. George Eliot had succeeded. =
said the lecturer. through Mordecai
IN enthusing the world. We trace il
George EIiot's life the various in5u
enoes. responsible for her conversion
from her inherited anti-Jewish traits
particularly IL her long continued stud,
OF Hebrew and Hebrew literature, he
keen interest during many years il
Jewish historic sites. and her intimac.
with some Of George Henry Lewes' as
socIetes. notably Emanuel Deutsch. tn
well-knowa British Jewish scholar. 1
appears that Deutsch was largely he
model Of 'Mordecai though nearly al
the members OF the Hand and Banne
Club can be recognized in q sIetc
from lie written BY Lewes some year
before 'DeTonda' appeared. As to the al
legged, unnatural and improbable char
Bcter of a Mordecaf's career and fancies
the Zionist movement of our day, whic-
ewes so much 70 George Eliot. seem
sufficient answer.
The reading OF a paper by Gerson z
Levi on Modern Hebrew Literature
was postponed to later date.
Divine Services.
Last evening services were eouducte
in the synagogue by the Rev. H. Mandel
Of Atlantic City. This morning the Rev
Dr.. Joseph Krauskopf OF Philadelphia
delivered a sermon before the assembI
al the Sabbath services.
On Sunday popular conference ol
Jewish University Students, Their Al
Utude Toward Jewish Problems, vii
be participated in by Leo n. Levi. @
New York Rev. Dr. F. G. Hirsh. @
Chicago, ard others 4 lecture viii b.
delivered al the Hotel Rudolf IN th
evening by the Rev. Dr.. Leon Harrison
o. 81 Louis, Ao.