The age-herald., 1902-04-28
RABBI NEWFIELD
 ON JEWISH HOPE
HE DELIVERS A LECTURE AND DISCUSSES THE DREAMS or ZIoNlsM-isRAEL's TRUE MS. SION Is RELIGIOUS.

Yesterday was the seventh day of the feast of the Passover and services were held in all the synagogues. At Temple Emanuel the exercises were deeply im- pressive and the music under the di- rection of Miss Gockel, was exceptional ly beautiful Miss Markstein and Mrs. Bauer of St. Louis each sang solo, the latter rendering in artistic style cavatina from "The Queen of Sheba." Mrs. Bauer has wonderful dramatic soprano voice and her vocalization re- veals fine schooling.
 Rabbi Newfeld read the 37th chapter of Ezekiel about the dry bones and de- livered an eloquent lecture on this fanil- far prophecy. He said the perennial freshness of such a chapter was the true test of a great creation. The same test is applied to all creative work whether it be that of the poet, the painter, the sculptor or the composer. If his mes sage lasts throughout the ages he is in- deed a true prophet. To this category belongs Ezekiel the exiled priest prophet The phraseology is familiar but the events are depicted with dramatic force and with singular precision. The effect Is overwhelming. This chapter, the rabbi point out, was written for the purpose of inspiring captive Israel with the long deferred nope of a national re- vival.
 or course Ezekiel voiced the dialect of his day, said the rabbi The philosophy Of his time justified only one cpnclusion of a peoples vitality, national existence i In its own territory. This was the con
 summation of his hope and of Isreal' 8 drssm.
 Ztonists love to use and quote Ezekiel, continued Rabbi Newfield, in support of their contention. They see no other solu- lion of the perplexlng question of suffer- ing than the re- establishment of Judea and some Zionist leaders do not believe in religious mission but only in political existence, in a petty principality. The whole trend of Jewish thought, of Jewish hopes and of Jewish dreams throughout the iong ages has been contrary to this restricted view. Jewish hope extends be- yond the borders of Palestine Judaism must not he confined to a miserable self ish, political existence. The mission of the Jew Is religious. This is the key note. basic Of every prophecy. True, once upon il time political existence was nc nary. It is not so today. Reformed Jews believe that they correctly interpret the hope of the prophets, the teaching of the Talmud and the precepts of the great philosophers. when they go beyond the narrow horizon, national hope, and instead include In their thought and ann btion the welfare and concern of all mankind. Judaism's destiny does not end with the borders of ancient Judea Its task is world wide. It's mission is to spread and deepen the love of man. Its hope Is the establishment of a kingdom of righteousness and justice whose boun- daries are as wide as humanity. Until that Is accomplished the Jews mission is not ended in spite of Zionism which Is the philosophy of despair and notwith- standing too anti-Semitism which is the cry of greed and envy. The world needs leaven and the Jew should supply the leaven. He must labor ever to overcome prejudice, ignorance and injustice.