The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-07-04
FOR Old SABBATH
CENTRAL CONFERENCE OF AMER
ICAN RABBIs DECLARES.
IMPROVE ITS OBSERVANCE
- a COMMISSION TO EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE.

vzCort to Substitute Sunday for the
Jewish Sabbath Was Defeated-Dr.
SHERMAN Took n Position Against
the Proposed Change-Dr. VOOr-
s.uper said 1t Would BE StuItifica-
.ion to Again Declare for the His
toricaI sabbath Knowing 1t Would
Not Be Kept.
Detroit. Mich, July 3.-"This con-
terence declares itself in favor of
maintaining the historical Sabbath as
fundamental institution of Judaism,
and exerting every effort to improve
IT'S observance and instruct the execu-
five committee to appoint special
committee to study methods of carry
ing this into effect"
The Central Conference of American
Rabbis placed itself on record on the
Sabbath question this afternoon, after
an eight-hour session, by the adoption
oF the above amendment to the report
of the Sabbath commission to the ques-
tion: what is our attitude on the Sab
bath question:"
officers were also elected this after
noon, all business was transacted and
the conference adjourned sine die.
Rabbi Voorsanger of San Francisco,
the chairman of the commission, intro
duced the commissions substitute re-
port, which the conference ordered last
Wednesday. The report was, in part,
as follows:
The Substitute Report.
This conference resolves that Sun
day services having the character of a
weekday service present no ritual OBJ
jections whatever, but are justified
by all ritual precedent, daily divine
services and instruction being part
of the religious discipline of the Jew
ish people.
This conference decides that a trans
fer of Sabbath to Sunday, however,
much opposed by sentiment, presents
to the student of history the element
of danger that the fundamental truths
of the Jewish faith might be affected
by such a transfer or that the solidi-
ty of the people or of Israel might
be disturbed. At the same time this
to make an authoritative decision as
TO the facts, but would prefer refer
ence of this all-important question TO
an authority as heretofore defined"
DR.. Silverman Immediately turned
over the chair to the secretary, after
the report had been read, and offered
as a substitute for the commission
reply to the first question the state
ment that was adopted this afternoon
favoring the maintenance of the MIS-
tOrical Sabbath. He declared that the
commissions report was a mere beg
ging of the question, and stated with
great positiyeness that the conference
must at this time declare itself in UNI
mistakable terms on this Sabbath
question.
Would Not BE Observed.
Rabbi Voorsanger then took the floor
to speak in faovr of the commission S
report. He said:
I'VE owe to the world a declaration
that while we stand by the historical
Sabbath we still take cognizance of
the theoretical observance of our Sab
bath and the practical incongruity of
it. 1t will be qualification (pardon me
if l seem to use strong terms), it will
be qualification if we again declare
for the historical Sabbath, when we
known that we will not observe it.
DR.. Silverman then closed the de-
bate in favor of his amendment,
Which was adopted, % to 8.
The following telegram was ordered
sent to President Roosevelt:
Concentration of Roosevelt.
The Central Conference of Ameri-
can Rabbits, in annual convention as
sembled, begs to express to you its I'M
bounded admiration of the manly,
courageous and truly American atti-
in
the forwarding of the petition of the
Jewish citizens of the United States on
behalf of our unfortunate co-religion-
lists, subjects of his majesty, the Car
OF Russia.
The conference in which the spirit
ual leadership of American Israel is
vested feels extremely proud of Amer
lean citizenship, which makes it pos>
sble for the chief magistrate of our
country to pursue a diplomatic course
Of action which while observent of the
rules of comfy due to friendly powers,
is firm in it's insistence on the high
ideal of fairness and justice without
regard to race. color or creed. The
conference sends you it's greeting and
invobes Divine blessings upon your adj
minstration."
The following officers were elected:
Honorary president. Dr. K. Kohler
OF New York, president-elect of the
Hebrew Union College at Cincinnati;
President Joseph Krauskopf of Phil
adelphia; vice presidents, Joseph Stolz
OF Chicago, DIR. J. Voorsanger OF san
Francisco: treasurer. Charles Levi of
PEORIA H. corresponding secretary
W Rosenau of Baltimore recording
secretary, Adolph Guttmaker of Balt-
More
The next meeting will probably be
Aeld in San Francisco.