The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25
A JEWISH SYNOD IN AMERICA
Tho Subj ect Discussed by . D,stin .ulshed
Member OF the Race.


To TIE EDITOR OF THE SrS-Sir. Mr.
Adolph Oppenheimer closed his analytical letter
on"The Decline Of Judaism. recently published
In THESuN. with the pertinent and timely aues-
ton whether IL were not wise for the divided
branches OF Judaism, instead of continuing
their present and apparently endless wransle,
to convene for the purpose OF radically anAlyz-
ing the faith. eliminating the observance OF
obsolete ancient or national customs" &c.
Since 1t was | who furnished the text 10 your
correspondents comment, may be- allowed.
In old Je wish fashion, to write also q short
super nmentary to the epistle Of Mr. On
penheimer. who unknowinsly foreshadowed
the convocation of a Jewish synod now
under discussion in the Jewish theological
world OF this country?
On July 4, 1900. DIR. n. G.. Enelow, at present
rabbi at Louisville. KY. read learned paper
on the Jewish synod before the Central Con-
ference of American Rabbits al Buffalo, giving
a historic survey Of the institution from the
Biblical Council OF Elders tZekenim) To tlA
last synod. which was held at Augsburg, Ger.
many, from July ~ to July II, 1871. With.
out advocating directly the establishment
of an American synod, for which his great
teacher, DR.. Isaac NJ. Wise OF Cincinnati. The
late Jewish Pope of the West, as he was nick.
named by friend and foe. fought as early a,
ls4s, DR.. Enelow's paper contained, neverthe.
less the germ OF DR.. Joseph Kra,iskopf's presi.
dental message of 1904. recommending 10
the Central Conference NJ American Rabbits
meeting in Louisville the convention Of A
L.I.n,o she.t of no ronte,oror,, Ia, ms
."n,e bonest,v stating the rcli rio"s ssaa-
md losses caused nv the emancina,inn ~ ,,s
Jew After a some what heated discussion A
majority report and minority report wer.
presented. but because Of the differences "
opinion in the synod committee and among
the members OF the conference at large" to
use the official terms of the executive com.
ing session ,n to be held fr" re-, 1uy to J1ly'
where Isaac NJ. Wise had. as early as Oct. II,
1883 conyoked an assembly. atten ded -,
h ov ortbodox and Reform do,sso uea o.. o.
work out a plan for synoda organization.
proposing to unite all the Jews of tho country
and to centraiize ihe captalncy OF all their
na,rona, ar ir enaf.'es and
oo s1on,, nnovc, .nd o,,,, o,.u.....,
OF the absolute religious Incidence Of tho
Je wish masses. nirety nine out Of every hum.
dred OF your jewish readers am certain will.
from this letter OF mine for the first time have
learned OF the entire question, Reading no
specially Jewish NJ periodical stunning during
my weeks IN 'he year we synagogue or any
assembly where matters pertaining 81 to their
business men and bankers and lawyers slon.
broadway and in the precincts holy to them.
in Wall Pine and Nassau streets-are aeso-
lutely at sea concerning the fate OF Israel in
nnb a and Gss A dole OF ps,sp
Fifth avenue and Madison avenue rabbs
were. during this summer sacrificing for
once their dolce far nienfe at the seashote or
the mountains. to follow the examine OF
their Christian colleagues by holding public
revival meetings among, their tai'hless
brethren. to be gin wit h one let us say, iromths
steps OF the banking firm OF Kuhn, Loeb Co..
whose head is Mr. Jacob II; Schn, the lead
and the rebuder OF the Jewish Theological
Seminary OF America Certainly he would
welcome such coura seous band Of rahh,'
cling him TO send The faculty Of bis, sem:
' Wns to the Prsv@and conere G er Whose
overwhelming ma iority stand for, radical
Reform, Now TIA, ne war n the Far East
election to the dictatorship Of the EQUITABLE
Life, will calm the spirits within and without
OF the latter shonid earnes,ly ,h!nS Of the
great problems facing the 10000 Jews living
in our country.
poleon l.. then at the height Of his power.
convened AT Paris an assembly OF JewIsh
n fndamcna " ""oste e " ,Ge nas"ss Of
the emancipation of tn" Jews on their re;
liGious ATTITUDE Whether they sincerely loved
France and the French people whether they
considered the laws OF the lana BIN ling even
when they al" in manifest or seeming con-
tradiction with the Law OF Moses or the IN
functions Of the rabhs whether they sane
toned intcrmarriaee with Christians Sc.
Bonaparte was so much pleased with ne
replies given by this frsi Jewish CONGRESS
in miniature tia, he Sonyoksd on FEB o. lSS
synedr!on WITH the evident pmrpo,%, ,t nl
Roman Catholic Church. but also Of The not
less international SvnaGogi'e Of the Dlnspor9
Times have changed 4 nce then and tie
barbarian policy of the house, Of gomano.
and that Of the Government OF King Charles t
Rumania toward their Jewish subjects. to-,
Rether with tho sad economic conditions OF
certain sections Of Central Europ, have
made this country during the last two decades
the seat Of the third Great Jewish settlement
Of the world, how the new condition hrrs
facing Jews from the frst momer' ~ ne
landing Of hundreds Of thousands Of Jewish
immigrants from Russia. Gal "ia. Hungary
&c. are gradually Transforming Their aitI,
tp6e toward their religious traditions ana