New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-18
PLEADS FOR ZIONISM.
Rer. DR.. Naeaes Dcnounccs "Ossi-
fled Reform"


Isaac N Wise" was the subject Of the Rev.
DR.. ]. Leon Magnus discourse yesterday i'm the
Temple EMANUEL He paid n high tribute to
his master. who one Of the pioneers in Re
formed Judaism in the United States. and who
had created lasting works in Tho interests Of his
people. lie surprised many OF the congregation
however. when he referred 20 Reformed Judaism
-es 'ossfed.' and when lee denounced the man
ayers Of tile Hebrew Union College. which was
founded by Isaac ". Wise and from which DR.
Magnes was graduated. for restraining three
Of us professors from teaching Zionism.
DR. Magres said THAI the principle underlying
the Reformed Jewish movement, Of which Isaac
N Wise was the chief exponent was tho prin-
ciple Of development. Of evolution. The re-
formed movement had 10 encounter two OPP
ponents-om the one hand a rigid. uncompro-
missing orthodoxy. on the other hand an icono-
elastic tendency that led inevitably 10 the de-
efruction Of the Jewish community
Isaac NJ Wise came to this country from a
European centre of Jewish energy" he said
He believed that i'm America Judaism could he
developed along positive Jewish lines. that even
after those centres Of Jewish life called ehcttos
were destroyed. the young jew and Jewess would
be able 10 create positive Jewish religious values.
He had not only faith in the American Jew.
but also did his share toward realizing his
dream He was the one man of the reformed
Jewish movement who created something endur-
ing. Through his efforts the Hebrew Union
College. the Union of American Hebrew Con-
gregations The Conference Of American RaDbs
were esta blished.
But his great hope in the future has not and
could not he justified. With the gradual re-
cession from centres Of Jewish energy. Jews
We're less than ever justifying their separate
existence. They were no better and no worse
morally than their surroundings and they were
even contributing less than their neighhors 20
the development Of religious thought. They were
consequently under present conditions not a
priest-peopIe. a community Of teachers TO the
nation, either in actual living or in religious
theory"
DR.. Magnes declared that the principle Of re-
form. that is Of development. enunciated most
strongly by Isaac N. Wise. is a sound principle
on that basis il is necessary TO make another
step in advance. This step the speaker believed
10 lie in Jewish nationalism. or Zionism. or the
creation of a national centre Of Jewish energy
in Palestine. whereby Jewish ideals might he
furthered in all parts Of the world.
The speaker said that the Hebrew Union Col
lege was the favorite child Of Isaac NJ. Wise.
But AT the present time, the speaker was sorry
10 say, the Hebrew Union College was signing
the death warrant Of reformed Judaism. II is
q curious phenomenon that the reformed Jewish
the maintainence of The principle Of develop
1nent in Judaism should now become ossifed and
dogrnatic and reactionary.
The speaker then referred TO the fact that
three professors Of the Hebrew Union College
were 10 resign their positions because they had
been informed that, being ZionIsts, they coGlo
not teach a that institution.
The speaker held that any institution Of learn
ing has the right 10 choose its teachers But ne
said that the very principle Of development ana
liberalism upon which The college was FOUNDED
by Isaac NJ. Wise is now being endangered
Free and scientific research into Jewish history
and literature was now TO be stlfied, and al
subjects were 10 he taught not TO the truth in
-reTn lint from a rreconceiyed dogmatic point
Of view The college had never. matter Of
fact. adopted any dogmatic statement as 10 its
principles. and the men who were brought there
10 teach had never been interroSaied as 10 their
dcgmaUc fitness. Yet he college N me "llIl-
ION # the sneaker. had the right 10 declare
itsef openly as fayorins one set OF aognas OF
The other IN his event however, the JEWISH
world ought know that the movement Of de-
veiOpment has declared all development 70 nave
ceased Nith II, mat the HebreW mon Coiitse
is TO be a scientific school of Jewish learning
Dr. Magres thought all Of this evidence
OF the oSsifcati0 Of the reformed movement
which was now without any such hToacminded
leader as isaac n ise- Instead or men OF
real liberalism Of spirit, there was being devel-
cped an ecclesiastical hierarchy. II was an
ironical, but apparently natural. development
find a progressive forward movement be-
coming reactionary and retrOgressive after the
men who were its creators had for the most
part passed away.
DR.. Magues said that the failure OF the re-
formed movement TO impress itself in most
positive way upon Judaism not due to
persons. but rather TO historical forces be-
yOnd the control OF any The speaker
therefore thought il the highest tribute
he could pay his old master. Isaac NJ Wise
when he said that Or. Wise had accom-
plished more positive results than perhaps any
other man could have accomplished under adj
verse historical circumstances. The speaker
thought that a alignment of forces had
be made in the battle of the future: those who
wished for the preservation and development Of
Jewish culture on the hand and those who
were either willingly or unwillingly leading the
Jewish community 10 its destruction, the
other hand.
Many Of DR.. Magnes's listeners were from the
East Side Of the city. and these We're enthusi-
sstic over the attitude which he had taken in
favor OF Zonism in the stronghold Of Jewish
reform, where Zionism is unpopular. one young
man said:
"A young rabbi IS addressing a congrega-
ton IN theatre who would nor serve here he
cause he would not consent 10 be muZZled lie
had views which the trustees would not sub
scribe to. and they would not give him the pull
pit. But il seems to- me they muzZled the wrong
man. DR. Magnes. II he continues as he began
to-day, viii do more for Judaism than Dr. Wise
did in his day
This opinion not shared by all for one
man who said that he had been a member of the
congregation for many years saF5: Il never
wrought that in the temple which DR. Wise dedi-
Gated | would hear from the pulpit that the
adeas for which Wise and all the reform min
listers stood were 'ossified."