The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-01-31
T 81. les MOSES
/. PHILADELPHIA
Striking Sermon on Great
Law Giyer Preached by
Rabbi Krauskopf.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 3l.-WorshIp
on Sunday If business prevents your at
tendance in the synagogue ON Saturday
Have your ceremonies in English,
which will be understood oy all of the
congregation. rather than IN Hebrew,
which is Ineligible TO only a few.
Show reasonabIeness in your customs
by abandoning the obsolete Orientalism
of ancient Judaism and substituting for
them rational modern Occidental Gus
toms.
This, according 10 Rabbi Joseph kEaus-
kOpf, is some OF the advice that Moses
would De likely TO give To modern He
brews If he should visit the synag Jgues
of Philadelphia. DIT. Krausllopf TOLD Of
the work and character OF the great
law giver IA "a sermon this morning In
Temple keneseth Israel.
Mosaic Laws.
He eclared that only the wiser and
say ortion OF the Mosaic laws was
X by Moses. The remainder is a
of customs, rites. and statutes
- the Prophet Ezra long after
If Moses. Describing the work
.pr- Kraus zopf said;
a iberator and law giver.
yoke OF political tyranny.
II gross idolatries and base
ne substituted a moral
il the foundation of re-
been the teachings and
j. loses the Iibcrator, law giver,
a.. oIOrmeT let rs accompany him 10
a rev of these svnagOgueS whose Wor-
shippers pride themselves especially with
being the most orthodox of his follow
Entering one of these. we see the
ground floor occupied by men, the WOm-
en- are set apart in the galleries above.
We listen to the IA bbi's discourse, he
bitterly inveighs against the laxity OF
Israel in the observation Of the cere-
Seeks Authority.
Surprised at what he hears our Wis
itor from the youder sphere asks one of
the officials OF the synagogue, Upon
what authority are these ceremonial re
qhiTements demanded Who instituted
them and 10 his amazemeut he Is told
that these and many others like them
had been instituted by Moses or were
derived from laws which Moses had en-
Joined upon Israel Tor all times 10 come,
and that whosoEyeT fails to comply with
them has no part H. the household OF
What if he observes the moral
laws" asks Noses. Nv That u he faith
fully Keeps the TeuC5mmandments and
the other commandments Of equal ethl-
cal importauce?' TO which he receives
the reply.
% Keeping only the moTeI law does
not constitute being a jew. A non
Jew might do as much tt IS the Oh
serVauCe of the ceremonial law THAI
stamps the true follower OI Moses, that
keeps the Jews separate and ulsunct
from all other people
rs 30 desirable asEs Noses, that
Israel should De separate and distinct
from an other people, Was that the in
tenti0u OF Moses? Did he Iegislate for
Israel Oulyy Has Israel no mission, no
message TO other pe5pleF
Another "Refomer."
GET YOU gone and speedily replies,
aneIilv, the official You are another
one of those enemies of Moses and
Israel. who under the name Of reform,
seek the condemnation Of thc Jew with
the Gentle, and the destruction OF Ju-
dslsm'
I'VE accompany ouI visitor 20 vet an
other synagogue. Though the hour
is long past the time Of commencement
hut a dozen or so are present ana
these, for the most part, are children.
rs not this the Sabbath day. asks
our visitor OF the sexton at the door.
Where is the CungrcEationH
This be- Saturday replies the SEX
tom and they are engaged ~ business
Then you worship on sunday asks
Moses.
Cod forbid. replies the sexton. that
we should 50 sin against Noses and his
law. a thousand times rather not woT-
ship Al an than hold service on the
Christian Sabbath
But when do your people receive
their moral and religious instruction.
which is indispensable for the health
Of mind and s0uI2' asks Moses. Would
II not be better for the people 10 WOT-
ship on the day ON which they rest q an
not to worship al alr'