El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-10
RABBI lELOhkA On
MODERN MINISTRY
Declares Against Pr9hibi-
ton; Criticises Christian
Ministers.

Ra Dbl Martin Z1eIOnka competed LHe
10th year of his pastorate of Temple
Mount Sinai Friday, and in observance
of the occasion, at the evening service,
spoke on the modern ministry, taking
Christian manister, declaring himself
an prohibitions, and touched on
the progress made by his congregation
since his occupancy Of the pulpit
Members of his congregation, re-
membering his long service, sent him
the following note Friday morning:
Your friends express the fervent hope
that God may grant you a long and
useful life-the greater part of which,
they trust, may be spent in their midst
and in the service of our congrega-
ton"
In his service preached at the Fri
day evening service, rabbi Zielonka
said:
1t seems but yesterday that 1 first
mounted this pulpit. a stranger among
strangers. to interpret Judaism as I
understood it. The years have passed
by swiftly, each bringing its joys and
its SORROWS its burdens and its pleas
ures, its failures and accomplishments.
No one reaps as fully as he has sown,
and no one realizes in results the strug-
giles and strivings of his ambition.
Ten years is a very short period in
the fulfillment of moral questions "A
thousand years are in Thy sight as but
yesterday" the psalmist rightfully de-
clares when questions Of ethical i'm
port are concerned. Men are not made
moral by law; they do not attain in
slant virtue by the command thou
shalt" or thou shalt not" but they
acquire this by the slow process of
accretion. where the experience of one
generation is added TO another and
the resultant experiences developed in
to codes and guides
Proof of Accomplishment
Thus, what may loom large in the
accomplishments of the past decade is
either the result of the unconscious
efforts of generations, it may be the
beginning of some worthy effort of the
future, or ele it will fade into airy
nothings." when viewed after the lapse
Of another decade. We will not dwell
upon what has been or has not been
accomplished. You have endured with
me these 10 years and from memory's
storehouse you can recall what seems
the success or failure OF the past. The
fact that we exist today as an organi-
zation, stronger in every department is
proof that something has been accom-
plished, that the years just passed have
not been wasted but have strength
ened and emphasized the consciousness
of the Jew to the need of maintaining
his religious popularity.
What I shall endeavor to do tonight.
is to point out the principles that have
guided me in my activities and in my
relations to the congregation. to make
plain to you, that my actions have
been the results of my conception of
the modern ministry. The same princi- /
pies that have guided me in the past /
will guide me in the future. and if the |!
and worthy, we need have no fear for
the superstructure of the future.
Judaism for the Jews.
In the first place I have always kept (
in mind that I am a Jewish minister. I
with duties and obligations first and 1
foremost to the Jews. I have no pa !
thence with those who count their sue /
cess by the number of invitations they |
receive to address non-Jewish audi !
ences ard who believe that their best !
work can be done outside of the temple /
or synagog. l believe that it is the |
duty Of the rabbi to make known the !
message of Judaism to non-Jews, but !
believe just firmly that this can
be done IN our own places of worship.
Our doors have been open at all times.
The stranger who would join with us
Is service has always been welcome It
Is only as these see u.s. as a congrega-
ton. in worship and service and not
only the rabbi. as a popular lecturer,
that they can form a true conception
Of Judaism and the Jew.
Religion and Government Combined.
On the other hand the rabbi must
not forget that he is a citizen and that
his citizenship demands certain obliga-
lions Pray for the welfare of the
country for in its welfare rests your
was the sage advice Of
Jewish teacher. No faith can prosper
lnless the people are a. peace and the
government safe and sound. Corrup-
ion, dishonesty, oppression and ignor-
lrce without are menace to the full
st development of any faith and must
be counteracted by the activity of
he church or temple. That minister is
alse to his calling who confines him
;elf to a discussion of doctrinal prob
ems and fails to keep in touch with
he pulse beat of civic demands More
han that, He must not follow but