New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-29
Rv Joseph HOCKMAN.


was called to the pulpit Of the
new West End Synagogue on the COM
pletion of my studies at the universe
ties Of London. Berlin and Heidelberg
eight years ago at the age of twenty
four. The new West End Synagogue
is the most important, most cultured
constituent Of the United Synagogue.
The founders Of the United Synagogue
sought 10 make the German-Polish sys-
tenn Of Jewish customs the Orthodoxy
Of the United Synagogue for all time
BY an act Of Parliament
Appeals to the government IN support
Of Orthodoxy and against reform were
then the order Of the day among Jewish
CONGREGATIONS in Germany. They injured
Judaism there, and they injured Juda-
ism in England. There isn't and there
cannot be any "OryhodoXy' in Judaism,
because there isn't and never was Jew
ism central authority over all syna-
eogues. Lord John Russell said he
wanted 10 see the Christian Church
disestablshed and wouldn't help es-
tabHsh a synagogue. Provisions which
were designed to imprison the spirit
Of the United Synagogue accordingly
were removed from the bill which be-
came the United Synagogues act.
Thus foiled in Parliament, the found
ers embodied those provisions in the
deed Of foundation and trust whereby
English Jews were tied to the products
Of German-Polish environment, these
having been thus made legally binding
on the United Synagogue and its chief
rabbi.
Calls 1t Organized Hypocrisy.
am an English Jew, and object
10 being made a German-Pole behind
the back Of the British Parliament, and
refuse to overlook this effect Of the
United Synagogue's constitution. 1t
has produced an Inconsistency which
has developed into an organized hy-
pocrisy, in which customs are en-
throned while principles are over
thrown
The United Synagogue officially sane.
tions the doctrine of the mission OF
Israel Daily it prays for 'proselytes OF
righteousness" II does nothing TO
win them Daily it prays for Jewish
restoration in Zion. 1t declares Its
faith that from Zion shall 90 forth
teaching" but il ignores the Jewish ma
tional movement which aims 10 realize
the prayer. II is powerful to resist. 1t
is powerless 10 achieve. L has weak
will. but a strong won't" Il excludes
women from public religious life, and
is thus more loyal TO inherited Orien-
talism than to the inherent Jewish
spirit which gave queens and prophet
esses 20 Israel. Ii forbids riding on
the Sabbath, and so calls into being a
multiplication Of small synagogueS
with petty officials, but it destroys op-
portunty for effective religious leader
ship.
Many Fall Away.
1t refuses to sanction such adapta-
tiOn of Jewish law 10 changing environ
ment as would preserve the line of his
toric development. Hence many Jews
fall away from the synagogue which,
instead of proclaiming its teaching to
all men, fails even TO reach its own.
have resigned my pulpit and find
no synagogue in London which, true to
the direction of Jewish history. is con
sciously missionary in It's teaching
ard also national in its spirit Of con-
tinuity. | intend no artificial agitation
to create one. but ! shall help the SYM
pathizers if they desire TO form one.
Commenting on the resignation, the
Jewish World" says: "NOt even the
worst Of cynics can sheer at his motives
or courage. We hope his severance
from the congregation is only tempo
rary, and that, having made his pro-
test, he will continue in his old pulpit
on the understanding, If obtainable,
that his congregation will set about en-
desvoring to remedy the state Of affairs
to which the minister's resignation
calls such unmistakable attention.
But the resignation definitely does
two things; il raises the Anglo-Jewish
pulpit and II points to the legal consti-
tuition o. the United Synagogue as a
possible cause Of many Of our religious
ills. The whole subject ought TO be
taken IN hand with an earnest determi-
nation TO restore our religious life, i'm
paired as 1t admittedly is, whatever be
the true cause"
DR.. Hertz, chief rabbi. made the fol-
lowing statement TO the Tribune CORE
spondent to-day concerning Hockman's
resignation: Having been shown DR..
Hockman's statement as to why he left
the new West End Synagogue. | feel
he would have been better advised to
have told US why he ever entered the
new West End pulpit For it is now
evident that DR.. Hickman was never
IN sympathy with the religious platform
OF his congregation.
The Lord Swaythling, a pillar of
Jewish orthodoxy was the founder Of
that synagogue and its dominating
spirit at the time of Dr. Hockman's
election. Dr. Hickman could have been
elected by that congregation only by
protesting orthodox principles and
practice. No amount of irrelevant mis-
Information which he has freely con-
veyed concerning the United Synagogue
or its founders can get over for DR..
Hickman this crucial question. DR..
Hoekman's peaceful elimination from
the Anglo-Jewish pulpit is thus surely
matter Of generalization TO all con-
eerned."