The Denver Jewish news., 1919-04-02

teacher In the columns of his TWO
great Journals, the American lsrac-
lite and Die Deborah, he pOpulariZed
Judaism. From earliest days, he kept
his clear vision bent with wrapt in
tent on one definite goal. the found
ing of n School for the Training of
liabbis and Teachers. 1t was not nm
til 1915 that this purpose was full
filled, when the Hebrew Union Col
lrge was opened in Cincinnati From
its halls have graduated two hun
educational movement among Ameri-
can Jews has been directed along
modern lines.
The inevitable outcome was the
founding of the reform OF religion up
on definite and firm basis. From
the first, DIR. Wise clearly saw thar
life was creating in this land n new
people-American Israel. He became
the avOwed champion of an American
Judaism. While others discussed the
relative merits of the Sephardic, Pol
ish or German prayer books, he dis
cardcd them all as alien to the new
spirit and he produced the "Minhag
America" pioneer Of all like efforts
which were finally harmOnized in the
Union Prayer book. His zeal and ini-
tiative impelled him to introduce most
Of the reforms now prevalent, yet he
was not prompted by an overmastering
individualism. On the contrary, he
labOrcd untiringly for years to secure
the consensus of Rabinic wisdom and
effort 1t required new generation
of Rabbis-hOmogeneou in training
and imbued with the American spirit.
Thus came into being his last great
creation. the Central Conference of
American Rabbis. over which he pre-
sided ten years until his death.
In n stirring peroration. DIR. Berk-
uwitz pictured the spirit of DIR. Wise.
the pioneer. still impclling to Union
and now active in the united efforts
OF all branches of American Israel to
bring the blessings of political eman-
cipation to Jews in all lands. He told
of the delegates of the Conference ana
the Union now in Paris labOring to
secure such an article in the covenant
of the League Of Nations. The collapse
al the ccnters of Jewish learning
abroad places upon American Israel
the on,,s of future leadership in Jew
isil education. The free spirit OF the
New Education must inevitably lead
to the spread of that reform which
aims to bring religion and life into
honest conformity. The old autOcrncy
that bound the SynagOg to final
code is destined to fall because there
is no final code. The law of unfold
ment reveals the values of the gifts
of each age to the religious life OF the
race. Our age is witnessing the glor-
io,,s fulfillment of the prophetic words
with which DR.. Wise spake his vale
dictory TO the Conference on his Soth
birthday. "All thinking men and wom-
en- will. within quarter century. rec
Ggnize in the ethical monOtheism of
the Hebrew prophets. which is the es-
sence of our reform. the true religion
for mankind" The war has taught
nations the supremacy of the moral
law. Today, the visions Of Micah ana
Isaiah for disarmament. arbitration
and justice have become the practicai
issues of our statesmen. At such
time, reactionaries are heard ridic'l-
ing the mission of Israel; Socialist
Nationalists declare religion negligihie
and subordinate to race, nationality
and culture. The whole unselfish ca
reer of our great leader inspires u.s.
in the face of these false outcries, to
face the future inspired by new cour-
age and exalted by new hope.
LARGE SUM ENTRUSTED TO BAR
CCH,