The Denver Jewish news., 1919-07-16
Jewish Reconstruction.
BY DIR. JOSEPH sILvERMAN
Temple Emanuel. New York.


These words OF the prophet Isaiah
are luminous with new meaning for
Israel In these glorious days OF new
world that is in the making. They
own again.
Demonstration is the slogan of the
hour. 1t is the winged word that is
waited from sea to sea, is on every
ones tongue, is flashed from every
Guivering wire. is published to all the
world. 1t is the miracle. of the age.
the magic wand that transforms tyran-
nical monarchies into republics. brings
down the arrogant and up.ifts the low.
ly.
Reconstruction will touch every
phase Of life; political, social, civic,
economic, religious, intellectual. There
will be no line OF thought or action
which will not be permeated by tho
regenerative impulse of the day, gal
vanlzed into new life and given an ir-
reslstible and invincible impulse to-.
ward higher. and better goal.
In this worlds reconstructive actiy-
ity what part will the Synagogue take?
VIII it be content to continue in Its
inertia, to remain Indifferent to the
birth of u new world. ana lie supinciy
On its bed to hoary respectability? VIII
the Synagogs, both Orthodox and Re
form. be content to stagnatc. to mere
ly vegetate and, Ostrich-like, close
their eyes to the impending menace Of
the car Of progress that will ride over
them and crush out their last vestiges
Of life? Or, will the. Synagogs bestir
themselves in time and realize the
trend Of thought and action that is
vitalizing all issues and institutions
that are worthy Of place In the new
order of things?
"Arise. give light, for thy light Is
come and the glory Of the Lord is
risen upon thee" is the admonition
that comes to the synagog. And II
the synagog will not heed this call
and discharge Its fnll dHty In view
OF the new conditions. others will seize
the light as they have done before and
become the torch bearers for human
ity.
Already we see signs Ul greater ac-
tivity amongst religious and ethical in
stitutiOns to prepare for the new Oc-
Lutheran bodies of this country. for
many years almost hopelessiy disunit-
I'D, have at last compounded their diff
fcrences and formed one great. strong
organization The EpiscOpalian bod
les Of this city are combining MS never
l,efore for greater united action. The
Greek churches of Rome and America
have recently formed working cOali-
tionL And now leaders Of all Pro.
testant denomina tions In this country
are negotiating for a possible United
Christian church to combat the evils
Of scepticism and unrighteousness and
to labor for better world.
ahu Whdt aAC thC Ss shh6oso ooih6
Nothing! They have no program
They are still somnolent. They are not
alive to the fact that the war has been
won, that the God Of battles has vim
dicated the champions Of righteous
ness. Some synagogs have cOntribut-
ed, money toward welfare or relief
work, or entertained few soldiers at
dinners, or aided the Red Cross and
other charities in their various activi-
, ties. But that Is as nothing In view Of
tile great world problems that cry for
solutions Of the great need for men
and women of thought, Keeling and
vision, of the unlimited possibilities of
the ynagog to rehabilitate itself. to be
Of fhcalculable service TO israel and
humanity.
am not forgetting that some agen-
cies in Israel are endeavoring to Crap
rle with the great problems Of secur-
ing equal rights for Jews in all lands
Of Europe where political and civic
reconstruction is proceeding with all
evidences of social revolution. do
not ignore the fact that an American
Jewish Congress convened lately in
Philadelphia, and has done its best to
agree on bill of rights to be pre-
sented at the Peace Conference.
But notwithstanding these evidences
Of active interest on the part of some
Jewish organizations and individuals
to conserve and foster the Interest,";
and rights of Jews among the nation,
still maintain that the synasoss are
not doing their duty.