The Jewish monitor. (Fort Worth-Dallas, Tex.) 191?-1921, 1919-09-12

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with his ladies' societies for the imperative
need of the clock. And seeing that his cry
proved voice in the wilderness, he resort
ed to SNORING" holding up many in
the congregation and out of it till the neces-
sary sum was collected. Now, at last, the
fine clock adorns the wall of the synagog,
keeping watch over the rabbits eloquence,
and registering to the second the rabbi as
Success" in the congregation.
In another community the house of wor-
ship needed repairs. 1t was shabby-looking
and dlapidated and proved a sore-spot to
the members of the congregation who re-
membered on RoSh Hashonoh and Yom Kip
pur that they belonged to the House of Is
rael. The rabbi made this subject the bur-
den of his Rosh Hashonoh sermon, and plead
with passion and eoquence as he never did
before for the renovation of their temple
He fired the zeal of his congregants and
reused them to act on the Improvement of
their sacred edifice Encouraged by this in
itial success, he kept up the voleys of his
oratory on every occasion that presented it.
SELF until after the lapse of year, he saw
his goal. His efforts were crowned with
success the walls and the ceiling were re-
painted, the pews revarnished, and gen.
eral cleanup was given the temple. Then
the renovated house of worship was rededi-
Gated with great solemnity-a monument
to his industry and energy. On all hands,
the rabbi was heartily congratulated and
acclaimed a Success" For a number Of
years he could rest on his laures. This
great achievement assured him a niche
among the Successful" rabbis of the state.
In still another community the rabbi no
ticed (rumor has it that the congregation
threw out gentle hint) that the limited
membership caused shrinkage in the an
nual budget of the congregation. AS good
shepherd he started to gather in the loose
sheep of the town, so that his FLOCK" be.
came greatly enhanced in numbers. Of
course, the rabbi is now a veritable hero, a
Success" with the congregation
There is no need of multiplying examples
to indicate what in the mind Of the laity are
generally regarded as "wonders" of rabbn-
ical achievement. 1t would prove gratuit-
Gus task to pile up Ossa on Pelion by multi
plying instances of the "big things the
rabbi NAV accomplish to make him Sue
cess" in the eyes of his congregants Popular
opinion is shallow enough to mistake the
minor concrete results for the very essen
tas of religious influence in a community.
Most of us are so lacking in philosophic out
look as to eagerly take hold of things simply
because they work" While the pragmatic
attitude may not DE unsound, is it therefore
necessarily the correct philosophy of life?
Far be it from the present writer to ig-
more that side of rabbinic activity that looks
after the tangible results. 1t is folly to min.
imize the constructive attitude and the bust
ness turn of mind that will lay stress on the
practical needs of a congregation. A congre-
cation must have at least presentable
house of worship, a reasonably good organ,
and (if some of the members consider it
necessary also clock on the wall Ger
tainly the unaffiliated in a community
should be canvassed and tactfully approach
ed in order to interest them in the life and
work of the synagog. A congregation can
not thrive without constructive policy A
RELIGIONS organization like all other oruon