The Jewish monitor. (Fort Worth-Dallas, Tex.) 191?-1921, 1919-09-12
.&&,
CHIPS FROM A RABBINICAL
WORKSHOP.
The SO-Called "SuccessfuP' Rabbi.
By RABBI DAVID ROSENBAUM, Austin, Texas.

Iopuldr opinion, CnOugn not always cor
rect is nevertheless worth noticing. Some
times its very incorrectness is symptomatc
OF popular failing, and as such is of interest
to the social pathologist. 1t indicates the
limited vision of the mass of the people.
The rank and file not infrequently take the
mere incidentals for the essentials the
shadow for the substance, as it were-and
are carried away with them not unlike lit
tie children with their newly acquired toys.
This tendency is frequently met with in
life. The popular appraisal of men and
measures clearly indicates the failure of the
masses to see beneath the thin veneer. AS a
commonplace example we may take the pop
ularity of the spellbinder or lodge Orator"
who is lauded to the sky as "brainy" man.
and as one extremely able He is the idol of
the hour. His admirers indulge in extrava-
CANT praises of the greatness" of their hero
and are ready to attribute to him all sorts
of ability and attainments. They cannot
distinguish the froth and the foam from the
strengthening wine any more than the
simpeton can differentiate mere gable
from the feast of reason that should flow
from the soul.
Such popular fancies may also be noticed
in the estimate accorded the rabbi by the
generality OF membership in congregation.
Alas, even in the religious sphere the shad-
ow is often taken for the substance, and the
need of praise is freely bestowed on the re-
ligious guide for secondary attainments,
when matters of first Importance are light
ly esteemed or are allowed to 90 by the
board. In the smaller communities where
the rabbi is perforce the factotum of the
congregation, he is frequently praised for
looking too much after the dross, though
thereby he may be neglectng the gold He
is hailed Success" his congregants show
er enconiums upon him for the so-called big
things" he did and for the wonders" he
has accomplished for the congregation.
And what are some of these so-called "big
things" he brought into being for which he
is styled the successful" rabbi? Let us
take few examples at random. The musical
equipment OF the congregation was far from
satisfactory. His congregants were bliss
fully ignorant of the need of better music;
and If they were aware of it, they were
afraid to loosen their purse-strings. An old
rickety reed-organ squeaking its inharmon-
ious tones adorned" the choir-loft. It was
- SoiS npol w lhC ldDul' ftllcl pltdClllllp III
and out of season of the need of new pipe
organ, and after caioling his members and
making sarcastic allusion to the Anticipated
organ in use, he succeeded in awakening the
sentiment in the congregation to bestr
themselves, and to devise ways and means
for the installation of modern organ to
improve the music and thereby enhance the
service. In course of time the rabbi met
with response; his wish was realized. And
now new up-to-date ppe-organ is pealing
its harmonious strains, blending them with
the voices of the congregation acclaiming
the success of their rabbi
The same synagog needed clock, though
just for what purpose it was hard to say,
now that so many men wear wrist-watches
either as reminder of their martial PROV
ess or in imitation of their heroines. It was
rumored by some facetitious person that
the clock was indispensable to remind the
rabbi of the thought length of his congre