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


The trouble, in the first place, lies in the
Indifference of the laty to the snagog and
its ministration. 1t is an old cry that we
live in material age. Religion we ignore
woefully. 1t plays an insignificant part in
our lives. At best we are but nominally af-
filiated with the religious organization; and
after we have paid our dues to the synagog
and have visited it two or three times dur
ing the year, we believe we have complied
with all our obligations to it. AS for the
rest, ''let the rabbi do it." And the rabbi is
therefore obliged to look after even that
side of religious administration which by
right should be attended to by the laity. The
indifference of the laity forces him to watch
over everything pertaining to the congrega-
ton. Not only must he as the spiritual guide
minister to the religious needs proper but
also keep his eye on the appurtenances of
the synagogue, such as the organ, the clock,
and the presentable appearance of the house
of worship.
Secondly, we are simply obscessed nova.
days by the practical things. We are enam-
CURED of the tangible results, and are ready
to bestow the need of praise for their
achievement, ignoring or failing to appre-
ciate the more fundamental and subtle
agencies that are beneath the surface, and
which only the religious guide can bring into
being. 1t is deplorable that the rabbi should
be praised for being the good canvasser of
the synagog; that he should be considered
Success" because he is the efficient collec-
tor for the congregation; or for being the
competent real estate agent of the house of
worship. All this must be in charge of the
membership of the congregation. The laity,
guided by the incentive of their spiritual
leader, must learn to look after such mat
ters; and if the truth were told they could
do them much better by virtue Of their more
practical turn of mind 1t is only because of
the lamentabc indifference of the laity
that the rabbi must fill in the gap and do
good share of the work which by right
should devolve on them principally. There
fore, far from applauding the minister for
his practical achievements and consider him
Success" because of them. we should
rather deplore the neglect of the laity to
make those achievements possible by their
own efforts.
The rabbi is primarily-and this we must
engrave upon the tablets of our hearts
the spiritual leader and moral guide. By
preaching from the pulpit to the adults and
by teaching in the Sabbath School to the
young, he is to interpret the tenets of our
faith and galvani2e them so that they may
become living influences in the lives of
those ne ministers to. He is to furnish the
moral fervor and religious enthusiasm so
that their lives may become better, purer,
holier and more Jewish. Touched by the
fire of his ethical and religious zeal, they
NAV secure for themselves the motive pow
err for the righteous life He is to be the
reservoir of all that is uplifting and soul
stirring in their beings. From his as from
perennial spring should flow :he glow of
godliness and the passion for Righteousness
that will serve as powerful example to all
about him. In word, by his teaching,
preaching and the Interpretation of religion,
life and duty, they may receive an added
for Gods likeness that is mans eternal
portion. For such religious, ethical and
mn, dos, -, z 4