The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-29
RABBI EXPORTS
JEWS To SHEAR
THEIR WHISPERS
Orthodoxy Expressed in De-
votion, Not Boards, DR..
Lyons Declares.

NEW YORK, Dec. 29.-Orthodox
boards of Jewish rabbis and the
orthodox scheitel, or wig, Of Jewish
women are criticised by the Rev. DIR.
Alexander Lyons, of the Eighth
Avenue Temple. Brooklyn, in his
church publication, the Supplement.
for December.
Common wearing of boards by
rabbits. he says, often accounts for the
view, "even of intelligent Christians"
that Jews are freaks" and some
rabbis. like some ministers of other
denominations. stick to their ortho-
doxism in lack Of demonstrated spir-
itual fitness for their sacred offices.
wigs also are noted.
DIR. Lyons writes he does not wear
beard and neither does the most
distinguished Of American rabbis.
The Supplement discusses 1.-THE Re-
ligion OF Jesus" as It's first article,
and declares 1.-THE supreme personality
OF Christian worship certainly pre-
sents splendid pattern of mans
nobler possibilities" and 1.-The world
would be far better If Christians wor-
shipped Jesus less and Appropriated
his example more"
Urges Clean Shaves.
''Beardless Rabbis" is the para
graph caption on that subject, and DR..
Lyons goes on to say:
"A Christian clergyman Of con-
siderable culture, a friend of mine,
recently made the astounding confess
sion that he had long thought that a
rabbi usually has a long beard and
that the long-bearded Jews one OBJ
serves In our larger cities are general
ly rabbis. Because l dress and look
like most other gentlemen believing
as i do that conservation Is neither
In countenance nor In clothing he re-
garded me as exceptional. 1t is no
wonder, accordingly that Jews are
viewed and treated by many, even in
telligent Christians, as freaks.
mo. my Christian brother, rabbis
do not always have a beard. Indeed
the most distinguished rabbi Of
America for many a year has been
Emil @. Hirsch. Of Chicago. who is
beardless and bald. 1t sometimes
happens that a rabbi, like some
ministers Of other denominations,
seeks to compensate the lack Of inner
substances with an excess OF outer
show but that is because he is I'M
rabbinical. A real rabbi, like Hirsch,
Is man OF educatlon plus lnspira-
ton, the externals are incidentals
except where they connote character.
Please bear this in mind and also
pass 1t on.
Advises Foreigners.
Speaking Of beardless rabbis re.
minds me Of a wish l have often en-
tertained that a good many Jews Of
foreign extraction in America would do
themselves and their coreligionists a
great and needful service IL their
Jewish Identification appeared less in
the length of their beard and more in
the extent of their devotion to those
ideals which with time are bound to
convert criticism into compliment.
There il widespread custom
among Jewish women OF foreign birth
in America of wearing a wig, called
a scheitel, as an expression Of their
orothodoxy. Historically this custom
has much in its favor as, in intention
at least, safeguard of virtue. 1t
would be a good thing for Jew and
Judaism among us II bewigged women
would with bearded men be persuaded
that anachronisms and orientalisms In
religious life were better replaced with
adaptations more in consonance with
present environment. Sanitary and
sensible consideration counsel
change"