The Denver Jewish news., 1923-11-15
Dr.. Julian Morgenstern And
American Judaism
German Jew and Russian Jew Must Disappear in Amer
lea Before Another Generation Shall Have Passed.
Reform Judaism and Orthodox Judaism Will Then Be
American Judaism.

A call for an American Judaism. "A
Jntlnism that will he an. nmalgam Of
reform and Traditional .Iudaism. "A Ju-
sla Ism that will unite all elements Of
.Iewry into one Jewry. was made by
DIR. Julian Morgenstern. president OF
the Hebrew Union college at Cincin-
nnfi, Inst Suplay, mt the opening exer-
cisa.s of the Hebrew Union College
school for teachers, mt Temple Eman-
uel 43rd street and Fifth avenue. He
spoke of the reform Iutln ism that was
brought here from Germany. anil of
the Orthodox Judaism thnt came wi h
East European Jewry. and declared
that the struggle between these two
phases Of Judaism in America was not
80 much over theological and ritual
differences than OF social distinctions.
1t wis. he said. primarily struggle
for leadership IN Jewish affairs in
America between Jewish Americans of
Germnn birth or parenfage and Jewish
Americans and immigrants Of eastern
European origin. both Jewish Amcri-
cans who were not yet quite American
izetl.''
DR. Mcrgcnstern then dwelt on the
battle that is being wnged by the
reform md orthodox groups in this
country. and declared TINT out of the
strife that IL now nearing Its end will
emerge what he termed the American
Jew Forth from the = rife and t,i-
multi" he said, borne as 1t were upon
tho very field Of battle, will step the
victor, young. vigorous. strong. looking
not backward tn either German or
Russian ancestry. not cherishing sus-
picion or grievance against his fellow
Jew qf Differing ap~stry. hut looking
forward proudly TO the future. and
deslicatinx himself to the sacred task
ct building mp for himself aud his
chi4lnsp prsrious. lseritagr AZ truth
and light. the American Jew"
Continuing. DIR. Morgenstern snid !:
This heri.aQe which he will create
for his own l,iessing md that of his
children win be living. potent, en-
tightening. inspiring judaism. the only
Jutlais6, that can live and grow and
lend here In America. Judaism that
must he born ont Of the union of our
traditions and eternal principles cf
Judaism. wi h the traditions and prin-
ciplcs OF Amcricanism: a Jntlaism
L., nth 1aisfntfs.aI
form and type Of Judaism that has
evolved in the centuries long course of
our existence. the product of the reac-
ton of our environment here in Amer
lea and Of our daily life as Americans.
upon our Jewish traditions, beliefs and
practices, American Judaism.
But the two cnmps must be united.
the old battle must end. German Jew
and Russian Jew mnst disappear In
America before another generation
shall have passed. and we shall all
stand together. shoulder to shoulder
visioning and lal,Oring for our common
future. Then ours will no longer Ike
Reform Judaism and Orthodox Judn-
ism. hut only American Judnism. And
probably. then. when that bright day
shall dawn. here In America we Jews
shall all be one and our Judaism shall
he one. we may he able to discard the
adjcctives and speak only of Judaism,
of Judaism in-Americn."
A plea for parents to train their
children to respect "rabbis and teach
ers was made by Mr.. Nathan J. Miller.
clhnirman of the New York executive
commit ee Of the Union Of American