Intermountain Jewish news., 1925-10-22
Isaac N. Wise, Founder
AmevicanReforrnJudaisn,
lconllnneI frnnl ragc1l

ih' 'eW must ut hihcfi''hiItu'
He must become an American In or
der to gain the proud self-conscious-
ness of the free-born man. But in
the Americanizing of my co-religion-
lists, will not Judaism disappear in
Americanism This must be coun-
teracted by better knowledge Of
Jewish history and Jewish sources. A
pride in being Jew must be aroused,
for it is this that the jew has lost in
the ages Of oppression. | resolved
therefore to emphasize strongly the
historical mission of Israel in all my
speeches and writings, in order to
arouse u consecrated self-conscious-
ness; to bring before the public the
bright side of the Jewish character
and thus to arouse feeling of self
respect; tn popularize by spoken and
written words as much Jewish learn
ing as j might possess, in order to
inculcate in others respect for Jewish
literature; to familiarize the reading
public with the brilliant periods OF
Jewish history in order to appeal by
this means to the growing youth, so
as TO awaken in them Jewish patriot.
ISM"
These words have familiar sound
to modern American Jewry, which
hears them uttered every day by pull
pit orators promulgated. by Ameri-
can Jewish publications, by commun-
al and religious organizations. Make
better Americans of Jews by making
them first better Jews. Judaize to
Americanize.
Yet these lines, as quoted, were
written nearly four decades ago by
an immigrant German idealist. They
were firm conclusions that years Of
work. against fearful odds, on behalf
of his people, had given him. They
were fruits of the great love thai he
bore to his adopted country and to
his own people. 1t is significant that
the thought which took all the un.
finching prophetic courage of Isaac
NJ. Wise to be spoken aloud is today
the dominating aim of American
Jewry-of all groups of Jewry Of
every heritage and conviction wher.
ever they seek to build an enduring
Jewish life in America.
1t is said that the world pro
gresses slowly because men are un
willing to be martyrs and to suffer
for their ideals. No man more trul,
suffered martyrdom for his ideal,
than Isaac NJ. Wise. Yet he had thu
great joy which comes to few ideal
ists-thst of witnessing the achieve
ment Of his dream -H---.
This hopeful young German Jewisl
preacher who landed in New York OF
July 26, 1876, with a wife and child
and with two dollars in his pocket
after sixty-three miserable days or
the ocean, had left the small Bohe
mian town where he had taught anc
preached for three years, to find &
greater spiritual freedom in Amer
lea. He found American Judaism il
SO lowly state that he was almost
| tempted to heed the well-meant nd
vice of friends who urged him TO Civ,
up preaching and go out peddling
This was only the first of the numer
Gus occasions when material opportu
nifty tempted Rabbi Wise to leave hi.
chosen ministry. At various crises II
| his career as leader of Jewish reform
in America his friends held out t,
him enticing prospects of profitable
career in law, politics, journalism
business, and even in the Christian
ministry. Yet Isaac Wise preferred
his martyrdom.
Chance-that vagabond sower VIII,
has scattered Jewry over the entir,
face of the North American continent
carried the young preacher to Al
bany, where new Jewish congrega
tion, Beth Ell, has Just been formed
They paid the Rabbi two hundred anc
fifty dollars year in those days
plus whatever income he might de
rive from his congregational school
Here, however Isaac NJ. Wise's great
work in America was begun.
The young Rabbits first innovatinl
step was the Introduction of musi,
into the services Suffers hymns
sung by choir with violin accom-
paniment, Then came the gradua
abridgement of the service, the intro
/ duction of the rite of confirmation
and other changes and revisions thai
brought a storm of criticism at home
and abroad The "Occident," only
American Jewish publication of that
t me, began an editorial attacl
against him. But, albeit he was Z
little surprised that so much noti"t
should have been taken of him Sc
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