The Denver Jewish news. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1915-1925, 1925-04-23

NupolrunH wishes hnF, except Tor
change Of characters, been rc.cnacted
time and ngain ut Jewish conferences
In Europe and America. That has
been part Of the systematic attempt
To dcnntnre Judaism by changing II
from "a civilization Of people into u
cult Of u religious denomination No
amount Of pleading or arguing that
such a transformation Is bound to
destroy Judaism can be Of any avail.
What we need Is visible demonstra.
ton Of Judaism's original character
AS culture embracing every phase OF
human life. That demonstration can
be given only by n type of national
Institution such ms the University in
Jerusalem will eventually become. The
University will prove that Judaism is
not merely department of life. but
that Judaism Is Synonymous with the
whole Of human life at Its best. The
Judaism Of the University will find
expression not merely In few dcgmas
and ritual Obscrvanccs, but in living
language and literature, In an enriched
socinl life possessing all the organs, the
Institutions and sanctions of normal
ly functioning community, united by
natural interests. All the VISIONS
and arts OF mankind will there he
f1p "a IA, IaRnIn,, In, I.,,r
rich aud efficient personality.
The foremost task of the University
win be to transform Judaism from an
ancient into modern civilization.
Judaism as handed down TO MS is of
necessity dominated by Il world outlook
which renders great many of its
spiritual values dcfunct and irrelevant.
The problem is how to rcadjust and
rclniorpret the content Of an ancient
civilization in terms of current in
tellcctual and spiritual values, without
destroying the continuity of that civili-
zatlon. 1t is only after Judaism shall
have been submitted TO such n process
that It's spiritual values will again
function. However much we may laud
eternity at the expense of modcrnity,
we prefer TO use modern vehicles for
our Ideas ms well ms for our traffic.
Though much nescicncc has been
preached as science, and untold crimes
committed in the name of democracy,
mans aspiration for true science will
not be awakened, nor will his efforts
on behalf Of genuine democracy be re-
Taxed. Science and democracy spell
modernity in things spiritual.
How Judaism may nssimllatc the
method Of science and the spirit Of
democracy without surrendcring its
unique character Is n problem that
cannot be solved at conferences, CON
crosses or synods gathered for that
purpose. That can he accomplished
only by the slow process of exchange
of thought, Of the meeting of mind
with mind, of faculties planning and
A'al' mus AiiA VI anu
searching. To evolve the solution of
that problem Of Judaism, all the
agencies and apparati of present day
knowledge, such as the laboratory, the
seminar, the classroom, and the Ii
hrary, will have to be requisitioncd
All manner Of artistic scientific and
spiritual talent will have to be foStcrcd
within that University it 1t is to achieve
the kind Of synthesis that will not only
give Judaism a place among the living
civilizations, but also bring to fruition
the spiritual potentialtics of Judaism
which have lain dormant throughout
The centuries of its exile from the land
of its birth.
How soon the Hebrew University in
Jerusalem will measure up to the great
historic task before it depends upon
the interest and enthusiasm with which
its program viii he followed by Jews
throughout the world.