Year: 1870


PRINCIPAL SYNAGOaUES OF new YORK.


Among the many and strangely various forms OF
religious belief that flourish the city Of New York
there IL not one more interesting, as there ls GER
tainly not one more ancient than that held by the
children OF Abraham. This faith, indeed is the pa
rent stock from which all other denominations,
with one or two noteworthy but not very important
exceptions. have sprung. In this article 1t pro-
posed to give brief sketch OF the leading features
or the creed and ritual Of modern Judaism together
with few Items rs to its present material aspects.


THE ORIGIN


and early history OF Judaism are known to every
sch0olboy. Just as the world was emerging from It's
Infancy and while the greater portion OF It's surface
was as yet an unpeOpled solitude, one among the
many nomad chiefs who wandered with their fami-
lies and servants and nocks across the treeless
wastes of the plain Of Shinar was selected by the
Almighty to be the founder OF race that should
preserve through many ages the knowledge and wor.
ship OF the true and living God This was Abraham,
and the revelation of the deeper realities OF the
spiritual universe, OF which he was the chosen re-
cpient forms the base OF the Jewish as 1t does also
OF the Christian religion. This revelation, how
ever, was but an instalment OF the funess
OF the entire truth; and such as 1t was for several
generations was preserved only in the shape OF
tradition, and was accompanied by but very few
and very simple religious observances. Indeed,
circumcision Is the single rite belonging to that era
OF which we have any clear record, and 1t is pretty
certain that the greatest OF the patrlarchs did not
observe anv special day OF rest the institution OF
which, though 1t dated back TO the creation ITSELF
was doubtless for wise reasons concealed from
him.


THE WRITTEN LAW.


When the Hebrews had grown into being a nume-
rous people, and when freed last from The yoke Of
Egyptian slavery and delivered out OF the house Of
bondage, they were being led back to the land
promised to their great progenitor Divine
Wisdom gave them, through the medium OF their
leader, Moses, deeper insight into the mysterious
and awe-nspiring verties OF the spiritual world and
rule OF life, the observance OF which would insure
an eternal reward, was promulgated amid the thun-
ders OF sinai Thus sprung into existence creed
which has lourished already four thousand years.
and around which, during I'll that long period, nave
clustered the hopes and aspirations OF one OF the
most Intellectual Of races.


The fundamental principle OF the Jewish faith as
established by Moses, was the recognition OF one
supreme Being. Monothesm is, beyond ali doubt
the corner stone the handspring, the inner and all.
pervading OF Judaism. The one truth taught
by Moses was that which had already been given to
ADrahain, that there was but one God, living and
jealous God; and Hebrew theologians, into what
ever seemingly barren paths they may apparently
sometimes wander ever revert TO this the cardi-
nal doctrine OF their faith. And In the present day
the modern Israelite is taught beyond all other
fhinRs TO cherish this grand fact; he is invited
ponder upon II in the silence OF his closet the
services Of the synagogues 1t is pressed with
firing vehemence upon his attention Looking at
the following list OF attributes, it win be
noticed how persistent and earnest are the
endeavors OF the Jewish theoogians to grasp,
30 far as human finite intellects can attain
to such knowledge, the nature OF the Deity. Soon
cerning God." says one Of them, 1--WE are taught to
believe that He is SPIRIT most holy aud pure; in
cOrpOrea and indivislble; eternal and immutable;
the one and only one to whom none can be com
pared; to whom no likeness can be ascribed; ON
nipotent, omniscient and omnipresent; all good,
but all just; supremey intelligent, merciful and
benencent; the great Am; the beginning and the
end; the first and the last the reason, the life and
the motion OF all beings: the producer OF everything
the eternal king, lord ruler and preserver OF the
world the only Creator, aud the sole Saviour of the
word.r


This and the other cardinal doctrines OF the Jewish
creed are emboaied, by Mamonides, in the follow
ing


THIRTEEN ARTICLES


which are now taught IN every Jewish SCHOOL,


|. believe with perfect faith that God blessed
he His name, Is the Creator and Governor OF all
created objects, and that lie alone mas made does
make, and VIII ever make all things.


III. believe with perfect fatn that the Creator,
blessed be His name Is the one and only God. There
exists unity Whatever Ike unto HIS He alone Is
our God who was, who is and who ever Will be-


LII. believe with perfect faith that the Creator,
blessed be HIS narle IS incorporea. lie not sub
ject to any OF the changes that happen to bodily
stances and there Is nothing whatever that can be
compared to Him.


Iv. believe with perfect faith that the Creator
blessed be HIS name, Is the first and last OF all
things.


alone, blessed be His name, ought to be worsnipped
and that II Is not proper 70 pray 70 any other being
words Of the prophets are true.


VII. believe with perfect faith that the pro-
phecy or Moses, our teacher may his soul rest in
peacel Is true; and that he exceled all the wise men
who were before him, and all who came after him.


VIII. believe with perfect faith that the whole
: OF the law now In our possession Is the same law
that was given to Moses, our teacher (may his soul
rest IN Deace,.


TX. believe with perfect faith that the law
will never be changed, neither will there be any
other law given by the Creator blessed be His


K believe with perfect faith that the Creator
blessed be His name) knows all the actions and
thoughts of man ~ II is said:-'.He fashioneth alike
works.


XII. l believe with perfect faith that the Crca-
tor blessed be His nams) rewards oil those who
Keep his commandments, and punlsil>s those who
transgreSS them.


XII. taelleye with perfect faith that the Messiah
Will come; and dftlOugh His comm. be delayed,
Will still daily hope ana expect His speedy appear
ance.


Kill. believe with perfect faith that there will he


resurrection of the dead, III The time when il shall
please the Creator; blessed be His name for ever
and ever. Anl.n.


Maimonides adds:-"WhOever shall believe all these
fundamental articles To be true enters into the
bosom OF Israeli and is cnttlcd receive from US all
those demonstrations OF brotnerly love and good
will which God has enjoned us to show toward each
other; and Is bound to love his neghbor and brother
with all his heart, according to all thai God hath
commanded; and however many or great sins he
may have committed from mental nhrmty. alter he
shall nave been punished Tor them in this world he
shall participate III the happiness Of the world to
come. But If any man shall deny one or
these fundamental doctrines, he IS fallen from the