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The
Chief Rabbi of England.—Dr. Adler, the lately elected Chief
Rabbi of the United German congregations of England, landed at Dover on
Monday the 7th of July, and was, says the Voice of Jacob, “received at
his landing by Sir Moses Montefore, who, as sheriff of the county of
Kent, and chairman of the Board of Deputies, had resolved on paying this
graceful compliment to one called on to fill so sacred and responsible
an office among the Jews of this empire.” He left the same day for
London. His installation took place on Wednesday the 9th of July, at the
Duke’s Place Synagogue, at the entrance of which he was received by
the Dayanim, the president, and other officers of the congregation.
Being escorted to the vestry room, he was introduced to the delegates of
the Board in person, and an address was made to him, to which he duly
replied. He was thereupon conducted into the body of the Synagogue,
which was crowded in every part, and, it is remarked, that but few
non-Israelites were present. The reading desk was occupied by the
different ministers of London, in eluding the Hazan of the Portuguese
congregation, and also the reverend lecturer of Liverpool. The service
then commenced, during which the Rabbi entered, bearing a scroll of the
law, under an elegant canopy of blue satin damask and silver. Flowers
were strewed in his path by several little boys, sons of the wardens,
four of whom also bore the canopy. After the usual afternoon services,
offerings were made on behalf of the charities, and they reached the
amount of £300. After the inaugural prayer, the Chief Rabbi was
formally escorted to the desk, when he delivered his introductory
sermon, from Zachariah 3:7. He spoke in German, but finished with a
prayer in English. The Voice of Jacob of July the 18th contains a full
account of the solemn proceedings, together with a synopsis of the
service and sermon, and only our limited space prevents us from copying
the whole. But as many of our readers are also in the receipt of this
well-conducted journal, we may safely refer them for the particulars to
its columns.—Since his installation Dr. Adler has preached in the
various metropolitan Synagogues, and has earned thus far the approbation
of his constituents. And we confidently hope that his ministry may be
blessed with ample results for the welfare of the house of Israel.
Jewish
Disabilities Bill.—The bill removing certain disabilities
under which English Jews have hitherto laboured was passed finally on
Monday the 21st of July by the House of Commons. On second reading it
passed by a vote of ninety-three to thirteen. We confidently look
forward to a speedy equalization of all Jews in the British empire with
their Christian neighbours, and we take this bill as a mere instalment
in the debt due to us since the times of the Plantagenets.
Jews
of Wurtemberg.—We learn by the last packet from England,
through the European Times, that a law has lately been passed in
Wurtemberg placing the Jews upon all equality with the other inhabitants
of that kingdom.
The
Second Rabbinical Meeting, the first having taken place last
year at New Brunswick, was opened this year at Frankfort, on the 16th of
July, under the presidency of Dr. Stein, the vice president being Dr.
Geiger. Potent for evil only at its first inception, it was to be
expected that the second concourse of the reforming Rabbis and preachers
would produce no better result. We are therefore nowise surprised that
the destructive measures proposed last year, have found an echo again in
this. Thanks in the name of Judaism to Dr. Frankel, for the noble stand
he has taken in opening the eyes of the people to the evil tendencies of
the new ideas on religion, lately sprung up in Germany, and we trust
that he will not rest with a mere negative opposition, but labour to
enlighten the minds of his many admirers to the dangers of our
position.—We copy from the Voice of Jacob. “The following notices of
motion were made. 1st. That there be established two Jewish theological
faculties in Germany. 2d. That all duties towards the state be allowed
to be discharged on the Sabbath. 3d. For the abolition of all fast days,
in these times of peace, except the Day of Atonement. 4th. For an
alteration in the reading of the Torah. 5th. For the establishment of a
Jewish theological gazette. Then followed the discussion on the liturgy;
previous to which Dr. Z. Frankel proposed that the assembly should first
affirm the principles on which they were to act. He placed Judaism on a
positive, historical, revealed basis, and on no other. The question was
put to the assembly, and that principle was adopted. Six questions
connected with the liturgy were then proposed. 1st. It was determined
that German prayers should be introduced into the service, admitting the
retention of some Hebrew prayers as a matter of expediency. (Here Dr.
Frankel, dissenting from the mode of arriving at this decision, formally
withdrew from the assembly, and recorded his protest.) 2d. It was
resolved, that the name of the Messiah may be mentioned in
prayers, but all prayers for the return to Palestine, or for the
restoration of the Jewish state, are to be abolished. 3d. The repetition
of the ‘Eighteen blessings,’ and the prayer for the restoration of
the sacrifices, are to be abolished. 4th. The reading of the Torah is to
extend over a period of three years, and the office of Meturgeman
is to be restored. 5th. The organ to be introduced in the Sabbath
service, and a Jew allowed to play it.
“The
foregoing is a hasty digest of the reports published by authority of the
meeting, in the daily papers of Frankfort, so far as they have reached
us. There were at one time present thirty-one members; an insignificant
number indeed, compared with those who have stood aloof, or formally
protested against the constitution and tendencies of the meeting. Dr.
Frankel and Dr. Schott, who formed part of these thirty-one, have since
withdrawn under protest. The position of the firmer gentleman is the
following. Feeling how inexpedient it was to abandon the field to the
movement party, pressed on by constituents clamorous for a lightening of
their religious obligations, coute qui coute, he publicly
intimated, prior to the meeting, that if any number of Rabbis, holding
moderate views, would signify their intention to attend the meeting, he
would also be present. The prejudice prevailing against the most
prominent members of the meeting, appears to have kept these moderate
men aloof, and yet Dr. Frankel attended; with what effect, may be
inferred from his having at the outset, pledged the meeting to a
declaration that the whole of their proceedings should be based on
revelation, as opposed to rationalism.
“So
soon as the first measure, adopted in opposition to his judgment and
convictions, exhibited what he deemed too accommodating a spirit, the
Rev. Doctor at once seceded and protested. The secession under these
circumstances was much animadverted upon by some of the rest; but he has
since justified himself by establishing a difference between attendance
at the opening of a meeting, and the sanction of its proceedings by a
continued presence, when those proceedings became, in his judgment,
mischievous. The meeting was to break up on the 28th July, but there had
been several manifestations of importance before that date, and the
members generally appeared aware of the almost universal opposition
which their measures would provoke.”
The
Jewish Miscellany, No. II, is in press, and will be issued soon.
We acknowledge the receipt of the following donations: Fifteen dollars
from the School for the Instruction of the Jewish Doctrine of
Charleston, through Miss Henrietta Hart, who herself presents five
dollars; five dollars from Mr. D. Lopez; two dollars from Mr. Jacob
Cohen; one dollar from Mr. Nathaniel Levin; one dollar from Mr. S.
Valentine; and one dollar from Mrs. R. Benjamin, of Beaufort, S. C.
Other donations promised will be acknowledged when received by the
treasurer.
To Our Readers.—We give up our space this month chiefly to our
correspondents. We have been compelled, therefore, to leave out our
usual editorial remarks. We think our readers must crave a little
variety; hence we present them with the commencement of an interesting
tale by Miss Celia Moss, especially written for the Occident. Besides
this, we wish it to be noticed, that all the literary contributions are
from ladies.—Several other contributions are on hand, and shall appear
at the earliest possible time. In the meanwhile, though we have yet a
supply, we ask our friends to send us in articles on any subject which
they deem of importance; as we love to have a variety on hand to select
from.—Owing to the press of matter, we have been compelled to postpone
the notices of several pamphlets for another occasion. |
