T-HE JEWISH CHRONICLE

is an impassable barrier between theology and science is the attest of
a most stupendous ignorance. Here we are dealing not with the cold,
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crude facts of physical science, but we have before us the outpourings
ANTON KAUFMAN
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General Manager of a poet's soul, and it is fair to say that in all the world's literature
there is not another poem that in spirituality and grandeur can even
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remotely compare with this wonderful Cosmic poem of Genesis..
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We leave aside altogether the findings of the Biblical scientist
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who has clearly shown that in the opening chapters there is not one,
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but two accounts of the creation as it appealed to the minds of men
- Editorial Contributor living under an awakening civilization, and we have no concern for
RABBI LEO M. FRANKLIN,
the moment with the relation of the cosmic myth of the Bible to the
Entered as second-class matter March 3, 1916, at the Post Office at Detroit,
creation legends of Babylon and other countries. We only recognize'
Mich., under the Act of March 3, 1879
the fact that we have here before us the attempt of an early genera-.
FRIDAY, OCT. 12, 1917
tion of men to answer the eternal question "Whence?" Whence arose
this wondrous universe in which we live ? Whence came man to
The War and Local Charities
inhabit it? Whence the law of life and labor? Whence the institu-
The reports presented at the Annual Meeting of the United Jew- tion of the marriage relationship and the establishment of the home
ish Charities this week indicate beyond question that with the growth ideal? To all of these questions this poem of creation attempts to give
of the community every phase of the social problem in Detroit has an answer, and in this answer is involved a religious conception that is
become more pressing. There is scarcely a form of human suffering, distinctly and characteristically Jewish. To all of these questions the
dependency or delinquency which during the past year has not answer is "God." All other cosmogonies begin with the creation of
strained to the utmost the energies and the intelligence of ' those God or the gods, but in the Biblical account the existence of God and
entrusted with the supervision of our social service work. It is a time His eternity is taken for granted. No attempt is made to explain His
when to meet the needs of the situation more funds than ever before origin, for beyond God the mind of man cannot reach.
should be available. But unfortunately, due to the tremendous and
Here then we have the beginning of the Jewish doctrine of the
unprecedented demands of a public character at this time, the needs of eternal, all-omnipotent and all-provident God. The conception is put
the local charities are given a secondary place in the thought of many before us in the forin of a highly inspired poem. It is from this stand-
point and from this standpoint only that the opening chapter of the
of our people.
It is true, the Jewish community of Detroit has during the past great book which forms the Scriptural lesson for the "Shabboth Bere-
year responded nobly and generously to the varied and repeated calls shith" must be read. They who attempt to rationalize the story or to
that have been made upon us for service and for funds. The Jewish fits its words into the framework of modern science lose its poetry and
community of our city honored itself through its magnanimous con- by that token they lose its inspiration. It is enough that it stands out
tribution this year to the Fund for the Relief of Jewish War Sufferers. as the great cosmic poem of the centuries and answers in final forth
It did well in its rehabilitation of the Free Loan Society and in its the question "Whence?"
generous support of other local institutions. Nor, as compared with
A Significant Anniversary
previous years, can there be any great complaint of the general sup-
A glance at the calendar reminds us of an impressive event that
port accorded the United Jewish Charities. A larger number of indi-
Viduals subscribed to the cause and the total subscriptions were takes place this week—the 99th anniversary of the Hamburg.Reform
greater than ever heretofore. But in this apparently happy condition Temple, which was dedicated as a place of worship on October 18,
we cannot rest satisfied. The fact remains that due to lack of funds, 1818, under the leadership of Eduard Kley. Although as early as 1810
much work that should have been done had to remain undone. Relief Israel Jacobson had, out of his own funds, erected a so-called Reform
given in many instances was scarcely adequate to the need, and the Synagogue at Seesen, the Hamburg congregation more truly marks
educational and preventive work of the Charities should have been the beginning of organized reform, since the influence of Jacobson's
reform was purely local, never extending beyond the district of West-
greatly enlarged.
Nor is there any excuse why even in these war times the local phalia. With the cessation of the French occupation of Westphalia,
harities should be stinted. In the first place, while the demands the Jewish Consistory was abolished and Jacobson established a pri-
upon the community have been very great, so too has the general vate synagogue in his own home. In this private synagogue Eduard
prosperity been unpre - cedented. A great deal of money has undoubt- Kley had been a preacher before removing to Hamburg. To be sure
erly been made by a considerable portion of the Jewish community, the reforms in the Hamburg Temple were in the main external and
.and much of it directly as a result of the sufferings of others, entailed fairly superficial, and the leaders of the movement attempted to jus-
by the war. A study of the contributions given to the local institu- tify their innovations on Talmudic grounds. The service was consid-
tions indicates that but the smallest portion of the community gave erably modified, the prayer book shortened•and an organ and choir
anything. Scarcely fifty per cent of those enrolled as members of the introduced. In other words, the changes were rather external than
leading congregations of the city are to be found on the roster of sub- theological. Nonetheless, the institution of the Hamburg Temple
scribers. And many of those who give, give shamefully small marked the beginning of a movement which has spread throughout
amounts in proportion to their means. The plea that the war demands the world, and its 99th anniversary celebration should, therefore, not
are so heavy that local charities must be content to plod along as best be permitted to pass without notice, especially by the Jews of the
they can, is scarcely fair. For years we shall feel the effects of the Reform School.
Between the reforms of Eduard Kley and those of the modern
war and new problems of dependency will arise continually. It is
highly important, therefore, that we should accustom ourselves Temple there is perhaps little in common. Reform today deals less
quickly to a recognition of the demands of local institutions such as with the externals of Judaism, its ceremonial practices, etc., than with
the United Jewish Charities. We should build them up to a state of its spirit. ,Reform today sets before itself the well defined mission of
efficiency that will enable Ahem to cope with new problems as they adopting the essential preachments of an age-old faith to the moral
arise. To permit these organizations to be hampered in their work and spiritual needs of the latest generation of its adherents. In this
at this time is to unfit them for taking up the greater problem which process of adjustment some- forms must be changed and others
necessarily will come to them as soon as our American boys take their dropped altogether. Nothing, however, that is truly essential can, in
places in the front ranks of the 'active combatants. For all these rea- the name of consistent reform, be disregarded. The Reform of today
sons the reports of the officers of the United Jewish Charities should is becoming more and more constructive. If it tears down, it is also
be very carefully considered by those who were present to hear them, building up. If it is rooting out, it is also planting anew. In the days
and they should be read with the utmost care by those to whom they of the Hamburg Temple, there were those who traduced the sponsors
will come in printed form. To cripple the local work because of the of the reforms for which it stood. In these days, too, reformers and
new demands of war relief is a policy that is shortsighted in the ex- the reform movement are constantly misunderstood and misrepre-
treme. We should be careful as a community lest we make a fatal sented. But that should not affect the honest worker in the vineyard
of the Lord. The prophets, too, were maligned and even persecuted.
mistake in this matter.
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It is essentially the purpose of Reform Judaism to revitalize the Juda-
A Great Cosmic Poem
ism of the prophets whose conception of religion was embodied in the
Throughout the Jewish world the Scripture lesson read in syna- famous quotation of Micah, "What requireth God, thy Lord, of thee
gogue arld Temple on Sabbath of this week will be taken from the first but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with thy God ?"
chapter of Genesis. Herein is contained that remarkable story of the To universalize this faith is the mission of the Reform Jew. An
creation, around which has centered an age-long battle between the anniversary such as is here noted, may serve to inspire him to carry
theologian and the scientist. It is trite to say that thinking men forward his mission fearlessly and faithfully.
understand full well that the story of creation as set down in Genesis
does not literally dovetail with the exact knowledge which the scien-
tist has given us, and according to which endless aeons have passed
since the physical universe as we know it, assumed its present form.
And yet to assert on the basis of the first chapter of Genesis, that there

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