Page:Jews and Judaism in America (Ezra).djvu/16

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Art. 6 proclaims Israel's Messsianic hope to be the hope for the establishment of the authority of peace, truth, justice, and love among all men. No return to Palestine is expected, nor the re-institution there of a Jewish State, or of a worship conducted by descendants of Aaron.

Art. 7 declares Judaism to be an ever-growing, progressive, and rational religion of modern civilization, and asserts the necessity of preserving identity with the great past of the Jewish nation.

Art. 8 hails the efforts made by various religious denominations toward removing the barriers separating sect from sect.

Art. 9 declares it to be the duty of Jews to spread the knowledge of their religious truths and mission among Jews and Gentiles.

Art. 10 declares the present agitated state of Judaism to be a period of transition from a blind belief in authority and exclusion to a rational and humanitarian conception of religion; and that the masses, therefore, should be enlightened as to the history and mission of the Jewish people, and the social and spiritual condition elevated through press, pulpit and school.

It is hardly necessary to state that some of the clauses in the foregoing gave rise to bitter controversy in the both camps of Judaism, and consequently the orthodox section was alarmed at the state of Judaism, who foresaw the mischiefs and the unending clamouring for innovations it would lead to. As a result of this, a Jewish Theological Seminary was founded in New York in May, 1886, by S. Morais, for the purpose of training rabbis in traditional Judaism, and with a view to counteract the growing tendency of overthrowing the old historical Judaism. The discussion, be it noted, between both sections in America has not been abated one jot and it