Liberal Judaism; an Essay

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XI The outlines of a working conception of Inspiration and of the Bible have now been suggested. We have not minimised or attempted to gloze over the differences between the old view and the new. Yet the conception turns out to be one with which a Jewish embodiment of outward religion is not inconsistent. We have now to consider a matter closely connected with what has just been said, and even more vitally important. What is the religious function of the Jews at the present time? Can we still speak of a Jewish Mission? Are the Jews in any religious sense a "Peculiar People "? Let me assume, ex hypothesi, that the social and political ideal of liberal Judaism had been fulfilled. Let me assume that all religious and national prejudices and persecutions had wholly ceased, that the Jews were as free in Russia as they are in England, and that every Jew in England or America was a complete Englishman or American, and every Jew in Russia was a complete Russian. Let me assume that the link which united the Jews together was recognised by themselves and by outsiders to be solely a religious link, and that their general position and condition in the world was such that it was no advantage anywhere, and therefore no meanness everywhere, for a Jew to cease to belong to his own community and to join another religious organisation. To-day, unless a man be genuinely convinced of the truth of Christianity, one can hardly think it other than mean in him to separate himself from the community. So long as there anywhere exist persons who are persecuted because they are Jews, so long is it a mean thing if any comfortable Jew ignores the bonds which bind him to his fellow-Jews, and drops the duties of brotherhood. The lax (that is, not the non -...