University Library Frankfurt am Main, Digital Collection Judaica, Freimann Collection.
Foreword. From the
Rabbis of the IsraeliteCongregation
of Hamburgto
their Brothers.
For your instruction, pious and God-fearing
brothers, who are whole-heartedly
dedicated to our sacred laws and customs,
and who trustingly rely on the leadership of
your Teachers of Religion; for your instruction,
we have, assembled this collection of letters and
maxims from our most learned
May the words of these distinguished
men protect you from the seductive poison
of the craving after innovation. May they give you
the strength to maintain your unalterable faith in
our holy
so that you never deviate from the right
path. Unfortunately, for several years
now, irreligiosity and freethinking have increased
among us. Indifference toward the wise
teachings of our great forebears, the men
of the
of their wise prescriptions and restraints
the way for
total disrespect for all our
religious laws. The holiest commandments of
our
laws, both written and handed down, were
scorned and trampled underfoot; and
they did
not shy away from undertaking the most reprehensible
actions
against our sacred teachings.
However, the contraveners of the law still
were confined to the limits of the
individual, they
did not dare to openly step forward in order to carry
out
modifications of our laws and customs
yet. And the God-fearing had only
to
regret the error of individual brothers
and pray to God for their return
to
piety. But now our
sacred religion faces a bleak future;
no longer do only individual brothers allow themselves
to sin by transgressing the law;
rather, social organizations have formed
in order to modify our religious laws
and customs, while, unbidden,
scribblers busy themselves with giving the
reforms that stand in opposition to the spirit
of our law the appearance of religiosity and
piety.
For a year now, under the name,
Association”
our
congregation
of introducing a new order of worship
among us. This so-called Reform does not
intend to limit itself to only a few inessential
ceremonies; it means rather to eliminate,
abbreviate, and, modify according to the so-called
spirit of the times, several of the prayers that
make up an essential part of our liturgy;
new prayers and hymns with organ accompaniment
are to be introduced, and in general will transform
the entire ritual as traditionally practiced so that it
conforms to other faiths.
Imbued with the sense of our duty to
watch over and sustain our religion and to
warn our brothers against the deceitful and
ephemeral notions of the reformers and innovators,
and to set barriers against such intrusions into
our sacred laws, we have sent out
above statement, concerning the innovations
touching upon our rites, to the famous
of
with the request that they examine our statement,
validate it on the basis of their deep knowledge, and
then send us their expert assessment
so that we can publish what our universally
recognized spiritual authorities have
to say about this matter, so that
the God-fearing Israelite may not be led
by joining that
assessment of these great and distinguished men.
Men, from whose universally acknowledged and
genuine religiosity, we are entitled to expect a
conscientious examination of these matters. Men,
whose fundamental erudition will leave no doubt
about the veracity of their decision.
In all the expert opinions it will be demonstrated
by incontrovertible
principles that the
Association
association.
Therefore, we admonish all of our brothers
not to be misled by enticements to attend
the much-talked about
admonish every head of a household to prevent his
children and dependents from attending this
so that they be not misled by a seductive
exterior into actions contrary to the law
and, step by step, be alienated from the
religion of their fathers.
You, too, errant brothers! you who
belong to that unlawful
you we
call out with paternal voice: Turn back
from the paths of recklessness and error that
you have embarked upon; return to the bosom
of true religiosity which can only come
to pass with respect for the laws of our
wise forebears. Why do you want – through
schisms – to jeopardize the newly developing
regard for our people in the eyes of other
peoples? Do not let yourself be blinded by the seduc-
tive
appearance of innovation, separating
yourself from your brothers, with whom
you may still one day unite in a common resting
place, leading to our all-embracing pious
fathers. Far be it from us to preach hatred
and persecution against our straying brothers;
and because we are ready to welcome
you back with open arms into the ancient
holy covenant, we pray to God,
that he heal your heart and that he
deeply
wounded many a faithful heart.
O, Heavenly Father of All! show mercy to
your most submissive people, have mercy on
your children led astray. Illuminate their blinded
spirit with the torch of your eternal
Truth; so that we may, with one spirit
and in one way, pray to our God, so that
one day we can experience those happy times
when the Lord again accepts his people,
and Zion’s savior will come. Amen.
( May 1819).