CONVERTING THE GENTILE.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 10786, 13 October 1900, Page 5

CONVERTING THE GENTILE.

TROUBLE IN THE DUNEDIN SYNAGOGUE.

OPINIONS OP RABBIS.

(BY OUR SPECIAL BEPORTF.R.)

The question of proselytism is a burning one amongst tho Jews in New Zealand just now. Although it does not prevail to a proaoimccd extent, yet it ha* frequently been a bone of contention chiefly in connection with marriages betvveen followers of Judaism and members of any other faith, when it is sometimes sought by those immediately concerned to make proselytes.

Such an attempt has been made in Dunedin, when a leading member of the Synagogue attempted to get his bride admitted to the faith of tha chosen people. For some time vast the Hebrew congregation in the southern city have been greatly perturbed on .the subject, aud the matter has been brought to a head and threshed oat at a special meeting of the congregation on Sunday last.

Our Dunedin "Special," in an account of the meeting, *ays that two motions of which Mr L. Mendelsohn had given notice did not express of disapproval of proselytising in general; what was objected to -was the methods which had been adopted in dealing with certain cases, and one in particular, which had occurred lately.

It wa* decided: 'That all letters, document", and correspondence relating to the different applications for admission to our faith he laid upon the table," but on the papers* being examined Mr Mendelsohn asked why the letter from the Rev. Mr Chodowski in which he refused to associate himself with tins matter was not forthcoming. The letter could not be found, though Mr M. Cohen remarked that it was received, read, and discussed in the committee.

Mr Mendelsohn then moved: "That tho methods adopted in bringing about the admission of proselytes into our faith »re detrimental to the best interests of this congregation." They had never before countenanced applications el this nature during the many years that th& community bad existed. Hβ was aware that there were those in our midst,, good and useful members, too, who, having married out of their religion, took steps to have their wives and children made "Gerim," but, notwithstanding that tEey had been a part of the congregation for many years, they were unable to attain their aim without a sacrifice of both time and money, and even then they were compelled to go elsewhere. His principal complaint lay in the fact that instead of the applications being dealt with in an open-handed manner, and the greatest publicity given to them, one, in particular —and he referred to the one already disposed of—was worked in a peculiarly underhanded fashion, and without the knowledge of those who were rightly entitled to have been given an opportunity of expressing their opinions, not so much on the individual applications, as on the general and broader question as to whether they deemed it desirable to institute such a practice. Referring to the application which was carried to a final issue, he might tell them, without any want of loyalty to the committee, that the result of their first deliberations was to place the applicant on a period of probation for six months. The executive saw fit to waive that resolution, and when only feur months had expired, they allowed final steps to be taken to bring about its consummation. Their minister was at the outset strongly averse to the object nought, and had stated that, no matter what inducement was offered, or what pressure was brought to bear, he would never associate* himself with wJiat be characterised a* a most unmanly and. tin-Jewish action. He viewed proselytising-with the utmost alarm, and he- could not, without violating his conscience, lend the committee any assistance whatever. Notwithstanding all" this, however, the rev. gentleman's strong opposition was by some means or other overcome.

Then followed a long discussion, in the course of which Mr Solomon said he was sorry he could not accept Mr Mendelsohn's disclaimer that he was actuated only by a high sense of duty, but he preferred ta believe that the whole thing vras the outcome of personal spite against himself. He had taken such steps as he thought necessary to have his wife made a Jewess, in order that they might remain within the fold of Judaism. He jfas prepared if it could not be done in New Zealand, to go to Melbourne, or even to England, but to get it done he was determined. He had done nothing of which he was ashamed, and he looked on Mr Mendelsohn's action as persecution against himself.

An amendment—"That this meeting approves of the action of the Committee in dealing with applications for admission te our faith"—was moved. On a, vote being taken, the amendment was carried and the motion lost. TWO RABBIS INTERVIEWED.

With the object of obtaining information on the general aspect of the question, owr Wellington "Special" interviewed the Rev. H. Van Staveren. head of the Wellington Hebrew congregation, who has the controlling voice among the Rabbis of this colony. In his replies, which were given with much frankness, Rabbi Van Staveren said that proselvtism was not believed in or encouraged by and he expressed his own strong conviction against it, giving numerous reasons in support of his position. He quoted from the sacred writings to show that proselytism was repugnant to the early servants of God, who frequently took the occasion to either condemn it or draw attention to ita dangers. Passages in the Talmud were cited by him, in which a proselyte was referred te as a person not altogether to be trusted, and he did not hesitate to say that his own experience went in the same direction as to those warning's, alike in respect to the conversion from Judaism to Christianity as in the instances of the process under discussion.

"Is proselvtism encouraged by the Jews in any of the English-speaking countries?" the interviewer asked.

The Rabbi answered firmly in the negative. It was not encouraged in any of them. "What is the position in Great Britain?" 'It has been well defined ever since the dave of Oliver Cromwell, when Manasheh Ben Israel applied to the Protecter for permission for the Jews to return to England. Reasons were put forward why leave should not be given, and one of these was that they made efforts to convert to Judaism the people among whom they lived. Manasheh denied the charg*. which he said was contrary to the views of his religion. He. however, promised that if such a thing had occurred in England it should never occur there again. The Jews were by Act of Parliament readmitted to England on the 14th of December. 1655, and the was given by Mnnasheh to Cromwell, and ha 3 been kept." "Is the position the same in the United States?" "Yes: neither orthodox or reformed Jewish congregations there believe in proselvtism."

"Have there bsen conversions in Australasia r , "Of lat* years there may have been about one per annum." "In N*w Zealand?" "I have set mv face against it, and it cannot be done here," replied the Rabbi, with emphasis. "It is said," continued the interviewer, "that there is a Board in these colonies which exists for the purpose of making proselytes." "That is not so. The body \rhicli is meant is probably the Beth Din, an ecclesiastical court sitting in Melbourne. It consists of three senior Rabbis, and it deals with ecclesiastical matters, and any proposed conversion would naturally receive its consideration." "Then, I take it that proposals to embrace Judaism are m»d«?" "Oh, yes. We have applications from time to time on behalf of Christians who wish to change their religion. , "

"But they are not farourablv received?" "No."

"What is the principal cause for such applications?" "The arranging of marriages between Jews and Christians. If a Jew is about to marry a Christian woman, he sometimes desires her :onversion, and occasionally the reverse is the case, and it is a Christian man who, with marriage in view, -wishes to become a proselyte. There nave been such conversions,* but they are not in any way encouraged. Personally, lam most strongly opposed to them. I refuse to assist in making them in the first place, as I consider them to be contrary to the teachingsoi our religion. A lesser reason, though a weighty one, which influences mc, is the compact between >lanasheh Ben Israel and Oliver Cromwell, that there should bs no conversions of Oini.«tians to Judaism in England. That com poet I hold to be binding to-day, and binding in dependencies of the British Empire juVt as much as in the land in which it was made." THE RABBIS VIEWS.

Very much the same view was taken- by the Rev. Zachariah, the Chrwteh-uroh Rabbi, who courteously explained the matter very lucidly to the representative of "The Press" in a manner tha-t throws light on the Dunedin trouble. With reference to proselytism in England, absolutely no preselyres couH be made in that country, and when a person wished to embrace the Jewish faith, he or she had to go across to Holland to be initiated. Once admitted, he was thereafter entitled to join any Jewish congregation in any place. In New Zealand, when anyone was desirous of becoming a proselyte, the method adopted was first to ascertain if the applicant was earnest and willing, and comprehended the importance of the change. Then members of the particular congregation in question decided if the person was a fit and proper individual to be admitted, and their recommendation was forwarded to the Chief Rabbi in England, Dr. Adler. If the recommenda tion was favourable he invariably granted the required permission, and the ceremony was performed by three rabbis. Should difficulty be experienced in getting a third rabbi to be present, he might be substituted bj what is known as a faithful Jew. But there musr be two of ecclesiastical authority. All this, it would be noted, depends chiefly on the decision of the congregation. i : a rabbi made a, proselyte in due form without having first obtained his congregation's sanction, it would rest with the congregation as to whether they -would retain the minister's services. But the initiation into Juda :sm, however and wherever made — always providing the ceremony itself- was correctly carried out, and the oath administered—could not be annulled, and the proselyte' was entitled to all the privileges of members of the Church. Proselytism was not common in this colony. The Rev. Mr Zachariah himself had made proselytes in three instances—in each case members of a family of which one of the heads belonged to the faith—but never without the sanction of the Chief Rabbi 'being obtained, after the congregation had considered the matter. In some of the cases mentioned the Christdburch Rabbi had been associated with the Rev. H. Van Staveren, of Wellington. Our informant, however, believed there were instances in New Zealand where proselytes had been made without the ouief Rabbi's (Dr. Adler) permission, though, he understood, with the consent of the congregation. But, as already explained, such initiations would hold good. In conclusion, Rabbi Zachariah said there was not, nor had there been, any New Zealand Board for dealing with proselytism.