The efforts of Christian missionaries to win Jewish converts to Christianity has been the subject of discussion in the press and among the public here since the issue was raised by Rabbi Ferdinarid M. Isserman of the Holy Blossom Congregation. Rabbi, missionary and pastor participated in the discussions in the press.
Rabbi Isserman, objecting to the missionary efforts, made the point that “goodwill between Jew and Christian is made difficult by the continued maintenance of missions to Jews, despite their notorious ineffectiveness.” He argued that the implication involved in missionary effort among the Jews is that Judaism as a faith is inferior to Christianity. The establishment of missions among Jews constitutes a public insult to Judaism, a faith which managed to survive the crushing vicissitudes of the centuries. The second implication of missions among Jews is, according to Rabbi Isserman, a “covert accusation that Jews are inferior spiritually and intellectually, that the people from whose ranks sprang prophet and psalmist, patriarch and lawgiver. Amos and Jesus. Spinoza and Einstein; that the people who have defied kings and emperors, nations and armies for their religious ideal, and who have gladly suffered for it and yet maintained a standard of family life unattained elsewhere are morally and spiritually anaemic. Naturally, such missions and these implications do not make for good-will.”
The sermon of Rabbi Isserman reechoed in Christian clergy circles in Toronto. One clergyman, the Rev. John G. Inkster a Presbyterian, defended the missions to the Jews and declared that “we will pray for that Rabbi that he will be converted to Christ.” On the other hand. Rev. E. Crossley Hunter, pastor of Carlton Street United Church stated that in his opinion Rabbi Isserman was justified to some extent in his criticism of the attempt of certain Christian denominations to convert the Jews to Christianity by special missions and missionaries. His church. he stated, has no missions to the Jews.
Quite different was the tone of the Rev. M. Zeidman of the Presbyterian Mission to the Jews, the organization principally aimed at by Rabbi Isserman.
We do not say that the Jews are inferior intellectually, but we do say that Judaism both traditional and reformed. is inferior to Christiamity.” the missionary leader asserted, launching into an attack. “Rabbi Isserman objects to a mission to the Jews. What is the Bond Street (Holy Blossom) Synagogue but a mission to Gemiles, and the Rabbi a missionary to the Christians, to wean them away with his polished oratory from the faith of their fathers?”
He changed the Rabbi with adopting the Christian way of worshipping without the head covering and singing mutilated Christian hymns. substituting the name of Jesus with the word “Father.” “If Rabbi Isserman admits that Jesus Christ was a great man, why does he object to his teaching?” Rev. Zeidman continues.
The Toronto press showed great interest in the controversy, but Rabbi Isserman refused to permit the issue to become a public debate in the press.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
