Reform Jews, by missionary effort among the Orthodox, open themselves to the same criticism which the Reform Jews themselves level against Christians who seek to convert Jews. Thus declares Dr. Solomon B. Freehof, contributing editor of The American Israelite and Rabbi of Temple Anshe Mayriv, Chicago, in an editorial, entitled “Mark The Missionary,” in The Israelite.
He deals particularly with the present efforts of Rabbi Jerome Mark, a Hebrew Union College graduate, on leave of absence from his Selma, Ala., pulpit and engaged in work for Reform Judaism in Melbourne, Australia.
“We ought to leave Orthodoxy alone!” Dr. Freehof declares. “It has problems enough without our adding to them. We ought to treat Orthodoxy as we would like all religions to treat each other. If, for example, Christians are confident that Christianity has the exclusive truth, we would like them to content themselves with the confidence that some day that truth will prevail everywhere.
“We, of course, would have our own opinions about that. So with regard to Orthodox Judaism, Reform Jews are convinced that the principles of Reform are essentially right. Let us then rely upon that rightness to find its way.
“Orthodox Judaism all over the world is staggering under heavy blows. Let us not give it another enemy to fight. If Reform is as right as we believe it to be it will come, as it has come, out of Orthodoxy. Let time be our only missionary.”
Dr. Freehof says that “Rabbi Mark is doing heroic work, but I wish he were not doing it at all.”
“He is an understanding and spiritually-minded man,” the editorial adds. “None of his preachments will be brutally scornful of other men’s belief. He has known Orthodoxy and has loved it. He will be gentle in his discussion of it. No better man could be chosen for the task. But the task is a wrong one.”
The Melbourne undertaking is under the auspices of the World Union for Progressive Judaism.
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.
