Digest of Public Opinion on Jewish Matters

[The purpose of the Digest is informative. Preference is given to papers not generally accessible to our readers. Quotation does not indicate approval.–Editor.]

The “Jewish World” of London comments on the establishment of a sect of Jewish theosophists. The paper states:

“The only practical way of looking at all these divagations is that, sooner or later, those favoring them leave Judaism and become merged, somehow-anyhow-in the vast sea of assimilation by which Jews are enveloped. Perhaps that is the most comforting thing about those people for the earnest Jew; although I always experience something of sorrow as I read of our casualties in the life-war we are forced, in our present circumstances, to carry on. On the other hand, there is no doubt about the danger that arises from the continuance in our midst, for all the world as if they were loyal and true Jews, of persons among us who take up religious fads and think they thereby serve Judaism.

“That is one of the grisly lessons of Jewish history it were folly to ignore. I cannot understand how these people bemuse themselves into believing themselves good Jews-sometimes better Jews than those who stay by the old paths. Why (and it is significant), the Association about which Mr. Heiman writes actually calls itself, it will be observed, an association of Hebrew Theosophists, and not one of Theosophical Hebrews! Why? And why does not Mr. Heiman have a word to say about the hope expressed by the High Priestess of the Theosophists (Mrs. Besant), that these Hebrews who have joined that body would welcome ‘the World-Teacher’ whom the Nation to which they belong ‘ignorantly rejected’ when he came to them, with the suggestion that they would go over to the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth? What, pray, becomes of the boast Mr. Heiman makes that ‘Theosophy does not ask you to leave your religion, but to live it’? Mere words–empty meaningless words!”