“The ministry has become a business,” declared Rabbi Abraham L. Feinberg, Friday night, in his farewell address to his congregation, Temple Israel, and he is therefore resigning as a rabbi in protest against “organized religion.” Rabbi Feinberg had resigned from his $12,000 a year post as early as last December, when he gave the desire for a musical career as a reason for his resignation, but later he felt, he declares, that in justice to his congregation, he must tell the truth.
In his farewell address, Rabbi Feinberg declared that he was part of the post-war generation which, according to him, has rebelled against organized religion. He said that organized religion had failed not only among the Jews, but also among Christians, Buddhists and all denominations which are based on religious formulas. Rabbi Feinberg, who is only 28 years of age, has been co-rabbi of Temple Israel, which is one of the largest Reform temples in New York City.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
