Discussing “Fundamentals of the Jewish Ministry”, Rabbi Samuel Schulman preached his farewell sermon Saturday morining at Temple Emanu-E1, Fifth Avenue and 65th Street, ending forty-five years in the rabbinate.
“The Jewish ministry,” Rabbi Schulman declared, “must naturally be founded upon the everlasting foundation of the Jewish heritage. It must root in the distinctive thing knwn as the Jewish religion. This Jewish religion, I believe, as the result of the thought of a lifetime, is essentially made up of four fundamental ideas.” These ideas, he explained, are God; His ideas, he explained, are God; His Law; Israel, His Instrument; and Humanity, His goal, prescribing the four aspects of a complete Jewish ministry. “The ideal rabbi”, Rabbi Schulman continued, “embodies in himself the of fice of priest, and prophet, and scholar, and leader of his people.”
Reviewing his career in the rabbinate, Dr. Schulman said: “No man who is afraid has a right to be in the Jewish ministry, or in any minstry. I can say honestly and challenge anyone to question my statement, that I was unafraid in the interpretation of our heritage and in iis application to modern problems. No man has ever owned my thought. And some very powerful people attempted to do so. I was even subjected to persecution because of my thought, and did not escape the hate of men because of my strong convictions. But I survived, thank God, and I am here to give account of my ministry.
DE FENDED JUDAISM
“I have always felt impelled to speak out what was in my heart and in my mind, putting myself on record on behalf of what I considered truth in Jewish life. With respect to the outside world, I have never hesitated to defend Judaism against any attack made upon it. judaism being the religion of a minority, much of the work of the rabbi is necessary apologetic”
Rabbi Schulan oulined his stand on Reform Judaism and Jewish Nationalism. “My ministry”, he said, “coincided with a great movement in Israel which came as a reaction to the movement known as Reform Judaism to which I dedicated my lefe. Brought up in strictly orthodox, pious home, I felt as a yound man that what is called Reform Judaism best what is called Reform Judaism best expressed my needs and ideals. But down deep in my heart there has always been a love for the olden Judaism, and I have never flattered Reform Judaism, even as I have never felt impelled to attack sincere orthodoxy. Reform Judaism has done a great thing for Jewish lefe. The best contribution which it made is the rediscovery that Israel is in the deepest sense only a religious community witnessing to Gold.”
OPPOSES NATIONALISM
Outlining the merits and defects of Reform Judaism, Rabbi Schulman declared that “today I think only in terms of a Judaism without any afjective, a Judaism which is greater than any party within Jewry.
“As a reaction to Reform Judaism came the Nationalist movement in Jsrae. I opposed this movement because I felt it was a musinterpretation of our history. I denied that Israel was secular nation like outher nations. I have not changed my conviction wiht repect to this, althought today I believe that it is the duty of American Jewry ot help the work that is being done for Jews and by Jews in Palestine, because palestine offers today a great opportunity for many Jews.
“Neither Reform Judaism, nor Jewish Nationalism has spoken the last word about Jewish life. Both have their strenght and their weakness.” Above all, he said, “we need a judaism that shall equip us with strength to live in the world as a scatterd people. And that kind of Judaism is the Judaism of our fathers in the deepest sense of the word, the Judaism of a people that feets itself above all things the servant of God.”
In conclusion, Rabbi Schulman rejoiced “that the Congregation which forty-nine years ago showed such confidence in me, a young man, and sent me abroad to study for the ministry is the one to whom I say my farewell word.”
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.
