Goldman vs. Katz

Never has cither a jot or tittle of Jewish ritual been discarded without a struggle. When Hosea urged pre-exilian/- "mercy" and not "burnt offerings," the rabbis gave him black looks. When Jesus cried: "Woe unto you, Pharisees, for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin," he was exchanged for Barabbas.

In spite of generations of prophets and reformers, Jewish ritual with all its shrilly "orthodox" punctilio has lived with few radical changes. In Cleveland, Ohio, some months ago, Rabbi Solomon Goldman, spiritual head of the local "Jewish Center," proposed to rid his congregation of some bits of orthodoxy. In particular, he decided that men and women might sit in the same pews. Here was reform indeed! Not since Solomon built his great temple had the thoroughly orthodox Jewess sat with the thoroughly orthodox Jew at worship. She had been relegated to one side of the temple, or to the gallery, or to a seat in the rear behind a curtain. It was custom not merely Jewish, but Pan-Asiatic. Muhammadan women do not squat with men folk in the pit of the Mosque. And even in the new Christian Churches in China, Japan and elsewhere, women have always, until very recently, sat in a special section railed or curtained off for them. Now Rabbi Goldman of Cleveland has changed all this in his congregation.

At once A. A. Katz, one of Rabbi Goldman's flock, cited him to appear before the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of America to answer for his ecclesiastical liberality.

Rabbi Goldman refused to appear. In this, he was supported by his congregation. When the week ended, it was still the turn of the Jewish Fundamentalists to move.

It should be noted that departure from Jewish orthodoxy is not equivalent to becoming a Reformed Jew. The latter class, whose most prominent leader is Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, disregards many customs from which Rabbi Goldman is not likely to depart, among which are:

Blessing. At each service, men are called up before the congregation to say a blessing before and after portions of the Torah, which is read-- on all Sabbaths and holidays. In congregations where Jewish customs are meticulously observed, this privilege is auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Music. No instrumentation is permitted. Weird half-shouted chants, led by a slippered cantor, are the only melodies.

Costume. Both men and women must wear hats. The enthusiastically orthodox wear skullcaps, shawls. Men also wear the talas, a fringed scarf, draped over the shoulders.

*Belonging to the period immediately preceding the forced exile of the Jews to Baby lonia under King Nebuchadnezzcr.

*There must be at least ten men present before the Torah can be read.