WISE FORESEES UNION OF JEWS AND GENTILES

"The day will come and is coming when Christianity and Judaism will be considered the natural development from a common source of religion and not opposing religions," said Rabbi Stephen S. Wise of New York, in his speech at the Phillips Brooks House yesterday afternoon. The noted Jewish leader pleaded for co-operation and understanding between Jews and Christians for the propagation of the ideals which are common to both. Dr. Wise, founder and acting president of the Jewish Institute of Religion, gave the lecture on "Judaism" which was one of the several features of the "Lecture Course in Religion" which the Phillips Brooks House Association is conducting on Sunday afternoons. In treating his subject, Dr. Wise spoke about the debt which Christianity owes to Judaism, what the Jews think of Jesus, and whether it would be possible for the Jews and Christians to unite. A crowd of 562 people heard the rabbi, while over 100 were turned at the door.

In speaking about the possibility of a union between Jews and Christians, Dr. Wise said. "It is a most unfortunate thing that the Jews and Christians have become so separated during the ages and that so great a misunderstanding has grown up between them. The Christians are apt to think only of the Jews who crucified Christ, not the Jews who bore him and trained him, and gave him his religion. The Jews and Christians will never unite and lose their individual religions, but it is most necessary that they co-operate with each other since their religions are so closely allied."

In answering the question of 'What do the Jews think of Jesus", Rabbi Wise said, "I must ask these questions, 'Was Jesus a Jew?', and 'Was Jesus a Christian?' I cannot think of him but as a Jew and a Jewish teacher who attempted to do what all religious leaders attempt to do--to recreate and revitalize the religious thought and life of his times. He never intended to depart from the Jewish customs or from the teachings of the Torah. Only his death at the hands of some of the Jews has raised the question of the relation between him and Judaism. There is no need to attempt to bring about a reconciliation between the real Christians and the real Jews. The Christian's own religion teaches friendship, while the sincere Jews will soon demand a share in the glory of Him whom their race brought to the world."