Page:Notes by the Way.djvu/225

 NOTES BY THE WAY.

��155

��in Queen Square.

��Dr. LSwy's

philological

library.

��Dr. Fried- -

lander.

��jamin Stow, whom he persuaded to join in the responsibility " (University College Report, 1859).

In addition to availing themselves largely of the College, Jews^College the Jews have an important college of their own. It was founded in 1856, and the new building in Queen Square was opened in 1900. Here ministers and teachers are trained. The institution is under the presidency of the Chief Rabbi, Dr. Adler, the principal being M. Friedlander, Ph.D. Eleven scholarships have been founded, the oldest being " The Lord Mayor's Commemoration Scholarship," established to commemorate " the appointment in 1856 of a gentle- man of the Jewish faith to the office of Lord Mayor of London."

The institution contains an important library, to which valuable additions are constantly being made. A few years ago Dr. Lowy's collection was presented. This is especially rich in philological works ; it also contains a number of pamphlets touching on the internal history of Jewish communities.

Dr. Friedlander, in his work on ' The Jewish Religion,' makes reference to the erroneous opinion " that commerce is more con- genial to Judaism than handicraft." He states that

" in our Law no trace of such preference is noticeable : on the contrary, agriculture was the principal occupation of the Israelites. In the choice of his occupation the Jew is like all his fellow-men influenced by his inclinations, capabilities, and opportunities."

This fact is specially shown by the Reports of the Jewish Colonial Association.

Dr. Friedlander also makes the following reference to usury :

" Denunciations are sometimes levelled against the Jews on account of the misdeeds of some individuals as cruel usurers. Those non-Jews who would take the trouble of thoroughly studying Jews and Judaism would soon discover the error and the baselessness of such denunciations. Judaism has never sanctioned usury, but, on the contrary, always condemned it."

" The Jewish Religion is void of every visible symbol," and Dr. Friedlander states that the so-called " magen-david (the double triangle) is probably not of Jewish origin, and has no connexion with our holy religion." In most synagogues there is a " continual lamp " burning. It is a Biblical institution, but only designed for the Sanctuary. Its presence in the synagogue is comparatively of modern date. The ner tamid of the Sanctuary, however, is explained to be a lamp burning " from evening to morning " (Exod. xxvii. 21).

The Ark, or Holy Ark, in almost all modern synagogues in The Holy Ark. places west of Jerusalem occupies the middle of the east side of the synagogue. When the Talmud was composed the entrance was from the east, and the Ark, which was to represent the Most Holy,

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