STATE [To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sra,—I am afraid
that Dr. Hertz, in trying to save yoi readers from a misconception, has himself fallen into it He seems greatly disturbed by my article on " Liberal Judaiai and the Modern State," because he sees in it the suggestio4 " that only those who embrace Liberal Judaism can IA regarded as loyal citizens."
Now such a suggestion might well disturb the Chief Rabbi of the Orthodox Jewish Congregations. Not only, however was the suggestion not made, but the opposite was clearly stated, for I wrote : " The English Orthodox Jew and th( English Liberal Jew are alike in deep affectionate attacluii to England." The point, however, is that the Liberal Jew and the Orthodox Jewish teaching differ in that part whia has a bearing on nationality. Dr. Hertz himself recogniza this difference ; he has condemned Liberal Judaism becauz among other things, it stands for " the denial of Jewia Nationhood, the disbelief in the Restoration of Israel."
Since I do not recognize any such thing as Jewish Nation hood, Dr. Hertz will, I am sure, understand why I hold that the kind of Judaism which does not believe in it is for me better and wiser than any form of Judaism which does believe in it. And the fact that many Orthodox Jews agree wia Liberal Judaism in this aspect of Jewish teaching support; that attitude. Dr. Hertz refers to the number of Liberal Jews ; the relevance of numbers to a discussion about the truth or value of a teaching does not appear evident.
But why did lie forget to mention Germany among the countries in which there are large Jewish populations ? I that country the Liberal Jews have predominated. Signify . came lies, however, not in numbers but in the fact—which
is also the reply to what Mr. Cohen writes : The native Jay in Western countries feels himself a part of his country, not only by civic loyalty, but in national sentiment. For his citizenship and nationality are one. That, to me, issues from the teaching of Liberal Judaism which has removed from the Prayer Book all references to a return to Palestine, maki Judaism independent of that country, but establishing it ass religious influence in diverse nationalities.—I ain, Sir, &e., ISRAEL J. MATTOCK, 28 St. John's Wood Road, N.W. 8.
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