A Jewish Religious Movement in Bessarabia.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 76, 15 November 1884, Page 4

A Jewish Religious Movement in Bessarabia.

(To tho Editor of the London "Times.") Sir,— The publication of the following facts will, I think, be of general interest, if you can find space for them, since they reveal a of things which is perhaps without a parallel in the history of the Jewish people. They were communicated to me two days ago by the Key. Mr Hefkr, of Frankfort, and are taken from certain "Writings of the Institutum Judaicum in Leipzig " (No. 4), being " documents " of what is called "the National Jewish Christ-believing Movement in South Russia ;" edite' 1 in the original Hebrew language and German translation by Professor Franz Delitzch. The author of this South Russian Bessarabian movement is a lawyer named Joseph Rabinowitz, a man who is respected far and near by his compatriots, and who has for a long time been endeavouring to ameliorate the condition and to raise the culture of his people. During the time of that persecution in South Russia in ISS2 which "The Times" newspaper &o foi-cibly brought before the British public, ho was zealously advocating the repopulation of the Holy Laud. In order to discover ways and means for this, he set out himsell for Palestine, and from the time of his return there commenced a complete revolution of his I'eligious con victionsj. These convictions are based on a belief that the historical Jesus of Bethlehem was, after all, the true Messiah spoken of by Abraham, Moses, and David ; for the crucifixion of whom the Jews have over since been wanderers and their land made desolate. This deep impression on the mind of Rabinqwitz was not produced by any influence of Christian missionaries, but entirely by the force of circumstances ; and it carried along with it a very strong feeling that the only hope for his people s return to their land would be by their acknowledgment of such facts. In this way, without for a moment thinking of joining the Christian Church by baptism, a plan of forming congregations of Jewish nationality, founded upon the historical and doctrinal works of the New Testament, slowly and gradually ripened in his soul, lie returned from Palestine with his watchword — "The key to the Holy Land lies in the hands of our brother Jesus." It m,iy be said, indeed, that the centre of gravity in his creed lies hidden in the cry — " Jesus, our brother." These thrilling words have pioved, as a matter of fact, to possess such powers of attraction among his persecuted brethren that they have not only awakened the hearts of all in KiBchine\v —his own place of residence —but of many also in other parts of Bessarabia. More than 200 families have now joined in one communion under the title of "The National Jewish New Testament Congregation ;" and by some of them the last Passover was celebrated according to a liturgy expressly drawn up by Rabinowitz. In order to illustrate more completely the nature of this singular movement of the Jewish mind, resulting from the painful massacres of ISS2, I subjoin from their "Articles ot Faith," which Dr. Delitzch now gives to the world, a translation of the 10th Article. It is worded as follows :— "According to the decree of the in scrutable wisdom of our God, our fathers were filled with hardness of heart, and the Lord punished them with the spirit of deep sleep, so that they opposed Jesus Chrisb and sinned against Him until the present day. But by their unbelief they led other nations to greater zeal, and they thus contributed J to the propitiation of mankind, who have bo lieved in Jesus Christ, the Son of David, our King, when they heard the good tidings through his peace-promising messengers (Isaiah Hi. 7), who had been disgracefully expelled from communion with Israel Jn consequence, however, of this our tin against the Chri-it of God, the world has grown l ich by its faith in Christ ; and the nations in fulness have entered the Kingdom of God. Now, too, the time of our fulness has also come. And we, the seed ot Abraham, are to be blessed by our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ ; and the God of our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, will take pity upon us, and replant the branches which have been torn out into our own Holy Root Jesus. And thus all Israel shall share the eternal salvation ; and Jerusalem, our Holy City, shall be rebuilt, and the throne of David be re-established for ever and evermore " I give you this statement as a record of actual facts, which cannot but be deeply interesting to your readers ; and which, if not already known to you, appears to me to be worthy of a place in the leading journal of the day.— l am, sir, your obedient servant, J. H. Titcomb, Bishop Coadjutor for the English Church in Northern and Central Europe. Hamburg, Aug. 20.

Mr George Moore, the author of "A Modern Lover," in a forthcoming novel, leaves, it is said, the world of fashion for the world theatrical. The new story is said to be concerned with the fortunes of a travelling company of actors, and of a woman who throws in her lot with the leading member ; of the company. A large irrigation scheme is about to be set on foot in South Australia. It is' proposed, by means of a company, to lease 25,000 acres up the Murray cliffs by means ] of land on the Murray, and raise water i turbine water-wheels. It is believed that i sufficient water can be supplied at the rate ] of from 3s to 4s per acre. The irrigated c land is to be subdivided into 50 and 100- ' acre farms. The first year's expenditure is \ estimated at £18,000, and the returns at a nearly £5,000. i