In presenting this volume to the public the author does not claim much originality. He merely desires to reproduce the religious principles which were sown into his heart by his parents, ‏ז״ל‎, and cultivated by the great teachers of Israel—the Prophets, the Soferim, and their successors—in order that the blessing which he himself has always derived from these principles may also be enjoyed by his brethren. The original sources of religious knowledge, viz., the Scriptures and Post-Biblical Jewish Literature, are of course accessible to all, and every one may sit at the feet of our great teachers and listen to their instruction. But there are many who are in need of assistance, who require the aid of an interpreter. The present volume is intended to render that assistance and to serve as such interpreter. The author therefore addresses himself to his brethren, especially to his disciples, in the words of an ancient teacher of the Mishnah (Aboth v. 25), “Turn it, and turn it over again;” and if he cannot add also “for everything is in it,” he hopes [vi]that that which is in it will be found useful to those who seek religious knowledge, and that it will prove an incentive to many “to learn and teach, to heed and do, and to fulfil in love all the words of instruction in the Divine Law.”

To a great extent this work owes its origin to the warm interest which the late Mr. Jacob A. Franklin, ‏ע״ה‎, took in all matters connected with Judaism. He repeatedly urged upon the author the necessity of publishing a book on the Jewish Religion. A plan was suggested, discussed, and finally adopted; but the progress of the work was slow on account of other literary engagements of the author. Although Mr. Franklin departed from our midst long before it was completed, his philanthropy, which survived him, has a share in its completion, the book being printed at the expense of the Jacob A. Franklin Trust Fund for the advancement of Judaism. In recognition of these facts the author dedicates this work— [vii]

In Piety,

TO THE
MEMORY OF HIS LATE FRIEND,

‏ר׳ עקיבה בן החבר ר׳ אברהם ז׳ל‎

JACOB A. FRANKLIN, O.B.M.
AND
OF HIS BELOVED LATE GRANDCHILDREN:

AZRIEL & URIEL GASTER.

‏עזריאל ואוריאל גאסטער‎

‏ת׳נ׳צ׳ב׳ה‎ [viii]

In conclusion, the author begs to thank the Rev. S. Singer for his assistance and his many valuable suggestions while the book was passing through the press

M. FRIEDLÄNDER.

Jews’ College, 3 Iyar 5651.

The first edition being exhausted a second edition has been prepared. There is no cause for any change in the body of the book. Religion, both “Glaubenslehre” and “Pflichtenlehre,” are given as objectively as possible, and the most rigid examination of all that is taught in “The Jewish Religion,” discovered no misstatement. A few unimportant errors, which according to the Psalmist (Ps. xix) are excusable, are rectified in the list of Errata. Questions concerning religious principles which have arisen in the Community since the publication have been foreseen and dealt with according to Law and Tradition. A few notes are added in the second edition, where further elucidations seemed necessary. There is also appended the bibliography of text-books of Jewish Religion, an abstract of a paper on Religious Education, read before the Jews’ College Literary Society, and the prayer which in the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogues is offered up by the Barmitzvah when called to the Law. The latter practice is worthy of imitation.

M. F.

London, Adar I., 5660. [ix]