Judaism was once defined, by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, as "a religion without mysteries or miracles, rational and self-evident ... in perfect harmony with modern science, criticism and philosophy, and in full sympathy with universal liberty, equality, justice, and charity."
Bohemia-born Rabbi Wise arrived in the U.S. in 1846 to find the country's Jews scattered and unorganized, and falling away from their ancient faith. For half a century he traveled up & down the land preaching and organizing a new, liberalized Judaism; it laid less stress on traditional forms and observances than on cutting the vital principles of the Old Testament to...