The Divine Source and World Unity

Adolph Moses taught that the true religion of Moses is recognition of the one God for everyone everywhere, not a tribal religion forming the basis for an ethnic state in the Middle East. Adolph Moses emphasized the universal nature of Judaism and all true religion. He adopted the term "Yahvism" to emphasize his conviction that Judaism was neither a national nor a tribal religion. He wanted to attract non-Jews to Judaism, and he wanted to lure back Jews who had lost affection for their religion. Most of all he wanted to show that Judaism is a religion for all those who are interested in learning about it, and not a religion exclusively or even primarily for those born as Jews. His vision was a new Church of Humanity grounded in the universal vision of the biblical prophets and based on mutual respect, union and universal love. It is with his universal vision in mind that we present this selection of his writings edited into gender-neutral language, in recognition of Moses's desire to be a light to all people. This edition includes the 1885 Declaration of Principles that became the foundation of what came to be known as "Classical Reform Judaism", along with a new Introduction by the editor.