Literary Production. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
- Title
- Literary Production. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
- Author
- Morais, Sabato
- Date Created
- 1888
- Format
- 9 pages on 4 sheets
- Language(s)
- English
- Source
- Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
- Sabato Morais Collection, Box 10, Folder 8
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p34b2xp8f/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p34b2xp8f
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF8_1.xml
- content
-
About the proposed Publication Society/88
No sensible person who has given the subject a thought, will doubt undervalue the importance of books. They are, to a great extent, the mould in which the minds are fashioned. with a sense of humiliation I acknowledge that we Israeli- Let us exercise exceeding care in thy selection of those which such as combine -tes instruction with diversion looking for their them in a pure channel. With a sense of humiliation I acknowledge that we Israelites do not have possess, by any means, a supply equal to the want. Only last Sunday morn--ing, speaking to some interesting girls and boys in the our Southern Sunday School, I felt how very much simply written volumes, concisely and attractively prepared volumes on topics on ancient relative to post-biblical history, on to ancient Rabbinical schools in Palestine and Babylon, or in Europe during the middle ages, and even on works of fiction from a Jewish stand point would improve the young, whom we are eager to retain in our fold. We must widely unavoidably differ widely from our Christian neighbors on doctrinal points, but we cannot withhold the merit due to their restless activity. They do make ample provisions for facilitating an understanding among youths a comprehension of the history and tenets of the Church. Their societies issue tracts, pam--phlets and books innumerable, and at a figure
so low as to be within reach of the humblest. We, on the contrary, seem to have intended even our Bible and prayer books simply for the rich, and as regard other words, so defficient we are of them that obliged to unavoidably forced to fall back on those which ema--nate from non-Israelites we frequently find ourselves the we are considerably perplexed. The directors of our schools find deem it essential to examine in advance what is hand--ed for a perusal to our pupils for perusal, lest in reading, the minds be poisoned against the ancestral faith. Mr Notwithstanding this careful needful revision, more than once an intelligent child called my attention to some passage in books borrowed from our libraries, whose anti Jewish character had been a inadvertently passed over by the superintendent. A Hebrew Publication Society of our men, is therefore a great desideratum. In 1845 one was started in Philadelphia, and it reproduced some excellent little volumes. Among others Caleb4 Asher, the 3Perez Family, Hebrew2 tales from the writings of our Sages, the Path of Israel, or Scriptural stories. Only one dollar was the yearly subscription, but my people always sympa--thetic when the claims of the needy and the sick are brought to their notice, do not show--as a rule--the same readiness to help when whatever food for to healthily nourish the mind is asked.
So, like the Maimonides college in later years, so our publication society came to an untimely end. It was resurrected in New York in 1873 and it gave the English speaking Israelites of America, at a higher rate than that of Philadelphia, translations of German writings on history, theology and philosophy, all good productions, in the main; but perhaps too scholarly for the general lay reader. Whether that circumstance hastened its the extinction of that society, or whether the same lamentable lukewarm--ness about the mental culture of our youths, chilled it to death, I am not prepared to say. Now a fresh attempt is made to breathe into a new existence an organization, the need of which I unequivocally admit. A few weeks ago, I officially received information of to that project effect, and was requested to state the time which I deemed most opportune for holding a general meet--ing to that effect in the interest of the project. I answered forthwith that I would attend it on any day that which the committee determined upon. For though the complexion of that said committee was not altogether to my liking, I have made it a rule of life to suppress my inclinations to the advantage
of Israel, and the promotion of peace. It is scarcely becoming in me to speak so, but as was probably the question of a contemplated publication society and its utility now announced in our Jewish organs, will be discussed was probably raise discussions in pulpit and press, and as I may possibly be quoted as having tacitly promised the scheme my cooperation, I may explain be allowed to [?] define my position. I may tell why this week, when asked to take an active part towards its furtherance, I refused. The reason is identical to that which led me to oppose at a conference, and this Synagogue two years since the acceptance of a plan for a Union of all Sabbaths and Sunday Schools in America. The projector had expressed opinions hostile to Judaism, as transmitted by our prophets and Sages. He wished for a union, but only for such as might "command the support of all parties (Alas! for the name) among Jews," by eliminating from our text books every vestige of the practices that have vitalized our belief. Passover to be descanted upon, minus the obligation of the unleavened bread; Pente--cost without the admission of a Divine revelation, confirmation of a well authenticated tradition, a feast of Tabernacles, destitute of the ignoring its symbolic books objects at Synagogue and beyond its ever hallowed sacred courts. Never could I become a party to such a Union. An abstract Judaism--call it an ethical Judaism--pure and simple (--so goes the cant of the day--), is in my mind unhalf Jewish; at no time, under no
circumstance will I subscribe to it. Early education training, deep convictions, and an all conquer--ing sense of the duties attending my vocation, impel me to discountenance whatever I deem hurtful however remotely to the cause which I am bound to advance. So unalterable are my views in that respect, that a few days ago I regretfully denied my assistance to a literary under--taking of my colleagues among the "Jewish Minister's Association, of which I am a member. "The Jewish Home Prayer Book," which they have published, presents no objection in itself. The pur--pose of its compilation is laudable, and it may serve a blissful end. Israelites in whose home the voice of prayer was never raised, may, through that varied English formulary, hallow their family hearth by hymns and supplications to God. But as the book is intended to substitute take the place of time-honored prayers in the accepted ritual, and to let the vernacular supplant the national Hebrew, which I love, I declined to publicly recommend it to my brethren by a written approval. Now could I, influenced by the sentiments which have become my second nature, work, as requested, for a literary scheme
which has an unholy origin, and a profane tendency? It was so represented as follows recently by the lecturer on an anti-Jewish pulpit in Philadelphia "The American Jewish Publication Society, about to be organized in this city has emanated from the Sunday-service, and it is the Sunday service that has supplied us with the manuscript for a Sunday service ritual and which will give us a ritual next season." Such is then to be the first ripe fruit of a poison--ous branch engrafted on our soil from the West. Such is the outcome of an unrighteous resolve to uproot the tree of life that God has planted. May my hand wither, and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth, ere I shall write or speak on behalf of that scheme. He that boasted of unprecedented achievements from his Sunday's under--taking, may have been rewarded with an ap-proving smile when he said that he would not go now and "matriculate in Sims Orthodox Theologic--al Seminary" but neither will one who hopefully looks for the overthrow of an audacious reform to the future graduates of scholars who will matriculate in a theological
seminary for the overthrow of audacious re--form cast his influence--however slight--on the side of the new dispensation hatched in Cincin--nati and called "American Judaism." I do recognize the importance of books of a literature specifically ours, and deprecate a severity great [?] dearth of them it in the interest of our youths, but the very thought of my unintentionally encouraging the producing or the sale of such books as will injure conservatism, is ab--horrent. Doubtless, some who figure upon the committee which that I have replied to enter, will watch against the artfulness of the anti-Jewish and egotists, but their vigilance will avail little against in the face of the artfulness of the a majority bent on carrying out their purposes. Was it not declared unequivocally in an official report just published in the American Israelite that the champion of Radical Reform in the pulpit of the R. I. Cong. will be in the van to attack fossil orthodoxy? [Hebrew]. "I am for peace, and but when I speak for it they are for war" My answer this week concluded thus: I have arrived at an age a stage of life, unfit disqualifying me perhaps from deliberately measuring swords with youths, but while the capacity to bear literary arms is left me, I will stand up in the defense of what I consider true.
Will you aid me O Bar Mitzvah (Here follows an address to two B. M.) - Identifier
- p34b2xp8f
- identifier
- SMBx10FF8_1
Part of Literary Production. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
Morais, Sabato, “Literary Production. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated”, Sabato Morais Digital Repository, accessed September 19, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/morais/item/83121