Literary Production. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Literary Production. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1888

Location(s)

United States -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

United States -- Pennsylvania

Format

9 pages on 4 sheets

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?

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/p30k26w4p/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p30k26w4p

Provenance

Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF8_2.xml

content

80

On the two social meetings of Orientalists
in Philadelphia/88

Brethren. I was surprised at having recently lately received an invitation to attend two sociable meetings of Orien--talists, at the respective residence of two noted Christian gentlemen of Philadelphia. My astonishment arose from the circumstance that, with the exception aside of Hebrew and Aramaic--which I have tried to study with diligence--my knowledge of Eastern languages is a tabula rasa,--in plain English, a blank--and I confess that I felt inexpressibly relieved at not having been called upon before an assemblage of the learned to offer my views on the cultivation of Syriac or Assyriology, or on the probable results to science from the Babylonian expedition under the auspices of the university of Pennsylvania. However, from what I could gather, my presence at those meetings was due to my presidency of the Jewish Theolo--gical Seminary in New York, and in recognition of the respect paid to that institution, which lies so close to my heart, I deviated from a practice habitual with me. In obedience to the maxim of the author of Proverbs, recom--mending thus: [Hebrew] "Stand not in the place of great men, for better it is that [?] it be said unto thee 'come up hither' than those shouldst be put lowered in deference to that wholesome aphorism before the magnates whom thy eyes have seen." I have

ordinarily shrunk from seeking to mingle among persons highly famed for their scholarly literary attainments. Still, I had no cause to regret the exception I made, for through it I was inspired by it through with greater constancy in the pursuit of the principles which I hold. The papers read at the first social meeting--varied as they were in character--bore nevertheless a strong resemblance to each other in one feature. The writers agreed, that to understand the scriptures cor--rectly, the original must be studied; that they do not manifest a proper appreciation of it, who rest satis--fied with translations; that a mere rudimentary knowledge of the test is below the mark which a public expon--nent of the book wherein Hebrew prophecies were pre--served, should strive to reach. Upon hearing that from Christians, I wished that Jews, to whom Moses bequeathed the Torah as an inheritance had been there in great large numbers, thoughtfully to listen. What a scathing rebuke the uniform remarks of Orientalists, might then have appeared to some Congregations and their ministers, who combine their forces to evict the Hebrew out of the dwelling, which is its own by right of a heavenly heritage--from our God's out of the consecrated dedicated sanctuary.

Christians see in a wider culture of the Hebrew a power for good, even the arms to repel infidelity, Israel--ites can discover in it only a regrettable cumbersome hindrance to the worship of Israel's God. [Hebrew] We reject our own heirloom, cast it behind our back as if it were dregs, others to whom it does not legitimately belong, gather it up as a prize. A brother in faith of ours, not of a low scale of intelligence, nor unacquainted with the holy language, riding with me this week to a funeral, strongly advocated the abolition of Hebrew, 26 condemned its retention as tending to alie--nate the young from the synagogue. Forcibly I argued from an historical stand point to prove how the Hebrew tongue was Israel's appointed guardians; how the changelings in their recklessness, apply the axe at the national tree and cut it down to the very root; how parental ne--glect of an essential teaching is opening a chasm gulf threatening to separate a so miscalled "Ameircan Ju--daism" from that far-extending Judaism which has most indubitably, outlived for a Divine purpose, has outlived outlived long ages of persecution. And as the person with whom I was reasoning, had evinced heretofore an interest in educational

schemes, I showed that to one Hebrew school set up by the Church, scores ought to arise to maintain the venerableness of the Synagogue, and the the imposingness of its services and our solidarity. Here And I improved the occasion by pleading before my interlocutor for the urgent want of a building to enlarge the aim and scope of institutions of sacred learn--ing & social advancement in a locality where those children of foreign birth grow numerous, by whom the knowledge of Hebrew may be promoted and perpetuated. I am not positive as to about the effect of my speaking, but I drew the confession that jud--ging of the needs of Judaism from the anciently accept--ed standard, I was correct in my conservative views. To this admission of a fellow-Israelite, I rejoice to be able to add the tacit, yet significant approval of a Christian gentleman I will explain: The second social gathering of the Orientalists in our city, was very agreeable to me, because of the a total absence of formality. I talked familiarly with eminent scholars and derived satisfaction. The host, the Reverend H. Clay Trumbull, editor of the Sunday School Times, had studied in advance the tastes of his guests, and had resolved to gratify them fully. Accordingly, they were mentally transferred to an Eastern atmosphere, all the surrounding ob--jects, the parlor's ornamentations, the nationalities

represented in a striking garb, the Arabic songs, the Syrian playing, the sherbet, the fragrant hand wash-ing, the moca coffee, the Hebrew, Chaldaic, and Armenian manuscripts, all savored strongly of the lands of the Orient through which the fathers of the our race journeyed. Adjoining to the room of the unceremonious meeting, a collation had been prepared. A young friend present, called me aside and whispered: "The meats were purposely ordered of a Jewish caterer, to enable observant Israelites to partake thereof." I did not choose to avail myself of that invitation, any more than of the other on the previous evening, but I [?] I help admiring the refinement, the delicacy of a de--meanour which unobtrusively tells the consistent Jew "stand by your colours; you are respected for it."? What a re--flection on the conduct of many of our brethren; how sadly their actions contrast with that of one not born in the Law Torah; one not bound by its tenets behests! Some Israelites caring nothing for the feelings of ministers, whom they invite to hallow their marriages "according to the law of Moses and Israel," or to hail with Hebrew hymns the admission of a male child into the Abrahamic covenant, place load the table before the officiating Rabbi with prohibited food; they even fancy to

do him honor, if they ask that he will taste a fruit, or sip a drink, while his coreligionists are eating & [?] swallowing to their fill things declared in the Levitical code abominations. Shame on such; a general defection has blurred their moral vision; it has blunted in them every sense of propriety. I know that if the attempt were made in this country, which is now tried again in Switzerland, I mean to enact a statute forbidding our people to follow the traditional rules oral injunctions in preparing animals whose flesh we eat, the intolerance would be cried down as a deliberate affront insult to our belief. Yet persons profes--sing that belief do not hesitate offending one of its representatives by an invitation to an unJewish repast. Such individuals ought to sit at the feet of the Rev. H. Clay Trumbull, and learn human respect; if they do not regard Divine ordinances. He certainly could have been excused from heeding the scruples of two or three of his guests, not pertaining to his creed, and have none could have blamed him for having felt satisfied that he had provided enough which they could freely enjoy, but a sentiment which I term genuine gentlemanliness, impelled him

to go beyond social requirements and manifest his veneration for religious consistency. How different are with Israel of America! It would seems preposterous, nevertheless it is so in our days, among our people. Obedience to the Law, is expected to offer an bow low and make apologiesy. There was a time when its opposite would hide itself, to avoid detection; now a public display is made of contempt for the precepts is offered to view, and the conscientious must beg pardon for being conscientious. Well: I will not point out whence the aggravation--if not the origin--of the evil emanates; why so whence so much arrogance receives encouragement. I will not try to prove tat a desertion of their post by the custodians of the traditions has emboldened the wavarers, I will not do so, lest I be condemned as a gratuitous mentor lest I also hear the Dathans and Abrians who, according to the Rabbinical legend, asked of the Arch--prophet [Hebrew] "Who has made thee a chief and a Judge over us?", but disclaiming any wish this morning to chide and censure, I must appeal to the sense of right and my brethren hearers, and let them it decide whether propriety does not dictate that where Jewish rites are performed, unjewish practices should not be violated.

As to myself, rather than an affront, I will consider my exclusion from doubtful banquets, a personal favor. (Here follows an address to a Bar Mitzvah who was a Levite)

Identifier

p30k26w4p

identifier

SMBx10FF8_2