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/p3bv7bd78/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3bv7bd78
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF8_5.xml
- content
-
About Phila Jewish schools 88
What brought a large vast number of Jewish men and women together in the afternoon of last Sunday? The building in where they those very many met of their own accord, did not exhibit architectural beauties, on which the lovers of the Aesthetic might look with pleasure delight, nor were there carved works, chiselled by masters, and paint--ings that delight to gratify the taste of the judges of the fine arts. An plain, unadorned and humble dwelling had attracted a throng. Preachers too had gone there wended their way thither, but not they were the cause of a crowded at--tendance. For once ordained [?] ministers held back their set speeches and carefully rounded sentences, and allowed the eloquence of facts, rather than that of fancy, to flow unimpeded. Scores of infants of both sexes, and somewhat older girls among the Hebrews, of a somewhat older growth made use of their deft well trained deft little hands, in exercises that quicken the senses and widen the regions of the intellect. Those young creatures of our race had been furnished with fitter rooms than were they occupied heretofore, and for the first time they entered a house rented for their accomodation, and for other purposes religiously important and temporally useful.
The Kindergarten system which justly sensibly plays an important prominent part in our now a days in elementary teachings, and together with plentiful household training tender management training, which--we must hope--may finally dispel ill-founded prejudices and elevate the position of a domestic in respectable families, are pursued in that hired building under the direction of unmarried daughters in Israel. One cannot sufficiently praise the zeal of those Jewesses, and because devotion to a harmonizing an ennobling object must arouse public sympathy, therefore last Sundays' recept--ion in the new premises, rewarded the unselfish labor of the persons who gave it. The President and all her coworkers saw in the vast large assemblage interested in the children's exercises a merited recognition, and the encou--raging promise of support. This will be granted, and they really rightly understand what is greatly much needed, who offer of their means to institutions of that kind and of a kindred nature in the Southern portion of our city. A casual visit through its surroundings will substantiate what I plainly state, without the least tint of prejudice a perfect freedom from bias, and simply out of love for an equal wish for the welfare of my religion and people.
A melancholy occasion took me to that neighborhood last Sabbath morning, and I felt pained at heart, while I walked and observed. Aside from the open and almost universal desperation of the day of the Decalogue among brethren who but a very short time ago bore a galling oppression by reason of their race and belief, I contemplated the condition of small man children the very young offspring small children of those same foreign coreligionists, following menial occupations, hollowing as they hauked, in ignorance of a correct language and an elevating trade. I thought earnestly, and asked myself whether the honor of our faith does not imperatively demand that we shall endeavour to raise that fast growing element from its lowliness, by infusing into it a sense of self-esteem. I reasoned thus; if we could but broaden the sphere of the Kindergarten, continuing to educate the eye and the hand of the male offspring of our fellow-believers, we might rear a generation of men that would redeem the name of Israel in America from many an aspersion cast upon it.
My hearers know by that mainly by the determined steadfast will of a member of this congregation; industrial schools were established in two different localities. The success has not altogether equalled the ef--forts, but what of that? Are we to become dispirited; lose courage, because we have been foold foiled in some of our anticipations? To persevere in what is good, despite obstacles, is manliness, to conquer in the face of impediments, is true heroism. In this Northern locality, the teaching of person training of lads into callings which some of our most renowned sages historically pursued and highly recommended, may have gone remained unappreciated, but where thousands of Israelites, born in benighted countries, now congregate, that tuition may reawaken the ancient spirit; excite a love for what the Rabbis call term honorable--handicraft [Hebrew] and the absence of which they deprecate in the strongest terms [Hebrew]. At all events, I hold it as our bounden duty to leave nothing untried towards the accomplishment of that object. In the language of the Talmudists I say: [Hebrew] Thou art not ex--pected to complete the undertaking singly, but neither art thou exempt from the obligation of busying thyself concerning it.
And those Philadelphia Israelites who have dispensed liberally of their wealth to mitigate the suffering of bodily ailments, will deny they refuse to act generously in order to lessen a moral disease, on which is upon the increase? I mean, the evil of a generation of peddlers uncultured and unameri--canized? Never should the charge of a Jewish in--capacity to conceive the existence of moral and spi- intellectual =ritual wants, be brought against us. I long to disprove it by through the cooperation of the rich and the intelligent philanthropic, that will drawing out of its environments that generation and aft uplift it to a higher plane, still within the pale of Judaism. For that purpose, alike religious and mechanical industrial teachings instruction must be imparted. Nothing daunted by the war con--stantly waged on certain Hebrew pulpits against the Hebrew language, as effete, dead exploded, of no efficacy and advantage, we must preserve it. The holiest me--mories of the past, and the dearest interest of the future to those who believe in the solidarity of our race [Hebrew] bid us preserve it cherish it Therefore keep it alive among our progeny. Hence a building might consequently be purchased, and divided arranged in many compartments suitably agreeably to our comprehensive plan. It should be a veritable [?] constitute present a well combined division of work.
For there also besides the cultivation of the sacred language and that of mechanical trades, there should exist also in that spot, those premises, our Sewing and Sunday schools should offer there also spacious and well ventilated rooms for its their ever crowding attendants. Philadelphia Israelites. On the night of the third of March of this year, a celebration not to be forgotten was held in our magnificent Academy of music. The assemblage was of men and women of our peo--ple was unprecedently large vast. The orators arose equal to the memorable Jubilee. Enthusiasm prevailed, and I anticipated, as an immediate result of the festivity which recalled the founding of an educational institution in our midst, I anticipated the speedy realization of the aim in view. I shall not venture an opinion as to the failure in raising upon the very spot an adequate sum to effect a high purpose. Perhaps it was wise not to go in quest thereof at that meeting, lest strangers to our faith deemed the action undignified. But this it behooves me now to say unequivocally plainly to tell. The Southern Sunday School, where an ever swelling number of our young sons and daughters have been wont to gather for instruction,
has long been condemned is as unqualifiedly unsuitable. It has now been sold, and we need not lament the circumstance, though we may regret that the sacred purpose object for which it was procured, will suffer by reason of that purchase. A synagogue in such a place and under such auspices as its services will be per--formed, cannot be calculated to glorify Israel and Israel's God. At all events, we must now forthwith seek be active and make provision to secure ano--other building, prior to the autumnal season. Negligence on our part, would be visited as a sin because of the deplorable issue it might bring on. I hold in my hand a card upon which are written the names of six children born in our faith that were hired into buildings where missionaries play all means and opportunities in search of souls. None can possibly object to their christian ministers seeking to deliver save from destruction the progeny of the inebriate and the wanton--and they are not a few--among trinitarians. Such exertions we will always commend, as social beings and inhabitants of a noble land, but the offspring of monotheists we must care for. We must guard them against the wiles apostasy, of propagandists and hold them intelligently in our own fold.
In former years I rescued some form the meshes of apostasy propagandists, and I shall look to the deliverance of others, but all who love the Jewish faith must act promptly not to encourage recreancy by an [?] delay or neglect. I repeat it. Let it never be said that Philadelphia Israelites have thousands for the physical requirements of their poor, but not even hundreds for their mental, moral and spiritual needs. In the scene which met my vision last Sunday afternoon, is to me I interpret as recognize a rain--bow of promise. An appeal to the sentiment of my brothers and sisters in faith, when the Almighty has blessed with wealth, will elicit a hearty response. Ere a the summer shall have elapsed, a commodious structure will be seen in the Southern portion of Philadelphia our city. It will bear this inscription. Schools devoted to the dearest in--terests of the Jewish people in Philadelphia. - Identifier
- p3bv7bd78
- identifier
- SMBx10FF8_5
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/83167