Literary Production. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Oct 1890 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Literary Production. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Oct 1890

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1 October 1890

Location(s)

United States -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

United States -- Pennsylvania

Format

10 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 9

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3rx93z29/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3rx93z29

Provenance

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

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF9_3.xml

content

S. MORAIS,
546 N. Fifth St.
Philadelphia, October/90

97

A sequel to the lecture on
Russia and education

Brethren.
Whatever wrongs misguided anarchists of Jewish birth and Russian nationality may have lately perpetrated elsewhere to grieve observant Israelites, here they refrained from causing vexations. Last year they would have heinously offended, had they not been foiled in the wicked at--tempt. This year they had contemplated renewing the intended insult to the Hebrew community, on our most solemn day. I heard with deep mortification that a few among those in whose behalf I made stre--nuous contributions of a noble-hearted friend, were num--bered with the unrighteous ones, who sought to outra--geously desecrate the day of atonement. But I let my displeasure be manifested in time to prevent the im--pious act, and felt relieved. My reference to that distasteful circumstance is merely by way of a sequel to some remarks which I offered on the first day of the present festival. I said that we cannot overrate the difficulties which we/ must prepare

ourselves to meet in the event of an unprecedently vast immigration from Russia. I stated that while ex--perience tells on one hand that we persons entertaining subversive notions on social government will provokingly face us, on the other we shall find individuals lacking a proper understanding of our religious duties, and of what constitutes worship. Of the latter deficiency we have too palpable a proof among those already established in our cities; more particularly and pain--fully we receive that proof during the solemn days which preceded this festival. With profound humiliation have I noticed in secular journals reports of a behavior in places meant to be devoted to the service of Israel's God, instances which must shock any sensible Israelite, and scandalize the community at large. In New Jersey, some difference be--tween the reader at the sacred desk, and an official of the Congregation, ended in a brawl, which would not have been tolerated at a gathering of habitual [?]. A reprehensible conduct of a similar character was exhibited in the Southern section of Philadelphia in some of the assemblages, which

unhappily abound greatly to our disrepute during Rosh Hashanah and Kippur and are improvised for the occasion as means of economising expenses in religion. For, a mere trifle will secure a seat where some ill qualified persons chant a ritual which is beyond their compre--hension. But to cap the climax of shame, a few days ago our Common Pleas Court witnessed the debasing scene of one Levi, lodging complaints against the Pre--sident of his Congregation and asking Judge Ellison that an injunction be issued to restrain that officer from interfering with the plaintiff's right to attend the services at the synagogue. In conversation with a Rabbi, whose preaching is supposed to be devoted to the improvement of his countrymen, I protested against holding convocations ostensibly in obedience to the Lord, but which are in offence to the Lord and to Moses His servant. I urged that Reform is imperatively needed, a reform which will imbue foreign Jews with a sense of dignity

of the worship. I recommended less [?] and quivering for effect, and more decorum, as a savory offering to God, whose inspired psalmist taught us to bow in reverence before His holy oracle [Hebrew] But Rabbis of the Russian stamp in America, are evi--dently powerless. They have sadly failed to work out last--ing benefits in New York, where the field of operations calls for unremitting labors, and they will fail every--where among us to arouse their compatriots senti--ments of devotional awe. Meanwhile for because of that and for numerous other reasons the honor of the respectable portion of the Jewish community is imperilled. We owe it then to ourselves to go in quest of the means of self-defence. It is not selfishness that I recommend. To be sure, nothing can be more precious to us than the honor of Israel. To prevent that name being dragged into the pit of disgrace is our bounden duty. But a still higher motive should im--pel us to strong exertions--humanity. Those that may soon crowd our city are fellow creatures who have suffered what an American, born and reared in freedom, shudders at, but a greater claim on our humanity

they have in the fact that they have suffered thus because they refuse to forswear their allegiance to the God we adore. Nor does the latest document from our Secretary of State throw a less lurid light on the exceptional condition of our brethren under the Czar. It sounds as a mockery of sorrows and woes to hear "that the Russian government does not contemplate any change form the present lenient enforcement of the Jewish edicts of 1882," when it is immediately after admitted "that the general legislation in regard to Hebrews in Russia, if applied, would be of an oppressive character." It is that general legis--lation carried out by irresponsible governors and their subor--dinates and weighing brushingly upon men, wo--men and children of our faith, that makes them flee to our shores as from a raging fire. Were they willing to abjure the faith, exchanging the Syna--gogue for the Greek Chapel, public sho schools and universities would be opened to them, promotions in ci--vil and military positions might be secured, and the right to own property and bequeath it would be theirs. In our Union of States those immunities

are the badge of every human being. Let us help our foreign coreligionists to become worthy of the fran--chises belonging to the free. With the elderly among the new comers we can hope to accomplish little or nothing. Their mode of thinking, and their habits, years and surroundings have made a second nature, but the young we must take under our watchful supervisions, and that we must do at their earliest age, in order to shape their thoughts and their manners aright, never relinquishing them till the years of maturity find them noble representatives of Judaism and of liberty. Education must be the agency we shall sedulously employ. It was on the festival of Tabernacles two years ago that I introduced the subject of a school of vast dimensions in a locality, where the majority of Jews from Northern Europe have taken up their homes. Since then, I have dwelt at different intervals upon the pressing necessity for a building to draw in the young among the lowly and afford them varied instruction. I would weary my hearers by an often repeated description of the character of that school; how from object teaching in its primitive state to the knowledge of skilful

handicraft, from the knowledge Hebrew and English alphabet to a correct understanding of our language of prayer and the vernacular, the pupils should rise stage by stage, and grow in usefulness and in a sense of self dependence and respect. But I may be allowed to say that the tardiness shown here in res--ponding to my appeal, led me to seek other chan--nels whence to derive the needful means. A long and at times hopeful correspondence with some of the confidants of Baron de Hirsch was opened, and I have reasons to believe that had not the philanthropist de--cided to make a large remittance annually to America for educational purposes, my pleading in behalf of the comprehensive school I projected would have proved successful. My eager wish now is to see the edifice rise in its vast proportions on the spot already purchased, and to receive the assurance that the design of the munificent donor of one hundred and twenty thousand dollars a year, will be carried out by devoting a considerable portion of his rich grant to the maintenance of the minding broadening institution, destined to honor Philadelphia and Judaism.

But with my to that earnest wish is added an ardent pra--yer of God's approval of generous acts proceeding from my wealthy coreligionists of Philadelphia. The structure will not speedily tower high nor be ours in all reality, unless free will offerings swell the sum gathered that far for the noble undertaking. What glory to our men and women who possess what exceeds by far their own needs, to say: we have set an immoveable basis a school which will fo improve the generation we live in, and generations yet unborn. Our names shall remain a blessing for ever upon earth, and our charity will gain the approval of our God in heaven. And may "He who giveth to the faint strength, and to the powerless He imparteth fresh power," endow me with the capacity to help in a work preeminently civilizing and most practically advancing the cause of religion.

Identifier

p3rx93z29

identifier

SMBx10FF9_3