Literary Production. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
- Title
- Literary Production. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
- Author
- Morais, Sabato
- Date Created
- 1896
- Format
- 9 pages on 4 sheets
- Language(s)
- English
- Source
- Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
- Sabato Morais Collection, Box 10, Folder 11
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3tq5rz64/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3tq5rz64
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF11_1.xml
- content
-
S. MORAIS,
546 N. FIFTH STREET,
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
107
96
Continuation of the subject
on "Jewish life in Middle ages."
A Club quite different form many a one which infests Philadelphia, flourishes in the city of London. It bears an historic name, but I think that I may challenge contradiction when I say that its appellation is not a blind to cover up deception. That club is not a gilded sink, wherein man--hood is dragged and lost. No gambling orgies allure to that spot our unwary youths, who squander their father's hard earned money and rob their mother of the joys of home. An pleasurable intercourse for mutual instruction, is held there. I allude, as easily under--stood, to the Maccabean Club. In it meet the literary worthies of whom I spoke in a measure as they deserve, in my last lecture.
A short time ago, a German Israelite sought an entrance into that Club. Accorded the pri--vilege of addressing its members, he delivered a speech which created much surprise a commotion.
Some interpreted it as the dream of a visionary; others opposed it as calculated to encourage the charge of the Goldwin Smiths, abounding every where, who declare that Jewish hearts are dead to patriotic sentiments. But, in truth, Mr Dr. Herz'l is neither a utopian or a fanatic. Not to play the role of a messiah, he pro--posed his scheme; nor does he ignore the luminous fact that voluntarily, most heroically and generously Jews have spilt their blood and unfastened the locks of their treasuries for the honor of the countries of their birth or adoption.
But Dr Herz'l keenly feels the gross injustice of antisemitism throughout the habitable globe. He notices that it is not f confined to cities on the Danube and the Vistula. He knows that an under current of inveterate prejudice can be detected even in the freest of lands, where riches so called liberal ideas and social commercial standing count nothing for the admission of millionaires' sons into clubs, where the money aristocracy of Wall street the New York elite band together.
Dr. Herz'l burns with enthusiasm. He would rejoice to pave the way for the opening of a corner of the earth, in which the right of confessing of Judaism is not a grinding stone to sharpen the barbed arrows of malevolence. England is strong; her Jews weild political influence. What might not from Great Britain a stream of salvation open to well up for some of the millions shut up in wildernesses of degradation? Love for his suffering brethren dictated the speech he which our German coreligionist made. To some nevertheless it became the butt of ridicule, to others the target of reproach. But not by reason of it did the man, who has the courage of his opinion bent flinch and beat a retreat covered whelmed with shame. He believes that Palestine, at which industry has begun to take up her abode; even the ancient heritage of of our fathers, encouraging inspiring now the hope of restoring to its soil the smile of plenty, may be induced to widen her portals to secure a home of tranquility to myriads save among the tribes of the wandering foot and weary breast.
As I understand him the speaker before the Maccabean club, he waved all questions involving a reconstruction of our nationality with on the plan with of a return to sacrificial rites and the reha--bilitation of all Mosaic prescriptions. Had he adopted that project, I would decidedly have opposed it. Once before I had occasion to set myself squarely against ideas which we dare not entertain, but, ventilate the consummation of which partial or total his in the bosom of a future shrouded in impene--trable darkness. That Israel is destined to oc--cupy an exalted rank among the family of nations I firmly, most profoundly believe; else my prayers would be a mockery, and my defense of the prophecies sheer hypocrisy. But the Rabbis in their wisdom have condemned the arrogance that pretends to set forth the how and the when our final restoration will occur. [Hebrew] In treatise Sanhedrin they themselves, indulging in speculations upon that subject, would that confusion be the reward of those who imagine they can tell at what stage of the world's history we shall hail the redemption.
Maimonides himself too, who ventured a prediction addressing in a letter to a certain Nathaniel Alfayumi of South Arabia, deprecates reckoning upon uncertain--tainties. But to go in search of means to facilitate the acquisition securing guaranteed recognized purchase of a spot where the systematically degraded of Abraham's pro--geny may breathe freely, is a noble philanthropic design. Such I consider Dr Herz'l's plea before the Maccabean Club. Not so, how--ever has Mr Israel Abrahams interpreted construed it. In the introduction to his otherwise excellent work on "Jewish life in the Middle ages", he writes: "The superficial appearance of a national entity, has, I fear, originated the movement now po-pular with some modern Jews in favor of creating a Jewish State, politically independent and perhaps religiously homogeneous. I speak regretfully, because one does not like to see enthusiasm wasted over a conception, which has no roots in the past and no fruits to offer in the future." In this manner does the gifted En--glish Jew join the party that sees our ultimate redemption in a total absorbtion into Christianity, Islamism or Buddhism.
Even Mr Zangwill, whom none will accuse of staunch orthodoxy, discovers an historical blunder in Mr Abraham's unqualified assertion, that the idea which inspired a Judah Hallevi, "has no roots in the past and no fruits to offer in the future." To me that sweeping statement, is offensive to the millions who still pray: "Oh Look at our affliction" [Hebrew] I moreover lament it, for I fancy to behold a backward step, from that which the same author took when preparing some of his admirable sermons on "aspects of Judaism." I lament it, for I fancy that his immediate predecessors, whom I personally knew, would have condemned a denial of our people's return triumphal return to Zion, whi--ther gentilism shall flock to learn the ways of the Lord [Hebrew] But sober minded as Israel Abrahams appears, he has become infected nevertheless with a spirit of the time. That has led him beyond the confines of conservatism; that has made him also the champion of practices which for untold centuries, the synagogue has turned against.
But on the Sabbath that I resumed lecturing after a long enforced silence, I promised that brevity would characterize my speaking. I shall therefore reserve to another time the treatment of my second objection
to the latest production under the auspices of the "Jewish Publication Society of America" - Identifier
- p3tq5rz64
- identifier
- SMBx10FF11_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/83240