Anniversaries. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1861 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Anniversaries. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1861

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1861

Location(s)

United States -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

United States -- Pennsylvania

Format

8 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 11, Folder 2

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3g44j87t/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3g44j87t

Provenance

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

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx11FF2_2.xml

content

For the 1st anniversary of the 7th st Synagogue

My Brethren! An idea which now-a-days prevails the human mind, but to which I shall never pay deference, is, that a minister of religion, must narrow down the range of his pulpit instruction, within the compass of doctrinal argumentations, or of general remarks touching ceremonial observances. The tide of public vice, may fearfully swell around him; dishonesty may sap the very existence of social relations, falsehood may disguise itself under the garb of truth, besides under that of bravery, oppression under that of progress; all the elements of corruption may be at work to shelter the foundations of morality--which is God's holy law--, but the minister of religion must dare not raise his voice to upbraid and to condemn. If, like an Elijah or a Jeremiah, he directs the shafts of his zealous indignation against the powerful and the opulent, he is decried, as a zealot who mistakes his vocation; who abuses his mission. So degenerate is the age in which we live, that it will tolerate the delivery of only that part of Divine imparting, which may not probably thoroughly expose to view the hollowness of its ruling propensities. He that should undauntedly strike with the rod of his tongue the wicked--be they highly or lowly stationed--who violate the eternal principles of justice, is told in the language of the rebellious people of yore "Cease, speak to us smooth things". This I heard, and was abashed [Hebrew] "for the word of the Lord, against violence and spoil, hath become a reproach and a derision" Yet, I shall not forbear. Obedient solely to the dictates of duty, I will

continue to denounce sin, wherever it exists. And this day, even this day, the anniversary of an occasion that might be deemed joyful, calls upon will I men to utter loud reprobations. For, how often shall I reiterate it; that God is not exalted by polished stones and carved timber? Are we to rejoice over the rearing of a gorgeous structure, which has failed to effect its object? Did we not promise ourselves that its dedication to prayer, would invite thereto, a numerous hosts of devoted hearts? Was it not generally hoped and believed that to give the house of our Lord an independent stability, the day of Moses and David would be renewed, when both men and women gloried to munificently endow the contemplated Sanctuary? But how have those reasonable expectations been verified? Hearken, my Brethren, and be astounded. It is the time in which, Israel reckon the days that have elapsed between their deliverance from physical thraldom, and their moral enfranchisement at Sinai. At dusk a few individuals might be seen wending their steps towards the consecrated spot. They desire to hold religious service as prescribed by their revered Sages, but though they tarry hither, the legal number appears not. Many Hebrews, whose mind has been engrossed in harrassing affairs, are seeking diversion at that hour, not in a filial communion with their Maker, but at the gaming board, or at some futile representations. You will then concur in my opinion, that so far there is no cause for gratulation. But, what? of I say, that possibly the

identical motive renders our convening within these courts at the entrance of the Sabbath, and at its conclusion exceedingly sparse? That in the afternoon of the same hallowed day and of the festivals, scarcely an attendance equally slender can be commanded? What, if I disclose the fact, that all efforts and contrivances to evoke a spirit of liberality have proved utterly abortive; that this edifice, which should have been enriched by unsolicited gifts, and placed beyond eventualities, is yet, and may well long remain, the virtual possession of a few individuals? It would be vain to attempt palliating the last glaring defeat on the score of the deplorable events which have clogged the wheels of commerce and dried up the springs of wealth; for, our temporal decline,--unwarrantable as it may seem--dates is coeval with the erection of this Synagogue. Would you then still consider its first anniversary an occurrence which elicits exaltation? No [Hebrew] I will exclaim in the words of Scripture "The thing I greatly feared hath actually happened." Arguing from the past I intimated in my dedicatory sermon, that the feelings of devotion then evinced for the progress of our community, would be evanescent, that many of the Israelites who had thronged those sacred walls to witness a stirring ceremony, would scarce revisit them. My remarks were then animadverted on, as an ill-timed rebuke, but judge ye now, my hearers, whether it was unjustifiable.

Short-lived has indeed been the period, during which, the Sabbath-morn--ing service was joined in by some infrequent worshippers. It expired almost at its birth; hence has arisen our gradual decay. They whose affluence enabled them to strengthen the work of the Lord, they who might have been exhorted in the name of religion, to exercise [?] generosity, that this new undertaking might be becomingly sustained, remained aloof. But why? Did they oppose the change, which others had considered advisable? Would they evince their disapproval, by becoming affiliated to another of our too numerous Synagogues? Not so.....They were earnestly engaged in disobeying the will of their heavenly Father. Alas! that so wilful a dereliction has at length kindled his wrath. I see, but to weep over, the chastisement it has provoked. Much of the gold ammassed by trampling on the laws of God, a sudden fire has consumed. Like the Philestian Dagon, the idolized Mammon has been felled by an invisible hand. At the uprising of an avenging Deity, a train of ills has passed over the land in which both righteous and wicked were involved. And shall I rejoice? Brethren! This, our first anniversary, would have occasioned me sincere delight, if it proclaimed our advancement towards what is good and true. If it pointed out new votaries who have sworn allegiance to Judaism, and abjured their imaginary

gods. If it recorded that since this structure has been consecrated, the number of its worshippers has increased, that its requirements have been liberally supplied; that a desire to uphold and exalt the house of our God in the sight of the world is has been generally experienced, that the Congregation Mickve Israel, gave the first impetus to all righteous designs, that their members have become conspicuous for virtue, for religious knowledge and piety, but inasmuch as this day instead of marking progression, shows a retrogression, I cannot be induced to celebrate its recurrence with any degree of delight. Let those triumph who pride themselves in the attainment of a fictitious aggrandizement, I will rather lament a prevailing apathy for real grandeur. I will ask the delinquents to reflect on current events, and see their folly, in being parsimonious with Almighty God. I will ask repeat to them, what Haggim preached to his contemporaries. [Hebrew] "Consider your ways" Ye have sown much, but gathered little" [Hebrew], "and he that earneth, hath earned to put it into a bag full of holes [Hebrew]. Ye have lived neither in accordance with the dictates of God, nor with those of reason. Ye have sacrificed your best years, your noblest instincts, prob perhaps your physical as well as spiritual health, to

to the compassing of one sole object, but when your imagined to have laid a firm hold thereon, it released itself from your grasp. Such is the result of avarice. Verily your demeanour was irrational. But unto the faithful few, who have so apportioned their time, that their worldly pursuits might not encroach on their duties to the Eternal, to those who have ever responded to the calls of religion and humanity I will say, "despond not" you are rich, even if adverse circumstances have deprived you of all your honest earnings; for, you bear the conscience that the gold you have lost was not the wages of sin. You are rich, because you have laid up treasures, of which none can rob you. Like King Mumbaz, so extolled by the Sages of the Talmud, you have scattered abroad, whilst others gathered in, yet you shall reap the most copious harvest, for thus, it is written in the volumes of heaven [Hebrew] "Say ye to the righteous, that it will be will well with them, for they shall enjoy the fruit of their deeds". Let then all my hearers learn wisdom. They have felt the insecurity of terrestrial gain, let them strive to obtain that which can never fail them. Let them employ their families and means to benefit their soul; let them store up the provision which will keep it alive everlastingly. Let them spurn self-interest, when

summoned to your stability to a sacred undertaking. Let them give to God what belongs to God, the Sabbath-day and the festivals. Let them seek recreation in assiduously watching at the portals of this minor Sanctuary, let them aspire to eminence by virtuous acts. In fine let them prove themselves sincere worshippers of their Creator, for He alone "maketh poor, and maketh rich, bringeth low and lifteth up" [Hebrew] By such a deportment the Synagogue we solemnly dedicated a year since, will assume the position which it ought originally to have received. The Omnipotent Being whose presence we have at that period invoked, will be praised therein by a multitude of devout hearts. The Congregation Mikve Israel will rank foremost among those which amazingly increase throughout this country, and at each revolving mouth of Sivan, we will glory together over our religious advancement. So may it henceforth2 be1 and ever more. Amen.

Identifier

p3g44j87t

identifier

SMBx11FF2_2