Anniversaries. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1868 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Anniversaries. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1868

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1868

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 11, Folder 2

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3z60cm2b/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3z60cm2b

Provenance

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

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx11FF2_1.xml

content

A discourse before leaving the old
Synagogue
On Cherry st near 3rd in 1868

Dear Brethren! That which in irrational beings, is the effect of instinct, when exhibited by man, gives evidence of a tender heart. The frivolous, whose affections are as mutable as their purposes, will deride their neighbour, because he heaves up a sigh even when parting with inanimate objects worn out by age; but methinks that one capable of so much sentiment, ought, on the contrary, to command our high regard. For, not the object itself, but the ideas associated therewith elicit his feeling of regret. Beasts of prey like their dens, domestic animals their abodes, but man loves the spot in which a mother's caress, or a brother's innocent sports glad--dened his youthful days. He loves the spot in which when trouble overtook him, he stole away to weep over his reverses and his follies. He loves that where his infant lips were taught to sing the praise of his Almighty Protector. None among you, my dear friends! can more than myself loathe the deifying of perishable matter, but I disclaim any community of feelings with him that that looks unconcernedly on the day decay of his parental roof;

who sees the dwelling in which his early life glided by, razed to the ground, and does not experience a single sensation of disquietude. I am not a disciple of stoicism. It is a philosophy that deadens the noblest impulses of our nature. I prefer the foibles concomitant with an oversensitive temperament; to the hardihood displayed by the fol--lowers of the Grecian Zeus. Therefore it is, that while I address you, painful thoughts will force themselves on my mind. The reflection that this house, wherein I, with great trepidation, did once crave your indulgence to my deficiencies, and the assistance of my Maker in my humble endeavours, shall be no longer devoted to God; the reflection that we shall no more offer together in these holy courts our supplications and thanks; that yet a little while and that sacred receptacle shall not be known as the repository of our divine oracles, affects me greatly. But I will not conceal from you that another motive adds to my mental agitation. For nine consecutive years, I have prayed for you and with you, my beloved brethren! in a manner which I deem befitting the present state

of our nation and most adapted to Synagogue worship. While we continued resorting to this ancient place, a longing after inconsiderate change has been curbed. Whether the spirit of the departed, who served here the Lord with modesty and meekness protected this hallowed spot from the contaminations witnessed in others, I presume not to say; but hitherto the ritual handed down by our ancestors, has been adhered to unswervingly; the transcendent language in which god spoke, has echoed from these walls; the harrowing--though mellifluous-- voice of a non-believer of in Judaism, did not blend with our hymns and psalms, pageantry in the ex--ternal garb of our Sabbath gatherings, did not abstract the faithful from their devotions; but now this un--pretending building will be levelled with the earth and superseded by another superior in of imposing magnificence. Will we preserve in that, the simplicity we maintained in this? Will the satisfaction of having erected a more sightly structure in homage to our King, suffice us; or will it engender vainglory and with it ostenta--tion? Will the sight of an attractively new edifice excite a distaste for whatever is venerably old?

Will it give rise to innovations incompatible with our time-honored usages? Brethren! I ardently hope that we all may sacrifice our private desires on the altar of unity and peace, but you must pardon me, if on the eve of abandoning for ever this sanctuary of the Eternal, gloomy thoughts and misgivings will ruffle my spirits. But need I indeed solicit your forgiveness? This Sabbath must surely more than in mine, awaken in your breasts sad emotions. This day you will cast a retrospective glance to the years that have sunk into eternity. The recollection of the delight you felt, when in childhood you first entered this habitation of the Most High, will flesh on your mind. You will perhaps gaze on the very spot on which your beloved parents then seated you. You will imagine to see before your eyes those venerated authors of your existence. There, a sainted mother pouring forth her entreaties, here, a lamented father intently listening to the recital of the law. You will call back the utter dejection that seized you, when revisiting this dwelling, after a bereavement, and the comfort obtained by communing with your wise and merciful Creator.

You will remember the anxiety which had prompted you to seek his face, for the life of those you love above yourselves, and the gratitude experienced at their preservation. All those and numberless other remi--niscences will at this hour recur to your conceptions. Could you then relinquish this consecrated home and bestow2 not1 upon it one rueful thought? And they who have seen the age of adolescence turn into full maturity, while steadily repairing hither, will they not, especially, regret that this Sabbath, will sever them from a spot wherewith the congregational history of & seventy2 eight1 years is connected? We may reason with such, and convince them that the requirements of the time demanded the alteration; that the site of this Synagogue had grown totally unsuit--able; that its much-impaired appearance ill-became the dignity of the worship; but we shall not succeed in removing the pain that the severance occasions. I will not therefore venture on an ineffectual task; but as no other opportunity will be afforded me to address you all, ere we quit this holy place, I deem it a stringent duty to do so in a manner, which may hereafter remind you

of the last Sabbath we met within those its courts. Brothers and sisters! If these stones and this timber were endowed with speech, they would now charge us with the committal of actions detracting from the sanctity of a Synagogue. They would reproachfully stare him in the face, who, instead of being absorbed in devotion, jeered at his neighbour. They would point him out with the finger of disgrace, who indulged in censorious remarks and uncharitable hints; They would tell of some who evinced impatience, when the service was protracted beyond the hour he himself had designed; of others who were tardy in their attend--ance and listless at the performance of our rites. They would say that peace did not always reign among those who had assembled to adore the same God; that even when fulfilling a religious obser--vance, the seeds of discord were sown.
I am aware that my allusions are poignant, but however expedient it might have been under different circumstances to temper their keenness, this day imperatively asks that I should spare none. No; if we must abandon a place fraught with solemn recollections, let us abandon also the evil habits exhibited

while we continued therein. Let us cherish the memorials of the past, when tending to soften our feelings, but let us leave for ever behind, what was reprehensible in us. In parting with this Synagogue which by our demeanour frequently slighted--we must pro--mise that the other we will soon occupy, shall not witness what I have exposed as derogatory.
It has been said with justice that the interior of that structure exceeds its exterior in beauty; let it be, my friends! the type of its attendants. Let our inward worship more than outward show, prove our piety. In order to demonstrate it clearly, we should repair thither betimes, and demean decorou--sly. We should let our voice join in the praises of God, but not with clamour to gratify an inexcu--sable vanity. We should evidence our attachment to the sacred house we have reared, by supporting it with generous offerings, but we should never suffer the latter to encroach on the hours devoted to prayers. We should all strive to render that edifice more the promoter of good-will among the living members of Israel, than the propitiator for the soul of their dead. We should be exceedingly

wary not to lay our hand on that which is sta founded stands on the broad foundations of the Torah and its oral exposition; not to be lured to refashion our ancient usages in the mould of individual opinions and crotchets; but each of us should contribute to enhance our present mode of worshipping, by preventing any act of irre--verence and levity; of ill-timed and vociferous singing; the winking of the eye, and the pratting of the tongue. Thus improved, the regret of having bid this spot a last farewell, will be relieved assuaged by the reflection that in it we promised our amendment. This Sabbath on which we end the third book of the law of and our stay in this Sanctuary, will then be ever remembered, we shall experience hereafter the satisfaction that it was profitably spent, that if our fathers came in with joy, we go went forth in peace, "and that the glory of the latter house shall be greater than that of the former, for in that place the Lord of hosts will grant peace. [Hebrew] [Hebrew] Let us pray that it may be so.

O Lord of hosts! Once more thy children delight in prostrating themselves before the ark, that has treasured up the relics of their religion. They take pleasure even in the stones of the house, which the hand of their fathers founded and they devoted to Thee. Bless them, and gladden their hearts with the hope that thy glory will hover above them, wherever they shall gather to pray. That their supplications will from thence ascend thy throne, and be accepted as a grateful offering. O bless their old and their young, their widows and their orphans, their temporal leaders and spiritual guide; And Mayest Thou deign to add infinitely to the number of this holy Congregation. Lead them forth with thine own hand and establish them in the place, which they have wrought for Thy residence O Eternal! And let their example therein teach their sons and their daughters to "serve Thee with fear and rejoice with trembling," for; "holiness will grace thy house, O Lord, to the utmost length of days" [Hebrew] Amen and Amen.

Identifier

p3z60cm2b

identifier

SMBx11FF2_1