Anniversaries. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1883 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Anniversaries. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1883

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1883

Location(s)

United States -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

United States -- Pennsylvania

Format

9 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/p3j09wp41/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3j09wp41

Provenance

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

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx11FF2_17.xml

content

On punctual attendance at the Synagogue
for the 23d Anniversary

Brethren. This year has been an exceptional one in various ways. It has been so atmospherically, for the weather proved uncommon in this continent--severe storms and snow and frost prevailing in the West all spring, while in the East the evidences of an ap--proaching Summer could not be seen till now. The year has been exceptional in the Jewish Calendar, for Pass--over fell nearly at the very end of the period in which it can ever happen, according to ancient calculations.--the 24th of April being the full extent It has been exceptional in the arrangement of the weekly sections of the Pentateuch, for seldom does the portion which we have just read precede the feast of Pentecost. Almost always it succeeds our forthcoming holiday. Not less exceptional than was the year was in several instances, is the nature of the discourse I am about to deliver. It does not belong to the present season. It may have suited well at the beginning of the term. It is un--timely at the close of the term. But if I am un--able to account for the exceptionableness of other occurrences, I can give reasons for my delay in saying what should have been spoken long before.

In January the repairing of our sacred edifice began, and during the time which it took to complete it, scarcely two Sabbaths of sun-shine were ex--perienced. Still, considering that in addition to that fact circumstance, a number of my congregants declined, for mo--tives of their own, to worship in the lower synagogue, I had not cause to complain of the attendance. But after we occupied again this beautified embelished building, I had devoutly hoped that a large con--course of my people would be seen therein on each returning Sabbath. In that I was disappointed. Many among my brothers and sisters in faith, who formerly came with regularity, have visited this spot at intervals or not at all; others were tardy in appearing, or they left before the service was concluded. The prayers begin at 9 o'clock; half an hour after that, a few are here. At 10 the Congregation is yet very sparse, and not till much later, many of those who mean to attend and remain, are in their seats. Having observed this con--dition of things, I ought to have expressed my regret because of it months ago.

My hearers will deem it entirely out of time to refer to it on the Sabbath preceding the season in which a number of the worshippers leave home for places of summer resort, and others who remain in town are, curiously strangely enough, in the habit of keeping away from Synagogues. My silence, however, was intentional. I feared to reprice dila-toriness, because I discovered that my house is not of marble stone proof if that of my neighbor happens to be made of glass. I feared also to allude to it, because the fault has been laid at my door. I wished to avoid distasteful discussions and heart-burnings. But now that I shall soon suspend lecturing for a while, now that some of my con--gregants will part with me and their sanctuary for a time, my words may be felt not as a rebuke, but as a reminder and a corrective in advance. It may afford food for thought, during an interval of two or three month's absence. My fellow believers will put their best judgments resolve it in their minds to work, and decide whether tardiness in the attendance

at the Synagogue is not disrespect to the Lord, and a baleful example. Then they may determine to avoid pursuing hereafter the same injurious practice. I shall not cite the usage universal among our coreligionists on the eastern side of the Atlantic. Were we to conform with it, the principal service we hold would be reduced to a....nothingness. Were we to open the Synagogue on the Sabbath morning in winter at 8 o'clock, and in summer at 7, scarcely the prescribed quorum or Minán would be present. We would most assuredly be deprived of the main element in public worship--the women of Israel. I do not Let me imagine that I speak with sarcasm, but I am in real earnestness. No incentive whatever in the world have I to play the courtier; to fawn and flatter: I do say honestly say that the absence of Jewesses from the Sanctuary--so very general in Europe--would be fatal to the interests of Judaism in America. It is in a vast degree, directly or indirectly, through them that public con--vocations are solemnized with somewhat of an attend--ance and with unction and decorum.

It is in a vast degree through the influence of the pulpit on them, that what concerns the welfare of our faith congregationally, educationally and bene--ficially is promoted. No: We cannot dispense with that element, and we cannot therefore follow the rule which demands the recital of the morning service at an early hour. But 9 or 30 minutes after it, or 10 o'clock ought not to be considered too early. For much as I regret that the rehearsal of the portion of the ritual preceding the Shemang and Amidah--and which is beautiful--should be left to a small number, I would be glad if when the Sepher Torah is taken out of the holy Ark, all were present and joined in the hymn which greets its public reading. Let my suggestion be pondered over and acted upon at the fall season. It may perhaps create an impression, just because it is made on the Sabbath prior to the time in which many temporarily leave the Synagogue, and on the twenty third anniversary of the erection of our recently embellished beautified structure.
But I cannot pass by as unworthy of my attention the complaints of persons who have a right

to speak, because they honor themselves by honoring the Synagogue. As I have intimated, it is alleged that I ought to shorten the prayers, and begin them later, and I ought to modernize the service and render it attractive. Two requests, which, whenever made, a deep sense of self reproach lays hold of me. I feel that I have no right to oppose place with my settled views, however well founded, to in antagonism to demands of many. I may contend that what is wished of me, does not lie in my power singly to do. I may call it presumptuous in men who neither possess the authority nor the ability to break down what has stood for centuries, to go on indulging in ex-perimental "Reform," in order to draw crowds. But when the popular will is strong in favor of that course, there seems to be but one duty for the individual who dissents to follow. You understand me well clearly. But as I cannot quit, and being a new life on the verge of old age, I derive some satisfaction from the lessons of experience. I perceive that in spite of changes continual and rampant, the desirable goal for the

attainment of which I am asked to assume prerogatives that I do not possess, is just as far as ever. Aye: The impediments are like in a different direction than contended. They are not to be sought and overcome in a shorter or longer liturgy, in a more or less harmonious singing. I have often pointed them out those impediments hindrances but I do not purpose discussing the vexatious subject this morning. To all who are willing to bear with tread the old beaten path, not--withstanding its drawbacks, rather than venture upon ways which have brought us no nearer to a spiri--tualizing Judaism, but have widened divisions, I commend the cause I have pleaded--a punctual attendance in this Synagogue. I hope that when all shall revisit our consecrated courts in perfect health, they will carry out the suggestions I have made on the Sabbath before Pentecost, and the twenty third anniversary of our consecrated edifice.
I have one request more to make, which may also be deemed much out of time. But to have set it forth before, would have been indiscretion; to postpone it might be to defeat the object in con--templation. I am assured that notwith- despite

-standing my urgent solicitation last fall, to provide for the erection of a new Succah or tabernacle at the same time that an amount would be raised for the repairing of the Synagogue, we will be com--pelled to ignore altogether the Mosaic ordinance for want of means. I was informed of that deprecatory circumstance shortly after our having reentered this hallowed edifice, but naturally I dared not then hint at a new collect--ion. It would have been regarded an imposition. But unless I seize this opportunity, I may become myself guilty of a dilatoriness attended with the abolition of a Biblical precept. I must try to keep clear of that sin. If my brothers and sisters in faith who may pleasurably meet in their various circles during the summer season, will form themselves into a committee of the whole, and collect from one another a small contribution, ere the solemn festivals of Tishri arrive, a sufficiency will have been gathered to meet the necessary expense. We shall then celebrate the feast of Tabernacles, as heretofore, agree-ably to the Law and with religious satisfaction to ourselves. (Conclude with a benediction.)

Identifier

p3j09wp41

identifier

SMBx11FF2_17