Bar mitsvahs. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Jun 1890 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Bar mitsvahs. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Jun 1890

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1 June 1890

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 1

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3c825000/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3c825000

Provenance

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

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx11FF1_16.xml

content

S. MORAIS,
546 N. Fifth St.
Philadelphia,

On the Haftorah for Behangalotecha
for a Bar Mitzvah

June/90
Whatever may be the real origin of the prophetic section read on Sabbaths, holidays and fasts in the Synagogue; whe--ther it be, as Elias Levitas of the 16th century wrote that it was intended to substitute the recital of the Pentateuch, which Antiochus Epiphanes in his unta--mable fanaticism had forbidden, or whether it be as Ra--poport the Hebrew critic of our days learnedly tries to prove, that it was instituted to pay regard to the seers of Israel, whose teachings orally commented on served as a sort of lecture, suiting the occasion, certain it is that in very many instances the connection be--tween the Haftorah and the Parasha was cleverly found. The prophecy which our young brother has just read to us, as his first worthy commendable endeavour, is rather peculiar, in--asmuch as it answers for two occasions, for the Sabbath of Hanuccha, and for this Sabbath. But in both cases the leading idea is the same, namely, to set to view the mission of the Cohen, or priest of the Lord. He must give us light, as celestially received.

Zachariah's vision the seven ranched Menorah obtained an unceasing supply of pure oil, which kept it miraculously unquenched. A fitting symbol emblem was that as applied to the permanence of God's people through luminous knowledge. When this seemed about to die off, because Grecianism--the rest--less spirit of the time--had very nigh blown it out, a family of priests kindled it again into a blaze. The Asmoneans vindicated the outraged Torah. They became the richly laden olive trees that invisibly let in a current of the fluid, maintaining the lamp of God vividly alive. Sensibly was therefore that section of the prophet Zachariah chosen for the occasion commemorative of the stirring Maccabean epoch. It became suited it well metaphorically by anticipation. But that Haftorah properly belongs to this Sabbath, whose portion of the Law opens with the ordinance given Aaron to so prepare arrange the candlestick in the Sanctuary, that its flame may spread a clear light all around. [Hebrew] [Hebrew]. The Cohen's function was to provide for a far reaching and all illumining medium.

Joshua son of Jehozadak, figuring conspicuously in Zechariah's vision, was a worthy successor of the first priest to whom that charge was entrusted. Patriotism stirred in burned within his heart, with piety was he guided. He loved his fathers' hearthstone, he loved his people dearly. To contribute to the resuscita--tion of both he had headed, with some noble coworkers, that band of faithful who left Persia Persia of Cyrus & Darius which pro--mised comparative ease and prosperity, to share the difficulties and dangers attending the looked for res--toration of a national Temple in Palestine. The prophet calls that Joshua [Hebrew] a brand plucked from the fire, meaning a Cohen who passed unscathed through a prevalent consuming evil--dis--loyalty to the faith. Zachariah sees that zealous priest diademned in silver and gold. [Hebrew] [Hebrew] Yet, he could not avert his eyes from certain spots which impaired the beauty of the sacerdotal garments of worn by one otherwise stainless.

Joshua son of Zehozadak himself was all enthusiasm for the Jewish cause. Not so his children. They made him feel the keen sorrow, unhappily neither singular nor rare in our own days. Four of his sons had wedded heathen gentile women. They had polluted his priestly robe. Should he have been held accountable, so long as his conduct at home as well as abroad re--mained unexceptionable? Never; therefore even before the sinful children of the sinless father had promised to carry out the harsh but imperati--vely necessary measure of Ezra the priest, to break off their unlawful marriages, Zechariah heard in his vi--sion the voice of the Just God rebuke the accu--ser who would have laid upon the parent the guilt of his offspring [Hebrew] Joshua is promised there & then the association of the saints who stand in the presence of the Lord, if he will hold to his assigned post unswervedly, do what is right though all may go astray, serve the Almighty with singleness of purpose, watch over the in--terest of the whole people, be an inextinguish--able light in the sight of Israel.

Well, brethren, I will not trespass too long on this summer morning. My few remarks on our Haftorah, are simply prefatory of a friendly ad--dress intended for a Bar Mitzvah, in whose future I feel sincere interest. My dear young brother. Looking backward I dare predict a marked progress. Humanly speaking your social promotion is assured. Unusually well developped in body during past years, kept wakeful in mind all along, and sur--rounded by refining influences, you will, under Providence, succeed hereafter in what is conducive to your temporal welfare. But looking backward, I discover also spiritual forces at work, impelling you forward. You cannot remain immoveable when so incited. Wise is the saying in the book of Job [Hebrew] With the aged dwells know--ledge, and with those who have lived many days un--derstanding, and practically to be carried out is the teaching of Moses in his last warning of to the tribes [Hebrew] Ask of thy father and he will tell thee, and of thy elders and they will say to thee what the history of the past demands.

Acting conformably to such maxims you will not degenerate. The living and the dead will point out to you where the light abides which will fill you with ardor, with the warmth of enthusiasm, which you may infuse into others. A descendant of Phineas the zealous priest of Joshua son of Jehozadak the patriotic priest of Johanan and Mattathias the Asmoneans, the heroic priests you will consult the annals of your predecessors, and if immediate advice be not at hand, a study of those annals will create a glow of racial pride, and you will take your stand by the side of those among your ancestry, who lived in thorough loyalty to the Torah. I must express my satisfaction at having heard you read both the Law and the Prophets on this sabbath which you will always remember. The greater is my satisfaction, because you will not be compelled, like many of your coevals to abandon your religious studies, and withdraw your presence form the house of God, in order to go in quest of a situation, either to help with small earnings destitute parents,

or to follow a too prematurely an ambition for self dependence. You will let sacred know--ledge keep pace with secular learning, and when your suave reputation shall have arisen high among the dwellers of Philadelphia in the scale of science, you will still be known as the Jew learned in his faith, bearing with pride the name of Mayer Cohen. Such is my great hope and earnest prayer on your Bar Mitzvah day.

Identifier

p3c825000

identifier

SMBx11FF1_16