Behar, Behukothai. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Behar, Behukothai. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated

Author

Morais, Sabato

Location(s)

United States -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

United States -- Pennsylvania

Format

4 pages on 1 sheet

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?

Language(s)

English

Source

Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies

Sabato Morais Collection, Box 9, Folder 25

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3ht2gw80/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3ht2gw80

Provenance

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

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx9FF25_2.xml

content

For Behar & Bechukotay
"Unless Thy Law had been my delights, I should then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Thy precepts, for, with them Thou has quickened me." Thus did Thy inspired Psalmist, O everlasting Legislator! speak in his devotion--al outpourings, and so I exclaim before Thee, in my lowness. Often have I looked for a soul-sustaining knowledge in man's conceptions, but I discovered that the truths they impart, are only a reflection of the verities enunciated at Sinai. For, as the lesser orbs borrow their light from the sun, so do human minds send forth luminous thoughts, as they approach the lucid stream of Thy revelation. Would that communities as well as individuals were irradiated by that ever-shining light. Oh! that Thy word O Lord suggestive of healthful and comforting ideas to man, became the guide of nations. For then many grievous evils by reason of which society now groans, would cease to exist. Like in ancient Israel, at the Jubilee, an era would be proclaimed throughout the world, when the inborn rights of all beings formed in Thy image, would be recognized and granted. For, Thou who art "the God of the spirit of all flesh" gavest Thy intelligent creatures the sovereignty of the earth,

not that they might overreach each other, not that the few might lord over the many, but that all should unite in affecting the wise beneficent object of their creation, that is, their happiness here and hereafter. To that end, Thou didst enact those beneficent wise provisions, with which teem the Scriptural sections designated for this Sabbath. While by the Sabbatical year, rural economy was promoted, Thou wouldst foster thereby a sentiment of universal brotherhood, for, the servant like his master, the stranger in proportionate shares with the native, claimed participation of its spontaneous produce. Thou wouldst also supply by it the needy with food, and give afford him some respite, whom adversity had consigned into the power of exacting creditors. That period of rest, detach--ing the mind of the laborer from the soil, raised it towards Thee, by whose loving kindness the fields are made to smile with verdure, and the meadows to grow rich with pasture. For Thou openest Thy goodly treasure, the heavens, to give rain in its due season, and vain will prove all human endeavours, if Thy blessing, O Supreme Ruler! descends not thereupon. But Thou hast pronounced to let it rest upon those who act charitably with their fellow-mortals. Thou hast declared through the purified lips of the son of Amoz,

that the soul which feels pleasure to see distress relieved, shall delight in joys heavenly and perennial. But Thou O God! who hast framed our being, knowest also how the lower instincts of our nature struggle at times for the supremacy. To restrain them, Thou didst represent our stay upon earth, as that of strangers and sojourners, ready at Thy call to set off for our long home. To curb sa covetousness, and plead the cause of the indigent among Thy children, Thou didst denounce usurious dealings as a heinous crime. To save from bondage the unfortunate, who might have surrendered his freedom, to avert destitution, Thou didst bid his relatives hasten to his deliverance. And all the statutes comprised in the two concluding sections of the book of Leviticus, aim to inculcate a love for justice, mercy and humility. "They are more precious than gold, and much fine gold." Happy they who value them as such; happy the government, that inscribes them on its banner. for, upon the fulfilment of those ordinances, national success and national peace mainly depend. As it is written concerning Israel "If ye shall walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, then shall you eat bread to the full, and dwell safely on your land. Ye shall lie down, with none to make you afraid. I will turn myself towards you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my

covenant with you." Everlasting Lord! It has been Thy will to devote the checkered life of our people as an illustration of that truth, for so long as we clung to Thy word, the country of our heritage, enjoyed the fruition of Thy bounties, but no sooner we swerved from its directions, than prosperity fled apace, [?] wars arose, and our prolonged exile followed. Grant, O Father of all mankind! that our suffering because of sin, may be the healing of the communities among whom we dwell. That they may learn to avoid reverses, by rallying round the standard of righteousness. Grant that the spread of social virtues everywhere may speedy the coming of the halcyon days, when tyranny shall cease, cruelty shall be heard of no more; when the ferocious, allegorized by the wolf, and the meek of which the lamb is the symbol, shall lie down together, when the lyon typical of him who rules, and the ox of him that serves, shall be upon a level, when by our hearts shall not be wrong the cry of the oppressed shall not sadden our hearts, and the tears of the afflicted shall be wiped from all eyes. May this be Thy divine resolve, and we merit to witness its early accomplishment. Amen.

Identifier

p3ht2gw80

identifier

SMBx9FF25_2