Beshallah. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1888 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Beshallah. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1888

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1888

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 9, Folder 12

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p30v8b24m/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p30v8b24m

Provenance

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

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx9FF12_4.xml

content

For Beshalach 88
[Hebrew]
[Note: The number 47 is written in pencil, circled, in the top right corner.]

Brethren. The book of Ecclesiastes is, in many respects, a source cause of perplexity to students thinkers, for with sentiments of deep piety and profound wisdom, we read what must sound skeptical and materialistic. We know the obstacles which its admission into the sacred canon met. Whether Solomon wrote that scriptural volume towards the close of his career, when surfeited with worldly goods, discovered he recognized that all striving after temporal gratifications are is vanity of vanities, or whither, as others allege, an author of later ages than David's son, under the guise of a luxurious king, raised doubts that we might solve, and learn by reflection to avoid excesses of all sorts, certain it is that at all events Koheleth is worth studying seriously. One of its sentences gives us this the following instruct-ion: [Hebrew] "On the day of prosperity be joyful, but on the day of adversity consider. God has set the one ever against the other." Now: the our Sabbath section form the Pentateuch, design--ated for this Sabbath, which is, more than ordinarily, suggestive, illustrates, I think, in some of the events nar--rated, the saying of the olden preacher, just quoted.

It presents a graphic picture of a succession of changes in human affairs, which as we often witness, under different aspects, in our own surroundings.
Triumphantly brought out of the sea that engulphed persecuting task masters, and marching on towards the Arabian deserts, liberated Israel suffered three days for want of water to drink. The privation was very great to over two million creatures and their cattle, but journeying further, the precious liquid was at length discovered. Oh! sad disappointment! Put to the lips, it was rejected. Its acrid taste sorely tried a people, that longed to quench their burning thirst. Providence inter--osed His will and bitterness made room turned to sweetness. The enfranchised slaves proceeded forward. A delightful oasis with twelve springs and seventy palm trees with their luscious dates appeared was reached, but soon again the tongues cleaved to the roof of the mouths; parched they were the travellers and weary amidst the hot sand of an inhospitable wilderness. Again, God's intervention came to their aid. Further still they went, to find their path intercepted by a wild tribe bent upon slaughter and spoil. The struggle was short. The God of battles fought for with His chosen host, and tranquillity was restored.

In these narratives I fancy that I see a favorance, as it were the model a typical representation of the contrast which communities everywhere set to view. In one spot a gorgeous mansion. All is comfort there within, all is brilliant with modern inventions. Not very distant off a hovel of misery. Here the sound shout of noisy banquetting, there the cry of hunger. In a chamber of gladness over a newly born babe; in another gloom overspread by death. On the streets nuptial music and the sound of muffled drams strike the ear of the passerby. Who that has a mind to think, has not noted down such contrasts? But not simply in communities at large, is this alternating of pleasure and sorrow per--ceptible. An hour may suffice to change our state; to cast us from the height of prosperity to the depth of adversity; while, on the other hand conversely, we may have heard of some who lay themselves down in penury, and awoke to find a heritage, not dreamt of, within reach. Again: we may have observed how one who yesterday appeared so strong as to defy illness, is to day broken down in health. So will the scene of life alter its aspects, as nature does.

Now a storm beclouding the sky, anon calm and brightness pervading it. The Psalmist expresses the sentiment thus [Hebrew] "In the evening weeping may be our bed companion; in the morning song". Realizing then the uncertainty of the present, the innumerable occurrences which may alter it; what course ought we mortals to follow? Ko--helette has showed it [Hebrew] [Hebrew] "on the day of prosperity be joyful, but on the day of adversity, consider. God has set the one over against the other." If we enjoy affluence, we should make it conducive it to our hap--piness. The Almighty wills it. We should fully avail ourselves of it the Divine boons, but not to grow to forget ourselves, not imagining to have gained an immoveable stability, and grow elated, and like a haughty braggart of old, say [Hebrew] "I have gathered wealth by the strength of my own hand, and through my own wisdom ingenuity, recognizing the instability insecurity of things; hearing in mind possible mutations, for I am intelligent", but rather we should exclaim, like Jacob, exclaim, [Hebrew] "My father's God has been with me." He has prospered my ways. His sentiment will season our pleasures; add zest to human delights, hold us in check & in the path of goodness. If, on the contrary, we are humbly situated, the instabi- insecurity -lity of human mutability inconstancy of mundane concerns, will not so depress our spirits as to incapacitate us for manly efforts. We shall will consider.

At present fortune seems to mock our endeavours, our perseverance brings us no reward advantage, but finally our a determined resolve to overcome impediments by dint of industry, will carry success in its train. Aye: it is when pondering on the changes that individuals, as well as communities, undergo, that we will keep our minds well balanced. We shall avoid the madness of those, who, whirling round a circle of enjoyments unending schemes for self-aggrandisement, never stop to heed the demands of humanity; we shall shun also the folly of such as sink their manhood into a state of depression. A person ready to accept a Divine dispensation, rejoices in humility over wh the good, which is at present in his possession, without losing sight of the possibility of a different future. His appreciation of that possibility, does not imply the necessity of living in dread of reverses; it does not counsel the cowardliness of the miser, whom the idea of losing his substance robs even of his night's rest. [Hebrew], but it commends modera--tion, contentment, fellow-feelings with beings who struggle to rise honestly, kindliness, thoughtful consideration and, above all, implicit reliance in the Supreme Lord Ruler.

There exists an immeasurable sharp line distinguishing difference distinction between a reasonable prudence which is prepared for the un--foreseen and the vulgar fear which constantly trembles at imagines descries to be disasters looming up; thus rendering the rich man very poor indeed amidst abundant ease, and making his heart's blood so stagnant, so that it cannot be is never quickened at the sight of a neighbour's want. Why, because our condition may change, shall we renounce the fruition of blessings granted by a beneficent Lord? Shall we, of our own accord, anticipate evils that have not befallen us? Truly, the improvidence of the necessitous, is not so reprehensible as the craven apprehensions of the opulent with "seared conscience, uninfluenced untouched unmoved by the cry of charity. But both ex--tremes must be studiously avoided [Hebrew] [Hebrew] "On the day of prosperity be joyful, but on the day of adversity, consider. God has set the one over against the other." [Hebrew] "Be joyful" not narrowly but broadly, seeking pleasure in promising pursuits, but also relieving the heavy burdens that many have to bear, [Hebrew] Consider wiping off tears from the eyes of the distressed, gaining winning a name and an eternity by humanity.

[Hebrew] "Consider," says Ecclesiastes to the hitherto unfortu--nate, consider not to sink in indolence, but to gird on strength to fight obstacles, and conquer "impediments to gain a temporal advancement. In fact, do we not occasionally hinder our own forward movements be--cause we choose the pride of sloth as our companion in the journey of life? The decay of families is at times the affect of a stop--page of wholesome exertions to keep up progress., the consequence of extravagance of of lack of system of Judicious government, of the a home training of in idleness and recklessness, more than the sudden clogging of the wheel of fortune. CContrawise, men's rising from a lowly state is not rarely the as attendant of indefatigable activity and a well regulated conduct. Thus while inertness ac--companied with dejectedness would have plunged the one who eng encourages such feelings into the depth of misery, his a brave struggle to not to yeild to unmanliness, per--formed miracles of success.
These considerations will show how wisely vindicate the dealings of God who has set the one thing against the other [Hebrew]; prosperity with the thought of possible vicissitudes to retain us in virtue, adversity with the hope of mounting high on the ladder of material and social progress by untiring endeavours.

Ye, brethren, He who governs nations, as well as individuals, designed that our enjoyments may grow sweeter by contrast with the privations that our fellow- all mortals are liable to endure, in the same manner as temporary momentary darkness makes light more brilliant in our sight, and as tempo-rary sickness makes us value the possession of good health more greatly. The Almighty purposed to stir us up to work, to the exercise of our faculties bodily and mental, towards our human perfectibility, so that meditating on passing events, we might, under all circumstances, recognize Him as the Bestower of all the means of our advancement, the Arbiter of our destiny, and copying His attributes of mercy and truth, and trusting Him implicitly and entreating Him confidently as children an all-loving Father, we may become worthy of His unending favors.
Oh Ruler of the Universe! Endow us with the capacity to rise higher for our welfare and that of others with whom we are associated humanly and religiously. Cast Thy heavenly shield round our lives and our substance, that nei--ther may be exposed to danger, but tech us to ponder on the mutations of sublunary affairs, that we may become inspired as with hu--mility, charity and pious serenity now & evermore. Amen.

Identifier

p30v8b24m

identifier

SMBx9FF12_4