Elul; Rosh ha-Shanah. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Elul; Rosh ha-Shanah. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated

Author

Morais, Sabato

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 10, Folder 1

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3s46hr1b/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3s46hr1b

Provenance

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

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF1_1.xml

content

For the sabbath before Elul.

Friends! To miss any of my brethren, who are wont to worship in this minor sanctuary, gives me pain; therefore when they reappear, who have for a period been absent, I am of joyful spirits. The number legally required to hold divine service in public, is comparatively small. It may be easily secured. And thanks be to the Lord, only once during the intensely hot season experienced, we failed to obtain it. But....[Hebrew] [Hebrew] "In the multitude of people, is a King's honor;" says Solomon in his proverbs. I verily believe that the Sovereign of the universe, whose eyes are ever open toward this house, which we have built to His name, looks down graciously upon us, when we throng its courts to do Him reverence.
We employ none of the fictitious means, which others have deemed needful to attract Israelites to the Synagogue. The prayers we recite, are those composed in ancient days. Simplicity of manners characterizes our devotional exercises. Hence, it can only be the desire of pleasing God, that prompts you, dear brethren! to join in the orisons and supplications, which I pour forth

in this sacred spot. Oh! may it be so continually in your heart, to love the Creator and Protector of your life, and evince the sincerity of your feelings by hastening unto His divine presence, solely to re--count His marvellous acts. To offer thanksgivings for the past, and implore assistance for the future. I do not disguise the fear I occasionally entertain. In your daily walks you are apt to meet with some, who deride our mode of worshipping as antiquated. They would fain shame you into the adoption of forms, which they hold to be eminently pro--gressive. But I that deplore the estrangement of any of among you from the fold, whereat I have long kept watch, feel ill-at-ease, when I behold those seats vacant, which were formerly occupied on each returning Sabbath.
Am I personally interested? Aye, most assuredly so; but not any more than you yourselves should be, my friends! For, rely on it; the day that this Hebrew congregation, noted among all others in our city, for its seniority; and the standing of its members, shall make a common cause with

those that have overreached the bounds set by the ancients, Judaism now on the decline, will be sped on to the verge of ruin. Our children to whom we should leave a legacy of piety, will be unable to distinguish between the law of God, and the false teachings of man. For, I do not hesitate to say it. The newly introduced changes in the wor--ship are simply a cover. Their ulterior design is to gather strength, wherewith to break down the bridge which connects us with the past. A multitude must needs be raised to do that work of destruction; and they who are bent on completing it, know how to lure into their service the heedless and the unwary. Siren songs and multifluous speeches are resorted to. Their efficacy tells already but too sadly on the cause of religion. You heard, my brethren! in the section of the Pentateuch we have just perused, that among the tokens which must distinguish Israel as the people set apart by the Divinity for a holy purpose, is their abstaining from certain viands. Yet, a few days

ago I was ingeniously asked by a youthful individual of our race, whether I did not think that a differ--ence should no longer be made between a fish which the Bible designates as fit for our use, and that which lacks the requisites specified therein! Such is the legitimate result of the lessons taught in places, ostensibly opened to promote the cause of Judaism, but in reality for the purpose of waging war against its enactments. When notwithstanding the unequivocal prohibition twice written down by the inspired son of Amram, a teacher in Israel enforces by his word and example a violation of all the dietary laws, can we wonder if Holy Writ is looked upon by the rising generation as a sheer myth, and he who expounds it acceptably to their appetites and tastes, as the true prophet of his age? The populace either too much engrossed in worldly pursuits, or, too ignorant, do not weigh upon in the scales of mature judgment, what is proclaimed from the pulpit. Enough, that some one who enjoys the reputation of learned explains away every law to which obedience had been paid hitherto. The course he points out

is congenial with human feelings. It allows mun--dane wishes a free scope; whereas to conform to the olden rules is to endure privations. Therefore is impiety set on high, and the revealed will of our Legislator set at naught.
Now, my beloved friends! I have no reason to flatter myself that all who are attached to my congregation, adhere to the divine prescriptions, to which I have made special allusion. I am aware that the reverse is a fact, and I would be guilty of a glaring falsehood if I denied any knowledge thereof. It would be consummate hypocrisy on my part, to seek the favor of some, by a palliation of sin. Its commission may not be with the expressed design of opposing the biblical command, still it is very general. Would that I could further extenuate it; but I cannot do so, by accepting as correct the idea entertained by some of my brethren; namely, that provided they do not partake of the flesh of an animal forbid in the law, they may, when absent from home, enjoy other meats set before them. I cannot, because that portion in to-day's Parashá, that contains all the dietary prescriptions ordinances, ends as follows:

[Hebrew]. "Ye shall not eat any thing that dies of itself," which sentence clearly implies the necessity of ascertaining by an examination of the entrails, the healthy condition of the animal, set apart for our food. I cannot, because this same section we have read, solemnly warns us against eating any blood; which implies again the obligation of slaughtering the animal in a manner that precludes the total absorption of the blood into the flesh. But despite the recklessness exhibited by my congregation in that respect, I feel that I may nevertheless, be, under Providence, be instrumental in accomplishing some good. My earnest words may awaken my hearers to a sense of their shortcomings; or, they may confirm my conscientious brother in his ideas of a consistent Jewish life.
I may, at the least, check the progress of wilful sin; prevent the full success of sanctioned impiety. Such is the cause wherein I am deeply interested, and in which I long to enlist your sympathies.
Could you but use superior to the incitement of the appetites; could you stand proof against the

jeers of the scoffers and the attacks of the miscre--ants, you would see the flame of religion now flickering without a light, burn steadily and brightly in many a breast. Your goodly example would ac--complish it. Then would I rejoice, and Abra--ham's God be sanctified in our midst, but yours would be the glory and the everlasting reward, ever, the heavenly blessing promised to those who will obey the commandments of the Omnipotent Lord, and He bid our fathers [Hebrew] [Hebrew]. Therefore have I spoken this Sabbath, that preceded the month, on which, we hope and pray, may be the forerunner of a year of happiness to our households [Hebrew]. Be early prepared to meet the God of Israel, by confessions, and wise reform. May I anticipate the sight--to me always gratifying sight of a numerous attendance at the divine service which will be daily performed in our synagogue, from the ensuing week unto the great day of atonement? I would specially call upon my young brother--the Bar Mitzvah-- and his coevals, to thus betimes acquire the merit of promoting public worship. I crave for

their presence, at the time we offer propitiators supplications to our God, and urge the parents to aid me by their authoritative counsel. For verily; "a King is honored by a multitude of people" [Hebrew] [Hebrew]. And, as our Rabbins express it. "Joyful is the Monarch whose subjects sing his praises in his royal dwelling," [Hebrew]

Identifier

p3s46hr1b

identifier

SMBx10FF1_1