Funeral orations. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1855 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Funeral orations. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1855

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1855

Location(s)

United States -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

United States -- Pennsylvania

Format

7 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 10

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3p26qn7r/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3p26qn7r

Provenance

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

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx11FF10_9.xml

content

A funeral address
1855

"Oh! let me die the death of the righteous, and let my latter end be like hers" Whoever you are, that prompted by veneration have gathered around the mortal remains of Esther Hart, come nigh unto me, whilst I, with a grievous heart, perform the obsequies of one so dear. Look upon this coffin: in the body confined therein, there dwelt a noble soul; there dwelt a soul that beat panted for every thing which is holy, good and true. Religion in its purest sense, charity in its widest sphere, knowledge of the useful to an unparallelled degree, were the possessions of that animating spirit. Yes, I can unhesitatingly say that Esther Hart was religious, but her religion bore no comparison with that of such, who scrupulous in the minutest observance, look with scorn or hatred upon others that follow a different course; for, although she herself implicitly abided' alike by the written and by the oral law, yet was she liberal towards the professors of other creeds, and tolerant towards her coreligionists who relaxed in their duties. Too late in her life-time, it was my good fortune to form her delightful acquaintance, and then her advanced age could not suffer her to betake herself as formerly to the house of God, but this much I can avouch for, that this righteous woman, thrice very day poured forth her prayers

before the God of Israel. Nor were those pious habits that she had acquired from her youth, and never abandoned, the sole virtue which endeared our deceased friend to every heart: she was charitable. When in the vigor of life, she had watched over the bed of the sick, and soothed the last pang of the dying. She had sought the hut of the miserable, and con--veyed thither sustenance and comfort, aye, I have learnt it and from an undoubted authority, that she had visited the dungeons of those whom society discards as the offscouring of the human family, and granted them also relief and counsel. But you have seen my ever-to be lamented friend! Tell me then, was not the pure spirit within brightly reflected on her placid countenance? Can you forget that benevolent smile that greeted your approach, and the pressure of the hand that bid you farewell? Those eyes that spoke sympathy for ever sufferer, and that forehead which betokened an inquiring and a well regulated mind? for, notwithstanding that the one whose loss we moan was not conspicuous for literary attainments, she was netherl nevertheless endued with abundant sense, and to the very last stage of her existence she thirsted for knowledge and drank it with ardour from whatsoever source it came. And to me, she would oftentimes propound queries, whose solution required much pondering and study;

to me, to whom (because she bore me motherly affection) she would allow to visit her even when the power of speech had nearly forsaken her. But now Alas! she whom I loved and venerated, she whom you all respected, is gone from us. Her benignant look will no more revive our spirits, her suavity of manners, exhibited even at periods when sorely tried (for God did severely try his servant) her serene and tranquil mien will no more be to our children a pattern worthy of imitation. In vain will we come on the Sabbaths and on the days of solemnity to seek her place; we shall not find her there, for, the hand which rested upon our heads, death has paralized, the morl mouth which was wont to pronounce over us the threefold blessing mentioned in the law of the Eternal, will com--mune no longer with the living. A void is felt in our hearts, a gloom has been cast over our Community.
But if the loss sustained by in the demise of Esther Hart whelms her friends with grief, what must be the feelings of her own flesh and blood, those, to whom she ever was an indulgent and a forgiving parent & for whose sake she sacrificed every gratification which the outward world proffers? How very acute must be the pain which at this moment tears their breasts?.......... And what will assuage that deep sorrow? What will console them? Will effect it the thought that their mother had

[Hebrew] outlived the existence allotted to humanity effect it? No, for although stricken in years, she was the joy, the light, the blessing of her household; and that delightful & devoted daughter, whose very breath seemed to depend upon the breath of her venerable parent, might feel the truth of but could not be tranquillized by that mere consideration. But will perchance a long argument on the uncertainty of life, and on the natural exhaust--ion of the human frame, succeed better in wiping away the tears that bedew the couch of the desolate children? No, the mind will be be satisfied by the force of that reason, but when the heart bleeds, stronger appliances are needful in order to heal its wounds. Come then, thou holy religion, and pour thy balmy unction over the mourners. Speak to them of the heavenly habitation where the souls of the righteous are imparadised. Call to their perturbed mind the promise that they who fear God before all men, shall delight in immensity of goodness in a life of immortality [Hebrew] [Hebrew]--Tell them that that excellent mother, that most beloved friend, that kind mistress, whose irreparable loss they bewail, is yet alive where death dares not enter, that her spirit hovers over them, watches them and beckons them to pursue her career, if they desire to obtain eternal salvation.

Yes, thou blessed soul of my departed friend, thou art surely happy in the contemplation of truth; thou art beatified at the footstool of mercy; thou art glorious among the saints, because thus have the Sages that thou hast revered expressed themselves" Happy shall be the man that laboreth to understand the law, that he may do that which pleaseth his Maker; he that enjoyeth a good name in life, and departeth hence with a good repute, for, of such a one did Solomon in his wisdom say, that the day of the death is better than that of the birth" Aye, it was a glorious day for thee, when untrammelled from this mortal coil, thou didst take a flight to that abode, where thy reward awaited thee. From thence, gentle spirit of Esther Hart, pray for thy children, whom thou hast left inconsolable in this vale of misery; pray that they may seek comfort and hope only from the Rock of Jacob, the sole Power of salvation; pray that the memory of thy piety may prove to them a shield against the attack of hereticks and unbelievers; pray, as we beseech the Lord for thy everlasting repose, that they who bore thee love and veneration may deserve a blessing from above.
And now thou body senseless clay, which for a long series of years hast been the receptacle of an angelic soul, go to thy last destination;

for, "the dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave it"----

Identifier

p3p26qn7r

identifier

SMBx11FF10_9