Funeral orations. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Jul 1877
- Title
- Funeral orations. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Jul 1877
- Author
- Morais, Sabato
- Date Created
- 1 July 1877
- Format
- 3 pages on 1 sheet
- Language(s)
- English
- Source
- Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
- Sabato Morais Collection, Box 11, Folder 6
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3cn6zj2z/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3cn6zj2z
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx11FF6_45.xml
- content
-
For a funeral
It would be cruel in me to add intensity to the sorrow which weighs down a bereaved household. The mere mention of her, who lies enshrouded within this coffin, would rack and tear a heart, already overwhelmed with domestic trials. The duty of God's servants is to sit by the side of those who mourn, and pour soothing drops into the soul form a cup of consola--tion. Still too fresh is the wound in the present melan--choly instance; too stunning, because so sudden, is the blow, that I may hope to bring in healing and chase away anguish. Time, the agent of Mercy, and pious me--diatations can aid me, after this paroxysm of pain shall be over, in working out, a devout resignation to the will of a Supreme Ruler; a reconciliation to the shifting scenes of this perishable earth.
But the duty of God's servants is also to instruct; to allow no occasion to go unimproved, when he can benefit the living by pointing even to the dead. And I honestly believe that my lamented coreligionist, whom we are about to consign to the grave, may rightly be taken as a pattern of unobtrusive yet startling virtues.
To her a widowed mother turned, and not in vain, for efficient help, and for a sensible interchange of thoughts in the government of home, and of the tem--poral affairs which the untimely decease of the head of the family had entailed. A gentle messen--ger was she, in the hour of need, whose presence restored calmness and urged harmony. Perla Nathans possessed qualities redeeming in their character; atoning for trespasses failings inherent in her nature; Obedience to superiors, friendliness to neighbors, amiability to strangers, kindness and thought--fulness. I may be told that filial devotion, deserves no special priase; that to be affectionate as a sister, attached as a companion, considerate towards the unfortunate, should not call forth a eulogy. Aye: my hearers! We all have learnt by rote the command--ments which religion and civilized society impose. But are we all so faithful in their performance, that to pass any remarks upon the conduct of one who fulfilled the same becomes useless? Are there not, on the con-trary, many children even among those to whose an--cestors the Decalogue was taught at Sinai, who slight, if they do not provokingly oppose the parental will?
Many who treat their equals with contempt, and look upon the needy and unhappy with a pitiless eye? If I respond to my own promptings and to a desire expressed and bestow a meed of encomum upon this lamented sister in faith, it is because she deemed it not only an obligation but a privilege to be found at the bedside of the sick, at the house of the afflicted. You who now listen to my words, testify to their truth--fulness. For you have surrounded this coffin to show sympathy for a loss which a mother in Israel can barely sustain, but also to tell the bereaved that the name which the deceased won by her unaustentatious virtues must be relief to poignant sorrow; a sweet me--morial to the survivors, an incentive to goodness to every one whom she held dear. Oh! may you be so comforted and instructed. May the Almighty who tries us in the crucible of suffering to purify our exist--ence, and fit us for His heavenly association hereafter, support you in this sad hour of separation. May He vouchsafe to hearken unto my prayer, and let you feel serenely resigned and religiously exalted. (Here follows a prayer). - Identifier
- p3cn6zj2z
- identifier
- SMBx11FF6_45
Part of Funeral orations. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Jul 1877
Morais, Sabato, “Funeral orations. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Jul 1877”, Sabato Morais Digital Repository, accessed October 18, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/morais/item/83767