Funeral orations. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Jun 1879 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Funeral orations. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Jun 1879

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1 June 1879

Location(s)

United States -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

United States -- Pennsylvania

Format

6 pages on 2 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 6

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p37w67q8k/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p37w67q8k

Provenance

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

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx11FF6_42.xml

content

For a funeral
The pillars in the palace of a Roman Emperor at Cesarea, which had often seen Rabbi Abbahu enter, shed tears when the Sage expired. So does the Talmud, in its eastern phraseology, describe the loss which the community sustained by the decease of a man deserving well of his coreligionists. The older representative of his brethren had weilded the influence he could command, most righteously; while his stately form and the characters of the five heirs of his learning and virtue, added dignity to the position held.
Israelites! On Friday last when the sun verging to its decline was about to usher in the holy Sabbath, the pillars in the palace mansion of our living King wept for grief. He, whom they had seen come and stand eminently, would be no more visit the consecrated courts. Henry Cohen had died was dead. The powers he exercised for good had sunk with the body heretofore restlessly active to give the habitation of our Sovereign Lord glorious permanence. That portly figure which that which imparted (imposingness) to the station occupied, had changed into a motionless corpse. And I who grasped the hand extended, as if in the act of craving imploring the last office which a believing Jew wishes craves

from one of god's servants, felt, when that hand was seized by death, the whole weight of the calamity, which disaster I felt that a deep great calamity had befallen the weeping Synagogue. At that fear--ful moment, the past flashed before my mind and con--jured up visions sad to contemplate. I beheld a host of well-trained defenders of our hoary-headed Mother--the Jewish Church--summoned away, leaving their posts often to the onset of unnatural children. I remembered also how the msiles of inconstant fortune had turned into angry looks. I bethought myself of the struggle between bodily infirmities and unabated zeal, and of the cruel victory which the former won. Most severe was indeed deemed then the last blow, for few had had remained to assuage the pain it had it inflicted.
Three years ago we chose as our temporal leader this Hebrew man. What suggested his name spontaneously to every reflecting member of the congregation? His social standing, and a general knowledge of the views he entertained. For, Henry Cohen did not hide his attachment to the ancestral observances because he enjoyed the familiar intercourse of the cultured and respected among the professors of another creed.

He reverenced his religion, and held tenaciously thereto thereunto,--as an inalienable birth--right, in the presence of the world. Without seeking a controversy, the intelligent Hebrew keenly relished the opportunity which enabled him to explain the reason for continuing loyal to the Law and the Prophets. Nor was had our Chief, whose demise I deplore been merely an occasional visitor in the minor sanctuary. All saw him, undeterred by distance, a in his usual seat, a love worship worshipper, ready to signify his appreciation of the honors belonging to his tribe as scions of the stock of Aaron, by generous donations. The selection had been therefore wisely designed and merited. Did it prove so?....Who puts that question? Would I utter a strained lament before the dead; lie to the living, if the late President of my congregation had as such, intentionally fallen short of his duties? If he had been untrue to his trust? If he had deceived the confidence founded on a widely established reputation? Never. Eagerness to promote the welfare of the synagogue he unequivocally showed on solemn days by deeds of liberality. An ardent desire to enhance the impressioness of our ancient service, he so obviously evinced on winter

nights, when despite a fatal malady stealing upon his body, the President travelled from afar to meet the Minister and aid help in the efforts of training the votaries that offered their voices to sing to God har--moniously. These traits in the official deportment of our temporal Director assumed a bright vivid form, when declarations of our faith "Adonaï, He is God". "The Eternal Lord is One," and I wept. Not for the dear object lost, because that had already found its destined place. It was deposited in the treasury of the Omnipotent King. I wept for us the losers, for us who must needs go in search of what, alas! is growing daily more rare.
In a narrow limit the departed compared with the Talmudical Sage of Cesarea. He possessed distinction in the sphere wherein he had long moved, and commanded besides disposable means. Appearance and influence, he could also bring to bear usefully in the discharge of his va--rious duties. And I pondered on that as I closed his eyes. But I cast a look around and recognized then another point of resemblance. It inspired a comforting

thought. Like the Rabbi at whose demise--according to the Talmudic hyperbole--the pillars in the palace of the Roman Emperor shed tears. according to the Talmudic hyperbole. Henry Cohen had fine descendants whom neither their country nor their people will have cause to disclaim. There they stood in anguish, but with the fortitude which a pious training had breathed. Bent in agony to hear the last breathing of their father, but uplifted in spirit to Him whose goodness they have been were early taught to adore. Sublime spectacle in its sorrowfulness! Grand scene spite of its distressing features!... Heirs of my friend! Your present and prospective de--meanour socially and religiously was the pride of your parent, while he lavished on you the abundance of his affection. And you will, I am certain, add honor to his memory by exceeding the expectations he had sanguinely formed. More it does not become me to say.
But the throbbings of my heart speak with a flowing eloquence, which my lips refuse to shape into words, when I recall the self-denial of your mother, her vigils and breathless watching, the suppressing of every emotion which might betray the startling fear of the approaching a lasting separation

on earth from the husband; aye: the confiding lover, as in early days. The silvery chord is broken sundered apart. She feels as if rent in her very vitals. Be you her soothing restorative, her stay, her abiding consolation. Be a unit in acts and sentiments to cheer the wrath of her existence, that she may not long experience the piercing chill of this woful pass.
And Thou Sovereign Lord! Bid angels of peace hover over this dwelling of bereavement, and but Oh! vouchsafe likewise to raise deliverers for Thy holy habitation. Hebrews fresh with f vigour, glowing with zeal, employing alacrity quickly to fill up a gap, sagacity readily to remedy defects. Hebrews like of old, rising gigant--ically as a bulwark to traditional Judaism defending it at great that it may receive protection and an eternity of name. a name and a place sacrifices, to all eternity.

Identifier

p37w67q8k

identifier

SMBx11FF6_42