Penitential Sabbath (Shabat shubah). Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1892 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Penitential Sabbath (Shabat shubah). Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1892

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1892

Location(s)

United States -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

United States -- Pennsylvania

Format

8 pages on 3 sheets

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?

Language(s)

English

Hebrew

Source

Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies

Sabato Morais Collection, Box 10, Folder 2

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3988370z/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3988370z

Provenance

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

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF2_13.xml

content

S. MORAIS,
546 N. FIFTH STREET,
PHILADELPHIA.

66
For the penitential Sabbath
5652

An worthy brother Israelite, young in years, but mentally well developped called on me last Monday evening for coun--sel and instruction. He avowed his want of knowledge of Jewish theology, hence his mind had been somewhat disturbed by a conversation which he had lately held with an acquaintance born and educated as reared as a Christian. The latter had pictured his own religion as preeminently spiritual, and comforting in the highest degree. These claims of superiority above to Judaism were based upon what was set forth as admitted facts, namely; one who follows the teaching of the man of Nazareth, will attach no im--portance to this transient world and its fleeting pleasures. He will rather direct his constant thoughts to a hereafter which lasts endures everlastingly, and yearn for its joys. Again; a Christian, however sinful, bears within himself the assurance of Divine forgiveness, for, a belief in the atoning power of the cross instills it. This last assertion was illustrated by the case of a person guilty of a heinous offence. In a fit of passion he had thrown at a neighbor's a weapon which he had in his hand, and which occasioned instant death. Though acquitted by the courts of justice, the homicide was haunted by the awful deed,

haunted the homicide, until existence became an insufferable burden. Finally, a coreligionist of his, who was firmly attached adhered to the doctrines of the Church, aroused him from a state of the deepest depression, by pointing to the Calvary, where—as he alleged—god put on flesh and made himself a voluntary sacrifice for all sinners. The one who had committed manslaughter felt then relieved. My visitor said that at this point stage of the narrative his companion turned triumph--antly to him and asked inquired whether the Jewish faith can offer its votaries such consolations, and I was asked: "Have you any knowledge that might help to prove the creed by which you we swear equally grateful to the penitent?" I answered by opening the pages of the book which is our sole guide. First: That the world in which a loving Leader Father has placed us must not be looked upon with indif--ference, was told us by an undisputed authority, even by the inspired son of Amoz. "Thus has said the Lord, the Creator of the heavens; He who is the God who that formed the earth and made it, He that has established it, not for nothing He created it, to be inhabited He formed it" [Hebrew] Are we the dwellers thereof to turn with contempt upon what the Wisest Beneficence molded for man's enjoyment?--a terrestrial existence?

Must we declare it valueless, because we should believe in another state perfectly spiritual? To argue so would be like holding that a child may despise and cast aside important tokens of his parents' affection, because he expects that the future will bring him parental gifts of rarer worth [Hebrew] we are taught by the prophet. Far be from us so obvious an ingratitude. Not in vain, but for a definite be--nign purpose God brought forth the world we live in, and all that can render existence pleasurable. The Rabbis who inculcate the doctrine of an existence life beyond the grave with great frequency and emphasis do not say that we are bound in a prison here below, but they compare this world to the porch of a palace [Hebrew] Mark it well: a the porch of a magnificent mansion is not a dismal fail, but a stately wide and ornamental stately entrance way. In that ante--chamber, as it were, we must fittingly prepare ourselves, so that when the time arrives for being admitted into the presence of the King, we shall be found deserving of His royal approval accep welcome. [Hebrew] They who fail to suitably arrange themselves in a manner becoming the beneficiaries of the

the Sovereign Lord, or to say it in plainer words, persons who like a shuttlecock are plaid against continually by the exactions of a material existence, tormented by their inca--pacity of resistance, may call the habitation in which the Almighty put us, sadly probationary, not so men whose cra--vings are under control and who acknowledge a heavenly hand that scatters blessings. A Jew who makes his daily devotions, praises H his Maker because of the luminaries that gladden a created world [Hebrew]
Now, as regard the instance of the homicide, casting his burden on the deified being whom the church proclaims co--existent with the Omnipotent, and able to wash away sin, I did at once confess to my inquiring visitor that my sym--pathies, are not with creatures possessed of intelligence who leave governing reason behind to become slaves of to destructive propensities. The consolation which my religion offers is not built upon a barren creed, but on fruitful deeds. At this stage of my conversation with the anxious youth, who had called at my house, I laid my finger on the eight--eenth chapter of Ezekiel and read sentences which I will now quote in part. Says the Lord, "Behold, all the souls are mine, as the soul of the father, so that of the son;

they are mine, the soul that sins that alone shall die."...If a man be just, he exercises justice and righteous--ness....but he begets a dissolute son, who sheds blood......oppresses the poor and needy, is guilty of robbery...... gives out money upon usury; should he live? He shall not live. He has done all those abominations, he shall surely die; his blood shall be upon him. Now, if he begets a son, who seeing all the sins which his father com--mitted, considers and does not the like of them..... he shall not die for the iniquity of his father; he shall surely live" [Hebrew]. Here we are given in the clearest and most explicit manner language the law of personal accountability, not to be shifted, nor transferred to any being supposed either reputed as heavenly or in all reality earthly. The guilty ones themselves must suffer for their offences--[Hebrew] "The soul that sins, it that alone shall die." I looked and saw the face of my visitor troubled. He remembered the Christian who had spoken of the comforting healing soothing balm applied to the stricken conscience of the repentant; of the joyous feelings derived from the dogma of forgiveness through a mediator, and he interrogated me as to the end of a Jewish sinner.

Will he be lost for ever? No Is there no expiation for his back--slidings? Again the prophet in the river Chebar was appealed to in order to tranquillize a disturbed mind. We illumined understanding of Ezekiel had read pity, grace, love in the ordinations decrees of the Most High, and he inter--preted the Divine qualities luminously. "If the wicked will turn away from all his sins that he committed, and keep all Thy statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, in his righteousness that he has done, he shall live. All his transgressions which he committed, shall not be remembered against him; by his righteousness that he has done, he shall live." Then in with an outburst of affect--ion for his people, the great Seer so addresses them. "Cast away from you all your transgressions and make yourself a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For, I have no pleasure in the death of him who deserves to die, says the Lord God, therefore turn back and live." What does does then purchase our redemption? Not blood, but actions, not the blind acceptance of a mind-perplexing doctrine, but an unshaken resolve to reform, and cling to virtue.

But suppose such a case as that brought forward by the Christian interlocutor should happen to a Jew, would that unfortunate offender, bent in contribution, find no healing to his lacerated soul? Surely he would, if sincerity draws forth tears of repentance [Hebrew] [Hebrew] The suffering of compunction, mental trials, bodily chastisements have the power to cleanse away inequi--ties; such is the Rabbinical maxim, and the Talmud is replete with app aphorisms which are a refreshing dew to the mind withering at the memory of crimes in the days that have gone, but and which have called for sorrow and remorse. In the place allotted to the penitent, even the perfect righteous will not be given room" [Hebrew] and again, penitence is the supreme court the acquits the guilty [Hebrew] Let none tremble who possess such supporting as--surances when about to cross over to the way of eternity, but we must procure them early while we enjoy our full faculties, while we have the capacity to do wrong and will determinedly abstain to honor truth and glorify the Eternal Lord. So beautifully writes one of our greatest ascetic philosophers in the beginning of the 12th century.

O my soul, make thy provision ready, while full power is given thee to gather it. Say not wait to morrow I shall prepare it, for thou knowest not what a day may will bring forth, yesterday will never return come again; the looked for tomorrow may not ne'er arrive, for like a bu bird flying out of its nest, so man may suddenly depart from his abode. And That he the pious monitor proceeds long, concluding with these comforting words. My [?] seek the Lord thy Master, lay hold of righteousness, put on humility meekness like a vesture thou wilt rise aloft shining with undiminished bright--ness, even like the hen going that cometh forth in all its might, singing the praises of the Most High God. May we all that so act, and receive God's par--don and God's blessings without end. Amen.

Identifier

p3988370z

identifier

SMBx10FF2_13