Penitential Sabbath (Shabat shubah). Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
- Title
- Penitential Sabbath (Shabat shubah). Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
- Author
- Morais, Sabato
- Format
- 9 pages on 4 sheets
- Language(s)
- English
- Source
- Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
- Sabato Morais Collection, Box 10, Folder 2
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3d21s45h/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3d21s45h
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF2_15.xml
- content
-
On Penitence
[Hebrew]
Brethren. In the days of old, when a public fast was proclaimed to avert some impending cala- -mity, our ancestors assembled largely numerously in a very spacious place, and chose form their midst a person, whose admonitions--supported by the weight of his character--might beneficially impress all hearers and draw them again near to God. That respect man mounting a pulpit, thus addressed his audience: "Brethren: neither your sackcloth nor your fasting will avail you, repentance and virtuous actions will effect a purpose. For, Holy Writ declares that the people of Nineveh received God's pardon not by reason of their abstaining from food and drink and dressing coarsely, but through their good deeds." [Hebrew] In the same language, those whom Jewish congregations have selected as spiritual guides, must now speak with all the powers at their command, even now at this most solemn time, when God's sentence is about
to be pronounced. Israelites. If a steadfast determination to conform here--after to the dictates of religion, impells you to celebrate this soul-stirring season of our year, you will benefit yourselves everlastingly. You will be relieved of the burden of former trespasses by the mercy of a universal Father. But if a fatal error should lure you into the belief that outward worship will com--pensate for shortcomings, you will simply add to the weight of that burden.
Let me quote the Sages [Hebrew] He that says: I will follow my own inclinations whatever they may be, for the day of atonement will make it all right, is for ever lost. But I will not generalize, when it is my bounden duty to enter into particulars. [Inserted:] We read in the Mishnah, which is the repository of Jewish traditions, that in the days of old, when a public fast was proclaimed, our ancestors assembled in large number at a place well fitted for the occasion. A person, the weight of whose character would lent his words great influence would be asked to address the multitudes. What was the nature of the sermon? No rhetorical flourishes, not a display of doctrinary powers distinguished it. The preacher went straight into the subject without preliminary remarks. He quoted the Bible and showed by what means pardon can be purchased. Not by tearing one's garments and by weeping; not by putting on sackcloth and submitting to the thirty nine stripes, nor even by chastening the body with a privation of food and drink. The only and sure way to bring about a reconciliation between the sinner and his God, is to sin no more; or, to say it in the ex-hortative language of Daniel to King Nebuchadnezzar, [Hebrew] "redeem thy faults by righteousness." The people of Nineveh upon hearing that a doom was impending, cried loudly, sat upon ashes and prayed, but Holy Writ recording those circumstances, urges says nevertheless [Hebrew] "God saw their actions" namely [Hebrew] "that they turned away form their evil doings" Nearly in about this manner that man chosen in ancient times to preach penitence, spoke. In the same lan--guage or very near much like it, persons chosen by Jewish Congregations as spiritual guides must speak on this Sabbath preceding the awe inspiring annual fast. Brethren. Most consolatory is the in--struction of the prophet on the river Chebar. In his days, like as in those the days of his predecessors contemporary Jeremiah, our ancestors made use of a current proverb, to signify that repentance was of no account absolutely powerless because the children must unavoid-ably suffer on account of the iniquities of their parents. At that, Ezekiel arose with all the power of truth to vindicate the justice of God. Not so, he exclaimed: the soul of the father and the soul of the son are mine, the soul that sinneth that shall die. Every one according to his own ways will I judge you, O house of Israel, says the Lord God: Make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit, turn back and live. Those sentiments which inspiration dictated found expression on the lips of the Sages: [Hebrew]. No partition can separate us from God, if we approach Him in penitence. But do you know what is an impenetrable unbroken division? An error unhappily pre-valent among some Israelites. Never mind our prevarications, never mind our acting the whole year round as if the Decalogue had not been delivered; as if the 11th chapter of the book of Leviticus had never been written, Yom Kippur will make it set all right. For by abstaining from two meals, we pay up make in compensation for all transgressions and are square again. No exclaim the Talmudists [Hebrew] [Hebrew]. He who thinks that he can do wrong and the day of atonement can rectify all things, will die with black stains on his soul. But I will not generalize when it is my painful duty to descend into particulars. A falling off in the observance &c [end insert] A falling off in the observance of Biblical ordinances is indeed visibly great. It was once our boast that the Mosaic Law acted as a check upon immoral wrong practices, but with its gra--dual abandonment there has grown a looseness of principles
which sets our coreligionists in a very unenvi--able light. Were I disposed to offer to view what the domestic roof covers up, I might point to husbands who sadden the existence of their best friends on earth by habits clashing with domestic obligations home duties; I might show sons who draw scalding tears from the authors and supporters of their earthly existence, sisters whose petty quarrels es--trange from each other, brothers whose incompatibility of temperament ripened into hatred. But I forbear, not because such acts deserve justification in any degree, but because thank God their commission is neither very prevalent nor so unblushingly displayed as some others. For, I hold it as my opinion, that when sin stalks abroad with an air of defiance, then are the chosen guardians of the faith principally called upon to brand it with the stigma of public reproach.
Now: it is notoriously known that of all transgressions, the desecration of the Sabbath is the most rampant. Perhaps at no period of our history in modern times has that offense against the Decalogue been so wide-spread and so unconcernedly perpetrated. I had fancied that our ancestors could not have credited predicted that liberty and the promulgation at Sinai would have come into open collision, and I was once disposed inclined to con--sider a saying common in Talmudical ages, as the offspring of gentile ill-will. "Af--fliction becomes the Jews like a red rose on a white horse" was the adage; but noticing how very few of the freedom-loving Israelites of America submit to the rule of their Sovereign Legislator, I changed my mind. Of course, I shrink at the memory of long years of persecution, when we were huddled up together within narrow quarters and compelled to drudge plod for a living, or conceal hide away our earnings lest they be plundered, yet when I recall the pleasure manifested in those years
of oppression at the ushering in of the Sabbath, its welcome in our homes, the greetings it received at the family table with hymns and psalmody; when I contrast that enthusiasm with the present cold indifference, I must grant that the adage emanated from men with of deep wisdom and extraordinary foresight. But is it because the men of Israel evil--fully or compulsorily follow their vocations on the sabbath that the women of Israel are exonerated from a sacred duty? Are they constrained to forego practices, which cast a halo round their firesides? Must they be seen in the market palce, and in tho--roughfares making their purchases so publicly, that the act creates scandal much to the sorrow of the God-fearing? Who does not know that more than the habits of the fathers, the practices doings of the mother have a lasting influence upon the young? Unconsciously, perhaps, but surely will the women of my people sow impiety by their disregard of an essential
tenet of Judaism. Children losing their respect for one of ten commandments, will learn to disbelieve in in the Divine origin of any, and be goaded on to trample under foot truths on which the stability of society and the welfare of individuals depend. Think of it, my coreligionists. Reflect upon it, my sisters in faith, and since it lies mainly with you to build your homes on solid foundations, exercise your powers to that blessed end. The Judge, to whose august presence, we know not how soon any of us may be summoned, will not ask how finely we have provided for the embellishment of our domiciles, or for the outward appearance of our sons and daughters. He will inquire how far we have striven to imbue them our progeny with the truths imparted at Horeb, teaching them to trust in God, rather than in our schemes and untiring prospects
for self-aggrandizement, how far we have inspired veneration for His word, and a feeling of moderation and contentment. Are we prepared to fulfil that parental charge? Are we determined to suppress our will so that the will of our Creator be done on earth as it is done in heaven? [Hebrew] Shall our living example inspire instill into those to whom we have voluntarily given existence a sentiment of respect for their ancient creed? Will our daily practices enforce morality, as well as a rigid adherence to behests distinguishing consistent Israelites? If the solemnity of this season and the charge call of our merciful God who beckons us to near to Him, have happily influenced our minds, we shall not depart hence on Yom Kippur, until we be born again to a life of righteousness and everlasting blessings. Oh let us beseech the Donor of all good to bestow on us the strength to do right, and grant us the inward satisfaction--more valuable than rubies--of having faithfully
performed the task which nature and religion impose upon parents. Let us pray that He may bid His angels accompany our steps, so that we stumble no more against stones which a rebellious disposition raises up. May we proceed forward in an even way till we reach the haven of our final destruction in peace with our conscience, in peace with our saving God. May we be eternized on earth by a progeny of spotless charac--ter, and beatified in heaven by the memorial of a well spent life. Amen. - Identifier
- p3d21s45h
- identifier
- SMBx10FF2_15
Part of Penitential Sabbath (Shabat shubah). Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
Morais, Sabato, “Penitential Sabbath (Shabat shubah). Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated”, Sabato Morais Digital Repository, accessed September 19, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/morais/item/91097