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/p37941d7z/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p37941d7z
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF2_7.xml
- content
-
On Penitence
[Hebrew]
When Adam saw that days were fast growing shorter, and darkness displaced light, terror seized him. "Alas," he exclaimed "that because of my dis--obedience this lively world will be enshrouded in eter--nal gloom." But a voice from on high reassured the penitent sinner. He was promised a return of the days, on which the majestic and soul-enliven--ing luminary lingers in the sky. Then man who labored usefully while the long evenings prevailed, would enjoy the fruits of his endeavours, when the sun abides in the horizon with prolonged brightness. Such is the substance of a legend which I once read in Rab--binical writings. The season of the year, and that which Israelites now keep in deep solemnity, bring that legend back to the mind. The period during which night shrinks, as it were, within narrow limits, and allows the day to wield an almost absolute domi--nion, is fading away. We do not fear, like our first parent who had been chased from paradise, fear that nature will be overthrown by reason of our transgressions. We have learned to know the cause of the various changes
which the globe we inhabit successively under--goes. But though we need not entertain any fore--boding, for [Hebrew] the universe follows the course assigned to it by its Maker; though it were fully in any of us to be disconcerted, because autumn is far advanced, and the state of the atmosphere heralds the approaching winter, we may nevertheless fittingly ask ourselves, without terror undismayed, but in anxious thought, whether the present time should not recall shortcomings. Thus we may labor work sensibly for our improvement, while the sun is down, and enjoy the yieldings of our exertions wisely, when it will long shine again with brilliancy in the heavens above.
Very many whose absence form the habitation of prayer continued without intermission, have at length entered its portals. They feel that to approach stand before the Bestower of all good with entreaties when a year has come to its close, and another whose embosomed events are veiled from our vision has been ushered in, is beseeming; that when the heart eagerly wishes yearns for joys domestic and social, it becomes believers to approach the One God with petitions. But it behooves me to say, as the a messenger of that perfect Being crowned in with purity, that unless we Israelites in crossing
the threshhold of the Sanctuary, leave behind the burden of former errors, the Tishri communions with the Almighty will effect nothing [Hebrew] "I will wash my hands in sincerity, and then will I compass Thy altar, O Lord!" exclaimed the conscience-stri--cken ruler of old. He meant, I will remove the stains which misdeeds left stamped on my character as a man and a Jew, before I seek the presence of Him who is enthroned in righteousness. Now: it is not unlikely that both the quotation just made, and the legend cited before above, may seem inappropriate. For to charge my coreligionists with David's great sin, or compare my brethren's disobedience to that of which the parent of the human race became guilty, would be an abuse of the pulpit. Still, I conceive that I do not offend truth by asserting that when we appear before the Lord of life with supplications, we are neither in the same frame of mind as the shepherd King, nor as the first created man. Some Hebrews have spent the long days which are fast passing away, in a manner totally at variance with
proprieity, or positively sinful. I know of youths of both sexes who on the plea of recruiting strength, trespassed against the rules of that refined chastity, whose rigid preservation was formerly the pride of our people. They do not feel abashed deem it wrong, because a corrupt practice sanctions what an uncompromising Jewish morality frowns upon, but were they to turn aside from the exciting fascination, and soberly think, surely their checks would colour, because of that which under ordinary circumstances must be declared highly reprehensible. Yet, matronly mothers and staid fathers look on unconcerned, if they do not smilingly approve. "No harm in that; it is innocent past time"; and so is the promiscuous gather--ing and the late dance, which defeat the alleged object of a temporary absence from home and its healthful sur--roundings. But is that youth who risks at the gaming board the hard-earned substance of his father, indulging also in innocent past time? How much god that might promote the cause of education and of humanity, is culpably wasted, and how many characters are sunk in places ostensibly sought for recreation? Allurements beset our offspring everywhere, for like the wisdom described in the book of Proverbs, so does
folly cry out on public thoroughfares: "Come, eat enjoy of the food I have prepared, and drink of quaff the wine which I poured out" [Hebrew], but the unwary fails to notice the pit that yawns under their steps. Yes: everywhere seductions beset hedge around their children's path, but there where the long days of a summer season attract them, there at every corner sin lies in ambush and many are caught in its meshes. Yet those who became its prey so entangled, regardless of irregularities committed against the code of ethics & ceremonial religion, appear at the Tabernacle of the Lord uncontrite, as if they had never swerved from rectitude. It is this heedless--ness that drew from Jeremiah, who speaking in the name of his Heavenly Master, the sentence [Hebrew] "Behold, I enter into judgment with thee, because thou sayest 'I have not sinned'." Mark it, my brethren, Adam rebelled against the expressed command of his Maker; David offended the Law of Sinai heinously, but both met with temptations difficult to overcome, and both acknow--ledged the justice of the suffering which their misdeed brought on. The former terror-stricken, naïvely believed that nature that nature would be overturned by reason of his disobedience, the latter in deep compunction exclaimed [Hebrew], and again "I will wash my hands in innocence, and then
will I compass Thy altar, O Lord." We go deliberate--ly in search of seductions, and as if perfectly spotless, as if always loyal to the Torah, we ask for life and health, and prosperity and honors. Fellow Israelites. It is a source of unfeigned rejoicing satisfaction to see the edifice hallowed to prayer, thronged with attend--ants at the solemn season of memorial and of atonement; and As to our immediate selves since we offer our orisons jointly and not by means of hirelings, it is indeed exceedingly gratifying to feel that it lies in our power to illustrate the Biblical sen--tence, figuratively and by the Sages in connection with the worship. [Hebrew] "The King (of the universe world) is honored extolled by a multitude of people." But not in the vastness of the assemblage ought we to pride ourselves, but rather in a congregation humbled beofre the majesty of the Lord; ready to acknowledge horrors faults, whether committed towards man or towards the heavenly Universal Father, and disposed to lead a life consistent with the tenets and statutes of religion revelation.
I heard once a Rabbi of the modern school, make public boast of the largeness of the body of Hebrews
to whom he ministered, and of their controlling influence. But as it happens that the influence exercised emanated simply from riches and not from piety, and the largeness of the body had its origin in the facility offered to cast aside without compunction law and traditions, and make to let Judaism to bear very lightly upon the Jew, we none need not crave for the ability to indulge in that price of self-glorification. What God-fearing minister will joy over members who with shameless ostentation drive their own carriage to the Temple on the day of atonement, and having eaten their fill, condescend to sit our damasked easy chairs, and listen to the warbling's of non-Jewish songstresses. No; rather pray with and address the thinnest assemblage, but one impressed with the sanctity of the spot and of the occasion, one who does not point to the gorgeousness of of a stately structure as a criterion of its devotion to the faith, but to its exemplification illustration of ancestral virtues and its confiding trust in the Lord. Dear brothers and sisters in faith. The time of the year, and the season which we celebrate, demand that we shall pause and reflect. I long to render this congregation exemplary;
You must aid my endeavours. [Hebrew]. "Some will gain eternity in one hour" write the Sages. None more propitious than the present on this penitential Sabbath. The shades of night gather now quickly around, as a message from above. Let us seize the inextinguishable lamp given granted us by God--our luminous light-giving intellect--and examine the course we have pursued Let us We all level here what was uneven, according to the standard of justice; raise there what was low, and steep according to the measure of rectitude, amplify amend every-where what was unrighteous. Let us make our future way so correctly straight, that it may be like that pictured by the moralist of yore it may lead us and others upward, as by a star, ever resplendent, with lightly shining on unto the perfect day [Hebrew] [Hebrew]. When that day arrives, we shall behold the record due to our actions. We shall feel that to adhere, despite all allurements, at home and abroad, to the dictates of Holy Writ, is to have secured the approval of the just, the association of the saints, and the unending blessings of the Eternal God, the Protector and Saviour of Israel. - Identifier
- p37941d7z
- identifier
- SMBx10FF2_7
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/91146