Sabbath before Passover (Shabat ha-gadol). Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1869 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Sabbath before Passover (Shabat ha-gadol). Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1869

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1869

Location(s)

United States -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

United States -- Pennsylvania

Format

12 pages on 4 sheets

Rights

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

Language(s)

English

Source

Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies

Sabato Morais Collection, Box 10, Folder 4

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p36970h86/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p36970h86

Provenance

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

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF4_13.xml

content

A sermon for the Sabbath
before Passover 1869

Brethren! Various are the reasons given for the name by which this Sabbath is designated. I have read, among others, that it has also derived its origin from a practice prevalent in former ages. Our fathers thronged the Synagogue, and remained therein longer than customarily ordinarily, to be instructed in the rules attending the observance of the approaching festival. That circumstance, added solemnity to the day; and therefore it was distinguished by the appellation of [Hebrew] "the great Sabbath." That epithet is retained even at the present time. But scarcely for the motive just assigned. The preacher who should imagine to be able to detain his congregation, and command attention by descanting on the importance of removing every trace of leaven from our dwelling places homesteads, or on the nature of the food and the utensils permitted to be used during the Passover, would soon discover that his words fell upon listless ears. Are we then better informed on the subject? Or, is the interest, which our predecessors evinced in whatever concerns the anniversary of our freedom from bondage, greatly lessened? Daily occurrences tend to corroborate the latter of my 2 suppositions. Yet; If we credit that which the self-styled progressive press circulates, our antipathy

to against the observances of old, arises from a higher conception of our religious mission. If Whereas, on the other hand if the assertions publicly made by the followers of the man of Nazareth, are to be believed, it is the sure index of our gradual adoption lapsing of into the doctrines they profess. I however, judge both to be wrong. The prevailing indifference for the rites of our faith, does by no means prove denote a due appreciation of its spirit. To argue thus, would be to declare that those sentiments of the heart are the strongest, which are never revealed by external evidences. No: love is demonstrative. The object of our affection, is not only the burden of our thoughts, but the being upon whom we delight to bestow the tokens of our sentiments inward feelings. Just because our progenitors did honor the principles of Judaism, they practically showed the feelings by sentiments regarding it with which they were imbued. And So that when the season arrived which [?] calls to memory the most important event in the history of our people, everything attested their desire of to celebrateing it in the signal most remarkable manner. Their unsophisticated minds could not understand, how a Hebrew might perform his mission negatively.
I use the term advisedly; for, it is so that many of

my brethren (and they are the loudest in professing reverence for the ancestral creed) imagine they can discharge their religious duty. The ritual law is regarded by them as antiquated, and he who observes it as a benighted being. Their religion resolves itself into a denial of a plurality of gods triune god; and that they dignify with the title of "the" Messiaship of Israel." Let those who have a mind to reflect, determine, whether such is the Judaism, the adherence to which is destined to dispell the errors of gentilism. I walk in the light, shed around me by history, and see, as clearly as at noon-day, that a course like that pursued by the so called reformed Jews of this age, would, in less than a century, obliterate even the memory of the truths, we were commissioned to perpetuate. None of us can resist surrounding influences. Unless our attention is drawn therefrom by some powerful agencies, we must finally yeild. Those agencies, my dear hearers! are the statutes of the Pentateuch, guarded by Rabbinical enactments. Let your sons grow with the mere knowledge of the existence of God, and if they will not embrace the belief of the majority, their offspring will surely

become identified with it. The Sages of our nation have said [Hebrew] "He who rejects false deities, gives his assent to the teachings of the whole law." And again: [Hebrew] [Hebrew] "He who discards Whosoever abjures idolatry, is called a Jew." But those pithy sentences have evidently reference to non-Israelites. They antonomastically allude to to the gentiles, from whose eyes the veil which conceals the truth, has been lifted up. But those The men who are born of the Hebrew race have positive obligations to perform, by which they will prove their fidelity to the Lord, and propagate the knowledge of his Unity. Of them did the greatest of all mortals speak in his parting address." Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day; so that you may command them to your children, and they will observe to do all the words of this law". And that saying of the arch-prophet is reechoed by the inspired Asaph. "He established a testimony in Jacob, and instituted a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children. In order that the latest generation might know them, even the children that are to be born, that they may arise and again relate them to their own children. So, that they place their hope in God,

and do not forget the doings of the Almighty; but observe his commandments." What means then the doctrine now preached, that ceremonial precepts may be kept at bay a distance, provided the idea of One God is kept in sight? Must we believe, that the punish--ment of [Hebrew] "excision" pronounced against the Israelite who eats aught which is leavened on Passover, will not be inflicted? Or, that by placing upon our table an unleavened cake, as a memorial of the past, we have duly solemnized the great season of our redemption from Egypt? For, you will be no more surprised to learn, that such a course has been advocated, than I was to bear the assertion that Passover may be postponed to the fourteenth of the following month, if it be inconvenient to observe it, an entire week in Nissan. No theory, however untenable, can now-a-days be startling, since an Israelite strove recently to show in his writing, that only obstinacy, ignorance and bigotry prevent a universal celebration of the Sabbath upon Sunday.
Nevertheless, lest some of my hearers may be induced to think that a passage in the book of Numbers, supports

the opinion advanced about differing the feast of un--leavened bread, I will briefly remark; that the Scripture speaks there exclusively of the paschal lamb. It prescribes that he who through some impurity or by reason of the distance, could not be present in the court of the Sanctuary at the time ordained by the law, should bring his offering at a later period. But that rule can--not in any manner be applicable to us. For, with the destruction of the Temple, the rite of sacrifice entirely ceased, whereas concerning the festival itself, we are repeatedly com--manded, irrespective of place or climate, to hold it for seven consecutive days; and it is explicitly written in the holy volumes [Hebrew] [Hebrew]. "In all your habitations, ye shall eat unleavened bread." Nothing short of infidelity can therefore occasion a disregard for that or of other biblical ceremonial injunctions of the Bible.
Our neighbours who closely watch us, interpret a perceptible general defection perceptible in our ranks; as a wish to merge into their religious com-munities. But they also are greatly at fault. The Hebrews are a new school, do not contemn the ordinances of their faith, because they prefer those of the imposed by the Nazarene church; but because the skepticism of Northern Europe, has seized their minds, and rendered them audacious.

Being ill-at-ease under a law which lays restrictions on its votaries, they reason themselves into the belief that their fathers were unnecessarily burdened. That while the found--ations of Judaism are to stand immoveably, the fabric raised upon it, maybe pulled down at pleasure. And those individuals they call friends of enlightenment, who bring all their strength to bear on the demolition of that venerable structure. But to accept any other dogma than that of one indivisible God, is as remote from their thoughts as it is form mine. They would resent it as an offense, if told that their general conduct gives room to the supposition. In short: they are wiling to remain Jews, and be free to set at nought the laws of Judaism. Alas! that it was my fate lately, to witness how far that disregard for the time-honored prescriptions of our religion, will be carried out. And the deeper is my sorrow, because I tacitly sanctioned what I should have openly reprehended; because--heedless of the duty I owe myself and my God, I lent my countenance to sin. But the very incident which saw me thus disgraced, revealed also how widely spread in Israel is the contagion of incredulity. It has infected every grade

of Jewish society, so that the fear of contamination debars a residue that are still faithful, from joining their own brethren at convivial gatherings. Oh Malachi! Oh sainted precept Seer! Thou didst reprove the boldness of thy contemporaries. But what did they speak against the Most High, which is not exceeded in acrimony by certain Israelites of this age? They said [Hebrew] "It is in vain to serve God, and what profit is it that we keep his ordinances charge?" But now the pulpit declares the prophets false. The robed ministers of the Hebrew church berate Moses and decry his laws. Therefore is impiety rampant, and those who cling to the statutes & ordinances of Horeb, deeply lament. But....they shall rejoice, for each of their godly thoughts is already registered as a merit in the book of memorials [Hebrew]. Upon that dreadful day which the Lord creates, they shall be proclaimed His peculiar treasure. Then will be seen a palpable distraction between him that worships God [Hebrew] for God's sake [Hebrew], and him who worships God not, safe for his own gain. [Hebrew] [Hebrew]. Dear Brethren! The consolatory promises chronicled in the Haftorah of this great Sabbath,

should be our stay through life. God broke asunder the chains that shackled our bodies, in order to bind us to his holy service; as it is written ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, & "how I carried you upon eagles wings, and brought to bring you unto myself." And the approaching festival is designed to awaken the memory of that assumed mission. We may meet with obstacles in the performance thereof. We may perchance consider our labor unrequitted; but you have heard the infallible sentence. To falter is to purchase ever--lasting sorrow; to persevere despite difficulties is to gain earn a reward which lasts eternally. Who among you, O believing Israelites who will hesitate to choose? I feel, I can safely count upon some, who will stand firm, and I turn with an abiding confidence towards our young brother, the "Bar Mitzvah." None will more steadily hold up the standard of Sinai. Precept and example will combine in strengthening his hands. My friend! You are being fashioned in a mould, out of which your heart and soul will come forth beautifully shapen. It is home instruction. Your parents doubtless value the education of the mind and will afford you the teaching capable of developping your natural capacities. But their main endeavours have been, and will continue to be,

the preservation of your soul. They love you bodily; but they are sensible of their responsibility before God, and therefore they will avoid the sin of which many a father and mother in Israel are now gently, even, of promoting the material interests of their sons, to the detri--ment of their spiritual weal. To add another word in praise of your natural guardians, would ill become comfort this place; with the dignity of the house of prayer; but to you, I must, by virtue of my calling, picture the blessings you enjoy; that you may appreciate and improve them. You are raised above want; hence you are shielded against the moral evils to which the children of the needy are often exposed. For, they must necessarily be sent out into the world early in life to plod for their subsistence, and there thus they frequently meet with corrupt associates. You can, under parental supervision, choose as companions those that are good and well-bred. You are likewise supplied with preceptors, who impart the knowledge of the law, conformably with the manner approved by our Sages, and you will not consequently imbibe any of the new-fangled notions, subversive of the revealed will of God. So, the instruments are at work, to keep you in the path of righteousness

should you abandon it, to follow that of vice and irreligion, you would at the latter end be stung by self-reproach and exclaim "How have I hated instruction, and how my heart despised correction, and I have not obeyed the voice of my superiors, and inclined not mine ears to my teachers." But you will, under God, remain steadfast, and I shall joyfully number you among the residue of the faithful.
May it be so, and may I glory with you over the increase of godliness in the community of whom you will, from this day be counted reckoned a member. Grant Thy heavenly support, O Lord! to this son of Thy people, who has promised to walk in Thy statutes. Grant that he may ever obtain in this sacred dwelling a fresh incentive to do what is right in Thy sight. May the demeanour of its attendants exalt him in spirit; the conduct of its officers inspire him with humility and goodness. May he be hereafter instrumental in perpe--trating this congregation, in maintaining its high standing, & pro--moting its temporal and spiritual welfare. For, this is the supplication which we all unitedly offer, and the accomplishing thereof will exalt Thy name, O Redeemer and everlasting Protector of Thy people Israel!

Identifier

p36970h86

identifier

SMBx10FF4_13