Sabbath before Passover (Shabat ha-gadol). Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1882 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Sabbath before Passover (Shabat ha-gadol). Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1882

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1882

Location(s)

United States -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

United States -- Pennsylvania

Format

9 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/p32j68q5j/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p32j68q5j

Provenance

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

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF4_2.xml

content

In behalf of the Y M H A
for Sabbath Ha-gadol
1882

Brethren
This is the Young Men's Hebrew Association day. It means that the Jewish pulpit at Philadelphia is, by exercises and ceremonies of a fitting character shall direct general special request to be devoted to the interests of an attention to an organization of commanding importance. The pulpit has been institution in our city which has for its aim the mental invited to take an active part, and cast its influence on the side of learning. Acknowledged as a power, the pulpit has been asked to labor in the interest of what that which aims at the elevation of our youths, through by the great moral lever--know- culture. -ledge. The object is most holy, and, were it progressively carried out to its full full extent, the advocacy would give thereof on this a Sabbath impart a still would lend additional sanctity to the Sabbath set apart for that purpose designated day. It would give to this day this a rightful title to the time-honored epithet of [Hebrew]. For Nay: if our ancestors called it so because of the officiating Rabbi's urgnt urgent solicitation concerning the observance of the forthcoming Passover our the present ministerial appeal would have a still raise it still higher; in importance, since it concerns that appeal seeks itself not only about the permanence of one precept of the Law, but about the transmission to posterity of all our religious the learning which should lead to a well-founded piety. But in obedience to truth, I acknowledge own that so far that comprehensive learning has been allowed simply a subordinate place in the institution for which I plead. The wish of the right-thinking that it might occupy the prominence station to which it has a primary claim remains yet unfulfilled. I shall necessarily confine my remarks to that which applies to Philadelphia. The first year of the Association opened brightly.

Its promises were very encouraging inspiriting. The second also commanded elicited the active zeal approval of its members the intelligent. But the succeeding years failed to evince, in its literary de--partment, a gradual progression advancement towards a loftier standard. For, admitting that the young men of our faith, are not essentially different form those of their age in other denominations, and hence that they ought to may with propriety be drawn towards the our association by other various diversified various inducements, besides those, which popular lectures on their history and literature hold out, still nevertheless it behooves us nevertheless to keep always in sight the chief main features purpose of our organization. It is undeniably certain that entertainments and diversions, such as are often given afforded us, may be procured otherwise beyond its pale; not so, however, ample information on the writings and writers of our people. And that the institution has [?] pledged itself to give, and that should be frequent and ample and thorough..... But who ought to charge with being a dereliction from remissiveness in the pursuit of a duty? Can I in all honesty lay the sin of omission at the door of the appointed officials? Should I Ought I to condemn them in your presence as men incapable of appreciating their responsible task, or as half-hearted in its performance? No: I have rea--sons to believe that earnestness has never been wanting among those to whose have had care the direction of the association was confided. to their care I know that several have been the plans

devised for fostering and spreading far and wide the learning culture which Jewish youths ought to possess. But the most energetic2 and conscientious1 must fail in their endeavours, when instead of meeting with encouragement, they find by the way only they meet but indifference and frivolity. These, I condemn, these I do denounce and profoundly lament. as, I grieve as I behold their prevalence of such feelings among my young brothers and sisters in faith. Apathy is the clog which keeps back the wheel of progress which that our association had set in motion by our association. Senselessness prevents a study necessary needful at all times, but most imperative essential now because needed requisite requisite now as an arm of defence against false accusation, tempting surroundings, aspersions, insinuations, taunts and jeers. So long as our sons and daughters prefer to not to acquire vulgarly set to ridicule a task for their people's literature; so long as they will rather laugh than think, be amused rather than be instructed taught, institutions like that in Philadelphia, in whose behalf I am requested to plead, must disappoint fall short of the expectations of eager souls, prayful souls that anxious longing for the moral elevation exaltation of our race.
Who more than I has cause to sympathise with the officials, who labor in their stirrings to plant knowledge and make it fruitful?

Allow Suffer me to say it: At home, in schools, and at Synagogues; in the mornings, in the afternoons, and in the evenings; at ay any season, on any day, and at all hours I have placed myself at the disposal of the Hebrew Community, irrespective of congregational preferences, but few, very few have cared to avail themselves of my gratuitous offer. When I Last year, when I announced my intention to deliver a course of lectures on subjects which I considered useful, some of my coreligionists signified their approbation. The at--tendance however was not so large such as to justify my belief pride in the sincerity by reason of that commendation; it was not calculated to inspire infuse into me with fresh courage renewed vigour and hope. This year my historical series have hitherto created no perceptible change for the better. I hear persons occasionally remark: "The attend--ance was large today." Perhaps so. But not of the element to which I most anxiously look for the perpetuation of our race and religion. That element is very thinly always represented scantily; for many a number many of our daughters are attracted to localities where finery are is displayed, and some of our sons, who are enjoy at leisure leisure, have their minds engaged at the gaming board.

A number of the youngest do frequent--to litt a certain age--this dwelling of prayer, but not always to the honor of the Lord sacred divine worship. They often give me cause for mortification by their leaving and returning with noisy steps, And demeanour. Only two sabbaths ago, I was deeply pained in noticing several strangers of the Nazarene church calling each other's attention to our boys wran- to their leaving & returning at pleasure, aye, -glings and alterations and wranglings, while the divine service was being performed. How to effect a reform in the moral sense of our youths; how to raise the future representatives of Judaism to a higher plane--that is the burning question, which I have studied long and worried over. It is not easy of solution, but God does not demand of us feeble-handed creatures impossibilities. We ought It is wrong not therefore to reject as useless any aid whenever and wherever proferred. I shall never As to myself I shall under no circumstance, counsel the extinction of established organizations--be they charitable, religious or literary--be-cause they did have not fully realized the expectations anticipations of their founders. Unless their the tendencies thereof are openly at variance with the ostensible declared object of their creation I shall welcome the small measure of their cooperative work. For, what one institution cannot singly secure, the united action of many may bring about. The school is a

fulcrum, the synagogue a lever, but young men's Hebrew Associations are still also a force. They We should be hail them as an agency to uplift what is meanly low. Even as a medium of social intercourse, bringing our offspring together, and withdrawing them from the allurements of an exclusive companionship with non-Israelites, our organiza--tion may prove a power. But it has accomplished more than a negative good. It has in those of our faith measurably encouraged elocu--tionary and musical talents in those of our faith; it has occasionally called forth the latent abilities of men and women of our the Hebrew race; it has repeatedly engaged the services of scholars in various departments,--thus trying, at least, to awaken a task for religious and secular culture; it has formed a library to arouse excite a wish desire for information; and it has consolidated,--as far as it lay within their its reach, various branches of the organization and it has opened thereby a useful interchange of thought by through the publication of a bi monthly Bulletin. I wish it therefore god-speed, and say to its officials "Persevere; if but a few will second your efforts, the advantage will be on the side of a noble cause--the triumph of an intellectual religion Judaism. But as the communication I received, asked that I should advise as well as plead for,

I venture to suggest that our association institution be for the present moderate in its aspirations. More than elaborate lectures on different topics, addresses of a conversational character conversional addresses, sittings at which explanatory of the character of men, of books and of doctrines, might are explained ought to be sought for chosen. The adoption of that plan might popularize a knowledge greatly needed. by our youths In like manner, Some familiar talks about the Hebrew language, its arrangement construction and logical construction must composition syntax might also form a part of next year's course of to as laid out by the Literary committee. But this it should be remembered that this is composed of men, and as such men they look for the sympathetic support of brethren. They will feel that their energies expand grow powerful, that their capacities to discover attractions for our sons and daughters of a refining and elevating nature, [?] expand in proportion, as our community will prove its appreciation of well-directed endeavours. In the hope to of stirring up general interest, this Sabbath day was chosen set apart as the Young men's Hebrew Associaion day. a special festivity. The pulpit will have per-formed a sacred obligation, if it succeeds in augmenting the number of subscribers contributors and patrons to a literary institution organization. But it will have deserved well of Judaism, and made rendered this a truly [Hebrew] if it can rally our youths, round the organization institution in whose behalf it must appeal, with a new spirit; opr if it can stripping them of a spirit

of indifference and frivolity, and causing [?] impell them to put on a spirit of intelligence and serious application. When another year shall have passed rolled away and this season will arrive, the pulpit may have then a legitimate cause cause for reason to glorying over its achievement, pointing to the improvements of the Y M H Association, as reflected in the culture, moral standing, and religious knowledge of its thousnads vastly increased numbers. Brethren. Say Urge your offspring to say: "it shall bes so." and and it will be.

Identifier

p32j68q5j

identifier

SMBx10FF4_2