Sabbath before Passover (Shabat ha-gadol). Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1883 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Sabbath before Passover (Shabat ha-gadol). Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. 1883

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1883

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/p3xw48g3w/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3xw48g3w

Provenance

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

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF4_6.xml

content

On the Y M H A
For Sabbath before Pessach / 83
[Hebrew]

Brethren. It was not a foolish groundless boast in which I indulged, when I lately said asserted that from this Congregation sprang up nearly all the charitable and scholastic insti--tutions existing of a Jewish character, established existingin our city. I spoke knowingly on the subject. Thirty two years ago, the government of the Hebrah, or Beneficial Society to distribute alms among the poor indigent of our faith, was under the control of Abraham L. Hart of this congregation. David Pesoa, also one of our members, managed directed then the Fuel Society. The Female benevolent society had I think Mrs Jacob Florence Rebecca Hart of this congregation as resident. The Sunday School Society was superintended by Miss Rebecca Gratz, one of our congregation. The Chairman of the Hebrew Education Society was Solomon Solis, one of our members. Bluma Hart, a Jewess still belonging to us, regulated the affairs of the Sewing Society. The Foster-Home Society was organized in our Cherry Street Synagogue, and Mrs Anna Allen, now enjoying the exercise of all her faculties in her eighty third fourth year in the city of New York, but then at that time in our midst, be--came he the first Directress. But another Society, unpretentious and yet calculated to do much good, originated also likewise with some youths who attended the worship in our minor sanctuary.

Most active in bringing it about was Nathan Wisenstein, who died five years ago, in the prime of life, and whom many will remember. Poor he was, and he had compelled to strug--gle hard to earn enough for a daily livelihood, but the drawbacks, which hindered his rising into note, did not dampen check his ardour zeal in the cause of Judaism and of learning. Besides attending with punctuality to his religious duties, never desecrating the Sabbath or holidays, and always attending joining in the divine service worship--; besides rendering his gratuitous services gratuitously to our Sunday School in imparting the first rudiments of Hebrew, and acting as librarian, he urged the formation of a literary association. He In conjunction with others, Nathan Wisenstein succeeded in gathering a number, before whom an occasional lecture was delivered, and by whom weekly discussions on scriptural and histo--rical subjects topics were held. In the year 1875 that humble association emerged from a state of obscurity into a one of publicity, full of bright promises. After some spirited meetings, it was re-organized under the name of "The Young Men's Hebrew Association" with Mayer Sulzberger, of this congregation, at the head.

Its incipient workings, secured the approval of all who desire the revival of our sacred language and literature. A series of post-Bibli--cal and classical lectures was arranged, and persons qua--lified for the undertaking assumed it. To encourage Jewish talents prizes were offered for the best essays on various topics subjects. Subsequently, a little paper called "the Association Review," was issued monthly, and its columns presented very readable matter. A library was established and to it, donations of valuable books were liberally made. A suit of rooms was procured in a prominent locality in order with the view to attract draw visitors, and it was on its tables home and foreign magazines were extensively profusely lay. What the would-be Jewish Orders,--with the high-sounding child titles of "Sons of the Cove--nant," "Free-Sons of Israel," Children of the "Iron Bound"--professed to do and failed to accomplish, seemed to about to speedily have its realization in "The Young Men's Hebrew Association." It would knit our offspring in sentiments, and train them for the defense of their laws and of their people.

But time that was to have brought an increased of usefulness, proved treacherous. The mildew of indifference began to appear grow. Many of the members clearly manifested a preference for what af--fords passing amusement. Seldom would they be seen, except at monthly entertainments, and these assumed by degrees a shape at variance with the idea originally formed. I need not say that the blend--ing of the light with the serious is agreeable to human reason and not at all opposed to our religion. Repeatedly I have explained that our religion faith does not put on a frown when our youths engage in innocent sports. The music and even the dance may not jar with the avowed aim of "The Young Men's Hebrew Association"; but to show annoyance at in--struction; to visit the resort of pleasure and desert altogether the place where information on writings and writers can be obtained, is surely antagonistic to the designated defined object. The appellation by which it goes, would bear me out, if the public utterances of its various directors were not sufficiently ex--pressive of the design held in view forth when it was created.

Last year the active energetic President and his colleagues, wishing to impart a fresher impetus to what displayed signs of a decline, asked the ministers by a letter an official letter to devote the pulpit each Sabbath preceding Passover to the advocacy of the Association. I spoke pleaded then in its be--half and made suggestions, pursuant to the request made several suggestions. I anticipated this week to be applied to again for the same purpose. I was not. Perhaps last year's general ap--plication excluded the necessity of a periodical renewal thereof. But perhaps also, the experience of the past severe months kept back precluded the request. For I would offend truth, if I declared that during the current term, the shape scope given to the Association enhanced it in the estimation of the lovers of Judaism. Its rooms public entertainments, which formerly presented notable features recognizable as Hebrew, became an absolute travesty defied the sharpest eyes vision to discover them Jewish characteristics. Christians spoke, Christians sang, Christians played; at times in--sipidly, at others trivially, and withal, entailing, I believe, in most cases, an expenditure unwarranted by the result. For I hold that when the end in view is not promoted, the means employed are mispent. If to pass an evening so-ciably is the sole aim of the association, its claims on the support of the Hebrews have been forfeited.

Moreover, its literary organ, which, after having superseded the "Association Review" was heretofore became a bimonthly Bulletin, can scarcely be said to issue forth as a Quarterly,--so irregular is its publication, and so difficult it is found to fill up its few pages in due season. Again: The rooms not long ago fitted up afresh have not been visited with frequency by our youths in quest of instructive volumes. I have happened to go there to consult works I do not pos--sess, and to have fou met no one save the librarian. However, I will not commit an injustice. The efforts of the Young Israelites who accepted to alternate the Saturday evening "Informals" with their lectures, deserve praise and encouragement. I myself always interpret as an good auspicious omen the voluntary labors of those who, na-turally, will succeed us as representatives of the ancient Creed. Whenever such labors are the effect of sober thoughts on the needs of the present, and the requisite looking to provisions of for the future, we ought to applaud and to help and to wish God-speed. May more than five be found six come forth hereafter, to exercise their talents so laudably.

But pleasant as it is to find a course of satisfaction; glad as I am to give credit to whom it is due, I cannot conceal that the failure to carry out the primary what should have been proclaimed are essential in the working of the Young Men's Hebrew Association, is a great sad disappointment to me. The study of the Hebrew language ought to have ranked foremost in the minds of the members of our organization. On it th hinges the permanence of the Synagogue, and its distinctive characteristics existence. I had heard that the task was undertaken, and I rejoiced. I have been told that it has been, altogether abandoned and I was pained. Do I then counsel the disbanding of the association? No: he is an untrustworthy physician who cuts off a diseased limb, ere he has recourse to all the ap--pliances, which may restore it to perfect health its normal state. My mission is to preserve and not to destroy, to revive, wherever and whenever decay has appeared. It were easy to say that the Young Men's Hebrew Association has fallen off from its standard. Let it be cast among the recollections of the past. My wish desire and my prayer are that it may live long, but live to and do good.

Therefore I earnestly call upon all who, like myself, have hopes in our youths, in their natural capacities and inborn enthusiasm I beg of them to study how to unite our children by a combination of the instruction and the pleasing; how to interest them in the events which occur in the Jewish world, and how to kindle in their hearts love for their literature; so that they may be become invulnerable to the attacks of the scoffers and the agnostors jeers of the skeptics. If my well-meant appeal is heeded, I may yet have honest reasons to cite as a great main factor in that devoutly to be wished for consummation, our literary organization, even the Young Men's Hebrew Association of Philadelphia.

Identifier

p3xw48g3w

identifier

SMBx10FF4_6