Sabbath before Passover (Shabat ha-gadol). Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
- Title
- Sabbath before Passover (Shabat ha-gadol). Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
- Author
- Morais, Sabato
- Format
- 11 pages on 4 sheets
- 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/p3599zn05/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3599zn05
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF4_9.xml
- content
-
For Sabbath before Pesach
Brethren! The festival of Passover, soon to be celebrated, is religiously and historically of supreme importance. Religiously, because it is the first holds the first ranks first [?] stands prominent among the commandments which the descendants of Abraham received, when, according to a Divine promise, they they were constituted a nation. Historically, because it proved, at different epochs, a standard round which disaffected members of the house of Israel finally rallied. An obvious proof evidence of its ha--ving even been held preeminently in a religious sense, is the circumstance that the expression [Hebrew] "A me--morial of coming out of Egypt" was made to accompany the ordi- dis- -nance -charge of almost every ceremonial act. Our wise teachers deemed that even the corner stone upon which all that is holy in Judaism rests for support. was built up. They appear to have meant that deliverance from bondage qualified our ancestors for duties, the merit of whose performance depended on the possession of a free-will. The evidences, which history offers of the great deference ever paid to Pass--over, are various. Thus we learn that the entrance of the tribes into the promised land was signalized by its the observance of that religious rite. Before the war of conquest, they our progenitors
encamped in Gilgal, and becomingly preferred them- to -selves the for solemnize the aforecited occasion. Again: centuries afterwards, at the restoration from the Babylonian captivity, when the rearing of the Temple, which had been suspended, by reason of the enmity hostility of Samaritans and other inimical hostile inimical peoples, was at length completed, the Judeans "kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy, for, the Lord had made them glad, and turned the heart of the King of Assyria unto them to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel". And But very notably during the monarchy twice were our backsliding predecessors recalled brought back to the worship of the One Lord Everlasting Being, by the public celebration of the holiday, now fast approaching. King Hezekiah and his royal successor Josiah, nearly four score of years subsequently, succeeded in reestablishing, for a time, the supremacy of the Mosaic code, by summoning their subjects to Jerusalem at the Passover season. The measures by which Josiah encompassed his righteous end formed the topic of a discourse on an occasion a festive day similar to like the present. Let me present set to view this fe sabbath, some of the features in the character of the other noble scion of the stock of Judah--Hezekiah.
Brethren! That the minds and hearts of children are fa--shioned in a parental mould is a trite truism, which ever and needs renewing experience illustrates. not illustration facts frequently reproduced elucidation. In like manner, duly occurrences undoubted facts demonstrate, that evil [?] companions may gra--dually erase the impressions of a healthful education. But that youths rea brought up amidst seething corruption and surrounded by the corrupt should grow excellent in morals and wise in understanding would seem im--possible. Yet, Hezekiah, happily for his nation, pro- forms -ved a bright exception to a rule which experience has laid down as definitely settled. Perhaps a mother's piety influence coun--teracted the baneful effect of a father's ungodliness example, for, the sacred historian, who, in relating to the lives of histo no--tabilities makes frequent at times occasional mention of their maternal origin, may have wished to convey that idea in the present instance. But whether the surmise be correct or not, the merit of the illustrious monarch is equally deserving of unqualified admiration. Scarcely had he ascended the throne, when he saw ten tribes of Israel ready to be swept away by the all-crushing the unsparing besom of Assyria. Civil wars and the weak wavering policy of the last ruler Hoshea the son of Elah, had shattered the remains of a once potent nation.
Hezekiah strove with might and main to avert from Judah the doom sentenced against the kindred tribes. The signs of the time foreshadowed sore calamities. un- -abated energy in following as high national purpose could per-chance temper their severity. Ahaz the impious father of a godly son, had basely truckled with imperilled the national cause future of his subjects. Wit ha sacrilegious hand he had robbed the treasury of the Temple to win therewith the favor of Assy--ria. To With the view of pandering to the wishes of the heathens, human sacrifices, so hateful to Jewish hearts, were publicly offered, and when, despite such abominations, the principal actor failed to obtain the assist--ance he so craved for, he blasphemed his God and totally abolished the service of the Most High. That his wickedness found imitators among all grades of society no needs not be demonstrated astonish us, for the vices of the great are always crowned heads are too closely copied, but that the conduct was suicidal the insulting lan--guage of held soon after by the Assyrian general forcibly proves. "I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them". The Hebrew government was stood on the verge of decay, Hezekiah lay strong hold thereon, and rescued it from the pit of destruction. The good king must have asked himself "how can I
stem a current which has swelled up immeasurably and overflowedwhelmed vast empires?" But if he hesitated at the though of that Sinnacherib--the that thunder of war--Sennacherib, created a momentary trepidation, the belief in Almighty God suggested the instrument by with which he could to accomplish salvation. An uncompromising reinstatement of the Mosaic Sinaic law; a love for the teaching of the Redeemer of Jacob, must should be the flaming fire which will put to arrest the out advance of the overhwelmingflowing water. With a zeal that has deservedly called for the praises of Seers and Sages, Hezekiah era obliterated effaced every monument vestige of idolatry and superstition. The symbolic brazen ser--pent of brass which Moses had made in the wilderness, when the Israelites were punished by a bite from a live reptile of that nature, he cut into atoms, because it had be--come an object of adoration. Tradition narrates that he even suppressed a book that on the healing art, the contents of which was calculated to lead astray. But the efforts to reconstruct the barrier that should have separated Judah from the a heathen world, would have been ineffectual, without the means to direct enchain the attention to a pure worship.
The King therefore convened together the descendants of Aaron and with in a fatherly admonition address exhorted them to rise equal to the emergencies requirements of the time, to appear worthy of their extraction and of the divine mission. Then did the imposing sight of the consecrated renovated edifice, the familiar sound of Davidical hymns, the harmony of the devoted devout consecrated choristers, stir up anew the souls estranged from the ancestral religion, & all the Congregation bowed in humble adoration and vowed allegiance to the great "I am." Like an electric spark shock the feelings which prompted the sovereign were com--municated to his subjects, and his pious example these turned upwards wrought a reconciliation with to bring about downward ng of from the heavenly King tokens of reconciliation. Hence we find written recorded that God had prepared the hearts so suddenly converted, but truly, my Brethren, the Almighty acts through human agencies. It is usual, in Biblical style, to ascribe to the Director of the Universe immediate to the a miraculous interposition of, events of a very striking character, but although they, like all, assume in His the hand of the Almighty Omnipotent a form agreeable to His wise designs, they are nevertheless the offspring of our freedom of will. The happy effects of E Hezekiah's endeavours, partook no more of the miraculous wonderful, than the baneful results, which attended the misdeeds of his predecessors.
Providence will shape our course, yet, He has granted to man the power to follow what is right. Thus, may each of us minister at the altar of the heavenly Director Father of the Universe, when he will exercise liberty of action, to the benefit advantage of his fellow-beings. Its influence weight will not be so generally felt as that of the illustrious subject of our consideration upon the Sabbath, but at home always, and abroad, occasionally, it will be productive of abund--ant good. Mark, my hearers, a further corrobora--tion to this assertion of the result influence of example in the historical incidents we are engaged to discuss. The zealous exertions of Hezekiah had been crowned with success. The service of the Eternal had set aside that of demoralising deities. The gates of the Temple were opened daily to receive a throng of worship--pers. But so long as an inimical spirit, harbored in the breasts of Abraham's descendants against one another, the labor nobly undertaken that must remain incomplete. Therefore the ruler of Judah sought to rouse again a sentiment of national affection, by means of a most solemn gathering. No season appeared to [?] more propi--tious than that which recalled the memory of a com--mon deliverance. On the fourteenth of Nissan
had been proclaimed issued the declaration of Hebrew inde--pendence. that was the dignified assertion of one's in- "Moses had said to the people, remember this day that you came -herent right to act manly, it was the resolve of a out of Egypt, from a house of bondage, remember that the Lord brought you out few to form and to remain a compact power. hence, with a strong hand." That was the teaching of one's God-given right to act manly. It was of exhortation to the few to form and remain a compact power under the guidance of correct laws. Times had sadly changed since the offspring of Jacob had marched to freedom at the light of a heavenly pillar, but their righteous monarch trusted to the effects relied on the of the imposing occasion thrilling occasion forthcoming to fasten the ancient bond. And nothing was indeed omitted, which might rivet together the hearts of God's chosen children. Alas! that Holy Writ, however, records the had to chronicle a most humiliating circumstance. that The conciliatory and admonitory letters sent by Hezekiah to the a residue of the seceding tribes of Israel excited general derision; that his messengers mostly met with reproaches. Few only would join their Judean brethren in the holy city; and fewer still would qualify themselves, by the prescribed purification for offering the Passover. It was principally among those governed by a man who practised and enforced the behests of God, that the festival was celebrated with devotional joy. For seven consecutive days the magnificent courts of the Temple, echoed forth the invocations of the faithful. Backsliding
children had unitedly returned to their celestial Parent. What gladness must to the author of that auspicious occurrence! have experienced! He had weaned away from superstitious creeds a vast number of the recipients of a pure religion. He had inspired reverence for the Mosaic law, and had infused withal a spirit of na- patriotism -tionality, which promised years of tranquillity and inde--pendence. If the god-like king failed to imbue all the seed of the patriarchs with the same feelings for, Alas, those the fault lay in the utter depravity of men sold to idolatry, vice unhappily those Is had become most of them left in the former kingdom of Israel were cankered in their very vitals. No power could rescue them, reform heal a moral disease so dep deep-set, but he Hezekiah had heard Judah with one voice avow again his allegiance to the everlasting Redeemer and his holy word. Well might he now Hezekiah assure his subjects, when threatened with a devastating war, that they possessed superior forces than superior to those of mighty Assyria "With him there is an arm of flesh, but with us there is the Lord our God, ready to help us and fight our battles." The memorable Passover he had proclaimed and the seven additional days of festivty festivity left an indelible impression upon the people and on their King, and the effect thereof was mirrored in all subsequent actions events.
Dear Brethren. We The season in which we also will sing the hymn of redemption is very nigh. Let me pray that it may not be barren of wholesome fruits. The ceremonies connected wit hit are peculiar, but they offer the opportunity to imitate, in a our limited sphere, the conduct of the illustrious subject of my remarks whose character and deeds I have briefly sketched. Gather round your table the charges committed to your care by Providence. Instruct them by through a rehearsal of the events of the glorious past. Exhort them to steadfastly cling to the Eternal Saviour. Speak to them of the task assigned to the redeemed of thraldom, of the bright future promised to Israel. Let them feel that it is a privilege to be the first born of children of the Creator, the witnesses of His truths, the indestruct- undying -ible messengers of happy tidings to the world. Our Passover will then, like that observed by our ancestors, under the auspices of Hezekiah, yield real happiness to our households, and blessings to the community of our brethren. Oh! render it Thou so, Omnipotent Lord. May it be the herald of righteousness, of peace, of joy, and increased pros--perity. Amen. - Identifier
- p3599zn05
- identifier
- SMBx10FF4_9
Part of Sabbath before Passover (Shabat ha-gadol). Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
Morais, Sabato, “Sabbath before Passover (Shabat ha-gadol). Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated”, Sabato Morais Digital Repository, accessed September 19, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/morais/item/91162