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
- 10 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/p3hm53494/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3hm53494
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF4_1.xml
- content
-
24
G
a few words about the scheme
of christianizing the State Constitution
For Sabbath Haggadol
Brethren! It neither becomes us to lie supinely, as if fearing no molestation, nor is it wise to magnify the danger. Vigilance is the price of liberty. We should therefore watch. A spirit which the founder of this noble state would never have sheltered, is mischievously at work. It conspires to invade our imprescriptable rights. Look to it, Israelites of Pennsylvania, and let the fruit of illiberality be nipped in the bud. Single-handed you are not likely to ensure obtain success. Go then in search of colaborers fitted for giving assistance. Every Hebrew in our midst commanding influence in among the Christian community, should exercise it in a manner, that the deliberations of that body now sitting in convention, be marked by unswerving impartiality. Every Hebrew having at his command a running ready pen should use it to stir up the people. And they will parry a blow aimed at religious freedom. You know, my Brethren, the scheme newly concocted. The zealots see rain in the absence of a publicly written confession of their belief. Sodom and Gomorrah fell. Harrisburg and Philadelphia might share the same melancholy fate.
Forgetting that national misfortune is only at the heel of national unrighteousness; forgetting that the God of truth is honored by the virtues of obedience of His creatures, and not by the mere mention of His existence and revealed will in a statute-book, they predict unending disasters, unless the dogmas they profess are constitutionally legalized as supreme. The plan was originally laid upon a larger scale. It did not, how--ever, foreshow bright prospects. Sagaciousness then suggested to the propriety of narrowing down its compass. Perhaps the end goal will be reached with more facility. Once that Pennsylvania tamely submits to be tied to the yoke, her sister-states will bend to receive it. The federal government must be morally forced to accept the issue. And a Te Deum will resound in the church at the victory of sectarianism over religious liberty. Such is doubtless the hope of the few who met a few some evenings ago. I do not think its realization at all probable. Happily for Israel denomi--national jealousies, and clashing clerical interests may ward off the evil contemplated. But as we would suffer the most by the embodying of doctrinal points in the Con--stitution of our commonwealth, we should noiselessly but steadily endeavour to put down the first attempt.
We cannot present an imposing array of strength mino--rically, but we are not destitute of individuals, whose personal influence can be felt in high places. And as we possess men who will be listened to deferentially, so we have others, who may redress wrongs by means of their pen.
But above all we should trust in God, who will not darken thus the brightest-spot of His created earth with the shadows of our political death. For, depend upon it, my Brethren! with the admission of a creed into our organic laws the reign of proscription will be inaugurated. The adherents of Judaism will be held baref barely at sufferance. Nothing short of apostacywill open for them the avenues to pre--ferments. But the Guardian of Israel [Hebrew] [Hebrew] "disappointeth the devices of the cunning, so that their hands cannot perform their en-terprise."
But pardon the question, American Israelites! have we a claim upon God's interposition in our behalf? Has not the liberty long enjoyed estranged many from His services?
What is this demand persistently made for changes, if not a step towards gentilism? The Synagogue which [?] represented the history, the traditions, the hopes of our people, has been so transformed as to baffle recognition. Our modern teachers deb declare that the liberalising of our antiquated code. But they who are not carried away by the fascination of popular applause, see in it a gradual surrendering of principles for which our predecessors staked their existence. Already the effect of such imparting can be perceived. Persons noted for their attachment to the observances, have broken loose of their pious habits. Men who would have scrupled on the sabbath to unseal a letter, consider it lawful to ride and buy and kindle fire. Women who would have deemed the intermixing of certain culinary utensils a pollution, en--tertain their guests with forbidden viands. And whereas formerly Israelites,--when they sin sinned--sinned blushingly, now they sin arrogantly. And all this to gain what? Immunities withheld? Not at all. A freer community than the Hebrews of Pennsylvania could scarcely be conceived. Say changelings! Did you so act to win the respect of our gentile fellow-el citizens?
Our fidelity to the ancestral laws secured it to us; because the reflecting will understand that those who are conscientious and high-principled in religion, will be so likewise in their dealings with mankind at large. No: you have not only gained nothing worth obtaining, but you have gathered over all our heads the clouds betokening God's displeasure. For, as the Rabbis remark [Hebrew] [Hebrew] When mischief stalks abroad, the good and the bad are equally troubled. Those who kept faith--ful to their mission, and those who deserted it, would be involved in the baneful results attending the designs of fanaticism. The threatening storm, will, I believe, pass away; for, the Protector of Israel is merciful and long-suffering. He will not put out the light of freedom, and force the world back into the dark ages, because of our trespasses. But ought we therefore to tempt the Lord? Ought we to imagine ourselves beyond His controlling power, and act as if absolved from His ordinances, because human laws have, so far, proved our strong shield? You have been shown, my Brethren! how soon the same laws might be converted "into thorns in our eyes, and stings in our sides".
A few words added to our statute-book will make it the instrument with which our fathers were scourged. To-day the evil counsel will not prevail, but who can tell with what evils the morrow may be pregnant?
[Hebrew] "Like brooks of water is a King's heart in the hand of the Lord, He turneth it withersoever He pleaseth." Here we do not depend upon a royal ru will, but the decision of the majo-rity--a sovereign-will, may work to our injury. Let us then bethink ourselves. While employing all legiti--mate means within our reach to thwart the intention of the zealots; let our deliverance from it be followed by a return to the principles we have abandoned. See, my friends! The name of Jews prolific of afflictions, did not expose us to danger, nor did it hitherto subject us to dis--abilities in this dear land. We have bee nthe peers of all Americans, notwithstanding that our peculiar usages kept us religiously distinct. Now we betray a mighty wish to yield our characteristics and approach gentilism, and now we are repelled by the hand we fain would press. Now is prejudice raised in arms against the Hebrews.
Such is the silent admonition of Him [Hebrew] "who doeth wonders, and we know it not". Let us accept the wholesome teaching, and behave in a manner becoming our dignity and consistent with our duty. We shall stand up before man for our rights, but humble ourselves to the dust before God for our backslidings. We shall bring our influence to bear on the f defence of our franchises, but mainly commit our cause to our compassionate Lord. It is thus, O Israelites! that the two-edged sword pointed at our national breast was blunted even at the memorable season we are about to celebrate. No compromise with the enslaving Pharaoh; absolute liberty alone could satisfy the bondmen. Their champion stood imperturbable in the presence of the dreaded tyrant, but he looked up to the highest Sower for the glorious issue. "Upon this might will the chains drop from your weary feet." So spoke the messenger of the Most High, and the people who did believe, "bent down and prostrated themselves" [Hebrew] [Hebrew]. Their loins are girded, fastened are their sandals, they have laid hold of their staff to set forth on the march of freedom, but our father's obedience betokened their depending for salvation upon an all-guiding Providence.
The door-posts of their houses marked with the blood of the lamb, signified their faith. That animal symbolical indeed--not of a vicarious atonement--but of the downfal of heathen superstitions, that animal--the object of adoration among their Egyptian task-masters, was slaughtered as an earnest of our ancestors' alle--giance to the living God. Let us then upon at this season, evince a belief equally firm in our everlasting Redeemer by sacrificing the objects that cause us to err, and giving honor to truth. Our paschal oblation should be the yielding of modern ideas that clash with the instruction of Sinai. It should be the ye rejection of that love for popularity, which leads us blindfolded into the arms of gentilism. Passover will be fittingly observed by removing the leaven which makes us swell with vainglory because of the privileges en--joyed. It will be an acceptable festival to the Deliverer of our people, if while performing the rites, recalling the past, we shall cast a look towards the future, and by our efforts, by our meritorious conduct and by our prayers hasten the time, when all the liberated slaves of Myraim will share the blessings now peculiarly within our reach.
Then will we obtain His celestial boons; and be certain that God's high purposes and not men's contracted views shall prevail. Then may we laugh to scorn the attempt to rob this country of her con crowning beauty, so attractive, and so charming, and feel assured that the seed of Jacob will, not less than the seed of Esau, will still bask in that beauty unsurpassing comeliness. Each of us seeing our hope fulfilled, may have occasion to exclaim, like the Psalmist [Hebrew] "The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart hath trusted in Him, and I was helped, therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth, and with my song will I praise him".
And you dear Bar Mitzvá &c (concluding with a short address to the lad.) - Identifier
- p3hm53494
- identifier
- SMBx10FF4_1
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/91207