Shemini. Morais, Sabato. 1891 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Shemini. Morais, Sabato. 1891

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

1891

Format

11 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 9, Folder 21

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3cv4cb50/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3cv4cb50

Provenance

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

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx9FF21_2.xml

content

S. MORAIS,
546 N. FIFTH STREET,
PHILADELPHIA.

37

The virtues of modesty & moderation
predicated in the death of Nodab & Abihoo
[Hebrew][inserted by author: ]91

Modesty and moderation are virtues that become us human beings well, in our every stage or condition of life. Their possession lends the aged a more venerable appearance. By the exercise of those virtues the learned gain in influence. Modesty and moderation add dignity to the judge upon the bench. Better than war trophies, they win for a conqueror universal applause. And in the young; how strikingly they set off the comeliness of the person; the endowments of the mind. Modesty and moderation--twin virtues-- born of wisdom and humility, watch over our physical and moral health; they awe back threatening dangers and beckon near abiding tranquillity. But when we look for those virtues, where are we apt to find them? In places which wealth tread upon with haughty steps? Too often riches beget vainglory and dissipation. [Hebrew] The man in affluence, say the scriptures, boasts of his large means, as of a fortress built for his own defence security,and because he cares not for public censure, he will defy public opinion and let his appetites go unbridled.

Will those virtues be met with frequency where the sceptre bears sway is weilded? Human frailty? Nothing seems so calculated to engender pride and extrava--gance more than as the exercise of temporal authority. Are we not constantly shown how instances of persons who ought to have been models of meekness and sobriety, but who grew to be overbearing and intemperate, when clothed even simply "dressed in a in small little brief authority"? With the preacher of old, each of us, calling experience as a proof, may exclaim [Hebrew], in the hall of justice, injustice daringly stands forth. No, modesty, which is low--liness of mind; moderation, which is a victory over self-indulgence, are not the characteristics of opu--lence and power. The hovel rather than the mansion exhibits them. The man in coarse garments rather than he who wears the insignia of high offices. Individuals credited with the possession of knowledge, ought always to illustrate exemplify in their conduct those essential qualities, for, to learn is to discover our igno--rance, and the necessity of guarding against what-ever may injure our intellect and our character. But so much of human knowledge is impractical,

[?] that not rarely, we will see find mental acquirements destitute of social requirements, erudtion stalking abroad in company with ostentation. To youths especially will that airy knowledge proves become a slippery path, on which they slide down fast into shame and misery. Filled with an over--weening opinion of their capacities, they will scorn the idea of holding a subordinate position. They wish to begin their career, where their pre--decessors ended it, forgetting the how very slow was their parents' ascent up to the step of the ladder which they finally reached. Modesty, which would dictate to the children a similar course; moderation, which would afford satisfaction with a lowly station, as the sure means to a gradual elevation, are cast aside, and contrary evil counsels are listened to with complacence.
I do not think, that Holy Writ has offered any--where a more forcible exemplification illustration of God's dis--pleasure with the conduct demeanour of such youths, as in a stirring event recorded in this week's section of the Pentateuch.

Nadab and Abl Abihoo, whose fearful doom turned a people's joy into sorrow, may be taken as types of a large number, developping now into man--hood. With an average of knowledge, suffi--cient to create ambition, but insufficient to check vanity, they hug delusive hopes. They dream of bright success, but keep it at a distance by their lack of modesty and moderation.
The day had arrived on which the high priest was consecrated to the service of the newly erected Tabernacle. Gladness sparkled on every coun--tenance, when Aaron, crowned with the golden mitre, accompanied by in unison of sentiments with his prophetic brother, and, faced the Congregation of Israel, bestowed upon them pronounced & with uplifting his hands pronounced the threefold blessing. Thril--ling was the shout that rent the sky. A whole nation triumphed in their Lord. But who are they that rush towards the holy of holies? The two elder sons of the installed High priest disdained to be mere attendants at the altar; aids to the Chief minister. They must Why not show that they also are entitled to a share of public veneration;

that they also enjoy privileges of a first rate order? Now stirred Goaded on by vanity, "Nadab and Abihoo took each his censer, put fire therein, set incense thereon, and brought before the Lord a strange fire, which He had commanded them not." But why what does motive had the Bible to in designating the sinners, in the present instance, as [Hebrew] "the sons of Aaron"? Because, intended by nature and religion as assistants to their father in his sacerdotal functions, they dared act as his coequals. [Hebrew], write the Talmudists. But another reason have the Rabbis alleged for having the guilty men being to particularly named. Because their self-sufficiency prevented their consulting the advice of their superiors [Hebrew]. As "sons of Aaron," they should have been guided by pater--nal example. Their father recognized in Moses his spiritual guide, and meekly was he directed by the inspired word of the arch prophet. They, on the contrary, considered it useless to ask whe--ther a voluntary oblation at that time and under those circumstances would be reckoned an honor to the Lord.

"Surely there can exist no difference between our offering and that which our father presented. We are fully as capable of officiating in the Sanctuary. For, have we not also been clothed with distinguishing garments?" So may those arrogant youths + have argued, and so do others contend, who look on modesty as a womanish virtue. They cannot see why persons of their calibre should be subservient and submissive to others; why they should acknowledge their superiors, when they possess all the qualifications for rising and gaining at once the greatest height. And because the world will not give them credit for that which they have discovered in their own selves, therefore they waste their energies in indolence baseless projects, and not infrequently in wanton follies.
I am not prepared, to accept altogether the opinion views of some of the Talmudists, in connection with the event just narrated, and yet it may have some foundation in its close proximity to a divine command--ment which follows it immediately.
+ The word "youths," is here used only relatively.

Those Sages assert that the sin of Nadab and Abi--hoo was the offspring of intemperance. [Inserted above: [Hebrew]] The absence of modesty in their character made room for insa--tiable ambition, but immoderation led to an act of unblushing impiety. They The Sages illustrate their views idea by a parable. A king had a servant, on whom he relied for the faithful performance of a certain work. But one day the royal master saw him stand in a particular locality. To the general surprise and consternation the king had his servant executed. Appointing another in his stead, the monarch cautioned the man not to visit the spot which his predecessor frequented. None, none knew in what manner the former officer had offended the Ruler. But when they heard that order, they learned the cause of his displeasure. It is so likewise in this case. As we perceive that after the fatal occurrence which caused Aaron the poignant grief of berea--vement, the injunction was given that his surviving sons, as himself, must abstain from wine or strong drink before entering the sanctuary, lest they die, we may infer that the two, suddenly cut off, had been guilty of an offence of that nature.

Now, it is optional with one any one to agree or disagree with that Rabbinical reasoning, but the lesson which our ancient teachers endeavoured to im--part commands itself to our serious consideration. It points out an error which is on the increase, be--cause our children misconstrue the privileges granted by this Republic. As In the same manner as the sons of Aaron regarded their father's superior rank as their own by divine right, and were led to sin, so young Americans deem their country's liberty an inherent right, freeing from hard toil and humble endeavours exertions. Is not each of them an independent sovereign? Does it become a king to stoop and work under another's direction? I need not say even to those who boast of being American born, what is the issue which idleness allied to vanity will bring forth But as surely as Nadab and Abihoo fell while attempting to mount high on their father's shoul--ders, so will they be dragged down from the lofty pedestal, which their overweening brains have raised in their conception. Early, a young, early in life choose modesty and moderation as counsellors. They are not noisy. They do not stalk abroad with pomposity.

They delight in retiredness, but follow their gentle lead, and you will avoid many a stumbling block against which pretentious youths constantly strike. Those twin virtues will preserve the soundness of your bodies; the freshness of your intellects; nay, they will spread round your existence a mantle hiding faults, which all mortals are liable to commit. For, whereas vanity provokes jealousy and insobriety excites stirs up strife, modesty and moderation silence censure and disarm envy. Hatred cannot level its shafts at them, for they seek only peace, and walk humbly to secure love. Understand their so sterling worth, O youths, and be never tempted to prefer to it the tinsel wherewith bewitching vice is presented. Before God who reckons presumption among the seven abominations of His heart, bend to the earth; before God who has gifted you with an intelligent soul, worship with a mind undimmed by the fumes of a brutalizing passion. Before man, whom you must join to promote happiness, before the community of your brethren, whom you must benefit by example, be distinguished for the possession of the two ennobling virtues: modesty and moderation.

Identifier

p3cv4cb50

identifier

SMBx9FF21_2