Terumah. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
- Title
- Terumah. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
- Author
- Morais, Sabato
- Format
- 14 pages on 4 sheets
- Language(s)
- English
- Source
- Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
- Sabato Morais Collection, Box 9, Folder 15
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3cr5nz5q/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3cr5nz5q
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx9FF15_5.xml
- content
-
Maimonides College--9 et seq.
A sermon for Sabbath Terumáh
[Hebrew]
Brethren! Imagine that I were to inform you this morning of the presence of an illustrious personage in our midst; of one whose fame resounds through the habitable globe, would you not study every motion, and evince by your outward demeanour, the feelings you experience inwardly? I know, that I, to create a favor--able impression would address him most respectfully, and employ the choicest language at my command. How immeasurably greater should be then our efforts to preserve a reverential attitude, when He who has vouchsafed to grace our assembly, is the most adorable of Bungs; the sovereign Creator of the world. You have heard the message He sent to Israel in the days of yore. [Hebrew] "Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them". That message, my fellow-believers, was manifestly designed for all generations. The priestly Seer who prophesied during the Babylonish captivity wrote by inspiration. "Although I have removed them far away among the nations, and although I have scat--tered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a
minor Sanctuary in the countries whither they are come." To divert our minds from the errors of gentilism, God would open a correspondence, as it were, between Him--self and his chosen people, through the service He desired they should tender unto Him. History does not relate how were our ancestors impressed by that behest; but a traditional legend tells of the unutterable amazement it cause their righteous leader [Hebrew] [Hebrew]. "Could a structure be raised equal in extent to the pervading Spirit of the universe? Lo! the highest heavens cannot hold their sovereign Maker; yet, I am bid to rear a place wherein God may abide." So reasoned the arch-prophet. But the heavenly voice which had imparted the ordinance was heard to exclaim [Hebrew] "Moses! thou hast not rightly understood." [Hebrew] [Hebrew] "Twenty boards on the North side; twenty on the south, and eight in the west will amply suffice." [Hebrew] "I will, for men's sake, lower myself to their level, and narrow down my Divine essence". Dear Brethren! The Omnipotent Being, whose glory fills all the earth, has promised
to hallow with His presence the habitation we devote to His worship. What should be then the distinctionguishing characteristics of that edifice? Its stately appearance, its collonade, and gorgeous tapestry may evidence a praiseworthy liberality, but will be incapable of drawing toward it a celestial influence.
Will the melody of ten thousand instruments attract the Shekinah to the spot whence it reverberates? No: the nature of the place which the Deity will irradiate with the light of His countenance, must be such that the term employed in the Hebrew text may fitly apply thereto. It must be a "Mikdash"--a dwelling of sanctity--a spot where all the surround--ings bespeak the reverence it inspires; where holy thoughts are conceived, and strengthened and enlarged. Carved timber and polished stones cannot be dedicated to the Most High. The hearts of men can and should be devoted to His service. Then will the Omnipotent God, let His spirit honor round the mansion erected to His name. In a word: The magnificence of the building, will
not render it [Hebrew] "a tabernacle of the Lord," unless it actually is "Mikdash" [Hebrew] a sacred spot. [Hebrew] [Hebrew]. So did the scripture teach, when it gave the edifice erected in the wilderness, those two significant appellations. The sages of Israel however, have prescribed for our guidance certain rules by adhering to which, we would glorify here below Him that is enthroned above. I have had occasion frequently before to offer them to your consideration. But in perusing the same, I lighted upon one, which especially arrested my attention. It is that which demands that we testify our respect for the house of worship by our attire [Hebrew].
I pondered thereon; not because I discovered that we disregarded that injunction, but because we are apt to transcend its limits. As it generally happens, a deviation from the middle course, has produced, in this instance also, a baneful effect. I asked a lad a reason for his protracted absence from the synagogue. He assigned for it the want of better garments than those he usually wore. Brothers and sisters! I apprehend that the habits we indulge into, virtually exclude form this
holy communion, many of our coreligionists. They who cannot vie with the rich in their habiliment, fail, for that motive, to join in our public devotions. Nay: the evil is obviously greater. For, some will only ap--pear, when the elegance of their dress, may elicit the admiration of worldly beings, whereas they ought to be constantly in attendance to secure the approbation of the heavenly King. Humility we should put on as a vesture, simplicity of manners as the girdle of our loins, when prest we present ourselves in the dwelling of the Lord. Our brother in a lowly condition of life, seeing that, would not be owed back from the gates of prayer. Not unsuitably has the fan in which we pour forth united supplications been called [Hebrew] or "synagogue;" for, therein ought every one, who adores the One living God, to be gathered. Could the longing of my soul be fulfilled, no difference of ritual would exist to prevent a Hebrew from mingling indiscriminately with his fellow-believers in devotional exercises. I would fain level down [inserted above, in pencil: erase]
the [inserted above, in pencil: differences] inequalities which elements, foreign to our religion, have created. The names by which various bodies of of Jews are now distinguished, would not be written in the future annals of our people. But let us not, at all events, banish, by our demeanour, any Israelite who voluntarily sits in our midst; though he be the humblest and the poorest. Who more than he can values the privilege, to which our blessed faith entitles him, even that of singing hymns and psalmodies with the most opulent or the most fortunate of God's children? It is a comfort amid distress. It is the means of infusing contentment wit hone's lot; it is the instrument by which they are upheld in the path of rectitude, whose pressing wants would incite to prevarications. For, this is a high school of morality; this is the oracle of God, giving in--struction and wise counsel. Oh! may the day never dawn in which pomp and pageantry at the Synagogue, shall warn the needy against stepping beyond its threshhold. Yet that are rich, yet that are happy bring hither an offering of thanksgiving to the Bestower of all good; but let your meek deportment invite those
upon whom fortune has not smiled to seek delight in communing with their Lord. Disdain not to blend your voices with theirs; for you have been told that to such a one will the Creator of heaven and earth look "to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trem--blest at his word" [Hebrew]
Now, without wishing to make any insidious remarks, I will say, that I have observed with pain how many among the attendants fail to participate in this religious service. It might seem, as if they regarded the officiating minister, and the few who respond to his invocations, as invested with vicarious powers; but our prayers, my dear friends, are intensely national. Every one born in Israel must personally unite in ten--dering to the Redeemer and Protector of our race, the honor due to His name. I am not disposed to lower the Reader from his position. He is "Sheliach Zibbùr" the messenger delegate of the congregation". His prerogatives are distinct. He must lead the people of God in the worship, bless them and exalt their spirit by his devotional attitude and manners. But he does not occupy the place of the
high-priest of yore. Let us understand it once for all. The service at the Synagogue bears no analogy with that anciently held at the Temple, in the capital of Judia. There, the blood of slaughtered animals atoned for sin; there, the Levites choir, accompanied with vocal and instru--mental music the rite of the sacrifice. There few Hebrews, except the delegates people's representatives sent by the various sections of the country to attend at the daily offerings, bowed toward the holy ark. Thrice a year alone, during the rural festivals, a pilgrimage was made by the male population to the shrine sancti- of the -fied by the Divinity Cherubim & the golden altar. But the synagogue has been from a remote period to within the mid half first part of this century, the center to which the faithful const--antly directed their steps, and where in godly simplicity they prayed and edified one another. Brethren! Let us preserve ours as such. Let the fathers bid their sons rehearse the national supplications. Let the mothers encourage their daughters to blend their voices harmoniously in our national anthems. Let rich and poor, young and old throng this mansion of sanctity, and
prove the feelings that actuates them by a decorous, devout and humble demeanour. Then we shall have made a "Mikdash" and the Sehkinah will rest thereupon [Hebrew].
But the reverence we pay evince toward the synagogue, is equally due to another spot. To that from which sacred religious learning is disseminated. Nay: according to our Sages, it exceeds the former in sanctity [Hebrew] For, that is the laboratory of the mind, and thence will issue forth those, whose enlightened zeal shall will perpetuate Judaism in its purity integrity. But many among you, are ignorant of even the existence of such an establishment in our midst. Few are aware that men prompted by the purest motive--by the love of Hebrew nationality--devote a portion of their time each day to rear youths to the ministry. I myself would not, in all likelihood, have now alluded to it, but for an occurrence which happened this sabbath. A lad was recently sent hither from a neighboring city. He had been the inmate of an orphan asylum; and the directors of that benevolent Institution, seeing in him a disposition
and aptitude to learn, assumed his support, until he be enabled, by the knowledge acquired, to provide for his own subsistence. The lad is he that recited before you a portion of the Torah. Of an age, which scarcely warrants his occupying a seat at a college, he nevertheless receives there, instruction in Biblical lore. To further his laudable aspirations, and reward his assiduity, he is afforded a benefit, which many of his senior-school-mates do not enjoy. I dare not utter a prediction; but I pray that the lad may become a faithful expounder of the book from which he has read in your presence.
My hopes for the future of Judaism, rest, firstly upon God, then upon the offspring of the needy, and on the fatherless. The wealthy, and the fortunate exhibit no desire to cultivate the field of sacred literature, and much less to embrace a vocation, which is, at best, beset with difficulties. But they who have been, from their tender age inured to hardships, will not reject a holy office, because it does not,
temporally, invite to it by prospects glowingly resp prospects bright therefore have the Rabbins recommended [Hebrew] [Hebrew] "Be tender and regardful of the children of the poor; for, by them will the law be preserved." That is the exhortation I also offer. You must, dear Brethren! procure for yourselves trust-worthy teachers, from those reared under your [?] immediate supervision. The Community among whom you live is striving to fur--nish them. Be not parsimonious with God. For, it You will advocate This cause, when you shall have, inscribed your names among by munificent donations, proved yourselves the patrons of "the Mai--monides College." Among the evils threatened for the abandonment of religion, the book of Leviticus names the utter desolation of our sanctuaries. The last expression, being in the plural, was interpreted by the Sages as allusive both to colleges2 and synagogues1. [Hebrew], purposing to signify that anarchy will surely follow closely the abolition decay of sacred learning. That evil exists in our midst in a high degree. Let us remedy it. Let us vindicate our Sinaic constitution, by raising men capable of defending
its revealed truths. And you, my young friend! Search your heart deeply. In proportion as you grow in years, consult your feelings and natural abilities, lest you enlist into the service of your heavenly King, but are too weak or ill-disposed to fight his battles. But if you do discover that the calling for which you have been destined by the kind friends, who assumed your tutelage, when your natural guardian was summoned hence, is the have destined you is that a calling which you can pursue with credit to yourself, and honor to Israel's God accept it, & be welcome therein, even form this memorable day of your religious majority.
Oh! may the day never dawn on this Cong when the high turreted building, shining with splendour, with richly cushioned pews, will tell my brother the poor, "begone, enter not these gates." May the day never arrive when the artificial necessity of supporting an institution of prayer on the most costly plan with a corps of pampered ecclesiastical functionaries, and lurid songsters & songstresses will render the Synagogue inaccessible to the Hebrew in humble circumstances. Never should they be owed back from the spot, in which they have a right to sit, and jointly to rehearse the praise of the one living God they adore. - Identifier
- p3cr5nz5q
- identifier
- SMBx9FF15_5
Part of Terumah. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
Morais, Sabato, “Terumah. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated”, Sabato Morais Digital Repository, accessed September 19, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/morais/item/91222