Vayera. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
- Title
- Vayera. 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 9, Folder 4
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3gh9bv9m/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3gh9bv9m
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx9FF4_9.xml
- content
-
An exegetical discourse on Haftorat Vaera
Brethren! A deceased friend, to whose opinion I listened deferentially, said to me once that in order to confirm Israelites on their belief, the Pastor ought to mingle socially with his flock, and seek opportunities by which to offer the wavering a wholesome advice, and explain points in the religion which need elucidation. By which saying, my valued friend meant, that a preacher ought not to limit himself to the lessons imparted from the pulpit, but he should supplement them by others, taught in the course of easy conversation. For the latter may leave a deeper impression, than a set discourse, necessarily formal in its character. But it must be candidly admitted that the occasions on which the Jewish minister can combine popular instruction with familiar intercourse, are extremely rare. The topics in which he will be engaged when visiting the members of his congre--gation will vary, of course, according to the disposition and men--tal capacities of each individual, but as a rule, they do not have any bearing upon subjects tending to spiritual im--provement. The days when a Rabbi was specially em--ployed as the mentor of a Hebrew household, remain only in the memory of a few. The days when a Rabbi was almost oraclelarly consulted touching cases of conscience,
and the right understanding of Biblical or Talmudical sentences, are not likely to revive in our midst. Nay, a sense of delicacy will urge now a pastor to avoid such dis-cussion, for ignorance of the laws, and negligence of the precepts are unfortunately so wilfully kept, that a remark ingenuously made, a word dropped unguardedly may be interpreted a deliberate insult offered in a man's own private dwelling. Not so, however, when the pulpit is the medium through which popular instruction is conveyed. What emanates from it will never be construed into pers--nalities, and even if it must unavoidably be less flowing and less effective than a friendly interchange of religious thoughts, it will have the merit of reaching a multitude, prepared, in all likelihood, to hera hear some distasteful truths. Without, therefore, setting aside any opportunity by which to strengthen our fellow-believers on the doctrines & tenets of our faith, I judge, that, as we are at present constituted, this place is the fittest and most acceptable for its pur--pose. The waters of life flowing therefrom, will not, I trust, turn into waters of Merebah, filling some with displeasure, and giving others the pains, and heart-burnings of censure undeserved.
The prefatory observations, just made, were elicited, my dear Brethren, from by the Haftorah of this Sabbath. Study--ing it, in connection with the chapter succeeding it, I la--mented within myself, that the practice of devoting an hour every day to the reading of Holy Writ--as suggested by one of Israel's nobblest daughters--Grace Aguilar--in some of her excellent writings--was not usually followed. Much of our time is frittered away in pursuits, unimportant, if not trivial, but that which would afford a thorough acquain--tance with the imparting of God and his prophets, and hence the ability to confound the unbeliever infidel, does not occupy our minds. Indeed, I readily believe, that were it not for this holy institution--the Synagogue--some of our young offspring would know as much of the book that lies at the foundation of the religion we have inherited, and when we are sworn to perpetuate transmit to posterity, as of the laws of Confucius a Zoroaster. Parents, nowadays are so wholy engaged in the engrossing object of running after wealth, that they cannot halt in their course, and inquire whether those who must perpetuate their names, have acquired any knowledge
of the volumes, which will enable them to remain intelligently within the fold. But let me not be this morning profuse in the dispensation of rebukes. And since it is from the here that popular instruction must reach all, let me rather crave your attention to some scriptural explanations.
The effusions of Ezekiel which, as a model of ornate and flowery style, delight the lover of literature, possess a still stronger attraction to him that goes in search after truth. They mirror forth the power of diverse inspiration. The hand of time has marked twenty three centuries on the world's dial, since the priestly bard spoke, but the whole universe may wax old, and wear out like a garment, yet the words he uttered will stand unaltered. We have heard him this Sabbath foretell the downfall of a kingdom once famous, and glittering with the stars of achieved glories. From the land of the North, whither the son of [?] was early taken captive, his far-reaching eye surveys the majestic Nile. It sees it deserted of the huge dragon that ruled it. The prophet's vision dives deeper still, when lo! all the countless denizens of the swelling river,--dragged irresistibly after the
watery monster--are drawn to a dry land, there to meet an invetil inevitable death. You understand, my Brethren! the application. That people who had often proved to our credulous fathers, when struggling mightily against Assyria and Babylon, a "staff of reed, which breaks under the hand that leans on it" for support, that treacherous people, must bear the weight of their inequities. Pharaoh and his subjects will be chased away ignominiously from their territories. During forty years they who boasted of their greatness prowess, will be subjected to a foreign power, imposing humiliation and banishment. And though at the end of that period, the term of national degradation would also expire, yet they who trod again the native soil would never regain attain the height from which they had been hurled down. We read "I will restore the captivity of Egypt, and cause them to return to the land of Pathros (Tebaides), but they shall be there a lowly kingdom" And what is here foretold in general terms, is expressed in the next chapter pointedly and definitely. "A prince out of the land of Egypt shall rise no more" (XXX 13.)
Now, I am not in possession of the records from which to show, beyond dispute, that how and when the first prediction was accomplished. While unbelievers--ever busy to throw discredit upon the pages of inspiration--fli flatly deny that it ever became a relia reality, ancient history relates that during the period specified by Ezekiel, the Ethiopians, having made an inroad into the country of Myraim, held it entirely under subjection. Still, I am unable through a defect in Chronological accounts to ascertain whether the event to which I have reference is identical with that foreseen by the priestly bard. Strongly inclined as I feel to think that the two incidents tally exactly, I would not venture upon an assertion damaging the cause of truth, even in the to defend Holy Writ from the aspersions of infidelity. But what I can--not state with precision regarding the first prediction, I am qualified to say touching that which follows it, "A prince out of the land of Egypt, shall use no more." From the day in which the indomitable Nebuchadnezzar set his iron heel upon nations, and crushed dynasties, even to this day, the land proud of her sages and states--men, gave birth no more to a Ruler from the Coptic,
or the original Egyptian, extraction. Persian, and Macedonian, and the world renowned Ptolemies, and Roman [?], sat, in turn, upon the shyning thrones of hte Pharaohs. The Saracenes and the Mame--lukes mastered the land of the pyramids, and chose a king from their midst. But a prince from the land of Egypt arose weilded not [?] the sceptre. Finally, the seat of learning, the focus of science, the she that had legislated for and taught the known world, sunk into a viceroyalty of the Turkish empire. And through so checkered a history, the word of inspiration stood firm, it defied time and all its vicissitudes. In later days the effort has been made to redeem redeem that a once famous country from her state of objection. All haver to her present ruler, Il Ismael Pacha, and his late parent Abraim, who have strove mi--ghtily to rescue from Extinction the cradle of ancient know--ledge, but if d she does rescuscitate, it be will only be the skeleton of her former self with new flesh and sinews and a vital spirit gotten from the mart of Euro--pean civilization.
Let now skeptics tax their inventive faculties to disprove what prophecy has traced on adamant with a pen dipped in inspiration.
Will they dare gainsay what twenty three hundred years attest in a single accord of voices? What power was that which tore asunder the veil hiding the future? What keen eye penetrated the unknown? Was it human discernment; the wisdom drawn from earthly surroundings? Did that succeed in unravelling events, which brought on the scene of the world nations yet uncreated? Ah! my Brethren! Learn Study to learn, and to draw treasures from the store of inexhaustible knowledge. Ponder well, and you will discover that man's sharpest reasonings, when set up in open antagonism to God's word are comparable to that statue which had a golden head, but feet of clay. It drops down at the first blow. Vain are the endeavours of the skeptics to prop make it with the rise and stand a staff borrowed from chance. upon [?]. Your great prop, change O infidels! chance can never account for incidents succeeding each other in marvellous unity. Was it indeed men chance that a tribe still existing, and number, possibly, a million of human beings, distinct in their dialect, in their features, and in their habits, should not to this day raise a ruler
from their ranks. A chance that the Copts, who are noted for their shrewdness and abilities should not sit again upon the throne, which their ancestors, the Pharaohs had made illustrious? Never, my Brethren! We have learnt to believe that there is a Providence meet meting out to nations as well as individuals their due. That God ranks high and brings low. We have learnt that they who have despoiled and consumed the house of Jacob, kindled with their own hands the fire that extinguished their wit and their glory begot their existence. We that have seen our persecutors face to face, and outlived them all, believe that, as the prophet Zachariah declares "Whosoever toucheth (us) you, toucheth the pupil of His eye, or to say it in the language of our Haftorah "The Lord will execute judgments against all who plunder us around, so that it may become known that He is the Lord our God."
(This discourse was continued at considerable length, addressing a Bar Mitzvá, in the course of which, the legend of B. J. Ben Lakish and Elijah and the Messiah, founded on the sentence "To day if ye obey His voice," was alluded to.) - Identifier
- p3gh9bv9m
- identifier
- SMBx9FF4_9
Part of Vayera. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
Morais, Sabato, “Vayera. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated”, Sabato Morais Digital Repository, accessed September 18, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/morais/item/91326