Vayera. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
- Title
- Vayera. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
- Author
- Morais, Sabato
- Format
- 9 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/p3707x780/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3707x780
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx9FF4_5.xml
- content
-
For Sabbath Vayerá
on the Haftorah.
[Hebrew]
Brethren! We have, this morning, made the acquaintance of two women of Israel. Their positions in life are is unlike, but both of them are equally worthy of our esteem. We shall know them more intimately, after having taken a mental survey of the habitations they occupy. In the dwelling of the one, the traces of poverty are everywhere discernible. Gaunt visages meet our eyes. A widow and her two youthful sons are the inmates of that humble abode dismal dreary spot place. The appearance of the mother, betrays intensity of grief. Destitution had followed bereavement. And now a calamity was is impending over her household, the thought of which harrows her very soul. A pitiless creditor demanded her two children, as bondmen, in payment of his claims. The hopes of a brighter future so soothing to her maternal heart will be blighted. Deprived of her only comfort, she must will pine away in solitude. Her appeal to the courts of justice would avail nothing. The kingdom of Israel under whose rule she lived, had cast aside the merciful laws of the Mosaic code. It mattered not that according to the divine revelation, no Hebrew man could be permitted to be sold to servitude, even for a short period of time, unless he had committed a high crime. Those in
authority trampled on religion, and no redress could be obtained for wrongs suffered. Since the unfortunate schism, in the days of Rehoboam, which had divided the people of God into two distinct sections, the conduct of the princes of the house of Israel encouraged a laxity of principles among all classes. The subjects vied with their monarchs in doing inequity. Therefore we hear Amos inveigh against that corrupt kingdom, because in it the righteous were enslaved for the sake of money. [Hebrew] But despite the general depravity, a few remained unpolluted. They were principally individuals who belonged to the school of the prophets. The merit of having founded that institution of sacred learning is ascribed to Samuel. That faithful servant of the Lord sought, in all likelihood, to counteract by it the ill-effects of the abuse of power in which priests and high officials indulged. For, in that school a rigid discipline taught self-denial for the love of God's word; and while the minds of its attendants became elevated by the cultivation of the arts of poetry and song, abhorrence for ido--latry and idolaters was instilled into them. That in the course of ages degeneracy crept even into the holy precincts of that establishment, cannot be denied. Nevertheless many did issue from it, fully armed to battle for the Lord. Many who
braved the displeasure of potentates, who preferred a life of constant privations, to the relinquishing of their mission. The history of which chronicles the recreancy of a Zedekiah son of Canaanah, recounts records also the undaunted demea--nour of a Micarah son of [?]. And we all have read of Obadiah, who jeopardized his existence by stealthily feeding in a cave one hundred of the disciples of Samuel, whom the wicked Jezebel had doomed to destruction. Now, my Brethren! We may not choose to credit the legend which represents the widow with two sons of our Haftorah, as the wife and children of the righteous man I have just mentioned; but we must believe that the deceased copartner of that Hebrew woman, who illustrated his fidelity to the principles imbibed in the school of the prophets. Addressing Elisha, she exclaimed in anguish of spirit. "Thy servant my husband is dead, and thou well knowest that thy servant did fear the Lord" In her misery the memory of the upright religious conduct he had followed, was her solace. For, she felt assured that the loving-kindness of God will be shown to the offspring of those who keep His covenant, and observe His statutes in sincerity of heart.
She complained because of men's cruelty, but she looked trustingly for help to that beneficent Being who works wonders through human agency. Her faith proved her salvation. The sequel of my narrative is familiarly known. A supernatural deed performed by Elisha, obtained for her ten-fold more than she needed to pay her heartless creditor. Poverty was by2 a heavenly power chased1 way to make room for competence and comfort. Dear hearers! It is not at all probable that any of my sisters within reach of my voice, have ever been so sadly situated as the widow of whom I have spoken. The dread of being constrained to yeild one's child--ren to slavery, cannot, thank God, be experienced in this land of freedom. But some may at times have grieved by reason of their inability to adequately provide for their young offspring. Let the faith which delivered a mother and her two orphaned sons, be their stay. In that particular instance a miracle became was necessary requisite, because men had ceased to practise the merciful in--junctions of the Law. In our age it would be unnecessary. The sufferings of the bereaved awaken the liveliest sympathies. A spirit of universal brotherhood which the religion of the Sinai breathes, stirs pervades is gradually stirring up the human breast. Means are ceaselessly resorted to to in order that sorrow may be alleviated, and that the hapless may not be exposed to want, and despair shame. [Hebrew] The spreading of the book of books among nations, has offered a more com-
-prehensive view of charity. The promise made in that heavenly volume to the upright, has being fulfilled, through the workings of real charity. [?]: [Hebrew] "The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish." But let us now it is time we should turn our attention to the other object presented to our view consideration. In the dwelling of the woman of Israel, who residing at Shunem; signs of affluence--gratefully enjoyed-- are visible. The stranger receives in it a cordial welcome; and very often a man of venerable appearance will might be seen, bend--ing his way thither to take enjoy a meal. But the character which distinguish that personage, has become known to his generous hostess. It does not then suffice her any longer that the prophet Elisha be a guest at her table. He must be provided supplied with a room in her habitation, where he and his attendant may remain at perfect ease. She obtains her husband's consent, and a chamber is purposely built and suitably furnished. Such much consideration signal thoughtful kindness; so peculiar an instance of hospitable reception, arouses in the man of God a strong desire to si--gnify by some act his appreciation and thankfulness. He therefore inquires whether his influence with the King or the general in chief might not promote her interest and relieve him, in part, of his indebtedness. Mark well the answer, my respected sisters! [Hebrew] "I dwell among my own people". How simple, and how expressive withal! But I verily believe it is as rare a reply, as rare were the
virtues of the woman who gave it. Many, a great many would gladly have accepted the offer. Just think: if I being on familiar terms with crowned heads; of to [?] in the same circle with the highest kin magnates of the land. What bright pros--pects! To bask in the sun-shine of royal favors. To be numbered among a privileged few. But those anticipations at which the hearts of thousands of women would have swelled immeasurably, had no charm for our modest Shunamite. She had no ambition to step beyond her own sphere. Let it not be imagined that her preference for a life of simplicity emanated from a consciousness of her emptiness for a loftier station. No, for, Holy Writ styles her [Hebrew] "A great woman"; and her whole course as described in our Haftorah and in a subsequent chapters proves her intelligent, self-re--liant and sagacious. But she wished to continue in her position, because it enabled her to do good unostentatiously and with much great efficacy. She set no value upon the acquaintance of rulers and princes, because she loved her home, and the pure joy it affords. And she would not risk barter them for the fleeting pleasures attended with heart-burnings, and for pleasures which breed extravagance and
irregularity of habits. A noble type of a Hebrew wife. So, at least, I consider it. Others, however, look there--upon in a different tight. To lose the opportunity of shining among people of high tone, they regard a sheer folly. To expect, they say, that the ladies of our days will share the ideas held by the women of scores of centuries ago, is to ignore the changes which society has undergone. Neither the manners nor the mode of living of the ancients would suit our times, and they who would attempt to imitate them such, would deservedly expose themselves to ridicule. Why then propose intimate that the retiring habits of our mothers might safely becomingly be followed up by their daughters?....[?], my friends! incited by a wish to condemn or censure I would show how a blind adherence to fictitious rules made by society, has tarnished much of the lustre of the Jewish character. I would prove that if some of my sisters in faith had, like the Sunamite, answered to the promptness of feminine vanity [Hebrew] [Hebrew]. "I dwell among my own people," their homes would now be happier. But it was not my intention design to utter denunciations. I felt interested in the lesson of the prophets designated for this Sabbath, and I thought it might not be altogether unprofitable for you to listen to my some
explanatory remarks. My task is preformed. It rests with you to judge whether my efforts have been advantageously or uselessly p employed. - Identifier
- p3707x780
- identifier
- SMBx9FF4_5
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/91328