Vayera. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
- Title
- Vayera. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Undated
- Author
- Morais, Sabato
- Format
- 11 pages on 5 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/p3zg6gt0b/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3zg6gt0b
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx9FF4_2.xml
- content
-
A moral lecture on Parashat Vayerá
Brethren! When the professors of a religion--which has drawn existence from Jewish inspiration--ignore its origin, and with self-complacency proclaim to the world, that from it alone the springs of pure morality issue forth, one may be pardoned, if in vindication of truth, he endeavours to disprove the assertion. Men are too apt blindly to accept opinions, which have acquired popularity. And our youth, alas! our youths upon whom Judaism in America has built its hopes, hearing incessantly the praises of another faith, learn to regard with contempt or indifference that in which they were born. It is their minds, O beloved hearers! my fellow-believers! that ought chiefly to be disabused of an error fatal to our dearest interests. Do we not witness already its baneful effects? The maidens of Judah aspire to shine amid a circle of non-Israelites. The sons of Hebrew-parents seek to win the graces of the daughters of gentiles. They withdraw from the association of a people, whose laws are pronounced obsolete, and whose practices excite the derision of the-so-called-enlightened. They twin traitors to a cause, the sublimity of which, their perverted minds have failed to comprehend.
For I ask in all earnest, what nobler end could man's religion ever be assigned than that which God Himself designed for our faith? O household seed of Jacob! Inveterate prejudice or presumption may deny its claim to unequalled excellency & award it to a mere popular creed, but ignorance, unpardonable ignorance alone can draw the assent of a Jew or a Jewess to that biased judgment. Attend. When the wrath of God was kindled against p the people of Sodom, why was the ancient patriarch divinely ap--prised of their impending doom? Because2 he, who was righteous, would command his children and his household after him, to keep the way V of the Lord, by doing charity and justice. [Hebrew] [Hebrew]. Yes, let the whole world hear it, these are the solid foundations whereupon Israel's faith rests. Charity and justice. The twin virtues, whose practice will ultimately humanise all the inhabitants of the terrestrial globe, demolishing the barriers that separate them, subjecting national policy to the rules of high morality, forming of all men wheresoever they dwell a single family; uniting heaven and earth in one sweet accord. Not in a spirit of self-glorification, but in defense of truth
I say it. that They in whose veins courses the blood of Abraham the Hebrew, have ever been quickened by the impulses of those two noble virtues. The lesson early taught by the venerated father, was not lost on his children. The charity which impelled Abraham to paternally rear the orphan child of his brother, and that which he exhibited when he restored peace in the homesteads made desolate by war. The charity which elicited from his righteous lips a prayer for irreclaimable sinners, and that which he displayed beneath his roof towards weary travellers. His The justice in wresting the oppressed from the hand of their oppressors; in keeping faith unto heathens, who did not scruple to rob him of the wells he had dug his wealth, and in prev peremptorily refusing to become enriched with that which was not his legitimate property; this lesson, I repeat it, took struck deep root into the heart of his descendants. And if the religion, that has borrowed light from the bright pages of the Mosaic legislation, can justly glory in men and women, whom it has inspired with exemplary self-denial; we can, point out with national pride point to to our own philanthropists. Even in this age, Florance Nitingale has been rivalled by Miriam Randager, and the name of Moses Montefiore evokes grateful emotions in the breast of thousands of gentiles, whom, like his own brethren,
he strove to benefit. Shall we then with such bright exemplifications of the purity of our faith before our eyes, admit as facts the pretentions of enthusiasts? Accord to their religion, preeminence in the scale of human civilization? No, as the God of Abraham liveth, I shall, with my last breath, assert the superiority of the law which governs Israel over that to which the gentile world adheres. Let others magnify Christian generosity and christian mag--nanimity; I trust never to be denied the privilege of extolling Jewish charity and Jewish justice.
But let us beware, my Brethren, not to misapprehend the sense of those two words; not to confound charity with alms-giving, and justice with the inflexible sentence of judi--cial tribunals. In the work of beneficence, alms represents the feeblest instrument, while justice distributed at the bar, is the mere result of social self-protection. Charity is not alms, because the latter humbles the recipient, the former endeavours to elevate him. Alms is not unfrequently granted but to be ridden of importunate mendicants; charity is a sweet emanation of the heart, which awakens corresponding emotions in others; for, not so much the benefit we derive
from our brother ,as his kindly consideration, pene--trates our soul. We may freely open our hands, but unless our hearts are also open to fraternal sentiments, the charity attributed to us will be a misnomer. The illustration of that virtue recommended by our godly progenitor, is not to cast abroad scatter about coins of precious metals, that some may gather them, but to raise the spirit of the lowly [Hebrew], to tend the soul barren of joy, that it may blossom and yeild a harvest of delights. He who pours the balm of consolation upon the wounds of the afflicted, is said to belong to the house--hold of Abraham. And they who knew well how to interpret our code of morals , have written, that [Hebrew] which is, mercy to the living and to the dead [Hebrew] [Hebrew], and the promotion of good-will to between man and man, is what is required of the man constitute the piety, which the Almighty will consider pious reward here and hereafter. Yes, our heartfelt commiseration for all who suffer, our personal exertions to restore tranquillity in the dwelling of man, to secure his independence, to further his social elevation, is the charity, we are demanded by our religion, to exercise. Oh! my beloved hearers! The light of the sun to him who has long dwelt in darkness, is not more reviving, than our
eyes beaming with compassion, for to the hapless and the sorrowful. They who are tossed upon the bed of sickness. They who bemoan the loss of parents, or children; of brothers or dear relatives, will tell y tell relate how comforting is the presence of our sympathising fel--low creatures in the hour of affliction trials, how their words solace soothe our pain, mitigate the sole poignant grief they we endure, and lightens the burthen of our misfortune. It may be, my brethren, that our separate efforts may cannot not, in all instances, prove of sufficient efficacy in relieving the distressed, but our joint actions, will, under all circumstances, accomplish much in the pursuit of charity. Suffer me then to offer a few words of counsel. Friends! The institutions that with fostering care train the child of poverty and sorrow, that exalt the lowly so that they may sit among the magnates of the land; that wipe the tears from the eyes of widowed mothers, such, should most especially command your unwavering attention and cooperation. More than to alms-giving, the progeny of Abraham should be engaged in devising means to prevent its urgent necessity. We will define our meaning. A liberal loan to the honest poor man, may raise him above want, and inspire him with self-reliance.
His latent faculties will awaken to activity by the prospect of a brighter future. He will rise in the full consciousness of his manhood, and scorn to ask of others what he can attain by his industry. Societies having such a tendency, must command themselves to the patronage of those who are enjoined "to keep the way of the Lord, by doing charity and justice." Aye, a sense of justice as well as that of charity should prompt incite us to follow such a course, for, the universal Creator did not intend that some of his children should luxuriate in affluence, and others should continue remain to be the heirs of indigence. and by Through his inspired servant, he told us that revealed to showed one us the means we must employ to extinguish pauperism. [Hebrew] "God He is the a good man who is gracious and lendeth." away." We must labor to elevate the poor, to make them feel that they are inferior to none, that God has endowed them with faculties which they must employ advan--tageously to themselves and their fellow-creatures. When our assistance shall aim at teaching the needy self-depend--ance, the number of those who watch at our doors, to receive a pittance, will amazingly diminish. But another instrument does justice prompt us to employ in [?] with uplifting from the earth our needy necessitous brother; that is, Knowledge.
It has been rightly said, that ignorance is the parent of vice, and we also know, that poverty is an ill-adviser, but healthful learning will more forcibly repel the attacks of vice, than the powerful shields [Hebrew] [Hebrew]. Therefore have our Sages attached more sanctity to the temples of knowledge, than to the dwellings of prayer. [Hebrew] Conscience is undoubtedly an efficient monitor, but when men are reared in perfect ignorance of their duties, the still small voice that speaks to us, is not heard by remains silent within them. To awaken arouse it, we must develop quicken our brother's intellectual faculties. We must afford the bread of the soul to those who most require it. Let their capacities be ever so narrow, we must inspire them with the noble desire of contributing their share to the progress of mankind. Our father Abraham, who is our prtotype, endeavoured by genial and suasive manners to enlighten his benighted beings contemporaries [Hebrew] so likewise must we, gently but perseveringly, strive to tear away the veil which obscures our brother's mental vision, and fill the mind with high and noble aspirations.
Such are the principles that underlie the religion you profess, my beloved hearers! To exercise towards our fellow-men that kindly consideration, we would wish that it might be shown us if similarly situated. To comfort them in sorrow to assuage their pangs in sickness to aid them in their want, to instruct them, and socially elevate them to the standard intended by God for all those whom He created in his celestial image. that they might rule the earth, Has any religion taught its and in professors purer virtues? Or do they who boast of a code of morals superior to the Sinaic revelation, exhibit in their walks of life, more genuine charity and justice than the progeny of the Hebrew patriarch?.....My friends! (and you, my young fr brother, who have this day assumed the performance of God's holy law!) be not inveigled away by the vainglorious expressions of men who belittle Judaism. Light vapors ascending the sky, can no more dim the refulgence of the Sun, than the aspersions of enthusiasts, the brightness of your religion.
Only be faithful to it, prove yourselves worthy of the name you bear. Act virtuously towards all men, irrespective of their nativity or country or race. or country. Sow broadcast the seeds of charity and justice upon earth, and let your unim--peachable characters vindicate the cause of Israel. It shall yet triumph. It shall yet call forth the admiration of all mortals. "Many people shall come and say "Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths, for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem." [Hebrew] [Hebrew] [Hebrew]. May the fulfilment of this prophetic declaration, soon gladden our hearts. And may the Almighty vouchsafe to lay his healing hand on our suffering brothers, to bind up their wounds, to breathe hope into the desolate hearts, and gladden his creatures with the assurance of a happiness, glorious and everlasting. Amen. - Identifier
- p3zg6gt0b
- identifier
- SMBx9FF4_2
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/91330