Author Y * o o Title ■^ ** ^ Class -IL^.„l..cL J„ Book .• .^D •J4H5 Iiraprint. 16-^7372-1 OPO Jewish Patriotism and its Ifflartyrs IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR 1898 A SERMON DELIVERED AT THE SYNAGOdlTE SONS OF ISRAEL 13—15 Pike Street, New York. On tiuhhath Monti up, the 11th ^Shvhut, ;56o!). January 28tli, 1899, -BY- II. £. TRANSALATED BY A RUSSIAN AMERICAN HEBREW. Printed l)y A. Sheinkopf, iMO Clinton St. ^ i^ L HI^^&N||^ NEW YOEIL ^ •F tOROWGH PARK ^* ^ •J06-42neace and weefare for the this country forever. To impress you f lu-ther with our debt of gratitude due this country, I pray of you my worthy auditors your attention to the following beautiful Midrashic interiaetation which can be viewed almost prophetically [Mid. Eab, Exod. Sect Ij Ai)roi)os to the passage in Ex. And Moses went forth and retm-ned to Jethro his father-in-law; the Eabbis refer to Prov. 17-17. A friend loveth at all times and a brother in adversity is born origina- ting the historic fact that at all times when a redeemer was truly needed to help humanity out of its difficulties, a helpful brother was always foiuid; the friend who loveth at all times Jetlrro was I'st'.'ciiu'd to \)v by Closes for slicltcriii^ liiiii wlici! Ilcoiii^ from riijiraoh who «oiig'lit his life — from tliese i)roi)sitious the Kabbis eoiieluded thus: whoever takes it upon oneself to do a iLjood aet — due reward for such .nood acts Avill uot cease froui such a liousehold. The reward to -Jethro for redeeming- Moses Israel's redeemer from tlie i)ursuit of an enemy, lasted for generations that sub- sequently the same heioic household deserved to redeem Israel again by cutting off Israel's enemy Sisera: — as is related in Judge -1. 17. Sisera tied away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Ileber the Kenite who slew him. Like reward rebounded to these United States for so goodly sheltering- our ancestors from their persecutor, the Si)aniards, enemies of light. This fact remonstrates the Midrashic inter- pretation as with Jethro the friend of Moses applying- likewise to this Country the friends of our people, whose present gene- ration deserved to vanquish the like enemy; succeeding- glorious- ly to deliver the opi)ressed from their cruelties, which President 3IcKinley called insufferable — lowering- the boisterous pride of the Spaniards and crumbling- the lofty arm of that cruel nation. This achievment is indeed a beautiful crown of victory to the fame of this Country that will endure forever. Therefore it is incumbent upon our Jews to joy in its peace- ful rejoicings, and partake of its sorrows when in trouble and at war, as the Midrashic sages ami)lify on the same subject previously quoted; as follows: Exod. 3. 10. "Now come and I Avill send thee unto Pharoah;" the hesitancy of Moses in obey- ing- the call, the llabljis ascribe as due to the noble character of Moses — whom they picture, as remonstrating with the Lord saying: Oh, I cannot go without the permission of Jethro, my be- nefactor, who received me "a fugitive stranger" with the fondness as if I w^ere his son; from this model of gratitude, the sages — <'» — (lr;i\v the rule lo iniikc it a duty of cvoii ])liii'in,^ ones life in danger t(» ivcoinpciisc didyfor liosintabk- tivatnu'iit rcceivt-d in time of need as in tlie exanqile of Moses' daring hesitaney to comply with God's will meaning- as in Gen. 2. 17. sure death. But Avhen Moses finds he must obey he returns first to Jetliro his father-in-law, as if to take ])erniission to leave. The sages further exemplify frimi Kings 1-17 1'O. Elijah questioning God's justice while saying: "Hast thon also brought «'vil upon the widow Avith whom I sojourn by slaying her s(m"? Still the all just God Alnughty forgive Elijah's impertinence being an escapade thrcmgh his ardent desire to deal benevo- lently with his kind mistn^ss as is written: And the Lord heard the voice of Elijah. ]S"ow Avith such fervent appreciation for hosi)itable treat- ment inherent Avith ns, when this Country preparing for war against the cruel enemy, not for conquest of teritory, nor to possess itself of uhdue riches, but only to exercise their love of liberty; free the oppressed from unrelenting oppressors. The youth of Israel tnu' to their fanu' c^f heroism, freely volun- tered in resjionce to the Call to Arms, knoAving Avell that going to the batth' field means sacrifice of lives; and in many instan- ces e\'en against the ])leasure of their poor jtarents. And Avhat impelled such bra\'ery? The enthusiasiic know ledge for freedom from ]>ersecution extended our brethren; sheltering them from trouble, therefore our youth imbued with the spirit of our sages opportunely offered their lives for the kindness of being well sheltered. jSfOAV DEAR FRIEDS: — As to the martyrs of Israel fallen in battle through Avhich they sanctified the name of Israel among the nations by the zealous sacrifice of their piire-hearted, youthful lives, so that our ancestors camiot reproach us Avith the stigma of un]»atriotism; siicli as i):utiikin,ii only of the fal of tlic land, and evading- servi('e when the country is in need; it is tlierefoio a holy duty upon us to show the sympathy of our hearts; how precious in onr estimation we value these sanctified desirably chosen; who poured out their blood while offering' their lives for their be- loved and adopted country. Going forth in unity with their American brethren to fight the battle of duty, the battle for freedom and love of hunuuiity. But it is our bounden duty, friends, to supplement our hearty sympathy with practical deed, so that each of us contribute a free will offering to aid the erection of a beautiful monument that will record as lasting- as stone, the memory of these holy departed souls, so that future generations may see and learn to love and esteem the land of their birth aiul its dwellers as faithful brethern, in fulfillment of Scripture Malachi 2. 10. "Have we not all one father? Hath not one God created us ? Therefore let it be a holy duty upon all of us to guard and fulfill the statutes of this Country, to seek after its peace and good and pray for her unto God continually, to guard and save luT from all trouble and afiiction. That oidy righteous rejoicing- and gladness be in her reach all the days; with growing pros- l)erity to all the land and its dwellers. May a beautiful spirit of wisdom and understanding inspire (vur rulers with their counsellors for the good of the country and its inhabitants. Anu'u ! IN MEMORiAM. Keverend and Deak Sir: — The Siib-Cominittee clioseu by tlu' National IMomuiicnf Coiiiinittee liaviiio- in charge the erection of tlie National Monn- nient to the men who went down with the battleship :\I;!ine oui' soldier heroes of the Cuban and :\ranila ])attlelields, and the brave fellows avIio died in eanip, earnestly desire that one Sabbath be set apart, upon which congre K 'ii-''~s .IT ,rj^^t<:: •i,t':5X np':':::* ny:: s^id nns - i^DNitDi vijnq inv ,Dn?nn'7 ii::ni v^n ^7:;^^ i^b'b )b hm ,^1^:] D^rL^* "5 ^iD^b n^n n^r^h "nym ^p'^:*: n.snp':' cncy ns^'^ 'r.snti^^ nin:: in-iinn □.Tns'p (nnyn d^l^'^j:: eye -iltn n::ii2 ni^m /^mn t^jnn -,D^ni::n asT ,cn^ n:;n nns i;^':' inns ntrx /D ^ j s p n y c n n -D^Dyn ^jn£; ^jsc mi:: rTnt: ':'::ps^'-in'2c i^y .s^rirn ^jsr^ nnru* 'rsn: <^r\'2 iin:i bnp^ 'p::* v':;'7n \s:;v) "'-jpn i2n nrs '^t/ Sns '?« v'pjin d, Diini ^b2pz'' ' J s p ' n y rj s n c*; ^7*^ Dmvc jr .r.n nny an':' nicy'LT nm*i ,un:2 r^pD^^ nTi'D nms |\s* 2^.\i s'? nyji ]pT -iD\s mrs ^ij yiii •^2S^*'p•l ,D'':i;nT; ]is'3 '7'£:'L:'n' ^.nbo Drsnn n^.s'cn mrsy'? pn:*"^ itjI I'^cn nmni nriDn ^pin npin^i "iicrr'? u^'^y n:}in ]2':' nncn jitm p^n nnpb i:njs D-'i^^inc ^^y ^:n *nx ]d ,nT '^y ij^nitrsj -nccb ncn'?Q ny::i ,[:i'?tr nyi— n'; nif:: n^ir n^yt^b r\"2pn i'^ ni':2N'ir nVuTi '^''n (t'£ irmQi) Vti ir"c: ^:\s U't2br;n ]^2'\ ^b -i?::n "nyns '^x "jnVtrsn ni'; ,]33 i^y ''jsi nn^i nnc •'b nn^i nn^ ^j'^ript:* use ,bir mc;::'? ::^^n nci^::) i'? I'^n irrj /i^^in^ inns nms nihd' '!2 *n::£"3 2':r'7 ]rnc::'Lr ^"£>\sd' ]:: nrc i!:i i ^ c n s i f n t' n i(> ^Afadisoii Street. >:n D":2n^2i v-Li^cspm •i2r;n^r;-"iSn n'i:;D2 d£"ij .t2D p''5 15 — 13 y^2 .pit<^ Tj 210 Clinton Street. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS I'lllli'MMUmmmim 013 902 272 5^