STAC K ANNEX 5 116 466 Sttsi ( r Jfmwal (Oration ^~ ' . i. DELIVERED OVER THE REMAINS OF SOLOMON ALMOSNINO rtan/ of the Spanish and Portttriuexe Jt'u-x Congregation^ WALL OF THE MILE END BURIAL GROUND, ox Wednesday, 12th Shebat, January 15th, 5638, BY THE REV. DR. B. AETOM, CHIEF RABBI OK THE SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE CONGREGATIONS OF ENGLAND. SOLOMON ALMOSNINO. Jf mural VT >m fa's /zrtflds w#r6 steady until the going down of the Sun." Exodus xvii. 12. MY BRETHREN, Before these remains are consigned to their lasting place earth to earth, before the words of Genesis about man are once more verified, " For dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return," I must perform a duty in the fulfilment of which I feel that I am accompanied by the heart of everyone before me ; I must publicly mourn for the death of Solomon Almosnino, whose loss will long, long be deplored by the whole community. And the imposing assemblage I see gathered on this lamentable occasion is a proof that I am now the interpreter of the public feeling, and that very deep is the sorrow created by this untoward though unfortunately long foreseen event. Although these exceptional funeral honours are reserved, according to our congregational cus- toms, for some determined high offices, yet I think that they have been fully deserved by a public official who through his ability, his honesty, and his kind- 2117123 G ness, was for nearly sixty years the very soul of our ancient Congregation. Life has justly been compared with a day, some- times long as in summer, sometimes short as in winter, but in which clouds and sunshine, good and evil constantly alternate each other. During that day the human beings must carry on a constant struggle, a struggle for bread, necessary things, material comforts, and welfare, a struggle for that happiness which cannot be conquered, and which escapes us the very moment it is apparently seized. It is a contest in which many are the losers through want of patience or moral courage ; but those who are brave and persevering, and in whom obstacles increase energy, those who are firm, and whose hands are steady until the evening conies, will obtain, even without a complete success, the pahn of praise and glory, that universal approbation which is more than equivalent for abundant wealth and hoarded treasures. The Biblical expression " and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun," which was said in reference to Moses, who stood firmly up for prayer on the day of the sanguin- ary battle between Israel and Amalek, is fully applicable in a moral sense to the good man, whose lifeless frame is now before us. His was a long day, but his hands were steady from dawn till sunset; and that long day was thoroughly employed in promoting the noblest of all objects, the dignity of the Divine worship and the prosperity of the ancient Congregation intrusted to his able management. As a father loves his only child so he loved his Congre- gation ; he surrounded it with paternal solicitude, with a warm affection more unique than rare in a public servant. He had his eye on everything, on the Houses of Prayer and the Schools, on the Bet- Hollim Hospital and the Almshouses, the Cemetery and all the other communal property ; and his eye was keen, far-seeing, full of anxiety for the public wel- fare, even in the moment of family cares and personal troubles. Though simply a Secretary, he was really the guidance, the inspiring mind of everything, advising, encouraging, stimulating, and even rebuk- ing when necessity demanded it. That was by no means a light task; it was a labour exposed to constant contrast and opposition; but "his hands were steady " and he prevailed, his views w^ere generally carried out. How many times did he not win over obstinate people by his gentle words, by his smile, which seemed to have the power of disarming discontent and blunting animosity ? How many persons, full of apathy and indifference, did he not attract and animate with eager interest for the success of our time-honoured institutions ? How many who were already going astray did he not recall by his friendly remonstrances, and, I may say, invincible exhortations ? The present generation, so largely represented here this morning, came at last to con- sider him not as the servant, but as the father of the Congregation, and looked up to him for advice in 8 every want and emergency. At last the long day approached its close, a close unfortunately clouded by the unavoidable infirmities of an advanced age. Yet even when he was stayed by keen sufferings, and growing feebleness, the same desire remained warm in his heart, the same earnest words sounded on his lips, " My Congregation, my Congregation, God preserve it ! God bless it and its supporters ! " What surprise, therefore, if at the announcement of his death gloom overshadowed the countenance of hundreds of friends, if every mouth repeats his praise, if a public homage is paid to his memory ? His friends shed tears because they have lost one who was good to them, and practised more than once on their behalf the virtue of self-sacrifice. The poor shed tears be- cause they have lost their sincere and warm advocate. His brethren are deeply grieved because they see gone for ever the man who by his modest virtue, generosity of heart, and true religious zeal, had won their esteem and affection, and had made himself an example worth imitation. The whole Congregation bewails with one voice his final departure, as that of an eminent official who blended together the fulfilment of duty and the deepest kindness, the liveliest interest for the public well-being and the most rigorous integrity, distinguished abilities and a sterling character. It is, however, in his family that, like all good men, he leaves an empty place which cannot be filled. He was a loving, devoted husband, and his goodness is testified by his wife's unbounded sorrow. Not 9 allowed to enjoy the blessing of children, he extended the kindness of a father to his numerous relations, who surrounded him to his last day with filial affec- tion and gratitude. Almosnino ! thou art now free from all earthly fetters ; thou art approaching the region where truth shines unclouded ; thou art beginning to feel what the fruit of thy goodness will be. Every man is said to have two names. The first was given him when he was born ; he received the second from his neigh- bours, as a consequence of his conduct. The former is due to mere chance ; but man is responsible for the latter ; he himself makes it good or unworthy. But thy name, Almosnino, is a good one, for thy deeds were good, and thy life was usefully and honestly spent. " A good name was unto thee better than precious ointment." For the sake of thy name thou didst not care for wealth, for the glitter of gold. Like the virtuous men of antiquity thou didst close thy career, a long and laborious career, in the midst of any- thing but affluence ; but thy name shines now before the world as the name of a man honourable and honest to a scruple, who worked more for others than for him- self. Thus thou hast laboured for a better prize, and to thy humble and modest name is now paid that tribute of admiration which is often denied to the rich and powerful. However rapidly thou mayest rise to the spiritual regions, " thy righteousness," as the prophet said, " will go before thee, and the glory of the Lord shall be thy reward," (Is. Iviii. 8.) If 10 humble in recent times, thy name was most exalted in past centuries ; and with the immortal spirits of thy ancestors thou wilt meet the great soul of thy forefather, the Spanish Grandee, Don Abraham Almosnino, who 400 years ago fell a victim of the execrable Inquisition, and rather than consenting to apostasy, willingly accepted the martyrdom of fire in order to sanctify before the world the name of the God of Israel. The virtue of thy ancestors will enhance thy own good actions, and thou wilt enjoy with them an enviable recompense there where undisturbed peace is the life of the spirit. But thy remembrance will never cease from among us, for thy name is engraved in our hearts as well as in the beneficial results of thy long labours. Farewell, fare- well, blessed soul of my dear friend ! Continue thy flight to the gates of heaven, which will be open unto thee. Pray, thence, to the God of mercy that the work of death may relent, and that if we have lost a virtuous man, those who remain may long still be spared. " May thy soul be bound in the bundle of felicitous life! " D"Hn THM PITHX *jnibBO Tin Unto Thee, Lord, who breathest the immortal spirit into the human creatures and recallest it in the hour appointed by Thy wisdom, unto Thee we all pray that Thou mayest grant the rest of the righteous to the soul of our departed friend. Unto Thee, who art the father of mercy, we all pray that Thou mayest console those who are in mourning, ii and lessen the burden of distress with which in Thy inscrutable will Thou hast loaded their hearts. Take under Thy special protection the Congregation Thou hast deprived of one of its dearest sons, and prevent it from bearing the consequences of its heavy loss. Give us the power of serving efficiently both Thy Holy Beligion and our Communal Institutions, so that, according to the desire of our lamented brother, we may continue to glorify Thy name, united in a strong and harmonious body. For we know Thy power and goodness ; we know that in the many afflictions which visit the frail mortals and turn the earth into a vale of tears, we can seek shelter and find hope in Thee alone, who didst say through Thy prophet for the relief of all sufferers " I, even I, am he that will comfort you." (Isaiah ii. 12.) Da&mfc Kin AMEN. \\\EUNIVER% ^;lO$ANGElfj> A 000 067 894 6