The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-11-17
TIE THlRTY-r0URTH STREET SYNAGOGUE,
Judaism Religion OF Love, illustrated
by the Jewish Race from Abraham to

Judaism u Religion OF Love, Illustrated
by the Jewish Race from Abraham "a
the Present-SermOn by DIR. Vidaver.
The synagogue In Thrty-fourth street, nea1
Seventh avenue, was well filed yesterday. The
female choir sung their last songs, and hence 0rth
only male voices are to be heard in the services.
How the newly elected officers who have instituted
this change can reconcile 1t with their own Scrip.
tural command, 'Let all the people praise Thee, u
God. yet let all the people praise Thee" 1t is fOt
them to answer. The measure may be wise or
otherwise. 1t is an accomplished fact now. DIR.
vidaver preached yesterday on the principle Of
love in Judaism from the pleading OF Abraham
before God in behalf Of Sodom, Genesis xviii
Abraham never appeared more exalted In our eyes,
said the Doctor than In the attitude IN which the
PRAYING FOR sODoM.
He manifests heart filed with God-like love
even for the most degenerate and sinful. God
extends his mercy to SAINT and sinner alike, and
on the same principle that parents love theit
children. You love them not, said the Doctor,
because they are virtuouS, but because they are
your children, and though you rejoice to see them
virtuous you do not hate the prodigal and tho
are your children. You may hate their sins. bus
love themselves. And such love and cOmmisera-
ton are OF Gods attributes, and from which
alone we expect His gracious forgiveness.
Abraham feels compassion and love for Sodom and
not hate, and then he stands and prays for its
people.
is that which Is alone the result of true faith and
Is based upon humility. The consciousness OF ha
being but dust makes him place no more estimate
upon himself than on the SodOmites. We are all
fashioned alike and gifted with power OF will tn
choose to reject Is not all flesh grass and the
glory of man as the flower OF the field? Are wa
all alike weak and frail and prone to sin2 Who
OF us can ask God to write our names In His book
OF life and to blot our neighbours OutS Who,
knowing his own frailty and seihshness, would
dare to pronounce judicial verdict OF divine con-
domination over a fellow mani No one. And Juda-
ism teaches lar different. 1t enjOnis love upon all
toward saint and sinner alike.
JUDAISM HAS BEEN MISREPRESENTED
as hard stern, selfish religion but II extends its
helping hand to all, and feels cOmmiseration, not
hatred for the wicked. IL would rescue from the
abyss OF moral destruction and woe all the sons
and daughters of Adam. Faith desires to see sin
eradcated from the earth and labOrs Tor this end.
1t wants the sinner to return to the fold OF virtue
and, like a loving mOther 1t caresses and makes,
more OF the sick returning to health than Oh
the child who was never Frustrated by sickness.
And thus faith delights more In the morally conval-
escent than in those who had never tasted sin. And
such is the love proclaimed by Abraham and the
patriarchs. Such is the love taught by Moses ana
the prophets and such Is the love with which Ju-
daism would permeate the lives OF It's adherentS
and the descendants OF Abraham. As such said
DR.. vidaver we know 1t and will live to uphold It,.
Verify, Israel did not need to wait for a new dis
pensation to teach such love. This glorious doc
trne is coeva and coextensive with Judaism itself.
1t is treasured up in the law, the principles OF
which are to-day enlightening, civilizing and en-
nobllng the human race.