The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-19
THIRTY-FOURTH STREET SYNA-
GOGUE.
The Lessons OF IsraeIs History and the
Importance OF Time to All-SermOn by
Rev. DIR. Vidayer.

The Lessons OF Isrnels History and the
Imp0rta nee OF Time to All-SermOn by
Rev. DIR. Vidaver.
To large audience yesterday DR.. Vidaver
preached an able and eloquent sermon from Levi
tcus Xxi, 15-"And We shall count unto you from
the morrow after the Sabbath. from the day that
We brought the sheaf OF the wave offering; seven
Sabbaths shall be complete" Israel Of old, he said,
was enjOined to number the fOrty-nne days be-
tween the festival of Passah (PassoveD and Sha-
BROTH (PentecosU between the time of the first
Offering OF the omer and the last Offering OF the
two loaves Of the ripe wheat, that thus they might
have the blessings of Providence constantly before
their eyes. 1t was to be reminder also OF Israel's
spiritual birthday-the bridal day of Judaism
This commandment of the text does not lose its
Importance in these days; for, as Israelites they
enjoned to count the days of their peculiar and
most wonderful history--a history which compasses
a period Of nearly four thousand years. 1t is
AN IMPERsHABLE oBELIsK,
reared by the Almighty, each stone of which bears
testimony to Gods special love and favor to Israel
and proclams the great truth that the Lord
changeth not; therefore is the House of Israel not
destroyed. Time, the mighty destroyer, has not
been able to elface this pyramid nor to wipe out the
history which 1t contains; nor can he lessen the
vitality of the Jewish race. There was time when
the fathers needed no reminder OF their past,
for the present had no charms for them.
1t had only acute pain and suffering for
them and the future also was dreaded. They dared
not contemplate it, II was then that they derived
consolation from retrospect Of the past, and like
a living fountain of waters springing up within
them. they drew inspiration and hope for the
future from the annals of the past as they realized
the soul-encouraging promises of Adonai. "And
hpy Ia N no nj thpir nifb
the Lord, ~ will not cast them away nor loatn
them, nor will break my covenant with them.n
Thus like q rock defying the fury OF the raging sea-
their faith braycd the toughest experiences of the
future. But alas now, said the Doctor, the enjoy
ment OF the present absorbs all our attention, and
the past to us is In oblivion and the future in
nifty. In these halcyon days of religious and
political freedom very many lsraelites neglect en-
tirely the study OF their early history nor do they
If ia indeed sad to behold how MANY there are Of
Israel who deserve the reproach OF the Prophet
30, house OF jacob thou hast forsaken thine own
people. and hast found
PLEASURE WITH THE CHILDREN OF STRANGERS"
While the study of pagan antiquities is cultivated,
not now need the comforts and the Inspirations of
their own history. Nay nay; we need them now
more than ever, said the preacher, when we see
the floods OF irrelgon and scepticism sweeping
over many fresde in Israel and destroying many
Jewish heart. We need said he, a
strong dam to stop this 9yernSwing tor Tor
knowledge and contemplation Of our past
Hence the text says, count unto you the days Of
your past" which means simply learn to know the
God Of your fathers, whose providence and love
so goriously manifested and revealed In their his
tory. To count the days OF the past means TO fully
appreciate and comprehend the mountaineering
mission OF Israel-to give light and understanding
and knowledge to the nations and to live mp to it.
Israers religion Is alike prophetic and historical,
and to know their history Is 10 know their religion
also, and TO profit by the lessons which this history
contains we must, said the Doctor, appreciate and
live up to the blessed teachings OF our faith.
The law OF the text Is important not only in its
relations to sraelites, but to human beings In gen.
eral. Aiming and striving to be happy In this life
we must often feel the necessity of praying with the
Psamist, $50 teach US to number our days that we
may apply our hearts unto wisdOm.u We learn
rom childhood to count and to figure and we do
most assiduously count earthly gains and perish
able profits. While some count dollars Others count
only cents, but all are busy counting while the
most important interest that can be numbered or
measured Is forgotten and neglected.
TIME, THE MOST PRECIOUS BOON
Of human life. whose management requires so