The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-09-24
Jew the Most HOnOra bic Title for the
children of Isrnel TO be Known BN.

Rev. Gustav Gotthcil, Rabbi OF the Tenn
nile Emmanu-El, preached 4 sermon ycster-
day morning, in which he took the ground
that the prejudice of Israelites against beng
called Jews is an unioundod one, anu that
the name OF Jew is one which any person
might be glad to bear. The RabDls teAI
was from Jonah, j., s, 8: "Then said they
unto Him, Tell us, we pray Thee, Tor whose
cause this evil is upon US what is Thine
OCCUPATION and whence comest thou
What is thy country {? and Of what people
art thou? And he said unto them, am an
Hebrew, and fear the Lord, the God OF
Heaven, which hath made the sea and the
dry land" The subject OF the sermon, as
announced by Mr.. Gottheil, was "Hebrew,
Israelitc. jew" He began by saying, "'1
am Hebrew This admission was forced
from Jonah. He simply designated his ma
tionalitY without any reference to the social
position he claimed for himself. IIc was
not a tradesman, and he cared little what
his felIow-men thought OF him. Some time
AGO that name became the subject OF public
| discussion, and for the first time we had
| to choose by what name we would be
called. There are in common use Hebrew,
Israeljtc. and Jew. the latter being the least
favored. The English language, to her dis
grace be it said, gave it dishonorable
finoe. Jonah's reason for choosing He
brew. however. was not that he courted So
cial favors or entrance into privileged cir
cles. Not being engaged in mercantile pur-
suits il was matter Of indifference to him
whether he was called Hebrew or jew. Hc
simply stated his nationality; but to avoid
mistakes he added, Il fear the God who
made heaven and EARTH Let US consider
the origin and historic import OF the three
names, and it will, l think, become clear
that Jew is the most significant and the
most honorable OF them all"
"Of the name Hebrew" DR.. Gottheil con-
tinued, "two derivations are commonly
given-one tracing 1T to one OF Abraham>s
ancestors, called Eber, and one from a
root which means to pass on the crops
Abraham came into Canaan across the Eu-
phrates, and his descendants were known as
OF -Euphraitic extraction. The word
{ passers-oyer' in later times assumed the
meaning OF passing over the Jordan. But
whatever its pathological character, this
ia certain, that it was purely external, II
I NAV say so, and no more, and bore no re-
lstion whatever to the intellectual or rell-
cious life OF the people; just as American IS
derived from the account OF one Amerlgo
yespucci having published the first descrip-
ton OF the neWlv-discoyered continent. III
suggests little or nothing as to its history,
or the great men who founded the Republic,
or the people who fought for her indepen-
dence. Hence the language, which Is the
most distinguishing feature OF nationality,
! is called, not Jewish nor 1sraelitish, but
Hebrew. Hebrew is the least Significant
name, embodying nothing peculiar-nothlng
that is associated with the history, or the
mission, or the work, or the aspirations OF
the children OF Abraham. Those, there
fore, who would give it prominence over
the others have merely the darkness OF thclr
IGNORANCE: they may be excellent Chris
tians, but they have read the Bible to little
uurposc. 1t is different with the name OF
Israel. That was solemnly conferred upon
Jacob on the night when he wrested
with the mighty being. "Thy name
shall not be Jacob, but Israel" and it
Is explained to mean one who strove with
men and gods and prevailed. The word
cmbodies the idea of being victorious, and
from the bestowal Of that name Jacobs
caeerness for wealth is abated-he beglnsto
think OF the worship OF God. his descend
ants chose that name for themselves
Children of Israel-and allowed Hebrew to
fall almost into disuse. 1t only occurs about
dozen times, and mostly in the mouths OF
foreigners; and Hebrew and ISraelite stand
in the same relation rs Greeks and Hell
lenes, Ottomans and Turks. Israel or Is
raelite, on the strength OF Scriptural testi-
mony, is indicative OF severe struggles in
the night Of trial. and is title the dignity
OF which cannot be surpassed Need we
blush to be called by that name? Yet it
falls behind the name OF Jew, for
it recalls the apostacy OF the ten tribes from
the faith OF Abraham and Moses. The name
OF that tribe to whom the preservation OF
the Israelitish religion is entirely due-the
tribe OF Judah-superseded all others, and
retains its supremacy to this day; for Jew
is but the Anglicized Judah. That tribe
was eminent from the beginning for it's
numbers, its power, its aristocratic tenden-
cies, and its earneStneSs in the matter OF re-
lioion. The Bible, such as we have it now.
il due to it's energy, culture, and literary
skill Taking all this into con-
sideration, l ask whether there is any
name which we might bear with, l
will not say pride for pride is fool.
isb), but with more Just feeilng OF
satisfaction; whether there IS any natlonai
or denominational name around which
cluster nobler "reminiscences, more nonora-
BILE records Of unswelying fidelity to great
cause, q brighter galaxy OF illustrious men
and women, and richer harvesters of heroic
l deeds2 What is there to be ashamed OF
Is it that some, known as Jews, act meanly,
are sharp in their practices, are counted
among usurers, are unmannerly, and speak
a iareon? Show me the nation that is free
| from these and will yield the point. /
doubt whether any have as many mitigating
circumstances to plead as have the scat
tered and still often .down-trodden children
of Israel." ."-Ne1o York Times.
One OF the gentlemen who welcomed the
President to Chattanooga was colored
clergyman, who made a speech which con-
tanned mixed metaphors OF very surpris-
nfr-lI;Iton fha prpHchpr in