The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-26
THIRTY.FOURTH ST. SYNAGOGUE.
THE oMER AND ITS MORAL LEssoNs-sERNoA

DY REV. II. 8. JACoDS
The Rev. Hcury s. Jacobs, minister OF the Thirty.
fourth street Synagogue. preached Yesterday from
Palms, 70, l2:-"Teach number our days
that we may apply hearts unto wisdom"
Tho preacher drew attention TO the ritual custom OBJ
served among conservative Hebrew cougregalions 70
"number" tho seven complete weeks which terminate
Pentecost and give name to tho festival The origin
OF the preccpt Is detailed ut length In Lcvticus xx
9-22; but as IL Is plainly limited TO the Holy Land
IL might DO questioned OF what practical 10
It's hturgicai presorvationY Ho claimed that
noarly all the biblical ordinances had q profound
moral meaning, and that this "numberiag
OF the Omer essentially OF this character. Wore
Judaism. IL asserted by many OF IL dotractoT1,
necessity long since have perishod, leaving ncshsr
track trace OF It's former cxistonco But 10
spiritual purpose haskept II alive amid many adverse
circumstances aud enabled " 10 Withstand uanum.
bercd storms Tcmpcsis have rivon all around. bue
left wonderfully undostroycd- IL yet resrs 80
triumphant mead ike some noble monument which
seems endowed with . power partaking almost Of tm-
mortality.
Tho spiritual meaning OF tho numbering OF the
Omer must DO discovered IN the words Of The tsxs
which offers US ono OF the most beautiful and profit.
abo moral lessons
rnx niBLs rms souRcg oY MORAL PHILOSOPHY.
Tho world has the rse aud fail Of many sys-
TENS oi philosophy. Hypothssos which have taxed
the Ingenuity vi man and given evidence OF tho pro.
likeness oil human thought have appeared. dazzling
for time with tneir meretrcious spiendor. anu thep
different with the wisdom which the inspired book
has taught 10 man. tor II has put to shame all the
20 DO the head and front al all knowledge Tho Bible
has boon tue source Of moral philosophy which
has provoi iiseli true undcr all circumstances and
eveutuaitios aud which mental progress ntoilsc
tual development will ever overthrow II recognizes
tho evanoscenco Of thly hic us plans aud its mes.
chantries, and bids hope aspire to The certtuds OF
immortality. IL tells now TO value life arght, how
TO It's advantages how TO make us aims worthy OF
inteigsnt and responsible beingA II instructs us
how 10 Q.
wnen IL counscis Us 40 TO number our days that vo
may apply our hearts unto wisdoin."
JUDAISM nor AscErIcIsx.
do not ask YOU continued tho preacher, 20 UNDER
stnna Judaism as requiring asco,icism. NO, u rccog-
ines IL does not demand, on tho ono hand, social
solat,on or gloomy pcty ~ that DO picty indeed
Neither, on the other hand, docs u countonancs
lilo gwen TO pleasure marr,d by the induig-
cncc Of passion. We must live for God and Tor man-
kind, with God aud with mankind. Every moment
abused 10 crime. Tor every moment may DO bossing
n Justly employed
IN MrMoRIAM
l would to-day illustrate this lesson, said NJ.
jacobs by noble example, lott by ono who has rc-
comfy passed. away, but whose truly religious lie
rbe ROY. $. NJ. fsaacs cannot Dc regarded In q re-
strictcd congregational light This would DO unjust
Tor his name has become par. Of the history o.
American JUDAISM. and IN such bis memory belongs
not 10 any but tho common prop.
erty OF all, which tucy may ntsingIy revere he
national Ia his character, OF pure and uuai.
fcclod pcty, Of sturdy Integrity. Of strict con-
scentlousBess, n0lu up 70 tno rihuK &oc-
Grafton as worthy example OF all that 10 good aud
noble. Ito tho God oil hts fathcfs and he found
his purest satisfaction to walking IN H,s lear He ~
cognized Judaism ms religion of practice. ~ one
which taught light and truth, love and CHARITY. HIS
Iah deserted him IN all the vcissitudes OF ex
istence aud he SNOW ed how we'll founded trust may
bring happiness to the bumau heart That honest
simple iic OF his, which knew but ono rule OF auty-
tho will Of his Makers worthy Vt all honest praise
more Is worthy OF your love, respect aud imitation.
such LIE stands pre-cmincnt before the world snd
will continue IN mems regard long after all our
nuies who doubt aud conemn all that he held holy,
are justly forgotten Let, then, his deeds instruct
you his namc be cherished w your hearta LEI htn
consistent conception OF Jewish duty gutde you u
speaks you from the grave, IN tones oi
sol. Learn 80 10 number your DAYS shat yOu mas
apply your hearts unto wisdotn@r