Omaha daily bee., 1886-09-25
"CHAnLEsroN's LOSS"
Rabbi Bcnson's Lecture at the Jewish
synagogue Last Night.

Rabbi Bcnson's Lecture at the Jewish
Synagogue Last Night
The services at the jewish synagogue
were attended by an appreciativa audi
cncc. 1t was held in the schoolrooms of
of the building, rs the workmcn did not
finish the decoration of the interior of the
building until late last evening. Below
we give the substance of Rabbi Benson's
lecture.
This beng the last Sabbath of the
Jewish year 56i6, he commented upon the
word "last, as applied in human affairs.
Man, presuming too much upon his
vigor, wealth and mental attanmcnts,
the voice of poverty is unhcard. the
shrilled hands of penury are outstrctched,
but presumptuous man turns aside with
disgust and contempt, forgetting the
words of the Psalmist, That life passeth
away ere we perceive it, Whilst it is
true that the xc Psalm may be
attributed to Moses, written as it is
in a pensive strain, nevertheless its
its words are felt in harmony with the
sentiments of the thoughtful element of
every generation. These words are still
the keynote to the human heart. We
might endcavor to hide the facts of our
ultimate departure from this sublunar
world, yet there passes not day when
we do not see the fraility of man,
Often has this melancholy fact been
presented to our consideration; daily is
our attention arrested, but we Danish
such thoughts from our mind simply be-
cause they teach us our own insignih-
cancc. Were it that banlshng thoughts
would turn aside the evil; could want OF
reflection make our body immortal, then
might we be justified in living obliyious
of our end. But not thinking, not caring
not needing, render us not exempt from
change and grief and the unapprchendcd
evil will nevertheless come and fulfill its
errand.
A thousand instances cross upon the
mind as examples that could verify that
there is no stability IN life, no certainty
in worldly possessions; whilst we rejoice
we are fastening unto death, and the de-
lights we crave for pass away like the
lived without any reflection, and no little
purpose, whose recollectoo is not stored
with many illustrations of this truism
Take for example the sudden horrible
| death of Mrs. Titcomb, lady who re-
| sided but a few doors from this very tenn
pie" Here Rabbi Benson spoke feel
| ingIy of the unfortunate woman's death.
| A child-a parents ioy-was consumed
| in the deyouring ilames on last Wednes
day.
The city of Charleston. Here the audi
ence was deeply affected, when Rabbi
| Benson, in trcmulous voice said The
| best years of my life have been in the
| south. 1t was there that | married the
| choice OF my heart and it was there that
| my dear children were born. Many Il
| time have | been in this unfortunate city,
| and many time have | had occasion to
| admire the truly benevolent and pious
| feeling OF our co-religionlsts, most of
whom are descendants from Spanish
| and Portuguese families, who, on account
| Of religious persecution, emlgrated to
| this country rs early us 1860. There are
"reminiscences in their synagogues show
ing that during Washington's alminis-
tratiOn they were already an organized
BODY, as President Washington had con
trbuted to the building of their house of
worship, and now, how lonely sits the
mistress of all cities? How many are suf.
fering there to-day? Here the Rabbi
gave graphic description of the
misery and sutferings of the
inhabitants, which had a great effect on
the audience. Now, if would have gone
to those people and said: Prepare, o
men to day, for to. morrow YOU die" why
| would be laughed at. I would haye
been called an alarmist, croaking
raven, ever crying ,'nevermore If l
would have gone to the woman who was
burned and said: Madame, prepare for
eternity, for tomorrow you will appear
before the Creator" would have been
| ieered ut. And yet, on this last Sabbath
of the year | cannot help but halling
upon the most momentous term IN the
vocabulary of the human term, "last,"
| Here Rabbi Benson dwelt upon the "re-
| gret of remorse" and the anguish which
that feeling causes.
If man would only think that there
| must be an end to their sublunar exist.
ence, much of the feelings of remorsc
would be saved.
The husbands heart would not be las
ccrated with the consciousness of hurry
ing his wife to an untimely grave; he
would make home happier, be more
tender and forbcaring. The parent
would not curse the day when his Off
spring first saw the light OF day, rs that
otisprings pernicious ways can be
traced to the neglect of proper
moral and nom etraining.
The RABBI spoke at length upon the
duties of respective relationship. His
lecture was listened to with profound at
tention and had considerable effect. This
is hat a faint attempt to give synopsis.
1t is TO be regretted that Rabbi Benson
had no notes of this instructive discourse:
us II porusal of it in eXtenso would be of
benefit to many.
During the past week the Hebrews sent
a draft 10 Charleston for the relief of the
sufferers.
The Jewish new year commences al
7:30 O'Clock next Wednesday evening, N
which hour imposing services will be
held.