The record-union., 1891-05-18
MAGNANIMITY.
Rabbi j. L. Levy Speaks Thereon From
Jewish Standpoint.

Rabbi j. L. Levy speaks Thereon From
a Jewish Standpoint.
On Friday evening, at the Synagogue,
the Rev. J. L. Levy, B. A, delivered,
during the regular weekly service, an adj
dress on "Magnanimity." The Rabbi
discussed the nature of this virtue, and
enforced his special point of how to deal
with enemies, by referring to historical
incidents and by introducing many apt
illustrations. In concluding he made
these remarks:
THE Jewish people have, during many
weary ages, been the unfortunate object
OF oppression at the hands Of the vast
majority of mankind in contact with
whom they have come. 1t is no exag-
geration TO say that our nation has been
ike q lamb among wolves. like a trem-
bling dove in the clutches Of a hawk, like
a small fish pursued by Il voracious
shark. During many centuries they sut-
fered the most atrociOus prosecutions
ever inflicted upon any people. For the
sake of their belief they endured I'M
speakable agonies, indescribable mise
ries and shameful degradations.
For the sake Of the inheritance of
Jacob they performed on the stage of
history a tragedy in which their men
We're heroes, and their women admirable
herOIneS. For many an age the world
seemed TO forget that a Jew had eyes,
that he had hands, dimensions, senses.
affections, passions; that he was fed with
the same food, hurt with the same
weapon, warmed and cooled by the same
summer and winter as others; that if he
was pricked he would bleed: if he was
poisoned he would die. Oh if the Coils
scum could give forth language-if the
prison walls Of Seville and Toledo could
speak Oh! If Narbonue, and Worms
and Spiers, and Prag and York, and
London could relate past events, how
painful, how sorrowlJIl, how narrowing
would be the tales they could tell. They
would say that the words of Isaiah
was sadly true, and that Israel was
oppressed and afflicted. Yet he opened
not his mouth; he was brought as sheep
TO the slaughter, and as a sheep before
her shearers is dumb, SO opened he not
his mouth
Yet throughout all these ages the
Jews, as nation, displayed wonderful
magnanimity. Said Jeremiah to his peo-
pie, Seek the peace Of every city, with
eTsOever we are carried Said Rabbi
Samuel, one OF the most illustrious
teachers IN the Talmud, Pray for the pros
pcrity Of every government, wherever
you be-
"What breadth of mind did Moses
Mendelssohn show-he who had been
bIacklisted as candidate for member
ship in the Berlin Academy, who had
been denied the rights Of citizenship in
ungratetul Germany, when he urged the
Germans TO develop their own individu-
atty, and not TO ape their French neigh
bOrS. Napoleon could answer for the
magnanimOuS conduct of the Jews to-
wards France. Gladstone viii show
whether they have failed to display this
virtue towards England, and even the
Car should not forget the magnanimous
actions OF Poliakon, Harkavy, Rubin
stein, Pachmann and hosts of others who
have added to the luster of Russia. the
dark land in which cruel destiny caused
hlm TO first see light. In this free and
happy America our people have not been
required to display this virtue, for the
causes that bring it into play in the sense
we here use il are and have been totally
wanting. Yet none are more anxious
that the republic should receive no harm;
none are more peaceful, law-abiding citi-
Zens; none are more anxious to see
America rank first among the commercial
powers Of the world.
Israel has avenged himself, by the no.
oIe revenge of forgiveness. He willingly
iorglNes, and would as willingly forget,
II the world will only permit, and viii
not continue, on the merest pretenSe, to
herd Jews in the ghettos. and revive the
horrors of the lnquisition,
Al Jne present moment the House of
Israel Is deeply moved by the sorrowful
condition of the Jews in Russia. The
Gar cannot hope that we approve of his
conduct nor admire his treatment of our
brethren. Yet in the accident that this
week befell his eldest son, we experienced
nothing bat hope for the Czarowitz's re-
covery, and sympathy for the fathers
alarm and anxiety. 1t is impossible for
us to be other than drawn towards those
in trouble; il is impossible for us to ploat
over anyones mistortunes. This is no
shoddy sentimentality; it is the sincere
expression OF our heartfelt sentiments.
ANY father who hears of serious acct
dent having happened to his son, claims
our coincidence; but when a son means to
= father all that the Czarowitz means to
his that father calls for our earnest SYM
pathy, no matter what he the faults we