The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-04-20
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consider it my duty as we'll as deep pleas
nre TO express here our gratitude to our
friends who nre not of our religious per-
suasion but who have not only furthered
our purposes materially but have even
eyinced magnanimous sympathy with
our undertaking and to-day unite with us
III these JOYOUS and sacred festivities. This
event. my friends, is important, not only In
the history of the religious life OF the
lsraelites Of Montana, hut it may also be
regarded as sign of the prosperity and the
rapidly growing development of the city OF
whose progress wo arc all proud, for the
growth of the Jewish population TO that
extent which enabled us to build temple,
is but proportionate to the growth of the
resources, energy and wealth of the city in
general. 1t would be mistnking the char
acter OF the Jewish people to suppose that
we have allowed these many years to pass
without having orr ancestral faith repre-
sented by fitting building, out Of mere
indifference. On the contrary, the Jewish
heart is ever loyal to the god Of the fathers,
and no matter how far removed from q re-
ligious center, the Jewish mind remains
firm and strong in it's LOYALTY to the God
the name Of our congregation expresses it,
"Emanu- EI' God is with ns.
Our umembers were ut first few, and
1T was sheer impossibility to
erect an ediiice at all suitable or
worthy of the cause nor start out on the
road of a systematic religious life. How
ever, II we had built no temple, we never
theless remained true to our inheritance,
and always cherished tho hope of one
day being able to call man to inst uct US
IN the lesson of our faith and erect temple
which should be an honor to ourselves and
an ornament to the city we love. But what
was it that kept awake the slumbering feel
ing of loyalty to Judaism during this long
| time, the answer is the yearly meetings in
our solemn festival, where amidst rude
n RI IN yQ VUa f1rv pfo stS
prayer to our God. And in this moment
taking possession in the name of the con-
gregatlon OF this new sanctuary,
| fesl that thanks are above all
due to the men and women who
kept alive Jewish feeling. They were the
preserves of the Judaism for which, when
the community grew sufficiently strong,
opportunity could then hs given to all 10
exercise generously. Thanks to the men
and women who in our sabbath school. in
our religious services, in our beEevolent
society, in deeds OF loving kindness to the
dead as we'll as guidance by example in
religions duties of the living, have upheld
the life of Israel in our community. they
have done nobly in the past and they will,
no doubt, still work in the more promising
feeling and the unstinted liberality alone
could not complete the work in detail.
think express the sentiments Of the wiIois
congregation when express our deepfelt
Rratitude 10 the gentlemen who have had
the special task of carrying ont our plans in
building this editce. They have
all fulfilled their task faithfully and
zealously and all will agree success sfuliy.
And now. after having reviewed the past.
and having found some measure of
self-congratulation in the work, we look
look forward to the future where all our
hopes are centred. We look upon this tenn
pie and the religious life connected with it
as a source of benefit both to US adults and
especially to the rising generation as
means of planting in them the principles
of true niety which produce morality IN
life and good citizenship. Finally, in ac-
certing this temple. will repeat the PRAYER
of her who has 30 gracefully expressed it in
handing me the key. Let the completion
of the temple not be considered the COM
pletion of our task, but rather the begin
ming of new era of improvement in
Jewish Ii e. of increased fidelity to Israels
faith and q fuller appreciation of our
duties. And with the confidence
in the growth of our city. let
it always inspire us to partake of life
all the duties and enterprises which. as IS
raelites, we may be called upon to further.
the ideals of Judaism in our country, and,
indirectly, humanity, which all temples and
churches ought to serve. l herewith accept
this temple in the name of the congregation
Emanu-El of Helena, Mont.
A soprano solo was then rendered by
Mrs. S. Cohen, with organ accompaniment
by Professor Nunvar.