The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-04-06

virtue.
AS preacher of the word of God and
an expounder of the Bible he has made
the teachings of Judaism Enthusiastically
pam 10 us. He has made clear and sim
pie that which before had to us been
cloudy and difficult of comprehension.
lie has swept away many of the mys-
terles, the doubts, and the incompre-
hensible dogmas surrounding religion.
lie mas given us conception of Judaism
pure, simple, lofty, and uplifting, and
within the grasp of the humblest mind;
by precept and example he has taught US
70 be liberal and tolerant toward others
difterlng with us religiously.
AS historian of the Jewish race, he
mas given us better conception than we
before had of the history of our people;
he has clearly pointed out to US the aims
and the purposes of the Jews as race
and the high mission they yet have to
perform for civilization; he has placed US
rightly before our non-Jewish neighbors
and helped to correct in their minds many
mistaken notions concerning our people
and our faith.
LAS citizen, he has taught US many
lessons OF patriotism; he has done no lit
tie to make US more public-spirited
and more keenly alive to the claims that
may be rightly made upon us by our city,
our State and our Nation; he has aroused
within us deeper sense of the duties of
citizenship and greater Willingness on
our part to perform the sacred duty of the
citizen in time of peace and the fearless
duty of the soldier in time of war.
"As a husband and father, he has set
US an example of self-sacriticing de-
votion, an example of loving gentleness
and kindness, of constant thought and
care and unselfish consideration for those
near and dear.
LAS friend, he has shown US what it
is TO be steadiast and loyal, what it is TO
be true and devoted; he has been with us in
our joys and in our sorrows; he has given
US of his sympathies by the bedside of our
sick and suffering; he has consoled US in
our affections and given us courage III the
days OF our trials and our universities; he
has ever extended his helping hand to
those among US who became needy and
has ever been ready to make uncalled for
sacrifices to render us any possible aid.
ut has truly been said that sooner or
later the dearest must part and so it has
come TO pass that the day is near at hand
when our congregation and its beloved
Rabbi must, perhaps forever, sever their
connections.
knowing as we did that his abilities
fitted him for a much larger field than
the one he has been filling in our midst,
knowing as we did that the world needed
men with his attainments in places where
tLOy SOhANi ACeRSAA lLS lGelI IlstSScS. w lell
certain that we could hope 10 keep him
with US only until such time as his merit
became more widely known. Selhshly
we hoped that the great outside world
might overlook him, and leave him to US
for many years, and yet we feared that
this would not be. At last our fears are
realized.
rabbi Krauskopf, who is at the head
OF one OF the largest and most influential
congregations in America, was with me
when l first met Rabbi Levy at his home
in Bristol.
He was with us on our voyage across
the Atlantic; he spent part of sum-
mer vacation among us in Sacramento
year or two ago, and during all that time
he had ample opportunity to learn TO
know Mr.. Levy as man and as min
lister.
lit now seems that from the very be-
ginning he had set his eye upon Mr..
Levy with view OF at some time asso-
ciating him in his work. That time
came sooner than even Dir. krauskopf
expected.
with growing duties that large and
growing congregation imposed upon
him, with injured health that close study
and overwork on his part resulted in. it
became evident to the members of DR..
krauskopfs congregation that relief
must be afforded him at once.
ION being consulted by his congrega-
ton as to an associate, DR.. krauskOpf
gave as his choice Rabbi Levy, and he
was at once unanimously elected by the
Philadelphia congregation to divide the
labors and the honors with their own be-
loved rabbi.
Had we been selfishly inclined, we
could have held Rabbi Levy among us
for yet a time. but, closely as we are at
tached to him, deeply as we regret to lose
him from among us. we felt that as his
warm friends and as believers in tho
doctrine of the greatest good TO the
greatest number we had no right to i'm
pede his way and to keep him from fill
ing that broader field of usefulness that
God has INTENDED him for.
lit was, therefore, with a spirit of no
little sacrifice that we reluctantly con-
scented to his going.
Tonight we are assembled here as a
congregation to give him a formal fare
well and to bid him 'Godspeed.' When
we look back to the many profitable and
delightful hours spent within the sound
OF his friendly and kindly voice, when
we remember the many lofty and uplift-
ing lessons we owe to his helpful and in
spring influence, when we realize how
during the few years that he has spent
among us he has continually led US up
ward and onward, it is with profound
regret we feel he has but a few short days
yet to spend among us.
at is the realization of this that has
prompted the congregation and our
friends to come here this evening in such
numbers and to intruSt to me the pleas
ant duty of presenting to you, our be-
loved Rabbi, these slight parting tokens
OF our high regard, our esteem and atfec-
ton.
"In behalf of the mem bers of the con-
gregation let Inc ask you to accept of this
watch, and let me trust you may be per-
United to wear it for many, many wears
to come, as a trifiing reminder of the
legion OF warm friends whom you will
soon leave behind. Let me further ask
you TO also accept this testimonial, which
reads as follows:
Farewell testimonial presented by the Con-
gresatlon B'nai Israel. sacramento, Cal, to
Rabbi j. Leonard Levy, April s. 1893.
lit is with profound regret that we the
members and officers Of the Congregation
Is nai Israel, are called upon to part with our
beloved rabbi ana friend, j. Leonard Levy
During his stay among US OF three and
one-half years he has by his ability his sin
certify ana his kindly and gentle disposition
won Tor himself our respect, our esteem and
our love.
The lessons OF probity and broad-minded-
ness, OF beneNOlence and of kindness that
have been taught us by the purity OF his life
and by his words and his deeds will live
among Us and continue to have their helpful
and uplifting influence long after his presence
shall nave been removed.
I'm entering upon II newer and broader field
OF usefulness, he carries with him our earnest
good wishes and the sinceIe hope that lie and
his may enjoy the fullest blessings q kind
Providence can bestow.
''Signed: =. LaVensOn, S. J. Reinheimer l.
Phillips, Emil Stelnman, Albert Elkus, j.
Ginsberg, b. Wilson, Trustees; Leon Salomon,
secretary; N. Levy, Nice-President; H. Vein
stock, President.
Let me ask you to accept this from our
hands as a keepsake and reminder of
the years spent by you in California
Years that to us have, through your in
tluence, been SO full of moral and intel