The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-01
FROM THE PULPITS
Words of Wisdom by the
Rabbis.
Thanksgiving at Beth IsraeI-Why
We Should Be Grateful-Dr.
Levy's Views.

At the Temple Emanu-El las tevening
DR.. Jacob VoorsaDger delivered the first
of course of lectures entitled "Tne Jew
as a Citizen of the World" The first Of
these WAS named "Au Evening in Rome
in the Second Century"
The lecturer asked the question, "How
has the Jew managed to survive the fate
that has befallen other nations of anti
Quity?" The answer is to be found in the
history of the Hebrew nation. Rome in
the year A. d. 135 was the Paris of the
Old World. 1t was the mistress of the
w0rlj. aud held the whole of the world
subject to its orders.
1t is a remarkable fact that Rome was
tolerant of all religions but Judaism and
Christianity. Within its walls were to be
found temples erected to the worship of
every god under the sun. The reason for
this was that Rome well understood that
to bold the nations in subsection it was
best not TO appear intoierant regarding
their religions. This liberation was not
extended TO Judaism, because it preached
doctrines totally opposed to the ideas
which obtained in Rome at that time, when
unchastity and vice reignad supreme.
There was another reason why the Jew
was hated in Rome-because there was no
ether nation which assumed such bold
front and defiant attitude as the Jews did .
The rabbi concluded by answering the
question pfopounded at the commence
ment OF the lecture, saying that the reason
the Jew exists to-day is because the spirit
of his law and his religion was uncon-
querable.
At the Geary-street Temple last evening
Rabbi Levy preached to large audience
on the theme, What We Have TO Be
Thankful For"
DR.. Levy began by remarking: "To
unite mankind in the bond of society ap-
pears to have been the primary object in
the design OF the Creator. In the order of
nature we behold his providence directed
to the accomplishment of this great pur-
pose through the powerful medium of
mans necessities and the instructive at
tachment he feels for his species. In the
written law there is evidently less i'm
portance attached to the obligations we
owe to God than to those we owe to So
ciety. All the precepts Of the decalogue,
with the exception Of two, tend to this
idea"
The rabbi continued: 'It has been
asserted that patriotism is a duty or virtue
quite independent of religion; that willis
religion does not discourage it, it neither
commands nor tnculcates it: in short. that
religion tends only to our relation to God.
Nothing can be more empty or futile than
such reasoning. He who contends that he
is not bound to have any more concern for
the interests of his own country than for
those OF any other ought to hold on the
same ground that he is under no 0bliga-
ton to consult the welfare of his children
and family more than that Of the most dis
tant stranger. Let US disclaim such false
philosophy.
1.-The first reason for our Thanksgiving
is the social possibilities that our country
affords. For. from our social union WI
derive all those dear and tender connec-
tions which constitute the greatest charms
of human life. We should be thankful tha
all CT zens are enabled to live in peace,
mu'nal con fdence and general security.
Yet another important reason for our
giving thapks-the greatness and goodness
of our Institutions. Even under the most
despotic form of government there exists
in the heart Of everybody an inherent love
of country. How much more should we
render thanks. living as we do in the most
perfect state of freedom, where every one
is free to utter the boldest thoughts On
men and things that the human mind can
con ceive?"
DR.. Nieto's address at the Sheriff. Israel
Synagogue last evening was on the subject
of Motives" During the evening the
choir, under the direction OF Mrs. Fl. j.
Stewart. rendered selections of classical
music, Mendeissobn's ION, Come, Let Us
Be JOyful' being sung as uuartat