The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-08

Powerful Discourse Delivered fester''S
Morning bv Rabbi Cslisch.
pabbl Il. n. Calisch spoke at Beth
Ahaba synagogue yesterday morning OH
Equality Before God" taking his text
from Exodus Xxx, where the "haii she-
kel'' tax was levied, and it Is stated
(vorse 80 the rich shall not give more
nor the poor less than the half skekei.
After giving some interesting inlofiha-
ton as 10 the value OF the smoker anu
the antiquity of the Institution OF inns
tax the rabbi said that we are informed
by JOsepnus that t0J,"D shehtH were
collected i'm This manner Inc money
was spent in the uses Of the taDerhaci''
But the question arises. why had INC
lax been lcded?" When the can was
made by Moses for material and work
men for the building OF the tabernacle
the people responded SO literally that
more than enough was brought ana the
people had TO be restrained from bringing
EXODUS xxXyi.. %.
HUMAN EQUALITY.
II is evident that the levy of this half
shekci tax was cmblcmauc. TO press
home the idea Of human duty and hui
man equality. That an men are equal
before God IS taught by the injunction
that the "rich shall not give more nor
the poor less" than the hali-shekcl. When
we consider the status OF ancient ciNiilzd-
lions with thoir Infamous caste system,
as 10 then prevailed, especially IN lndla
and Egypt, we can form some IDEA as
10 how tremendous a mcntai ana moral
revolution was this simple declaration OF
The equality OF men. I'm Egypt no man
could ever rise above tho class in which
/ classes was impossible I'm India Brain
min would rather die than drink from a
/ VOL that had been contaminated 10y the
1 drinking from 10 Of PaTiah. Through
| ont an the middle ages the feudal sys-
/ tenn kept unbrdccd the chasm between
| the classes. The lord and the villein
| were as far apart as were ever Egyptian
/ priest and mill-slavc. In our generation
/ the scions Of an onfeebled nobility are
] sull protesting the divine right OF kings
| and the superiority Of the mobiles over
the masses. i'm our own beloved repuh-
| lie we make loud boast Of the recogih-
ton Of the equality OF an men.
ARROGANT PLUTOCRACY.
But il Is an empty Wanting fer here
/ in this country we are upbuiidlng piu-
/ fOcruCy whose arrogance i5 worse thah
! all the claims OF monarchical pride. Iht
I
| rather greater opportunity for noble
| life. IL is the neglected opportunities OF
| wealth that. constitute The criminal folly
| OF this age. Instead OF employing us
power in noble ways, most OF our rich
men seek With It's influence 10 establish
q supposed superiority for themselves
over their less ahuent brethren. Against
the folly OF uis conduct cur text warns
In the sight OF Cod each man gives
| his haif-shekel, no more, no less.
1T IS embiemauc further OF the duty Of
| each human being 10 render an account
Of his Ife at ne tribunal OF judgment
No man could escape the tax Of The
half shckel. No being can hope TO escap'
the sbrutnv of eternal justice whei
for the Tabernacle of human life we arr
called upon 90 give our half-shekol. Toku
this is Of our gifts and possibilities. The.
vary in men. Some have greater SOM
less. Iut all men must contribute thei
half-shokel. which is the "best that on
can Co." That Is all that is expected
I'm tho reckoning of accounts the hall
shellol of Laura Brldgman's life is "a
great as that of Shakespeare or Dante
or jefferson.