The herald., 1897-06-05
4
/ THE REVELATION +
\ on MOUNT SINH !
tFtF'9''g'.g' 1s't'gs.a

90
This evening at sunset, Israelites all
over the globe will celebrate the Feast
of Revelation" 1t is the renewal Of the
giving Of the law of Sinai. In the fame
of holy inspiration. in the blaze Of lofty
enthusiasm. God appears each year
anew to Israel to seal the old covenant
upon the hearts of all Israel. 1t Is in-
deed a healthy and glorious revival OF
Israeps faith. 1t testifies to the undy-
ing love of Judaism which braved the
ever-fiuctuating tide of time, standing
immovable as the granite rock amidst
the flow and ebb Of all ages and all ma
tions without ever yielding or retreat
ing.
The festival Is also called "Shabuoth,
the Feast Of Weeks" because the law
of Moses says: Seven weeks shalt thou
number unto thyself; from the time thou
beginnest to put the sickle to the corn
shalt thou begin to number seven weeks
And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks
unto the Lord thy God" Is. B. M. 1882
The festival is also called -Habi-
koorim" the Feast of the First Ripe
Fruits" because on this day, the first
fruits were brought as an Offering to
the temple. But above all, 1t Is sacred
and important in its character as the
anniversary of that great eventful epoch
when the Eternal at Sinai, more than
5000 years ago, delivered unto Israel that
glorious dispensation, the decalogue, Of
which It has been our inestimable priv
ilege to be the legal custodtans: that
fountain of light that moral code from
which all nations Of the earth have
drawn, and which every creed has uni
versally adopted as the basis and foun-
dation of religion, law, justice and mo
rality.
There is a beautiful saying OF our
ancient wise men: When on that osv
which our Shabuoth festival commem-
crates our forefathers stood around the
flaming Mount Of Sinai to receive the
divine law a heavenly voice was heard
saying to them: Behold the most prec-
ious treasure is to be entrusted to you
in my law Will you prove worthy OF
that trust? Will you keep that covenant
now about to be made with you?" And
all the people answered with one voice,
"Yes, we will" The heavenly voice con-
tinued: "Who shall vouch for your
words, that you will at all times pre- {.
serve this law in your midst?" And
Israel answered: May our fathers
youch for us. For was not Abraham a
good. kind-hearted and God-fearing
man? Did not Jacob turn out to be
champion Of the Lord?" But the voice
said: THAT is not enough. Your fathers
are gone. Who shall be your security
for the future?" Then let our children
be our pledges. We shall teach them
how to walk in the path OF truth ana
virtue, that they maintain thy laws
the people answered. These vouchers
I accept, said the voice, and upon these
conditions the covenant was concluded.
Every returning season of this festival
is a repetition Of the act on Mount
Sinai And through our children the
old covenant must be renewed. They
stand as the living witnesses and
pledges Of our faith and as securities OF
Israers future.
On them rests our hope. They have
to fulfill all our expectations and hopes
All the blessings we have received from
our forefathers, all the greatness anil
glory attached to the Jewish name and
to the Jewish past they have to trans
nit to the future. They have to reflect
credit upon our priceless history Of the
past; they have to continue it, and add
new luster to it.
We, the parents, have all to leave our
work to be continued by those who sue
ceed US, Of whom we expect that they
will carry the banner Of truth and right
eousness into yet unconquered realms of
the future.
Legend tells us of Persian hero, who
had such superabundance of strength
that he did not know how to use 1t when
young, and so he prayed to the Deity
that he might be permitted to lay up
some of his vigor as a reserve for future
use at the time when his powers should
become feeble and failing from old age
Would to God that our children, too.
would in the age of youthful vigor pray
to God to help them to preserve some for
future use, for their own benefit and the
benefit of mankind instead Of squan-
dering it in idle waste.
And not only in regard to their physi-
cal strength, but also in regard to their
intellectual vigor I wish they would
heed my words, not to use all for mere
gain and business speculation.
Not to harness their divine spirit to
mere carload of merchandise, but to
reserve a part for the pursuance of
mans nobler purpose, and become true
to their higher calling as the children Of
God. Stake their lives on truth only.
prove noble descendants Of Abraham,
true priests of God, carrying the shield
of righteousness on their breasts and
the diadem of virtue on their brow.
Revere and love God, honor their pa
rents and love their fellow men; then
will they find grace and favor in the
eyes of God and all mankind.
|. A. w. EDELMAN.
The End Not in SIGHT