Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-20
THE BOOK OF JONAH.
THEME OF AN INTERESTING DIS
COURSE by DIR. CALIsCH.
The Gifted Rabbi Takes Lyman
Abbotf's Criticism and Discusses
the Relation Of the Book TO Chris-
tianity and Judaism.
tianity and Judaism.

the Relation of the Book 10 chrfs-
tinnity and Judaism.
Rabbi f.. n. Calisch spoke on THE
Book OF Jonah" last night. taking as his
text the last two verses of the last chap
ter He said. in part, that an invoiun-
tary smile comes at the mention OF the
book; for. as Professor Cornill says: The
popular conception sees nothing In II
but a silly tale, exciting us to derision
Whenever shallow wit wishes to hold
the Bible up 10 ridicule. the incidents Of
Balaam's ass and Jonah's whale infal-
libby take precedence" Such seemed TO
have been the case, when DR.. Lyman
Abbot, the successor OF Henry Ward
Beecher spoke on the book recently. His
treatment Of Il reused n storm OF dis
cussion-some pro, and others con. The
discussion could not pass the jewish
readers and leave them unconcerned; for
by force of conviction, or by mere sense
of religious devotion. the Jew considers
himself the custodian and rightful in
terpreter OF the Bible.
The speaker here gave an argument of
the story of Jonah saying that while
he presumed the congregation to be ia
miliar with 1t. yet 1t was good to have
their minds refreshed on its salient
points.
HOW TO ACCEPT 1T.
Continuing, DR.. Calisch said 1.-THE
question now naturally presents itself
How are we to accept this book?' AS
an actual, historical fact, or as a mere
allegory-a picture of conditions impos-
sible in actual life, but conveying a pro-
found moral truth? The editor of the
New York Sun, in commenting on the
discussion taking place in his paper said
that the consistent Christian had no al
tentative but its literal acceptance. His
religion as the revealed will of God stood
or fell with the Book OF Jonah. IF the
biblical story of Jonah and the whale
is to be regarded purely as a parable.
an allegory, whose actual occurrence was
impossible, and, therefore, unbelievable.
Christianity must descend from its ele-
walton as a religion of Divine authority
and drop to the level of a system of re-
ligious philosophy or speculation of
human authorship. If the story Of Jonah
is merely alegoTicai. fable, every
other story from the creation of Adam
and Eve up to the supernatural birth
and resurrection OF Jesus is likewise al
legorical; for they conflict equally with
the possibilities under merely natural
law.'-New York Sun, February T. 1897.
To this might be added that the book
is especially of value to the Christian
for the reason that Jesus himself refers
to it, and makes use of IL to prognosti-
cate and symbolic his advent and re-
surrection." Matthew xii, S9-1; Luke
XII, 1922
THE JEWISH VIEW.
but leaving the Christian to solve
this difficulty for himself, let us turn
to Jewish view of the book II can
be stated definitely and explicitly that
under no circumstances does Judaism
stand or fall with this book. 1t may
be accepted as an historical incident. or
as an allegory. as the individual be-
lever may determine. For me it is a
prophetic parable, so sublime in thought
so lofty in ideal, so wide-reaching In
its teaching as to rank among the first
and best Of the Nabaistic writings
There is no more need for an historical
basis for ii than there is for the Book
of Job to teach its philosophy of life and
of suffering, or for historical basis for
the Song of Solomon TO Vindicate the
beauty and purity of the conjugal pas
sion
1.-THE Book of Jonah was a favorite
theme with Kabbalistic writer's, for with
it their mysticism could take TO itself
wings and soar through the endless
realms of phantasy, revelling with trans
cendental doctrines till the mind reeled
and the brain grew dizzy. Among the
Rabbinical writer's also it was esteemed
to such an extent that IT was made
part of the ritual for the hottest Of days,
the Atonement-Day.
VALUE OF THE BOOK.
1.-The value of the Book of Jonah lies
in it's doctrine of the universally Of
God. Jonah is sent to warn a heather
city. Though seeking to escape the ser
vice, way is made for him to fulfil
the command of God. The city is
warned. The people repent OF their
wickedness and, in the clemency Of God,
are saved. Jonah is displeased at this.
He knew it would be the case, for God
was gracious, long-suffering, merciful,
and abundant in kindness That was
the reason he did not want TO come.
Then Jonah was taught the lesson of the
gourd. If he would have spared the
gourd. Shall / not says God, spare a
and much cattle? With this sentence
the book closes abruptly, and the moral
of it's mercy sinks deep into the heart.
1.-THE whole prophecy of Jonah" DR..
Calisch concluded, 'is a victory of toler-
ance over narrowness, of catholicity over
selfish concentration. Other prophets
had told of the destruction of Israers
enemies-had described how the wrath
of God would consume them as stubble-
but with Jonah there was the glorious
light of an all-enfolding mercy, that dis
tinguisheth not between man and man,
between the believer and the heather,
but is as ready and exhaustess as the
rain and the sun, which beat alike upon
the just and the unjust.
'''That Jonah did not relish the idea of
warning heather city emphasizes the
lesson. Therefore, was he taught and
made to understand. BY 1t must we,
too learn how wide is the love of God,
how close the tie of human brotherhood"