The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-08

silence fell over all. Rabbi Berl silber-
stein mounted the steps OF the Holy Ark,
and after kissing the velvet curtain he faced
the coffin through two rows of lights.
Let us mourn our loss he began. "Our
loss is great, for one of the best Jews of
the city lies dead before us" The rabbi
What would be the good of praisng the
dead?" he went on. Alas. his ears are
closed to praise. But. my dear rabbis, the
Talmud teaches US to help the righteous
serve God after death. Do you know how
this is done, good Jews? BY holding up
his deeds as an example for the living to
follow. This is how our departed brother
may serve God right here while his clay
hes IN this coffin before US. Know We, men,
that Rabbi Ezekiel (the dead mans Jewish
name), otherwise known as Max Caspar.
was a Dious man, an obedient servant of
God and loving friend of man. His char
tty is known to all of We. This Is the only
way in which praise will benefit him now
by making you follow his example. Be as
good as he was, love your fellow. men and
be like his-a glorious path to paradise.
Alas this world is dream and death is
the final fate of ALL
When the next preacher, Rabbi Yachas
mounted the Ark steps. chorus of sobbing
voices came from the women gallery.
My rabbis!'' he said; shortly before his
asked me to see to it that when he was
dead his body might be carried into the holy
place to stand before God before going to its
resting place. His will is fulfilled. The re-
mains of him whom we mourn are here be-
fore the Holy Ark and now let us pray that
the twigs of the tree, the children of the
righteous man. go in the path of their faith
er Rabbls! Many years ago, when Jewish
houses Kept according to the faith of our
fathers, were scarce in New York, there was
a piOuS son of Israel named Goodman in this
town. He was single, and although prosper
Gus, he could not find a place fit for a Jew
to break his fast. Rabbi Ezekiel, the man
who heth before us in the coffin, was the
only Jew he knew whose table he
could trust because he knew it
was Kosher. To him Goodman went and
asked him to let him board with his fam
lily. My table is free to every man., said
whenever you please Says Gootman: But
God hath been good to me and cannot eat
the bread of charity. | must pay YOU
Well, rabbis, they haggled and haggied, the
one anxious to pay and the other loath to
break his rule of keeping his table free to
righteous man. I'll tell you what says he,
nail a charity box to my door and put a
coin after every meal you eat with me. The
contents of the box will be delivered to the
poor: You may pay them, not me-
A buzz of admiration passed through the
synagogue. That's a Jew! That's Jewi'
the men and women whispered.
Presently the cantor, a stalWart man,
with a heavy black beard. took his place
by the coffin, and in mighty voice that
was as beautiful as it was sad he sang:
Merciful God, who dwelleth in the heav-
ems! Give a resting place under the wings
of Thy holy presence among the pure and
the righteous who shine like unto the rays
of Thy sun; give a resting place to the
soul Of Rabbi Ezekiel, who has departed
from us!'
AN outburst of sobbing greeted the prayer
the charity boxes jingling an accompani-
ment to the heart-Crushing chorus in the
main synagogue as well as in the galleries.