Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-12
THE JEW--A PROTEST.
AN ELOQUENT SERMON ny nAnar
CLIFTON II. LEVY.
ANCIENT AgD EODRRN-DAY TYPES.
Esther and sforaeeaf Exanples of
seripturai Times aud Modes-Mer-
Jelssohn OF Inter Days--Rsbbi VIII
Preach Agai 10 TODAY.
Preach Again To-day.

THE Jew--A Protest" was the subject
OF strong sermon preached At Beth
Ahaba synagogue last night by Rev. pr.
Clifton III. Levy, of New York.
Rabbi Levy is one Of the foremost He
brew divines IN the United States, and
his large audience. including several not
OF the Jewish faith, enjoyed mis- cloaueis
discourse, involving as II did the funda-
mentality OF Judaism. Dy Levy's sermon
began at $40 O'clock. and though the bsss
part of an hour was consumed in Its de-
livery he held the attention Of his audi
ence to the last. HE is a speaker OF re-
markabie force and eloquenee.
"The jew" he said. 'Ts in himself
protest The first Jew was the first
protester When Abraham protested
against the idolatry OF his native land
and home. ne Laid the foundation OF
Judaism. This attitude OF opposition 20
the false wherever found Is the most
striking characteristic OF the Jew who
is true to his faith. He must protest
or cease to be. Yet Il would be mis-
take to think that the Jews protest is
purely negative that he Is constitu-
tionaly In opposition, and has no posi-
tive work 10 DO.
''The protest, which Is nothing more
| than a denial, is not very valuable. From
| Abraham's day to this the jew has been
Gods living protest. lie has been ready
| to protest. even against himself. for tho
history OF Judaism is one long series of
| Developments, one generation protesting
| against the errors OF It's predecessors
| rising TO higher levels of thought and
\ action.
MORDECAI AND ESTHER.
The feast Of Purim. celebrated during
| the past week. commentaries the ac-
| tions Of two notable Observation-Disclosures
| and Esther Mordeeah the faithful pa
| triot yet protesting against the evil coun-
| cillor; Esther. a constant protest against
| those who think that by rising 10 fssl-
| tions of wealth and honor, they are dif-
| ferent from their own race and tath.
THE most striking modern typo of the
| Jew as protester is Moses MendelsSsohn.
| the famous sage of the last century. ~
| his lie he taught a new lesson Of tole-
| rance to Jew and German. lie broko
| down the age-long supersttuons OF the
| Ghetto, and did much 10 instruct Ger
| many in new law OF humanity. Ic
| was a striking instance Of the force oc
| this mans individuality that he could
| wage this double battle against the mar
| rowness of his own people, Oppressed SO
! long that submission seemed second ma
ture. and against the hatred ot the
III seems miracle that one mar could
/ climb the Ghetto walls. take MS own peo-
| ple forth and show the wortd a new
| classic on the Immortality of the soul.
| He is the type of the best form or jew
| one who Is such from conviction. whG
| dare not yield TO the temptation 10 ne
| otherwise because no other falth can
| take the place of Judaism, - him.
| 'aThe Jew of to-day must stu continue
his work of protest, because the world
Is far. very far, from being pertect, hos
| that the Jew is perfect, but because mere
| 10 an accumulated mass of thousands OF
| years of moral teaching behind nun. ann
! he ought TO stand at the mead or the
| world in every department OF IRE. bos
| as master but as the noblest type OF
manhood. That II Is not so ~ partlaliy
our own fault
FsTHER's EXAMPLE FoRGoTTEN.
"We forget the example of Esther,
who saved even the poorest or her peo-
pie We deserve to be blamed lor tne
faults of individual Jews. unless we 90
our best TO bring all or them To ina
3Not only Jews, but all OF every faith
and every creed, must be uplifted. ina
lew Is the natural and necessary pro-
, tester of the world. As long as tha
| world needs the Jew, II viii have nln,
| Ii must have him, ever rising TO the pes
! and highest types, because tners ~ stlt
SO much mOraliZing work TO DC doha
| here and now. but the Jews best pro-
| test Is himself-not his words. When
the true noble spirit speaks from ~.
eye and brow; when all ms hte pespeaNs s
| his creed then and only then, VIII thd
Lewis protest be of value. Then viii ~
do its real work, perform It's mission Tor
| mankind" .
DR. Lew will preach this morning as
1890 A. NJ He and Mrs. Levy are ,a,o ,no
; | 9yest Grace street They VIII ne AT
/ home TO their friends this afternoon.