The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-07-06
AN APPEAL FOR JUSTICE.
A Hebrew Asks That His People Be Given
the Right to Worship as They Please.

- HepIeW ASKS tnat IT'S reopiS Do SUei
the Right to Worship as They Please
Dear Strive have just celebrated
the Fourth of July. Although we are
brought face to face with America
greatness and principles in our daily
lives, yet the firing and shot and shell
remind us emphatically of the tunda-
mental principles, the motive power
which causes this celebration.
THE motive power is the rejoicing
that comes from liberty of spirit and
conscience. This is the first country
which demonstrated practically by her
institutions that the soul of man must
not be bowed down by another that
the soul of man must not be repressed
by law. When century ago this coun-
try put over its sign of welcome to all,
the Jews were among the first to seek
this place, where men and women can
live their own lives and not obey by
force the observances and rites OF
others.
1.-THE horizon of Jewish communal
life has been bright and clear, and the
American flag has been true to its
promise of protection and freedom. 1t
was last week when a f1eck, an ugly
dark spot was seen in our horizon, and
that dark sport is an unjust command
which was promulgated by the courts
of Worcester: You must do what tell
you to do and not what you think is
right Whenever these words have
been heard in centuries past whenever
one man by force makes another man
believe as he does and think as he
thinks, there has been unhappiness and
great trouble.
For eighteen hundred years we have
waited for the right to live our re-
ligion. We have made our home in a
land where this necessary and divine
right is granted. Put yourself in our
place. Would you not feel the same
disappointment that every school boy
and girl among the Hebrews feels for a
country which they love passonately
for it's ideals, which ideals they see de-
throned. The Hebrew youth In the
public schools in every page of the
United States history, in every word in
every line, in every letter of every
word, reads that the relation between
God and man belongs to himself and is
not to be interfered with.
THE Hebrews of Worcester ask you
not to allow law to creep in which
will undermine this great principle, not
to enforce law which will take in its
grasp the most sanctified form of the
Hebrew religion, choking and killins
our day of rest. Do not, l beg YOU
put that bitterness in the hearts Of
Jewish parents who have to look al
their children's breaking that which
they have held sacred in their lives
Do not lessen the brightness of youl
laws which have brighter sunshine and
happiness IN every home. You do not
tear down our synagogues, you do not
plunder us, but our Sabbath is TORI
down, our rights as citizens are taken
away. Our testament today is not
burned as in the past, but a great sup.
port of our domestic life is burned
away, a great deal of the beauty ano
holiness that Judaism puts in our lives
is burned away.
From the year 500 until 100, the He.
brews were looked upon as the chattels
OF barons and kings, the means by
winch human passions could give yent
to its renown. Through the frightf,l
and densely dark centuries when the
spirit OF the Jews was ground out BY
persecution and their bodies were LEFT
bleeding and tingling with pain. in this
Fearful epoch, it was the Sabbath day
that was the beacon light of hope, the
only spark of brightness that came ir
the lives of Jews. The Sabbath was
when men could relax the terrible
strain and pressure that was put upor
~ wac SitC OuIy llIi16 Wnen Inc
Hebrew mother could light her Sab.
bath candles and point out from the
darkness of the outside world the light
OF Judaism, the hope for a happier fu-
ture. The secret of the preservation
OF the Jews is that they have observed
their Sabbath. Under Roman rule. a
Jew was put to death if he were found
to follow out, to teach the precepts Of
ms religion. In Spain spies surround
ed the Jews on all sides to report
whether the Sabbath or passover feast
was observed. Yet secretly. in caverns
and cells was Judaism observed.
want to show to you how the Sabbath
IS hallowed by the Jews, how this day
is endeared to them by the great sacri.
nee of life which was the cost paid tc
observe the Sabbath SSe Jews viii
never violate the command which thei,
ancestors obeyed at the risk of theil
hves. Civilization has brought in its
train the right to worship as one thinks
right. No man can cause civilization
to go back and repeal what IT has wor
in the worlds battle.
If we open our stores on Saturday
the dignity of our lives is taken away
from the order that we find IN our rs
hgion, disorder will reign in its place
men who fear not punishment will OBJ
serve their Sabbath at any cost. the
spirit of American Judaism will be EN-
FILTERED and our home life is broken
Three fourths of the Hebrews in this
city keep their stores closed on Satur.
day. So the physiological argument
which justifies the enforcing Of one day
of rest can have no relation to these
Jews. Three-fourths of the Hebrews
have to struggle hard to earn their llv-
ing. Giving UP Saturday shows their
fidelity to their religion, their observ-
ance of one day of rest. To rest on
Sunday would give them no rest, but
would make them restless and their life
would be struggle to do in five days
that labor which should be done in six.
The citizens of this city who like
fair dealing who are on the side IF JUS
tice, should see that justice is done to
the Hebrew. This unjust law takes
away the fundamental principle of our
constitution; this law skaters to pieces
one of the hottest laws of our religion
this law takes away sustenance and
chances of success from. the Jews in
Worcester. We appeal to you in the
name of the declaration of independ-
ence, which we have just celebrated to
give us back the independence to rvor-
ship as we please. We ask you to re-
store to us that peace which we have
always enjoyed in Worcester" A.