The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-10-08


servance of another holiday, very i'm
portant to every Jewish citizen of the
city, "Succoth" or the Feast of Booths,
occurred. 1t Is merry, happy holi-
day, corresponding to the great ma
tional Thanksgiving, and having in
deed been originated by the ancient
Hebrews in much the same spirit that
characterizes the birth Of the great
American day of thanks.
1t Is the harvest feast, and continues
during period of eight days, of which,
only the first and last are generally
observed. The more devout and ortho-
dox Hebrews celebrate the festival by
erecting a. small booth, which is be-
decked with the fruits OF the season
and which Is intended us a memento OF
the days spent in the wilderness by
the forefathers Of the race, when they
dwelt half nomadic life, under can
vas.
The Linden street synagogue was
thronged last evening at o'clock.
when services were begun by Rev. An
spach. The latter Is acting as minis
ter, on probation, and is recent
graduate Of the Hebrew Union college,
at Cincinnati, o.
He conducted last nights services in
a very able manner and his sermon on
"The Jewish Messianic Age" created a
most favorable impression.
The synagogue was appropriately
decorated in honor of the festival, the
pulpit being surrounded by circle Of
palms and potted plants. and in front
Of the altar there being heaped a bank
Of fruits and vegetables symbolical Of
the harvest season. Almost everything
from the homely pumpkin to autumnal
fruits were in evidence, and en- masse
gave the scene the proper aroma and
appearance.
In the course of his sermon, Rev. An
spach said:
Among those grand conceptions and lofty ideals
that have at one time or another moved men
to action, none has been so potent as that Of a
Messianic Utopia Wherever man was oppressed
and dcspotism ruled; whenever some great aspi-
ration failed, there have men raised the vision
OF some new Utopia and followed with blind
enthusiasm some newly inspired leader Neither
the memory of former hopes shattered nor Of
earlier promised uniulfllcd has ever deferred
mankind from awaiting n newer rescue from
trouble surer salvation from pain. Scarcely
has one ideal failed Of realization before another
of the old disappointment once more to stir
the heart to renewed endcavor.
Almost every age has produced dreamer OF
such utopias and given to mankind one Vt those
world spirits that las striven for higher good,
and has directed men towards the search o.
light and truth
Israel has enriched humanity with whole
noble company of them Secrs who knew the
needs of the hour and searched mems hearts to
f,ni, Ii;rn ,I,,f
who came Gods apostles to plead with the
hearts of men, And among the prophets OF the
soul, Jeremiah stands preeminent
And why have all previous Utopias failed?
Simply because the great Jewish demand for
Righteousness was lacking, as a basic consdera.
tion; Righteousness that finds its justification in
the nature of Cod that publishes its message to
mankind in the startling words: eye shall be
holy even as the Lord your God am holy"
No! Israel's mission is far from completed.
First he must force recognition of Gods unity
upon the world; then must the Jew, by livin.
the great moral idea of Righteousness, bring that
rs his mission to the world; his ideal, his Mes
sianc dream.
For surely all of the Utopians, all the pictured
golden ages, pale before their divinely inspired
Of jeremiah, expressed in few
'impe words, expressive Of soul OF tender.
less, spoken not to the head but to :ic heart
zach and every Of them. Plato's "Repub
ic' yields to it without contest. Dante's
DE Monarcha,' and st. Augustine's "City Of
iod' sink into insignifcance beside it; Morc's
Utopia becomes a mere play Of the fancy and
he socialism is almost contra human nature.
MI of them arc secondary to the Jewish Utopia |
'fcred us by our prophet. For it deals with |
he righteousness, not the "rghts" of man.
How different is the Messianic age of Jere- |
niah! How all superior ard comprehensive! |
low genuinely Jewish and possible! This is |
he only Utopia practical enough to stand the |
est Of reality. This grand Jewish ideal still |
emaining human in all its grandeur never |
the limits OF sanity, aspiring |
through righteousness and sanctity to God and |
rom God to sanctity and righteousness.
This is the Utopia which the Hebrew proph-
Is stand for; the day when righteousness shall |
ow like a perennial stream" This is their
ulaism and must he our Judaism, for it calls
Mt to us across the span Of years "that treas.
res OF wickedness profit not, but righteousness
lone saves from death.'
1t assures uS again that truly Israel's mission
nay be peace. But only that peace which
ONES in the wake of virtue and the train of
righteousness. Not vague and vapid aim, but
definite moral end, greater than Christian
umility, purcr than Molammedan heaven.
rander than mercy. Peace, the peace of
righteousness, the peace OF justice the ever.
'stins peace of God, the Hebrew sholam, pres.
ges as condition OF Jcremiali's promise
Services will be resumed this morn
ng.