The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-12-13
A Thanksgiving Sermon by Rabbi
j. Klein.


j. Klein.
What shall be our Thanksgiving?
From year to year the American
people are called together by official
proclamation and by the promptings
of their own inclination, to render
thanks unto the God Of nations for
The manifold and multiform favors
vouchsafed unto u.s.
We observe the day after a fashion;
we look forward to its coming with
certain degree Of impatience; but few
are they who associate with the cay
something higher than good cheer Of
table and good sport.
The churches do indeed pretend to
remember the higher significance Of
the occasion, but empty, if they are
during the course Of the year, on that
cay emptiness becomes so intense as
TO battle description.
The Hebrew language has no equiv
alent of our word think Where we
use thanks, the Hebrew speaks of ac-
nowledgement, recognition. Upon
making the thankful Offering of the
FIRST fruits, the farmer did not say, Il
return thanks but ST acknowledge
this day before the Lord, that am
come unto the land which the Lord
swore unto our fathers to give to u.s."
Gratitude is scarcely a virtue; it IS
rather an endowment of nature
Even beasts know gratitude. Isaiah,
in reproaching the people with ingrat-
stude toward God, says: s'The OK
knoweth his owner, and the ass his
masters crib (Isaiah I, 3.)
Our expressed gratitude. unto God
Is always implied assumption Of an
obligation, the verbally stated recog-
milton of an Indebtedness. In thanking
God, we promise that what we have
received shall be utilized not selfshly,
hut for the best interest to others.
..Giye and receive and go forth t.
bless the world which needs heart and
hand A true philosophy Of thanks
giving eanonises the remembering Of
the weaker, the sadder, the suffering
brother. The law concerning the
Jewish festiva1 which our national
tide Of gratitude has copied was most
emphatic in bringing before the faith
fua this sacred obligation True joy
could come to him alone who en-
braced in his kindness on that day
All that carried the heavier burdens
of Life. To render assistance to strug-.
cling and sinking fellow creatures, to
extend to them a helping hand, and
aid them that they may not fall-this
IS the active love Of our fellowman
enjoined on US by the Holy Scriptures.
Listen to the words of an old and
venerable teacher in Israel: Hillel,
HE great, said, eff only look after
my own self, what am I?' Man is
more than a self sustaining machine
or a mere piece of egotisnn; he has to
bring many sacrifices for the welfare
of the whole. AS a follower Of the
Jewish faith he has to further and
promote all the congregational and
Benevolent ablishments; as a son of
his country he has to interest him
self with patriotic zeal in all poblic
and national institutions, and as a be-
ing connected with the large heart of
humanity, he has to extend his help
and sympathy wherever it lis wanted.
For what shall be our thanksgiv-
mge The skies have been favorable
unto our fields; filed to overhowing
with the blessings of acre and forest
garden and farm. The country has
greatly prospered during the past
year. In the main our farmers have
made good crops and received fair
prices for them. Manufacturers have
reasonably succeeded, labor received
a just reward for service. For all Of
these blessings we owe acknowledge
ment to the Lord. Things do no,
happen, but the hand Of God is in
every happiness that comes to the
people. Men who believe that their
hand alone was the instrument which
under shrewd control turned the brit
fle iron of untoward circumstances
unto the elastic steel Of assured fort
une, men who think that their own
brain flashes forth whatever thought is
theirs and that their own Imagination
is the architect of their higher world,
will not, cannot join in the chorus Of
gratitude; for where is he to whom or
fhat to which they should be declared
Indebted?
The old Bible already had the op-
portunity to brush against men Of this
disposition, for in Deuteronomy we