Los Angeles herald., 1906-02-07

Los ANGELES, Feb. 6.-Edltor
Herald; A few days ago / was asked
by one of the most able contributors
to your valuable paper, Major -. G. IT,
which of the three applications given
TO our people, Hebrew, Israelite or
Jew, Is the most correct or acceptable
to us In books, periodicals. and daily
papers, in public meetings and private
conversations, these words are used
either indiscriminately or with an APP
parent doubt as to whether or not one
or the other would be preferable. 1
will therefore kindly ask for some
space in your valuable paper to graf
ify his desire, and perhaps. also, the
Wish of many other of your readers.
To begin with, permit me to say
that in order to form a correct opin-
ion upon this subject 1t would appear
necessary to have some knowledge of
the origin, primitive significance and
former usage of these terms.
The first of these names by which
we are known is that of Hebrew"
This word is often used in writing and
In conversation In our sacred tongue
the word Hebrew is "Ibri." no doubt
derived from the root "Ubar" to pass
over, whence the words "Ibriyim," or
those who came from over the Eu
pirates to enter Palestine; and hence,
also abraham, the Hebrew" who
was so called because he came from
Mesopotamia; or perhaps. because of
his descent from "Eber," the son of
"Shem." The letter II is not in the
original, which Is only "Ibri," and
would require it to be written "Ebrew.
Separating from his relatives, who
were idolaters. Abraham passed over
from Mesopotamia (Aram Nahraim)
to Canaan or Palestine, where he lived
he g. 1N.,s4, .saI, f,,
herds, flocks and attendants, and wor-
Shipping the Creator of heaven and
earth" to whose service, Ito walk be-
fore him and to be innocent" he bound
himself and his household, in after
life, by the covenant of circumcision
Our patriarchs, in particular, and
also our fathers in more recent ages
called themselves Hebrews, name
which was also applied to them by
those nations with whom they were
brought in contact. Thus we read,
when Joseph told his story to the cup
butler in the prison, he said that he
had been stolen from the land of the
Hebrews" We also read that Miriam
put Moses into an ark of bulrushes
and placed it amidst the flags by the
brink of the river. And when the
daughter of Pharaoh found the ark
and beheld therein the crying child
she said: This is one of the Hebrews
Children" When in after years this
very Moses with his brother Aaron
came before Pharaoh for the first time
and requested him. in the name of
God, TO release our nation from bond
age, they introduced themselves to
him by saying, THE God of the He
brews has sent us to you" In short,
in all our relations with people who
are not of our faith, the word He
brew is used. Thus the prophet
Jonah, in revealing his identity to the
heathenish sailors, says: "Ibri Ano-
che" Il am a Hebrew. and the Lord
God of heaven and earth 1 fear
The second name by which we are
known is that of "Israelite." 1t orig
mated on that eventful night when
Jacob wrestled alone in his tent with
a mysterious being who, not being
able to overcome him, when the morn
ing broke, requested to be allowed TO
depart, and was granted his request
on condition that he should bless him
before he went. Then that being said
to Jacob: Your name shall not be
any more Jacob. but Israel, for thou
hast striven with God and man and |
hast prevailed" The word Israel" |
(Hebrew, "YisraelO means Sar FL, |
Prince of God" Therefore Israel" |
is our historical name-a name which |
bears upon it the stamp of peculiar |
mission upon earth, which is to prop |
agate the belief in Gods unity through |
out the whole world and to preach it !
to all mankind. This great mission |
so great and noble, so lofty and ele- |
waiting in it's influence upon our char
acter, imposes upon us many sacrifices
and many hardships for the sake of
our blessed sacred religion.
1t is said of our patriarch Jacob that
on the morning after the struggle as
he passed over Penuel at early dawn, |
his thigh was famed and he was COM
PEELED to limp. This incidental narra-
tive forecasts, as it We're, our progress
history. When we think of
the numerous onslaughts and attacks. !
the animosities and prosecutions, which |
we have had to endure on account |
of our religion throughout the course !