Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-29
RETELLS STORY OF
GENENDEL THE PIOUS
ELABORATE SERVICES HELD IN
TEMPLE
DR.. EdeIman Urges Hearers to Re-
member Lesson Taught by Ages.
Appeal Made for Russian
Refugees

At the Temple Birth an elaborate
Thanksgiving service was he'd at which
the principal address was delivered by
Dr. D. w. Edelman.
DR.. Edelman opened his address with a
narration of the story of Genendel the
rious by Martha Wolfenstein. He con-
tinued:
For your own sakes, ye people of the
earth, give thanks unto the Most High
at all times-lest ye forget. Lest ye for
get that all the saints and sages of the
world are thrust like foolish prophets
forth; their words to scorn are scattered
and their mouths are stopped with dust.
Yes we do remember that-at times of
sorrow. And then the cry comes up from
our hearts, oh God, why hast thou afflict-
ed us?' Is God the one who afflicts, and
is He not the one who rewards also? And
inasmuch as the finite mind of man can
no more grasp the infinite tnah can the
diligent ant understand why his hill is
crushed when the foot of man treads
thereon, so may 1t not be that our sor-
rows are blessings in disguise, our af-
flictions but test to prove the perfection
Of the soul?
"The growing pine, strong, sturdy, tall
and clean, In it's youth is withered by a
lightning blast. Has then its growth been
lOI Hdu6HIs COulcS llhS d
thunderbolt and a city is destroyed. Have
the people then wrought in vain? 1t is
not for man to complain-his it is to re-
member to be humble and to walk before
God. His it is not to forget in his pride
that he may be cast down; and that the
meek and lowly may be exalted.
For US Jews as Americans-citizens of
that nation which during almost three
hundred years has observed spasmodical-
L., &s.- o,~I..
Thanksgiving, it is but proper to recall
the benefcence of God and His loving
kindness toward the land in all that time.
There have been days of sorrow, trial,
tribu.ation, mourning and broken hearts
and fortunes, but the seven years of plen-
ty have always followed the period of de-
preston, the clouds have always given
way to sunshine; grim visaged war has
always been conquered by peace and her
rursuits-and the land today is more blest
than ever before.
For US as American Jews what bur-
dens of remembrance should load down
cur minds. Way back in the dim and
misty past of centuries gone what trials
were those of our people! And on and on
through century after century the same
story is written-is being written today in
other climes Yet in this land of
Heavens peculiar grace we dwell In
pedCe- IedCS, GOu given pedC0s lot WHICH
the Jew through ages has striven, peace
which is the burden of our daily prayer.
Let us as more enlightened beings
give thanks, then, not only because we
have been blessed; let us give thanks not
for the Almighty's sake, as the best we
can repay Him. but let us render praise
and thanksgiving-aye continually-for
our individual sakes, for the better recol-
lection of our own frailties and folies. our
own misdeeds and shortcomings and for
the publication of our souls. In times of
sorrow no less than in times of joy let us
remember to praise the Father in heaven
for his loving kindness endureth forever,
and in times of rejoicing let us not forget
to praise Him."
Following DR.. Edelman's address DR..
| Sigmund Hecht, rabbi of the temple, made
stirring appeal for the unfortunate peo-
pie who have little or no reason for
thankfulness. The speaker told of the two
shiploads of Russian Hebrew immigrants
who have recently landed in Galveston,
Tex, some OF whom have Joined the local
colony. DR.. Hecht spoke of these as help
less, but who are anxious to secure work
and become self supporting.
special musical program was rem
Gered by the temple quartet Mrs. Bessie
Ives Harrison sang as solo, II Will
Extol Thee and Robert Mcdonald
Granger gave bass solo. The service
closed with the congregational singing OF
America"