The San Francisco call., 1908-09-27
HONOR BESTOWED
ON RABBITS WIDOW
Temple Emanu.El Pays Tribute
to the Man Whose Life Was
One of Sacrifice
Big Crowds Attend the New
Year Services Held in ALI
SynagOgues

was marked yesterday by a most
graceful act in keeping with the spirit
c1 the day on the part of the con gre
cation OF Temple Emanu-El. when a
decision was reached unanimously to
express in substantial manner to Mrs.
Noorsanger the appreciation felt by
the membership of the long and faith
ful services OF her late husband, Rabbi
Jacob Noorsanger. Mrs. Voorsanger
VIII be the recipient OF an honorarium,
a part OF which will be devoted 10 the
education Of her son, Elkan, who is
studying in Cincinnati.
The courtesy was the subject OF con-
versation yesterday at the morning
service in the temple. The facts were
learned last evening at the home OF Z.
J. Stark, the cantor, who has been con-
ducting the affairs OF the synagogue
since the death OF DR.. Voorsanger.
For the space of % years from the
date OF his arrival IN California In 1886,
until his death April 81. DR.. Voorsanger
devoted his time and his talents TO
Temple EMANUEL. He received a gen.
erous compensation, but he devoted his
income 70 charity and the purposes of
the synagogue. There was no call to
which he did not respond and his purse
was always open TO the needy and the
deserving. He left a very small estate.
but the congregation. mindful of his
devotion. decided to honor his memory
by a thoughtful courtesy 10 his family.
The sacred songs that for untold CEN
turtles have ushered in the, new year
were sung yesterday by augmented
choirs in the synagogues OF the city.
The temples of worship were filed dur
ing the day and the sermons preached
by the rabbis recalled the holy teach
ings OF the leaders OF Israel. Lucius
L Solomon spoke at Temple Emanu
FL during the morning services. He
said in part:
TO be holy. TO be clean. to be tenn
perate and submissive to discipline un-
der laws operating upon all alike and
a ceremonialism practically universal
in its observance-all this demands no
great trial of human character or en-
durance. But to be called upon to yield
a proud advantage, TO submit TO a level
ing of the ranks. readjustment as 1t
were, OF the classes and the masses OF
the people; 10 invoke OF ones own ac-
cord the power which curbs the mighty
and exalts the law. no plan of civiliZa-
tion has ever offered q higher test Of
/ faith, OF courage, or spiritual disci-
pline.
1t is not. Of course, practical, nor
perhaps desirable. under present day
conditions TO enact the saerifcial role
demanded by this singular phase OF old
Jewish law But il is possible TO exem-
]
mankind the spirit OF eltruism which
inspired this noble text and which,
+ however disguised by worldly masks,
still dominates the pure religious faith
OF Israel, the beginning and the end
OF which is the service OF God in the
service of man.
TO render perfunctory prayers, TO
T observe the dietary and the sanitary
code or otherwise conform to ritualism
: Ora ri.
act Of charity without display, one act
OF real humanity devoid of self-con-
seiousness means more in the sight OF
God than the most rigid observances
practiced throughout a lifetime when
that lifetime is otherwise devoted TO
the demands of self.
We must regain that atmosphere OF
spirituality which breathed above our
tragic history like a benediction. We
must keep alive the soul of Judaism
for that alone can save us as ii alone
has saved US from extinction. And as
we press on to meet that glorious Sab
bath age OF light and love of which the
prophets dreamed. may there be ever
breathed into our consciousness that
divine covenant and command, Holy
shall We be. for 1 am holy, the Lord OF
your God
DISCUSSES MEANING OF LIFE
At the Bush street temple Rabbi Ber-
nsrd Kaplan discussed the meaning OF
life. He spoke in part as follows:
The Jewish people look upon life
not as a toy for amusement, but as the
means of developing the spiritua
nature. Life is not a gift, but a loan
What we acquire through life is ours
but life itself belongs to God, ths
source of all life. Life is like a Dor.
rowed book: the ideas we gain remain
with US. but the book must be returned
ITO spend time is but 10 waste time
To live means TO employ time for the
service of God and humanity Life i.
} but s school from which We must re
turn home some day. The idle and
pleasure loving youth is neither
scholar nor useful citizen. The pupil
to amount TO something, must use hi.
time wisely and earnestly"
At the new synagogue in Geary stree
near Fillmore Rabbi Levy spoke OF
the theme, The Life Worth Living" DR.
Nieto preached an interesting sermon
at Temple Israel. An interesting fea
, | ture of the ceremonies today Will b,
the sounding of the "shofar.'' or raml
/ horn.