New-York tribune., 1912-04-29
SOB ALOUD At SERVICE
Hundreds Honor Memory OF Mr..
and Mrs. lsidor Straus.
THEIR BRAVERY EUL0GIzE0
Speaker Says Lesson of Brother
hood Of All Mankind Was En-
phasized by Disaster.

Long before the appointed hour hundreds
of me,i and women gathered in front OF
the synagogue OF Ohsb Zedek in West
iIsth street. last night 10 get inside and
hear the memorial service for Mr.. and Mrs.
Isidor Straus and the other victims or the
Titanic disaster. SO many white cards
with deep mourning had been issued TO tho
congregations OF Kehilath Jeshuran and
Zichron Ephrain, which worship there.
that the police were unable 10 let them all
I'm. BY the time the Rev DR.. Bernard
Drachman had opened the service more
than twelve hundred persons were packed
into the edifice.
After special prayer menorializing the
.hero,sr,. md nobility Of soul OF brave and
ioval Who took pity upon weak and
helpless women and children" Rabbi ka'
newsky the cantor and his choir ehented
the erst Psalm. in the front seats OF the
synagogue reserved for Invited guests sa.
John F. Finley. president OF the city Col
lege: Jacob H. Schiff. Sheriff Julius Har-
burger. Rabbi NJ. u. Margolies, ID p HAYS
the Rev. Dr. De q. Pool the Rev. DR.. Phihp
Klein, rabbi emeritus Of Ohab zedek; Jonas
Well and members of the committee
Mr.. HAYS was the first speaker lie
stood behind the readers desk, over wnlch
large American flag, incsseo in a shroun
or mourning. had been stretched husn
fell. upon the dense audience as the speaker
began 10 touch upon the lesson OF inc
brotherhood of all mankind which, ne saiu'
the Titanic disaster had brought TO the
world BY the tine he had reached the
scenes enacted on the deck OF the doomed
Titanic most of the women In the galleries
were weeping, and dry eyes were nara 10
find among the hundreds OF men below.
When Mr.. Hays spoke OF the devotion OF
Mrs. Straus. and likened her to Ruth ana
Hannah and Deborah. or Miriam at the
Red Sea- fresh Manifestations OF grief
seized the audience and many women
sobbed aloud
Israel lost q great and good man in the
death of Is,dor Straus," said Mr.. Hays.
"He was @ great man. not because he was
successful, not because he gave freely OF
his wealth. Those were only elements or
his greatness We revere him because he
gave personal service for mankind. and
what greater gift can man give than to
give himself for his fellows? He loved his
fellow men. and when he stood upon the
deck Of that sinking ship he uttered
prayer. Knowing Isdor Straus as l did.
believe that II will be written az him IN
the book OF life He loved his fellow man.
"And what shall | say Of that noble
woman, his helpmate and partner IN HE,
whose conduct and words strike the chords
of nobility in every man ana woman. re-
gardIess Of race. creed or nationality-Mrs.
Straus, the Jewish mother In Israel. who
had time TO live yet a little longer? She
wrapped her shawl about the shoulders OF
her maid and gently pushed her 10 the side
OF the waiting lifeboat. Then We see her
actually stepping into boat herself. but
when she looked up and saw the face of
her husband, who refused 10 Join her while
there were yet women and children to save.
she stepped out again. put her arms about
her husband and said: We have been to-
gether so many years! We will not leave
each other now. Where you go ! will 60
And she did go with him into eternity"
The speakers recitation of Longfellow's
lines There rs no death; what seems so In
transition" etc. was affecting. lie ended
by exhortlng the Jews 20 abide In the faith
OF Israel and 10 derive their inspiration
from the heroes OF their glorious history.
Let not material success which comes To
YOU and your children In this great. freo
country. which we can call ours. rob you or
those virtues of the Jews OF old. Hold on
to the Jewish home and keep the faith III
God. Take not away from yourselves those
foundations which have made the history
of our race n glorious onel' he said.
Rabbi Margolies spoke for half an hour
and made references of the love that Mr
and Mrs. Straus bore for each other TO incl
dents IN the Talrud. He spoke In Hebrew
other addresses were by Rabbi Pool, Rspoi
Klein and Rabbi Drachman.