Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-09-08
DIR. CAL|sCH EMPHASIZES
NECESSITY FOR SERVICE
Striking New Year Sermon Is De.
Hvered at Beth Ahabah
Temple.
PRINCIPLES DO NOT CHANGE
Abraham's Willingness to Sacrifice
Isaac Held Up us Example to Par
ents Of Present Day-Must Sacri-
fec Until II Hurts.


Observance Of the Jewish New Year
In Richmond was marked with a pecu-
liar solemnity this year. and the SER
vices at Temple Beth Ahabah ycster-
day were OF an unusually impressive
nature. A considerable part Of the
congregation was made up of members
Of the two branches of the service fur
Laughed from nearby camps.
Using as his text the story OF Abra-
hams unqucst!oning Willingness to
sacrifice his only son. Isaac. to the
glory OF his God DR.. Il. \. Calisch.
rabbi of Beth Ahabah. in his New Year
almost inspired call 10 Jew and non,
Jew alike to serve ana aaf 6nYe I been
achieved for allied arms
Below Will be found DR.. Callsch's
sssFmon: entitled Soldiers of the
Cod Will provide lamb for Him.
servant, whom 1 have chosen" Isaiah
Dr. Calisch said
1t would be trite to say that this
New Years Day comes to US with Il
Significance more profound than any in
our h'9ry Its ss ss sHn l9pKs
sounds through the length and breadth
OF both hemisphercs; Its rifle notes
world. and. almost literally. causes
every house to tremblc and every home
70 be alarmed II is The The SECOND con Rosh
America within the compass OF the
conflict. 1t is our prayer that 1t may
be the last. and that when we again
judgment and remembrance II VIII be
with world al peace, It's armies dis
armed and demobilized. its swords
beaten into pillow shares. its cannon con-
verified into implernen;s Of happy indus
senGers OF commerce. when In truth
the Judgment OF God and of man shall
have been visited upon the naddened
authors OF this wocful calamity and
the remembrance OF their wickcdncss
with it's dire and deserved punishment
shall remain warning for the gen
crations to come.
ANNIVERSARY REMINDS Us
OF THINGS THAT DO NOT CHANGE
Amidst all the changes that have
come TO US in the course Of the circling
centuries. and the tremendous trans
has brought. this New Years Day, with
It's traditional observance and it's age
crowned ritual. serves 10 remind us OF
permanent. abiding and immutable
worid-that moves year after year and
pointed way. untouched by the progress
OF the years-unInoved by tho mighty
fairs of men. This is the world OF the
spirit, the Kingdom of the moral law.
the realm of the word of God
the flower tadeth. but the word OF our
God shall stand forever So to-day
We turn to this word for our guidance
and strength for our compass TO guide
US on the Journey OF the coming year
over the ocean OF time-our anchor
when the storms and temnests shall
The portion for this days reading is
The ever-fa'niliar story. OF tho binding
lar passage that have chosen for our
i Lesson today Is the eighth verse.
an, Offering Of his only child. his Well
beloved and la,er-beGotten Isaac.
Without murrur he had proceeded TO
and with Isaac was on his way 10 the
appointed place. The lad. Isaac despite
process Of sacrifice. and as they neared
the spot he remarked 10 his father,
Here are the FIRE and the wood. hut
where is the lamb for the oncrine?"
And in the steadfastness of his faith
Abraham replied, God will provide n
lamb, for Himself, my SON." What a
sublime faith and resignation is In tina,
sns%er. Called upon to make the
nnhesitatingly. And when in his
childish ignorance the lad Isaac thrusts
the knife OF his innocent questioning
into the fathers heart. with what depth
Of heroic faith does Abraham reply,
-God will provide the lamb for Him
nAhE
SACRIFICE OF HIS OWN son
1t was not the will OF God that
Abraham should make this sacrifice.
He did provide an offering for Himself.
and Isaac was spared. But the readi-
been the victim. The full credit Of it
Of the spr Of rs n this ey
spirit Of sacri1ee that has ennobied
lamp of faith in every generation and
among every people,; that has built it's
temples. reared its affairs and provided
its offerings. The spirit of sacrifice is
the essence of religion. j, is the shin
ing ,, sun in the heaven OF mankind
and dreary world. without light, with
out beauty. without love. without
friendship, without God.
] will not undertake TO say that this
spirit of sacrifice has been greater
among the Jews than among other peo-
Piles. But will say that the Jews
have had perhaps greater opportunity
than any other people for its exercise.
From the hour that Abraham gave
once most tender and most indomitable.
within his breast. through practically
people been called upon to make sacri
fee, and in the majority OF instances
have they responded as nobly. Be
occupied among peoples, because they
have stood apart, there have come TO
them hardships and sufferings and
martyrdoms unparalleled--which they
could have escaped had they been
traitors to their trust But they have
not been traitors. In every land. under
every government. during every gen
Grafton. they have been called upon
again and again to give up their dear
est. They have been the Offering upon
thousands of affairs. the victims OF
myriads Of autos da fe, inquisitions
and peculiar prosecutions. the heroic
soldiers fallen upon tens OF thousands
OF battle fields DER the continents Of
the earth and OF the isles OF the seas.
And II we question why has this been
so-why have they been set apart and
dinerentiated--t feel hope-that
every Jew. no matter what his station
in life. may be able to give answer
We find it's briefest and noblest ex-
preston in the familiar phrase, "a
kingdom Of priests and holy people,"
and again in the words of Isaiah aye
are My witnesses. saith God, and NV
servant whom have chosen" To be
priests means to serve. To be wit