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The Southern Israelite Page n
The Sabbath
By BELLE A. LOWENSTEIN
ter our Father had carried out His
a of the creation, which the Bible
, us He accomplished in six days,
rested on the seventh day and sanc-
. tied it. Man, created in God’s image,
was, therefore, impelled to do like
wise, and cease from toil on the sev-
th day. Thus it came to be that the
ibbath was a golden link, uniting God
d His worshipers. Uniting them be-
t use when man’s mind was no longer
urdened with the cares of toil, his
houghts soared upward and assumed
i spiritual nature. In this way the dual
i.bject of rest and worship were united
u the Sabbath. Blessed, indeed, were
the progenitors of our race with the
Sabbath and under its beneficent rays
vere developed the most precious germs
of modern civilization.
This fact is best exemplified, if we
t ike a survey of the Sabbatical system
• the time of Moses, when the Sab
bath rest and observances were en
forced by civil authorities.
H< who disregarded its injunctions,
t only disobeyed God, but also de-
! his nation and outlawed himself
from citizenship.
I rotn the time of the na-
nal observance of the Sab-
ith, the Jew distinguished
-"self from all other men and
Minted himself to all of his own
'immunity. No other nation
•opt it No Jew kept it secretly,
one could fail by it to make
noun his race and faith, and
to discover his loyal fellows.
! bus was produced the first
mk of national brotherhood,
'ttch as the Hellenes felt when
t ic Olympiad celebration sum-
loned them to a common cen
ter.
1 he Sabbath was the only
ne °f Israel’s national cus-
ms that she could call her
wry own; all others had been
’' ired, together with her blood
oid language, with other tribes,
this time the Hebrews
an agricultural nation, and
" as * therefore, necessary
• during the other six days
" ,e week, the cultivators
>1' he scattered over their
Sometimes the women
™'d with them. If not, they
' busy with household work
endless spinning and weav-
• < ach in her own cottage.
v abbath brought leisure to
all. No fires were allowed
1 ooking; hence simple
°f fruit and bread re-
very little of the house-
’ime. Thus every facility
horded for social inter-
°f families and neigh-
>ath eve brought them to-
t° enjoy the social priv-
which the working
ld thus destitute. So
it was that that day of rest was the
background of universal genial socia
bility.
Even the slaves and servants could
be seen conversing in happy groups,
freed from all shackles of servitude on
that day, and here it is that Israel may
justly claim superiority over nations
which established monuments of art,
science, war, government, but which
must lay the word humanity, caused by
our Sabbath, at Israel’s feet.
The hunted plebeian, and tortured
helot knew no weekly haven of rest,
and to him, the first day was like unto
the seventh.
The efficacy of the Sabbath stopped
not here, but stretched the boon of rest
even to the “stranger within the
gates.”
To me, here lies the very foundation
of hospitality ami brotherly love. No
man could enjoy the Sabbath’s rest
without the same being enjoyed by the
sojourner in his gates. Yet another idea
gives a character to the day. The asso
ciation of the parents and the children,
and the tenderness of Jewish fathers in
contrast with the prevalent manners
of the heathen has often been com
mented on. All this grew out of their
religious training and piety.
Education of a religious nature was
fostered by the Sabbath for questions
of such a nature were inevitably sug
gested by the Sabbath and its reli
gious incidents.
But the most important of all, was
the convocation, when the Lcvitcs pre
sided, and the people became familiar
with the divine ways and attributes.
Thus as they repeated sentence after
sentence, was a thorough knowledge
gained by the elders which made them
capable of transmitting it to the
youngers.
Thus early and easily did the young
mind imbibe religious feeling and faith.
Everywhere on this day was felt
God's personal superintendence in the
social intercourse of this pastoral Sab
bath in the humanity and brotherhood,
and proudly did Israel’s banner wave
over the land of true observance of the
Sabbath.
This was the Sabbath to which our
grandmother referred, when she re
lated to us the joyous incidents con
nected with the Friday evening and
Saturday celebrations.
When she told us how each member
of the family gathered round the bright
Sabbath candles which shed a happy
beam upon each face and seemed to
welcome all beneath the cheerful light.
What a spirit of congeniality pervaded
this scene.
How thoroughly homelike was the
feeling everywhere. There in the large
easy chair we sec pictured to us the
father. In his lounging cap and gown
relating to his children some incident
or significant anecdote of the Bible or
impressing upon them the beauty and
holiness of our Sabbath.
At his side sits his good, industrious
wife, who has so bountifully prepared
for them substantial Friday evening
and Saturday noon meals, and who
looks forward to this day of all days
as one upon which she can truly rest
and hold communion with her Creator.
How beautiful the work of these
parents, who, while implanting seeds of
religious lore, can hope to pro
duce fruits of religious deeds.
Whereas, Friday evening was
considered the time for reunion
of families, the Sabbath was
likewise looked ofrward to as a
reunion of friends.
The synagogue, their happy
meeting place, brought them
into contact with each other
and was but the preliminary for
the day’s later exchange of
friendly visits.
Can we say the same in re
gard to our observance of the
Sabbath ever or day?
Formerly, it was considered
almost a sin to break from the
family circle on Sabbath eve;
now, social engagements are
made irrespective of this day;
in fact, it is considered by the
majority as differing in no re
spect from any other day, and
bringing with it the same pro
gram of duties and pleasures.
The domestic hearth is no
longer utilized as a means of
propagation of our glorious
faith. We no longer practice
any of the divine ceremonies
that keep intact the bright
treasures of our belief.
The child sees no bright can
dles of Friday night, with the
accompaniment of weekly eve
ning benediction of the loaf to
awaken her childish curiosity to
the significance of this observ
ance.
Her parents never impressed
their importance upon her mind
and her mother never questions
her about her progress in the
“Sabbath” as she does about the
public school or upon the
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