Chapter IV: The Moral

THE study of the history of Europe during the past centuries teaches us one uniform lesson: _That the nations which have received and in any way dealt fairly and mercifully with the Jew have prospered; and that the nations that have tortured and oppressed him have written out their own curse_.

OLIVE SCHREINER, 1906.

THE BLOOD LIBEL
BRITISH PROTEST, 1912

WE desire to associate ourselves with the protests signed in Russia, France, and Germany by leading Christian Theologians, Men of Letters, Scientists, Politicians, and others against the attempt made in the City of Kieff to revive the hideous charge of Ritual Murder――known as the ‘Blood Accusation’――against Judaism and the Jewish People.

The question is one of humanity, civilization, and truth. The ‘blood accusation’ is a relic of the days of witchcraft and ‘black magic’, a cruel and utterly baseless libel on Judaism, an insult to Western culture, and a dishonour to the Churches in whose name it has been falsely formulated by ignorant fanatics. Religious minorities other than the Jews, such as the early Christians, the Quakers, and Christian Missionaries in China, have been victimized by it. It has been denounced by the best men of all ages and creeds. The Popes, the founders of the Reformation, the Khalif of Islam, statesmen of every country, together with all the great seats of learning in Europe, have publicly repudiated it.

_Signed by_:――

_The_ ARCHBISHOPS _of_ CANTERBURY, YORK, ARMAGH; _the_ CARDINAL
ARCHBISHOP _of_ WESTMINSTER, _and the_ HEADS _of all other_
CHRISTIAN DENOMINATIONS.

_The_ BISHOPS _of_ LONDON, OXFORD, WORCESTER, WINCHESTER, BIRMINGHAM,
GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, MANCHESTER, _&c._; _the_ DEANS _of_
WESTMINSTER, CANTERBURY, NORWICH, RIPON, _&c._

_The_ DUKES _of_ NORFOLK _and_ NORTHUMBERLAND, _and the_ EARLS _of_
ROSEBERY, SELBORNE, _and_ CROMER; LORDS MILNER _and_ RAYLEIGH;
A. J. BALFOUR, SIR EDWARD CARSON, GEN. N. G. LYTTELTON, _&c._

FREDERIC HARRISON, A. V. DICEY, SIR WILLIAM OSLER, SIR FRANCIS
DARWIN, SIR WILLIAM RAMSAY; JAMES A. H. MURRAY, NORMAN LOCKYER,
J. G. FRAZER, _&c._

SIR OLIVER LODGE, _the_ PRINCIPALS _of eleven_ OXFORD COLLEGES;
_the_ MASTERS _of seven_ CAMBRIDGE COLLEGES, S. R. DRIVER,
F. C. BURKITT, A. E. COWLEY, W. SANDAY, H. B. SWETE, ESTLIN
CARPENTER, A. E. GARVIE, A. C. HEADLAM, KIRSOPP LAKE, _&c._

JUSTICES EVE, WARRINGTON, _and_ VAUGHAN WILLIAMS.

A. C. DOYLE, THOS. HARDY, ANTHONY HOPE, A. QUILLER-COUCH, G. B. SHAW,
H. G. WELLS, _&c._

_The_ EDITORS _of the_ _Edinburgh_, _Quarterly_, _Fortnightly_,
_Hibbert_, _Quest_, _Spectator_, _Nation_, _Daily Telegraph_,
_Manchester Guardian_, _Daily Chronicle_, _Daily News_, _Pall
Mall Gazette_, _&c., &c._

JEWISH NATIONALISM

WHEN it is rational to say, ‘I know not my father or my mother, let my children be aliens to me that no prayer of mine may touch them’, then it will be rational for the Jew to say, ‘I will not cherish the prophetic consciousness of our nationality――let the Hebrew cease to be, and let all his memorials be antiquarian trifles, dead as the wall paintings of a conjectured race’.

The divine principle of our race is action, choice, resolved memory. Let us help to will our own better future and the better future of the world――not renounce our higher gift and say, ‘Let us be as if we were not among the populations’; but choose our full heritage, claim the brotherhood of our nation, and carry into it a new brotherhood with the nations of the Gentiles. The vision is there; it will be fulfilled.

GEORGE ELIOT, 1876,
_in ‘Daniel Deronda’_.

* * * * *

No British Jew would be less British because he looked upon the cradle of his race with pride, and at the religious centre of his faith with happiness and reverence.

SIR MARK SYKES, 1918.

A JEWISH NATIONAL HOME[61]

FOREIGN OFFICE,
_November 2, 1917_.

DEAR LORD ROTHSCHILD,

I have much pleasure in conveying to you, on behalf of His Majesty’s Government, the following declaration of sympathy with Jewish Zionist aspirations which has been submitted to, and approved by, the Cabinet:――

‘His Majesty’s Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.’

Yours sincerely,

ARTHUR JAMES BALFOUR.

ISRAEL’S PRESERVATION

THE destruction of the Holy City, the ruin of the House of God, the dispersion of the Chosen People into all the kingdoms of the earth, and their continued existence as a nation, notwithstanding every attempt to exterminate them or to compel them to forsake those ordinances which distinguish them to this very day from all other nations, is emphatically one of the strongest evidences we can have of the truth of the Bible. Jerusalem was indeed once a great city, and the Temple magnifical; but the Jews themselves were greater than either; hence, while the two former have been given over to spoliation, the latter have been wonderfully, miraculously preserved. The annals of the world do not contain anything so remarkable in human experience, so greatly surpassing human power and human prescience. Exiled and dispersed, reviled and persecuted, oppressed and suffering, often denied the commonest rights of humanity, and still more often made the victim of ruthless fanaticism and bigoted prejudice, the Jews are divinely preserved for a purpose worthy of a God!

ST. JEROME, 4th cent.

ISRAEL AND THE NATIONS[62]

THE Jew has made a marvellous fight in this world, in all the ages; and has done it with his hands tied behind him. The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendour, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind.

MARK TWAIN, 1898.

IV

THE VOICE OF PRAYER

(THE JEWISH YEAR)

_HOW precious is Thy loving-kindness, O God, and the children of men take refuge under the shadow of Thy wings. For with Thee is the fountain of life; in Thy light do we see light._

PSALM 36. 8, 10.

ON PRAYER AND PRAISE

THERE is an old story, invented by the sages and handed down by memory from age to age. They say, when God had finished the world, He asked one of the angels if aught were wanting on land or on sea, in air or in heaven. The angel answered that all was perfect; one thing only he desired――speech, to praise God’s works, or recount them, which would be their praise. And the Father approved the angel’s words, and not long afterwards appeared the race, gifted with the muses and with song. This is the ancient story, and in consonance with its spirit I say: ‘It is God’s peculiar work to benefit, and His creatures’ work to give Him thanks’.

PHILO JUDAEUS, 1st cent.

* * * * *

THERE are halls in the heavens above that open but to the voice of song.

ZOHAR.

ON MORNING SERVICE

LET man strengthen himself like a lion and arise in the early morn to render service to his Creator; as David said, ‘I will awake the dawn’ (Psalm 57. 9).

COMMENTARY: _Strengthen himself._――The root-idea of such strengthening is to prepare himself to resist temptations and evil desires which during this day may assail him: as it is said, ‘Who is strong? He that subdues his passions.’ _Like a lion._――As a lion is the most fearless of animals, so shall he likewise, in the performance of his duties, fear nothing, but rely firmly on his God.

GLOSS: ‘I have set the Lord always before me’ (Psalm 16. 8): This is a leading principle in Religion, and in the upward strivings of the righteous who walk ever in the presence of God. For a man’s mode of life, his demeanour and his deeds, his speech and his movements, when alone in the house or in the intimate circle of his family and friends, are unlike those which he would exhibit when in the presence of a great king. And how much more considered will his demeanour be, if he reflect that there stands over him the King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, whose glory fills the whole earth, watching his conduct and surveying his deeds; even as it is written: ‘Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him?’ saith the Lord (Jeremiah 23. 24). Such contemplation must perforce imbue him with a true sense of reverence and humility, prompted by a feeling of unworthiness, before the Holy Name; and he will be heedless of whoever may mock at him because of his devotions.

SHULCHAN ARUCH, 1, § 1.
(_Trans. A. Feldman._)

שַׁחַר אֲבַקֶּשְׁךָ

AT THE DAWN I SEEK THEE

AT the dawn I seek Thee,
Refuge, Rock sublime;
Set my prayer before Thee in the morning,
And my prayer at eventime.

I before Thy greatness
Stand and am afraid:
All my secret thoughts Thine eye beholdeth
Deep within my bosom laid.

And, withal, what is it
Heart and tongue can do?
What is this my strength, and what is even
This, the spirit in me, too?

But, indeed, man’s singing
May seem good to Thee;
So I praise Thee, singing, while there dwelleth
Yet the breath of God in me.

SOLOMON IBN GABIROL, 1050.
(_Trans. Nina Salaman._)

MORNING PRAYERS

MAY it be Thy will, O God, that I walk in Thy law, and cleave to Thy commandments. Lead me not into sin or temptation or contempt. Let not evil desire rule over me. Bend my will to Thine. Keep me from sinful men and worthless companions. Help me to cling to the good, and give me grace in Thy sight and in the sight of those about me. Amen.

DAILY PRAYER BOOK.

* * * * *

O GOD, I stand before Thee, knowing all my deficiencies, and overwhelmed by Thy greatness and majesty. But Thou hast commanded me to pray to Thee, and hast suffered me to offer homage to Thine exalted Name according to the measure of my knowledge, and to lay my supplication before Thee. Thou knowest best what is for my good. If I recite my wants, it is not to remind Thee of them, but only so that I may understand better how great is my dependence upon Thee. If, then, I ask Thee for the things that make not for my well-being, it is because I am ignorant; Thy choice is better than mine, and I submit myself to Thine unalterable decrees and Thy supreme direction. ‘O Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too wonderful for me. Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a child with his mother, my soul is with me like a weaned child’ (Psalm 131).

BACHYA IBN PAKUDAH, 1040.

ADON OLAM[63]

I

THE charm of the Adon Olam consists in the subtle manner in which Jewish dogmatics are associated with the simplest spiritual thoughts. In the first four lines we have a picture of God, the eternal Lord, existing before the creation of the world, existing still when the world shall cease to be. Between the eternal past and the eternal future comes the world of time. This is purely Jewish dogmatics. Aristotle held that the world was eternal; Judaism, that it was created. It is God alone who is eternal. Further, Judaism conceives of God as Something apart from, outside of, His world. He transcends man and the universe. Yet God is also immanent; He dwells within the human soul as well as within the world. God is not one with man, but akin to man; He is high above the world, yet nigh unto them that call upon Him. The God who exists for ever is proclaimed King when men acknowledge His Kingship and show Him the allegiance of worship and obedience. The God who stands high above creation is the One into whose hand man commits himself without fear. The Majestic King is also the Redeemer. The transcendent God is a Refuge in man’s distress. He does not merely raise a banner, He is the Banner; He does not only hold out the cup of salvation, He is the consummate Cup.