IV
⭘ Philo: C. G. Montefiore, ‘Florilegium Philonis’, in J. Q. R. vii (1895) is a good introduction to the Moses Mendelssohn of Hellenistic Judaism.
⭘ Abrahams: Authorized Prayer Book, Annotated Edition, p. viii.
⭘ Both Mrs. Lucas in The Jewish Year, and Mr. Zangwill in The Service of the Synagogue (Routledge) have produced versions of Adon Olam. The following is by George Borrow in The Bible in Spain:—
Reigned the Universe’s Master,
ere were earthly things begun;
When His mandate all created,
Ruler was the name he won;
And alone He’ll rule tremendous
when all things are past and gone,
He no equal has, nor consort,
He, the singular and lone,
Has no end and no beginning;
His the sceptre, might, and throne.
He’s my God and living Saviour,
rock to whom in need I run;
He’s my banner and my refuge,
fount of weal when call’d upon;
In His hand I place my spirit,
at nightfall and at rise of sun,
And therewith my body also;
God’s my God—I fear no one.
⭘ From the first Jewish Hymn Book in America—a free rendering.
⭘ The Menorah Journal, vol. ii, 1916. ‘A Plea for Orthodoxy.’
⭘ Hertz: Inaugural Sermon, Congregation Orach Chayim, New York, 1912.
⭘ Abrahams: ‘Judaism and Spiritism’, in Jewish Guardian, October 1, 1919.
⭘ In Philipson, Old European Jewries, J. P. S.
⭘ Jacobs: Jewish Ideals. ‘And what great bliss and happiness did the Sabbath bring to the family life. When Friday evening came and the Sabbath lamps were lighted and our fathers sang their Sabbath hymns, they forgot, once in each week, all the sorrows and cares of everyday life, and all the affronts and insults which, without pity and without mercy, were heaped upon them, and at last on the Sabbath they felt released in body and soul from all troubles and burdens.’ (B. Felsenthal.)
A SABBATH TABLE-SONG.
Treasure of heart for the broken people,
Gift of new soul for the souls distrest,
Soother of sighs for the prisoned spirit—
The Sabbath of rest.
This day is for Israel light and rejoicing,
A Sabbath of rest.
When the work of the worlds in their wonder was finished,
Thou madest this day to be holy and blest,
And those heavy-laden find safety and stillness,
A Sabbath of rest.
This day is for Israel light and rejoicing,
A Sabbath of rest.
ISAAC LURIA, 1560.
(Trans. Nina Salaman.)
⭘ Songs of a Wanderer.
⭘ See Authorized Prayer Book, Annotated Edition, pp. cxlix and cclix.
⭘ Also in Songs of a Wanderer.
⭘ The Ideal in Judaism, 1893.
⭘ Hertz: Passover as Israel’s birthday. ‘A people who, though they never founded a great empire nor built a great metropolis, have exercised upon a large portion of mankind an influence, wide-spread, potent and continuous; a people who have for nearly two thousand years been without country or organized nationality yet have preserved their identity and faith through all vicissitudes of time and fortune; who have been overthrown, crushed, scattered; who have been ground, as it were, to very dust, and flung to the four winds of heaven; yet who, though thrones have fallen, and empires have perished, and creeds have changed, and living tongues have become dead, still exist with a vitality seemingly unimpaired; a people who unite the strangest contradictions; whose annals now blaze with glory, now sound the depths of shame and woe—the advent of such a people marks an epoch in the history of the world.’ (Henry George.)
⭘ Akdomus: Translation of a thought at the beginning of Akdomus, the Aramaic hymn that precedes the Reading of the Law on Pentecost. I have not been able to discover the name of the translator.
⭘ Rosenfeld: From a forthcoming book of poems, Songs of a Pilgrim (Jewish Forum Publishing Co., New York). He is known to the non-Jewish world by his Songs from the Ghetto—powerful descriptions of the New York sweatshop inferno. This volume has been translated into most Western languages. ‘It was left for a Russian Jew at the end of the nineteenth century to see and paint hell in colours not attempted by anyone since the days of Dante... the hell he has not only visited, but that he has lived through.’ (Wiener.)
⭘ The Sinaist, 1, 2. ‘The Torah—our Greatest Benefactor.’
TEPHILLIN
Erect he stands, in fervent prayer,
His body cloaked in silken Tallis;
He seems a king, so free from care,
His wife a queen, his home a palace.
These bands he wears and softly prays,
Devoting strength and mind to God;
His body slowly, gently sways—
He walks the ground his fathers trod.
This daily commune with the Master
Lifts him above mere common clay;
The Jewish heart, like alabaster,
Grows pure and purer every day.
(Aaron Schaffer in Standard
Book of Jewish Verses,
New York, Dodd, Mead & Co.)
⭘ Sun and Shield—a book of devout thoughts for everyday use. Bloch Publishing Co., New York.
⭘ The Occident, vol. 12. It is a pity that no selection of S. R. Hirsch’s Essays has as yet appeared in English.
⭘ Sermons, i. ‘Faith’, the last sermon preached by him. The Jewish idea of faith is that of fidelity, absolute loyalty to God. ‘Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him.’
⭘ Young Sorley, writing a few days before he fell in battle, says: ‘Real faith is not that which says “we must win for our cause is just”; but that which says “our cause is just; therefore we can disregard defeat”. All outlooks are at present material, and the unseen value of justice as justice, independent entirely of results, is forgotten. It is looked upon merely as an agent for winning battles.’ (Letters of Charles Sorley, 1919.)
⭘ Halevi’s Ode to Zion is one of the noblest religious poems in the literature of the World:—
Pure and faithful, ever spotless,
Was his song, even as his soul was;
Soul, that when the Maker fashioned,
With His handiwork delighted.
Straight He kissed the beauteous spirit;
And that kiss of grace, re-echoing,
Fills with music all his singing,
Whom it consecrated—poet. (Heine.)
⭘ For Israel Baalshem, See Schechter, Studies, i. ‘The Chassidim.’
⭘ Joseph: The Message of Judaism.
⭘ Songs of Zion. An excellent translation of a poem of great mystic beauty.
⭘ This hymn forms part of the New Year Morning Service.
⭘ Stories and Pictures. Peretz inimitably succeeds in revealing the whole inner world of Chassidic life. The Rebbe referred to is Nathan ben Naphtali Hertz, a disciple of Nahman of Bratzlav. The story is also related of R. Moses Sassow.
⭘ From a Sermon preached at Capetown to a Congregation of Refugees from the Transvaal during the Boer War.
⭘ Service of the Synagogue, Eve of the Day of Atonement. Only the last portion of this alphabetic acrostic is given here.
⭘ From The Royal Crown, Gabirol’s best known and most important composition, containing his thoughts on religion and philosophy, and expressing all his ardent love of God. In many congregations, this poem is recited at the conclusion of the Eve of Atonement (Kol Nidra) Service.
⭘ Abodath Yisrael, by Szold and Jastrow, Philadelphia, 1873.
⭘ Poems of Emma Lazarus, vol. ii.
⭘ This hymn introduces the concluding service on the Day of Atonement in the Sephardi Liturgy.
⭘ Cusari, ii, 50. The translation is from Gottheil, Sun and Shield.
⭘ Joseph: Judaism as Life and Creed.
⭘ Disraeli: Tancred.
⭘ Aspects of Judaism, p. 109.
⭘ J. Q. R., 1903. For the Yiddish original, See Wiener, History, p. 272.
⭘ The Menorah—the more correct title would be ‘The Chanukah Lamp’.
⭘ In England every morning service closes with this hymn being recited before the open Ark.