|
by Isaac Leeser
ללמוד
וללמד לשמור
ולעשות
"To learn and to teach, to observe and to do."
The learned reader, unacquainted with our ritual, will
seek in vain for our motto in the tomes where philosophy has heaped up
her stores, where astronomy has recorded her discoveries, and where the
brilliant achievements of modern times in the arts and sciences are
chronicled. In none of these will it be found, nor in the writings of
poets and romancers; but in a part of the daily morning service which
each Israelite should rehearse every day as a portion of his service of
the great, adorable, and fearful Name, by whose power our people were
called to the knowledge of true religion. And in choosing these words as
the standard of our periodical, we at once meant to convey our object in
taking up the character of a public teacher, by becoming the editor of a
religious periodical.
No one need tell us that we have much to learn in the
very things where many might expect us to be better informed than we
are. It would have been to no purpose that we have mingled with the
world, with all classes almost of society, not to find constantly that
our knowledge was extremely deficient; and not rarely have we felt
abashed at being compelled to receive instruction from one whom we
expected to address as an equal; and even now we are learning whilst
endeavouring to instruct; the very method which we have adopted to
appear in before the public, compels us to search in order that we may
find, and to be able to give to others the fruits of our experience. And
a noble field is the study of Israel's faith; it embraces not only all
the facts of revelation, all the doctrines which the Bible teaches, but
it takes a wider range; for to understand properly the religion we have
received, one must enter the field of inquiry by a study of all
accessible sciences, and derive from their light means of illustrating
his belief. Thus the history of the world becomes an auxiliary to the
biblical student; mathematics, natural history, the philosophy of the
human mind, researches into antiquity, the structure of languages, all
will serve to help him in expounding the word of God. No one therefore
need aver that he has not to learn much, were his life to be prolonged
to a high old age, in order to do justice to the religion he professes.
Some have imagined that the pursuit of science is inimical to religion.
This is certainly true when a man rises from his secular studies with a
soul of pride and a heart of presumption; for he slays the voice of
conscience, and sets himself up as an arbitrator of God's holy
revelation, of truths too profound for human intellect ever to fathom
their depth and force. But if humility guides the inquirer, if he is
willing to be taught by the heavenly light which mankind have received
from God: the pursuit of science will be the best promoter of piety, and
will induce him to mistrust his own judgment, seeing how vast an amount
of facts, how many ideas which one and the other have acquired before
him, must remain unknown to him; how then should he dare to venture
rashly into the word of God and the received manner of interpreting the
same, and endeavour, wise in his own conceit, to ridicule the latter,
and try to reason away the former, by assigning motives for their
institution which the divine Mind never entertained?
As a learned then do we wish to be viewed, as a person
amply acquainted with his deficiencies, which he neither wishes to
conceal nor feels ashamed of avowing. Errors may creep in, nay, we are
sure will creep in; but we beg to assure all our readers, that we will
not intentionally give currency to any thing which could induce any one
to depart from the rigour of the law; and if we should err, we beg all
who are friendly disposed towards us and our undertaking to point out in
a mild manner the mistake we have been guilty of, and we will correct it
if possible, so as to prevent any evil to result therefrom.
Whilst learning, however, we trust to be able to impart
our experience to our religious associates; and though we may not be
able to teach them any new facts, or to bring before them any ideas they
have not had before: still we hope to induce them to think on religion,
and be Israelites in spirit and in deed, equally removed from a mere
ceremonial life where the soul remains dead to aught except outward
acts, and from that lately too prevalent state of fearful unbelief where
a disregard of the truths of religion is looked upon as a mark of
wisdom. Woeful delusion! which has carried away so many of our brethren
into the arms of open infidelity, and has caused others, for the sake of
paltry gain or worldly distinction, to forswear the faith of their
fathers.
It is in truth the duty of Israel to watch carefully the
sacred fire, to heap daily fuel on the altar of burnt-offerings. We, the
sons of Jacob, have been appointed the guardians of the sacred fire, and
we would be derelict in our duty were we to let its brilliancy be dimmed
through carelessness or neglect. Would to God, that many Israelites
might be induced to devote themselves to this holy watching; it is not
indeed a calling which brings gain, or renown, or peace with the world;
nevertheless, it is well worthy of an elevated spirit that can soar
above the annoyances of an every-day existence and keep communion with
the mighty ones of old who valued nothing that had not God for its
object, who lived only to deserve his blessing, to spread his fear among
the children of men. Such were Abraham, Moses, and Hezekiah, such were
many others of Israel; and let us hope that many such may yet arise to
preserve that which these fathers of our race have laboured to establish
and maintain in undying youthfulness.
To observe and to do all the precepts of the law, which
come within our range, is easy enough, when we are correctly instructed,
when we correctly think. To believe alone is not the province of the
Jewish religion, to act also is its demand. Let us then not deny
ourselves the aspiration, that with increase of light an increase of
righteousness may likewise prevail, and that the name of the Lord may be
glorified in the hearts and through the mouths of millions, who are now
strangers to his service.
Could our humble efforts at all contribute to this
blessed result, we shall be amply remunerated for our labour. We do not
mean to make any professions which the men of the world, who do not feel
as we do, might suppose to be merely so many oratorical phrases written
down for effect. But this much they will doubtlessly believe us, that we
deeply feel for our fellow-Israelites; their glory is our glory, and
their shame is our shame; we therefore labour in our own behalf whenever
we do any thing for the people collectively, although not the remotest
individual benefit may accrue thence to us. We would therefore be truly
happy could we induce our brethren, especially those in America, among
whom our more immediate sphere of action is placed, to throw off their
long sleep, their unaccountable apathy, and prove to themselves and the
world that they love and esteem their sacred birthright, that they feel
the full weight of the obligation which the observance of their religion
places upon them, and that they are fully aware of the exalted destiny
of being the chosen servants of God.
Other nations are anxious to spread a knowledge of their
tenets, and to induce all, especially their own members, to practise
what they are taught as religious duty. And why should Israel be the
last to make the effort for the advancement of religion? Surely it sill
reward the labour to make the attempt; and no doubt there are many who
agree with us that proper means should be employed to enlighten the
people concerning their doctrines and duties; and we trust that they who
think so will second our feeble essay, and give us their literary aid as
well as their countenance to further our object. All that is necessary
to insure success in awakening the American Jews to their eternal
interests, is a well concerted union of acts and an accordance of
opinion. Let these be offered as the most acceptable offering to the
Deity, let discord and petty jealousies be banished from us: and the
result will be that every Israelite will be able "to learn his
duties, teach them to others and observe and do them," and cause
others to follow his virtuous example. |
