A Discourse Delivered Before the Congregation Mikvé Israel of Philadelphia, On Thursday, June 1, 1865.

(AMERICAN JUDAICA)

Collins

Philadelphia

1865

Singerman 1903

A MOST HISTORIC SPEECH DISPLAYING THE GRIEF JEWS SHARED ALONGSIDE THEIR FELLOW AMERICANS UPON THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN. The American synagogue paid its tribute to the martyred president at special services on April 19 (see Singerman 1903), and again - here - on the day designated for memorial services by President Andrew Johnson, June 1, 1865, which happened to be the second day of the Festival of Shavu’ot. “If the essence of religion is what the great Hillel taught us, then I unhesitatingly say that the breast of our lamented President was ever kindled with that divine spark."To forbear doing unto others what would displease us" … is the maxim he illustrated in the immortal document of emancipation that bears his honorable signature. It is that which he exemplified by his numerous acts of clemency… We must bear his name with a blessing upon our lips.” (p. 5). A native of Livorno, Italy, Sabato Morais (1823-97) was appointed Minister of Congregation Mikveh Israel in 1851, filling the vacuum created by Isaac Leeser's departure the previous year. During the Civil War, Morais freely expressed his sympathy for the slaves, thus, his grief upon the slaying of Lincoln was not an empty platitude. See A. J. Karp, From the Ends of the Earth: Judaic Treasures of the Library of Congress, p. 259. For a related sermon by Morais mourning the loss of President Lincoln, see Kestenbaum Sale 83, Lot 14.