Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/122

 morality than the average person. Things which the ordinary man might permit himself to do, were forbidden to them. Anything which was the least questionable, or had the slightest taint of immorality or impropriety, was beneath them. Whoever violated any of these principles, forfeited his knighthood, at least in theory, because he had, by his act already forfeited his claim to nobility.

So, too, with us Jews, "nobility obligates". In a very positive sense we are the spiritual nobility of the world, and ours is a proud heritage of honor. When the ancestors of the present great nations of Europe were still roaming their native woods as half-clad barbarians, unlearned in aught save the chase and war, our fathers had long since accepted God's law, had called the Bible into being, and had entered upon their glorious mission of justice, brotherhood, and peace, which is destined in time to redeem the world from the consequences of savage lust for war, bloodshed, and power. With us, even more than with the knights of old, "nobility obligates". We Jews may not do many things which others still allow themselves. Thanks to our three thousand years of spiritual training, and to the consequent deeper insight and knowledge which have come to us, we Jews should have, and do have, a higher standard and ideal of righteous and moral conduct than other peoples. This alone constitutes our all-sufficient title to the spiritual leadership of the world. But what we are not willing to live, we can not hope to teach. For this reason with us, too, "nobility obligates", or, much better and truer, "knowledge obligates". And he who will not live as a Jew should live, and thereby do his part in the great work of being a blessing. for which God has called all Israel, has truly forfeited his right to the name and privilege of being a Jew. But if only every Jew will live as Jews ought to live, in accordance with the sublime, spiritual teachings of Judaism, then surely the world must be greatly blessed through us, and must come in turn to honor the