Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/23

 The Jewish Religion

5

greater degree, through Israel's history to Israel to all

main

mankind. in

interpreting to Israel of their

significance of

its

history,

own

the

in

days the divine

was

Israel's history

and

itself

Therefore their messages consisted to

them the

chief source of God's revelation of Himself to His people;

and whoever might interpret this history aright from the standpoint of God and of God's guidance of Israel and of all mankind, was a prophet, proclaiming, in accordance with God's will, the true knowledge of Him and His way unto the world.

all

whether we have new truths and teach, the essential requisite for an authoritative and inspiring knowledge of Judaism is a correct and constructive knowledge of Jewish history and of Jewish life and thought, that we, too, may see therein all the countless evidences of God's goodness, wisdom and love, and may learn, in turn, how He wills that we ourselves live as true Jews and true men and Therefore,

for us

today,

to proclaim, or only the old truths to reaffirm

women.

What But what

is

is

Jeiinsh History f

History

Jewish history?

chronicling of events, no matter

The

life.

life it

it

history of

any people

has lived, the experiences

has undergone, the defeats

has achieved, the thoughts

it

it

how is it

is

the

full

human

race vhich

it

History

has endured, the

has conceived, the ideals

has made.

is

record of the trials

has suffered, the victories

striven for, the contributions to the welfare

the

more than mere

correctly.

it

it

has

and progress of

History

is

the correct

and complete record of all causes and effects, of all forces at work, and of all results flowing therefrom, in the lives of individuals or nations. The history of any individual really begins

long before birth, in the pre-natal conditions

which must determine

his physical, mental,

and psychological