Page:Notes by the Way.djvu/226

 156

��NOTES BY THE I WAY.

��" The meet- ing-places of God."

��Jewish ethics.

��Jews' fealty to the Throne

��was in the west. The worshippers consequently stood during prayer with their faces towards the west. This it seems was a protest against sun-worship. When sun-worship had ceased, probably after the destruction of the second Temple, the national grief and hope found expression in the custom of praying towards the Sanctuary in Jerusalem. Hence the Jews who live west of Jerusalem stand during prayer with the face towards the east, while those east of Jerusalem turn westward.

In addition to the public synagogues there are in London, as formerly in Jerusalem, " the meeting-places of God," where if ten worshippers are present service may be held. While Judaism is full of ceremonial observances, its teaching is that " the right conduct of everyday life transcends in importance even right belief. Theology must yield the first place to morals." " The Rabbins were the most enthusiastic preachers of the gospel of work that the world has ever seen." " Great is labour." " For it honours the labourer." " Greater even than the God-fearing man is he who lives by his toil." " Manliness " is the dominant note of Jewish ethics. " It is a good sign when a man walks with his head erect." " If you have a grievance against any one, go to him and tell him so face to face. Honour the virtuous Gentile, not the irreligious Israelite. The worst failing is ingratitude ; it must not be shown even to a brute. Pay your debts before you give alms." " The alms given in health are gold ; in illness, silver ; left by will, copper." The foregoing extracts are from a lecture on ' Jewish Ethics, by 'the Rev. Morris Joseph (' Religious Systems of the World '), and are translated from Zunz, ' Zur Geschichte und Litera- tur.' Judaism also teaches that citizens of a State must take their proper share in all work for its welfare. Patriotism must be evinced when the State is in danger. " All our means, our physical and intellectual faculties, must be at the disposal of the country in which we live as citizens." " There is no difference between Jews and their fellow-citizens with regard to the duty of loyalty."

This is shown in all the teaching of the various Jewish schools. Mr. 0. E. d'Avigdor Goldsmid in his address at the annual prize distribution of the Jewish Education Board in June, 1908, gave the key-note : " The best way in which they [the Jews] could show their gratitude to this great nation was to bring up their children both as good Jews and as good Englishmen. And it was in order to qualify for the position and name of a good Englishman that it was necessary to be a good Jew, one who respected the faith in which he was brought up and was proud of it. That alone would enable them to become good citizens."

The Jews in England have for more than fifty years gone far beyond the call of mere duty, and none of their fellow-subjects have exceeded them in their support of the Government or in

�� �