Julius T. Loeb, “Jewish Sympathy: Prayer of the Israelites of Palestine for Success of American Arms,” Nashville Banner (Nashville, TN), Aug. 17, 1898.
JEWISH SYMPATHY
Prayer of the Israelites of Palestine For Success of American Arms.
To the Editor of the Banner.
In reference to an article entitled “Jewish Sympathy,” published in last Thursday’s Banner, I desire to state that I am in constant communication with relatives and friends in the Holy Land, and there are before me scores of letters testifying to the effect that all Jews are in warmest sympa- [sic] effect that all Jews there are in warmest sympathy with America in her conflict with Spain, and that not alone “on one occasion recently,” but on every occasion they prayed for American success. Among other communications from Jerusalem, I recently received a very touching and interesting Hebrew prayer. The prayer was composed by Chief Rabbi S. Salant, in Jerusalem, and for the first time rendered by the chief rabbi himself on the 17th of June last, in the greatest synagogue of the city, “House of Jacob,” which on that occasion was filled to its utmost capacity and attended by a large circle of the most prominent men of Jerusalem, including the American consulate. Since then, the prayer, in connection with Psalms xviii., xxvii., xxxv., lxxx. and cixiv., were being offered up and chanted during Sabbath services in every synagogue and on every sacred spot of the Holy Land. I have translated the prayer into the vernacular, trusting that you will find it worthy of publication, and enclose herewith both the translation and original Hebrew text. Most respectfully,
JULIUS T. LOEB
Rabbi Congregation “Adath Israel,” of the Market-street Synagogue.
TRANSLATION OF PRAYER
O Lord, compassionate and gracious God, who hearkenest unto prayer, we, Thy servants of the House of Jacob, who dwell in the courts of Thy holiness, have come this day to pour forth our entreaty and supplication before Thy holy temple in behalf of our brethren—the people of the United States of America—the people in whom Thou hast implanted love for mankind and humanity, freedom; one portion above all the indwellers of Thy habitable globe. That wise and intelligent people are gone forth this day to make war against a malicious foe—not to enlarge their land nor to conquer dwelling places that are not theirs; they are gone forth to meet the armed array; but in their earnest desire to proclaim liberty to captives, to deliver the afflicted from the fury of their oppressors, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, in which Thou delightest, O Lord, as it is written, “For I am the Lord who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on the earth, for in these things I delight, saith the Lord.”
Thou, O Lord, who searchest the reins and probest the heart of man! Look down from heaven and see into the battle arrays of these combatants, and cause Thy countenance to shine upon the people imbued with the sublime principles of justice and humanity, whose sons jeopardize their lives unto death in order to deliver the oppressed from the hand of their cruel oppressors. O help them! Sent Thy angel before them and cause them to prosper whithersoever they turn. Raise up the right hand of the Chief Magistrate of their land; adorn his brave warriors with the crown of victory and success. And over their enemies swing Thou Thy hand, and crush the power of the cruel nation of the land, polluted with blood of human sacrifices. Take vengeance for the blood of Thy servants, humble the haughtiness of the tyrants and subdue them forever; so that all the inhabitants of the earth may know that Thou, O Lard, art the righteous Judge of nations and individuals and the presumptuous may come and seek Thy face and acknowledge the power of Thy kingdom, that Thou art the Everlasting King, who resideth at Jerusalem, and may unto Zion come the Redeemer. Amen.
תפלה!
אומרים מזמורי תהלים יח כ כז לה פג קמד
אנא ה' אל רחום וחנון שומע תפלה!
אנחנו עבדיך בית יעקב השוכנים בחצרות קדשיך. באנו היום לשפוך רנה ותפלה. לפני היכל קדשך. בעד אחינו עם אמעריקא ארצות הברית המאוחדות.—העם אשר נטעת במו אהבת האדם וחופש האנושית שכם אחד על כל יושבי תבל ארציך.—העם הנאור יצאו היום לערוך מלחמה לקראת אויב נורא. לא להרחיב ארצם. ולרשת משכנות לא להם. יצאו לקראת נשק. כי אם באהבתם לקרא לשבוים דרור. ולחלץ עם עני מחמת עושקיהם, ולהביא צדק עולמים—כי באלה חפצת. ככתוב¬: כי אני ה עושה חסד משפט וצדקה בארץ כי באלה חפצתי נאם ה':
אתה ה' הבוחן כליות. הבט משמים וראה אל מערכת הלוחמים האלה—והאר פניך אל המערכה המלאה רגשי צדק ואהבת האנושית ועל בניה המחרפים למות נפשם. למען חלץ נגשים מיד עושקיהם—ועזרת להם, ושלחת מלאך לפניהם, ובכל אשר יפנו ישכילו. והרמת ימין נשיא הארץ. ועטרת את גבוריו נזר נצחון. ועל צריהם תניף ידיך ושברת זרועם. גוי אכזרי ארץ עקובה מדם בניך. ונקמת נקמת דם עבדיך. והשפלת גאון עריצים. ויכנעו לנצח. וידעו כל יושבי ארץ כי אתה ה' שופט צדק בין עם לעם. וישובו עריצים ויבקשו פניך ויכירו כח מלכותך. כי אתה ה' מלך עולמים שוכן בירושלם. ובא לציון גואל אמן:
No comments:
Post a Comment