For its services to modern Judaism have been of great and indisputable account. In the one fact that it stands out in revolt to an outworn and mediæval code it has rendered a special service to the higher interests of Judaism. It has broadened out the mental horizon of Jewry and enlarged very decidedly, the scope of Israel’s relations to the outside would, and has not least of all, created and kindled an intellectual and emotional spirit in the realm of public and private worship,which is an infinitely better medium for communion with God than the unæsthetic devotions of
unregulated services. But to become an effective instrument for the future, it must deepen the reverences for the traditions and embrace in the new institutions the elements of faith and history, without which they never can live. It would then be possible to have a new Judaism spring out of the chaos of to-day; a Judaism that would meet and fill the requirements of the time, that would not be irresponsive to the call of the higher ideals of modern humanity, and with it insure the preservation of Israel's existence and the fulfillment of his destiny.
The Death of the Prophet
THE Voice of the Lord resounded through the night. And the heights trembled, the depths were moved. The streams stayed in their flow toward the valley, and the stars stood still in their courses. The Divine Voice called. “Moses, My servant arise! Gird thy lions, ascend Mount Nebo in the grey of the dawn. For thy time hath come, the hour of thy death openeth her arms to enfold thee!’
And as the Lord commanded Moses, so did he.
From the plain of Moab he went up to Mount Nebo, ascending even to the top of Pisgah. With steady step and head held high he walked, and the impact of his staff was as vigorous as the footfall of an exulting warrior.
At length he stood upon the summit.
The sun blazed forth into glowing fires of crimson and gold. The sea of mist rolled away into the distance. As a rosebud, moist with crystal dew unfolds its leaves One by one until all of their tender loveliness is exposed to the kisses of the sunbeams, even so the land unfolded its pure young beauty to his gaze from Gilead unto Dan; and all Naphatil, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all of the land of Judah unto the western sea, one rose- leaf after the other. The sun wound roseate veils about the misty mountain-tops, a stream of .golden-green radiance bathed the forests of palm-trees, silver foam leaped upon the sunlit waters.
All the land seemed to rise to greet him, meekly joyous: "Take me!" And Moses extended his arms wide and wider, as though to embrace it, to clasp it to his breast, to press it to his lips.
The voice of the Lord sounded in his ears: “Behold, this is the land which 1 sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.”
Thus spoke the Lord.
The earth stood still; great black shadows covered all the brightness. Borne upon the wind came the gentle, murmuring whimper of the flowers and the moan of the forest. Loudly roaring, the waters took up the lament, and the mountains rumbled their muffled sorrow. All was merged in a universal dirge, and the grievous mourning re-echoed in the voice of Moses as he threw himself upon his face. crying unto the Lord:
"O Lord, Who hast led me thus far, let me but live to enter this land, whose breezes are odorous with the fragrance of cedars, sweet as the perfume of roses and pure as the breath of lilies: whose lap is fruitful as the soil of Eden, whose breasts flow with milk and honey."
Weeping and wailing were heard above and below, on earth and in Heaven.
The voice of the Lord pierced through the lamentations, now loud as the loudest of thunders, now mild as the gentlest of