Letter from M. Mayer to Isaac Leeser;March 29, 1859 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from M. Mayer to Isaac Leeser;March 29, 1859

Author

M. Mayer

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Location(s)

Charleston

Philadelphia

Format

Letter. 4 page(s) on 2 sheet(s).

Letter

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3q815g6w/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3q815g6w

Physical Characteristics

Unlined Paper

Manuscript

Is Part Of

The Dropsie College Isaac Leeser Collection at the Penn Libraries

content

Charleston, S. C. March 29 5619/1859.
Rev. Mr. I. Leeser, Philadelphia.
My dear Sir—
! Hebrew Although I am fully confident that the friendship and regard which, notwithstanding our difference of religious views, you have at various times manifested towards me, would be satisfied with the above open and sincere confession on my part, in reply to your message conveyed to me, last night, by Mr. Hart, yet, to show you that I reciprocate those feelings, I deem it incumbent upon me to give you a full explanati-on of my long silence and seeming neglect.
It is certainly unnecessary to assure you that neither ill feeling nor wilful disregard caused that silence; my friendship and respect for you have not in the least diminished; I could refer to many of your acquaintances in this place, that I do not allow any opportunity to pass, without expressing my highest appreciation for you; nay! I would even defend you against all insinuations of your friends, who deem it proper to sound the praise of their favorites at your expense; and Rev. Mr. H. P. Jacobs can tell you that, when you announced the discontinuance of the translation of the Cozri by Dr Fiskel (why this course?) I contemplated to substitute the deficiency by my own translation. Circumstances which led to my silence have prevented me to carry out that con-templated work. So much upon this point.
And now, in the full expectation that you will make no farther use of what I shall have to say, I will fully explain those cir-cumstances. For the last two years, I have made the sad experience

that the path of a minister, especially of a Jewish one, is not strewn with roses. I will not enter into details, but merely beg of you not to base any conclusion or judgement upon what you might have heard, or should still hear, as long as you have not heard also the other party, my humble self Hebrew Thank God! not-withstanding all the harassing annoyances and persecutions which I have had to endure both on the part of those that are “with me,” and those that are “against me,” my character stands forth unstained and unscathed, and I have the consolation that my course was one of the most uncompromising honesty and straightforwardness. Yet, I must confess that all these experiences have in so far discouraged me, that I do my duty to its fullest extent, but abstain from all further cooperation and interference in the religious affairs of our people, unless something national appeals to my Jewish heart, in such cases I rush to the post of duty with all zeal and enthusiasm. Have you read, for the last 18 months, one line of controversy published by me in any of our Papers, here or in Europe? I can assure you that I have received many letters even blaming me for my inactivity; yet I still continue to be silent; nay! if I had not still the hope for better things to come, I should have retired from public life altogether. Under such circumstances it is but natural, that even my private correspondence must suffer; it so happens that you are among the rest. I have yet a letter of Dr Holdheim, dated March 1. 1858—to answer; I tried it often, but could not suc-ceed. Dr Philippson has not had a line from me since last August, and then I merely complained of the irregularity with which I receive the publications of “the Institute”. Stein in Frankfort has been expecting a letter from me, ever since last Juli. Coming

nearer home, Einhorn whom I must regard as one of my best friends living, has to write two letters to my one, and others do not fare better. I trust, as I do not wish to continue in this strain, that this exposition will be accepted by you as a satisfactory apology for my seeming neglect. In future, I shall endeavor to do better.
I have received the first number of the weekly “Occident.” I must congratulate you upon its appearance; it is by far the handsomest Jewish sheet of all I know; it really deserves to prosper. I say this from the depth of my heart, altho' I cannot always agree with the contents & tendency of your publications. Should you wish my literary co-operation, I am ready to serve you; but, as you must perceive from the above, I cannot promise any original matter; and even translations of mine must not bear my name.
Here I am reminded to explain a fact which must seem to you to be in contradiction with my exposition above: I allude to the publication of “Hects Biblical History for Israelitish Schools.” The work was ordered and undertaken by the School Com-mittee of Dr Adler's Congregation, who appointed and requested me to make the translation. But I can show you from my cor-respondence with Dr A. upon the subject, that I did not even respond officially to that committee, but corresponded only privately with the Doctor, and yielded only to his personal, earnest and re-peated solicitations. All I received for my labor, are two copies of the work, one from Dr A., and another from the publishers.
You undoubtedly have known that I suffered intensely last summer, that I was confined to my bed,—with very short inter-vals—for 15 weeks; 9 here and 6 in New York. But what do you say to this: with the sole exceptoin of Dr Raphall (and of course Dr Adler) not one of the Reverend (?) gentlemen ever

came to see me; Dr Fishel, Mr. Lyons & Isaacs would not even speak to me, when we met. Indeed! I do not care about it; men who can thus forget their position, thus violate the very first law of religion, and manifest such a stupid fanaticism, are better “left severely alone” in their glory and “?.”
I must let you also into the secret of an Mortara movement here. Having been opposed by the Moise clique and others, the meeting was a pitiful one; hardly 2 dozen Jews were present. The Jews only, I am convinced, are united by their national feeling only when there is something “to—'fress'”. A comparison between the Swiss treaty affair and the Morara case, on one hand, and the last Anniversary Dinner of our H. B. S. on the other, prove this fact beyond all earthly doubt. I must confess, the more I see and hear of our people in this country, the more I am convinced that Moses, were he now to come amongst us, would again exclaim: !Hebrew While they would allow no opportunity to pass, whenever it is in their power, to oppress & persecute their own people and make them feel their superiority—however questionable and counterfeited it may be, they crouch and cringe before those of another creed, and prove contemtible cowards whenever they are called upon to stand up to their rights or defend their own Jewish-national affairs. And in no city at is this more glaringly evident than in Charleston. There they could exercise some influence, but they neglect it, to please & flatter their Christian fellow-citizens; the defeat of Mr. Mordecai, last fall, is exclusively attributable to the treachery of his correligionists, especially, not exclusively, in the orthodox congregation.
But I must conclude; accept Mrs. M.'s & my own best regard & wishes, and write soon to
Yours, most friendly
Dr M Mayer
By the bye,: How do you stand with
Dr Deutsch? Please send me the controversy
between the unknown Jew, yourself & Mr. Morais. I have heard of it, a few days
ago, but never seen it. You know what controversy I am alluding to.

Identifier

LSDCBx2FF6_6

Date

1859-03-29