Letter from Henry S. Jacobs to Isaac Leeser;July 05, 1866
- Title
- Letter from Henry S. Jacobs to Isaac Leeser;July 05, 1866
- Author
- Henry S. Jacobs
- Contributor
- Isaac Leeser
- 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/p3542k15k/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3542k15k
- Physical Characteristics
- Unlined Paper
- Manuscript
- content
-
New Orleans 5th July 5626
Rev Isaac Leeser
Philadelphia
Dear Sir,
Your letter on your return home duly reached me. I regret very sincerely to learn of your impaired health, of which my Richmond correspondents had before informed me; but most earnest-ly do I pray that further tidings may be of a happier character.
The lukewarmness and indifference that you noticed in your recent Southern trip, in religious matters, had long ago been perceptible to me, and occasioned serious and painful thought. This degeneracy has been creeping along for some time and I see fearful signs of its continuous progress. The battle between Principle and Gain almost invariably terminates in favor of the latter; hence those leaders who will smooth away the “difficulties” which beset the path of conformity with recognized duties, and not insist on the uncompromising fidelity required of us, are certain of being popular and influential. My “dilenda est Carthago” is the onslaught in and out of the Pulpit on the modern manufacture of a “Religion of Convenience.” I have confidence in the innate piety and good sense of the people who often, tho offenders against the the Law, do not palliate or argue away the wrong, and may be wrought on for their
good Hebrew; but when Teachers rise up, and by precept and example inculcate as unimportant, useless, and contrary to the spirit of the age — all or much of what they had been trained up to observe — what is to be expected? The awakened religious feelings become enlisted in favor of what requires so little effort; only build a magnificent place of worship, modernize, hope? & render agreeable its services, preserve decorum, & have an external varnish of piety, and the Hebrew is attained. I place a great deal of the blame for this wretched state of affairs on the shoulders of our so-called Orthodox chiefs, who are idle & selfish, and contribute nothing to the general good of Israel. All their efforts seem concentrated on little aims which began in their own Synagogues and end there. And then there is no unity of action. Look for assistance at the several large congregations at the North. At the 19th St. Synagogue, everything seems to have been attained in Mr Lyn's? cadences & his choir's artistic performances. The pulpit is silent, and does not seem to be needed. Our worthy brethren there are apparently contented with the order of things as they are, and are either so pious as not to require explanations or so wicked as to fear denunciation. At Dr. Raphall's & Mr. Isaacs's, I hear trumpet-tongued praises of the choir, in the former, it is said, led by a Xian! Do you not remember my fickle and unsuccessful effort in ? at the first Sephim of the Board of Delegates to have its scope of a character which
might meet our wants;- a College — preparatory Schools — a supervising Board to examine into the qualifications & personal worth of those coming to this country for office&c? But no: it seemed that the assembly of Delegates from various parts of the Union looked only to the aggrandizement of New York, and we Dummies had only to listen with rapt attention to the to the Delphic oracles & play the meek parts of “make weights.” I hope better things are in progress for I notice at last, some wakefullness on the great needs of one day. But perhaps my expectations are premature, and another Rip Van Winkle nap will follow.
Your article in the June No. is sound & telling, and I trust to see it followed up by some tangible plan for training up an American ministry. It is singular that our wealthy Congrns. have not been influenced even by common policy to do something even of a selfish nature for their own future advantage; and I throw out the hint which you might use, that lacking any general or organized effort, that each might devote a portion of its funds annually set apart to educate in Europe — after the usual Collegiate Course here — a respectable & pious-minded young man, in whose services it would have the first claim. My little boy I purpose, God willing, bringing up to the sacred profession, and if nothing better, or as good offer here at the proper age to send him to Breslau; and all my strivings peculiarly are devoted towards this attainment,
not depending on any Congregational action. I wish a few others would attempt the same procedure. I can but hope it.
Mr. Aletrino has shown some diligence in the matter of the Agency, and has handed me the following bit of additional subscribers, to whom please mail the Occident,—if possible from the Nissan No. when the present Vol. began. If you cannot do this to all, endeavor to do so for the Messrs. De Meza.—Joshua D Henriques, E. de Pina, Morris Woolf, A de Sola, J. O. DeCastro, S J de Meza, A H de Meza, & Henry Aaron. Mr B Y Benyamin is still uncertain as to subscribing. Send a list of amts due you by previous Sub. for collection. Send the follg Books p Express—addressed to Mr M Alentino, 80 Prytania St. - N.O.
1 Set P Books — Sheep
@ $25.00
1 “ “ fancy
@ $30.00
1 Pentateuch Sheep mention the price
1 Bible Ea 3.50 & 5.00
As soon as he collects for these and subsns. I will see that the amt. be promptly remitted you.
I hinted to Mr. Gutheim of his long silence; and I understood him to say he would soon write you. Perhaps he has already done so. The Rampart St. synagogue is to be torn down & made more spacious, the adjoining lot having been purchased. The Polish on Colonial ? to be finished for Hebrew, that on Jackson St for Hebrew
Mrs. Jacobs joins me in kind regards.
Yours truly
Henry S. Jacobs
The above text refers to Occident Volume 24 No. 3 pages 97 through 106. Click here to view. - Identifier
- LSDCBx3FF1_38
- Date
- 1866-07-05
Part of Letter from Henry S. Jacobs to Isaac Leeser;July 05, 1866
Henry S. Jacobs, “Letter from Henry S. Jacobs to Isaac Leeser;July 05, 1866”, 1866-07-05, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 7, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/65566