Letter from M. Mayer to Isaac Leeser;June 10, 1856 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from M. Mayer to Isaac Leeser;June 10, 1856

Author

M. Mayer

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Date Created

10 June 1856

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/p36970j18/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p36970j18

Physical Characteristics

Unlined Paper

Manuscript

Is Part Of

The Dropsie College Isaac Leeser Collection at the Penn Libraries

content

Charleston, June 10 1856.
Rev: Isaac Leeser, Philadelphia
Dear Sir,
Your kind letter, dated June 5, reached me yesterday, and I hasten to reply to it at once, in order to remove all unfavorable impressions from your mind, which, judging from the contents of your letter, seems to rest thereon.
Let me begin with the passage in my correspondence to Dr Ph's “Zeitung des Judenthums.” When I read your remarks in the letter to me, I laughed very heartily; but perceiving afterwards, at the perusal of your Editorial in the June number of the Occident, that you took the affair more than serious, I at once determined to make some explanations to you, as I do not wish to be misjudged by you. Know then, the clause “? ?,” is not mine, but Dr Ph's. The sentence con-tained in my manuscript, runs thus: “mit ? ?.” It appears to me that Dr Ph. Made this change, which, by the way, I do not approve, with the view of having R. Hirsch kept out of the controversy. I hope that his candid explanation will satisfy you; since it can be no discredit to you, to be compared with R. Hirsch, whose sincerity of principles and honesty of purpose, no one, not even his fiercest opponents can question. But here I must complain of your translation. In rendering the clause, “In ?,” by “I will admit, with sincerity,” you did not do justice to the spirit of my words. My

intention was, most emphatically to repeat what I have often told you and others, that you belong to those very few in our midst, that who are sin-cerely & honestly orthodox; to use your own words: “whose practice does not belie their theory.” But your translation of my words does not convey the emphasis and sincerity contained therein; as it shows, it admits the construction of ambiguity, even sarcasm and irony. I should have translated in this way: “which, however, are in-deed sincere.” Now, I do not only authorize but even request you to notice my explanation in your next issue, as I am never so self-conceited or proud, to give explanations, where justice demands them; besides, the picture which you have drawn of a Polish Rabbi would certainly be such a reflection on you, as I would be indeed the last to conceive or indorse.
You speak, furthermore, of scurrilous remarks having been made before about you in dr Ph's. Gazette. You later under a great mistake I have never found any. On the contrary; Dr Phs. in not? your Bible, rebutted those that had indulged in such remarks in this country, especially Mr. Kalish, as I wrote you at the time; upon which you told me, that you showed Dr Ph's. Remarks to the former, and took him thus by surprise, so that he did know what to say.
I think you are wrong in not publishing my report; for the reasons you give, hold not good. You forget that the works are not those of Dr Ph., but of the “Institute,” and he has no right to dispose of them, as he can do with his own; I regard this “?” as a real national affair, which every Jew ought to patronise. I have myself to pay subscription, although I am the agent for America. And so had Dr Einhorn to pay his $1.65.__Apropos of Dr E. You have

certainly no right to complain of his not visiting any synagogue in Philadelphia; pray, have you ever passed the threshold of a “Temple?” Besides, Dr E. was but once in Phila. since his arrival at Balti-more, and then only on account of the death of a niece of his. You see that it is not right, to judge so harshly. He is certainly as sincere & consistent in his views, as you, in yours; and such qualities we ought to respect in every one. Now, that I am liberal, I proved again on the 2d day of Hebrew, when I visited the new Polish Synagogue in this city, and read the Hebrew! Can you assert such liberality on your part?
As regards Mr J's Articles, he may write as long as he pleases, I do not even glance at them; I do not even hold him in contempt, I pity the man, he has fallen so deep, that he is no longer within my reach.
Several copies of your small bible have been purchased for our Sunday-School, and more will be bought, when the funds allow it; for I am determined, that the Christian version should be banished from the school. Any how, we bought more, than the Orthodox Con-gregation, that has no more a Sabbath-School, thanks, as I was told, to the praiseworthy exertions of the orthodox Mr. Jacobs. I myself bought the first copy from Mr Hart for my own private use, and urge, on every occasion, upon my Congregat-ors, to relinquish the common Bibles, and buy yours. And I think, several have followed my advice.
When I told you that I deferred my reply to your letter of Febr., because I did not wished to avoid the appearance of influencing you, I meant to say, that I did not wish, you should think that I intended to influence you, altho' I knew very well, that no man could do it. But, again, I did not wish, that you should think of such

an attempt on my part.
As regards the gentlemen in Cincinnati, I certainly know them as well as you do, & perhaps a little better, which is also the reason why I am anxious to force them to explanations or show the people who & what they are. I have followed them very closely, and attentively studied their history. The could not bear that I, too, should have come out against them; they forgot that nothing on earth can in-fluence me, when Truth & Justice are concerned. “Fiat justitia, pereat mundus” is my principle.
The inclosed book is sent to Rev. Mr Isaac Leeser, not the Editor of the Occident. The collection consists partially of original compos-itions, partially translations, furnished by members of the congregation & yourself your humble servant. Whatever may be your opinions with regard to the use of English hymns in the synagogue you will find nothing un-Jewish in this book, which I hope, tho' it be Hebrew in your eyes, will not be regarded as unworthy of a place in your library.
As you have concluded your letter with a Latin salutation, I must conclude mine in Greek,
Greek
Dr M Mayer
P. S. Please send me 2 copies of Mendelsohn's Jerusalem. I shall settle with you, Hebrew, in July, when I intend visiting the North, and, of course, seeing you in Philada.
M

Identifier

LSDCBx2FF3_17

Date

1856-06-10