Letter from Jacob Mordecai to Raphael DeCordova;June 10, 1829
- Title
- Letter from Jacob Mordecai to Raphael DeCordova;June 10, 1829
- Author
- Jacob Mordecai
- Contributor
- Raphael DeCordova
- Date Created
- 10 June 1829
- Format
- Letter. 2 page(s) on 1 sheet(s).
- Type
- Letter
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3r77w/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3r77w
- Physical Characteristics
- Unlined Paper
- Manuscript
- content
-
Richmond June 10th 1829
Raphael de Cordova Esq
Philadelphia
Sir
Your letter of the 31st May came to hand on the first day of Sebuot, I hasten to communicate the result of my enquiry in relation to its contents. Mr Isaac Leezer a young gentleman who has resided a few years among us, I can confidently recommend as a person of steady habits, of moral worth, a strict observer of our religious rites, possessing a cultivated mind, capable of instructing your children in Hebrew and with a little practice will be enabled to discharge the duties of Hazan—our holy language is perfectly familiar to him, he renders Hebrew into English and english into Hebrew, with great facility and possesses a grammatical knowledge of both, he pronoun_ces agreeably to the Hebrew mode extremely well and knows the Hebrew in reading the Hebrew and Hebrew, with attention and experience the pronunciation will soon be perfect, he has a passable voice, but will require some instruction in the festival tunes. Mr Peixotto has kindly offered to instruct him, that gentleman has conversed with him on the subject. Mr L. is extremely diffident of his powers to give satisfaction as a reader but take him all in all is willing to make an experiment. I have no hesitation in saying, take him all in all that he will be a valuable acquisition to any congregation, he combines the qualifications of an instructor and an exposer of our laws and customs, possesses a decent classical knowledge, composes with facility and correctness, has an extensive historical knowledge and is a bell? letters scholar.__his pecuniary circumstances are perfectly easy and his relative & patron? is able to make him in some degree in-dependent of seeking office as a means of support, those observations proceed from myself and are not intended to influence your decision in relation to his compensation__I shall be glad to know that he is placed in a situation that will render him useful to his religious community, tho' young, he is sedate, and with in-creasing years and his love of learning, and pious conviction of the truths of the Religion he professes he will if blessed with length of days become a shining light in Israel—
Should you be inclined to view these characteristicks favourably I have no fears on the score of responsibility I this incur, any further communications in relation to this business will I presume be addressed to Mr L_The congregation in this place is designated Hebrew Permit me to make you the medium of a communication to the Parnass of your
respectable congregation and request the favour of adding my family name to the record which is kept of the early contributors to the Old Synagogue; my name Hebrew will be found among the purchasers of the corner stones of that building, of the four purchasers I alone survive. I wish the name to stand Hebrew I presume there will be no objection in thus gratifying a native of your city and one far advanced in years__ If I can be useful to the Committee please command my best services
With great Respect
your very obt svt
Jacob Mordecai - Identifier
- LSKAP0171
- Date
- 1829-06-10
Part of Letter from Jacob Mordecai to Raphael DeCordova;June 10, 1829
Jacob Mordecai, “Letter from Jacob Mordecai to Raphael DeCordova;June 10, 1829”, 1829-06-10, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 7, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/65733