Letter from Julius Eckman to Isaac Leeser;August 20, 1851 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from Julius Eckman to Isaac Leeser;August 20, 1851

Author

Julius Eckman

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Date Created

20 August 1851

Location(s)

Charleston

Philadelphia

Format

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

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

Hebrew

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p30v8b37h/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p30v8b37h

Physical Characteristics

Unlined Paper

Manuscript

Is Part Of

The Jesselson Family Collection of Isaac Leeser Material

content

I cannot enter particulars but I had reason to think so as that Dictator is known to me to belong as much to our unprejudiced school as any. “We speak and write mostly according to the different passions & emotions which agitate us. And those objects which strike us most forcibly represent themselves in a lively manner to our imagination, and thus determine us to that side„ Dr Pin Stru? with the supposed wrong I broke forth with my expressions. They were more a censure against the dissension created in widened—then ? approbation, of the dissension which by earth acts was caused. The whole if expressed would have been “what all this tunnels, this anathemising, why not rather? conciliate. The opinions of preaching about or against messiah, is a censure against P. (I wish to know whether have they original you know my hand writing and can identify it, before doing so, it is not fair to send it forth as I have no means to ascertain, and every reason to question their honesty.
Charleston Aug 20. 5611
To the Revd I Leeser
Philadelphia
Your enclosed letter, I found but last night taking out the proof in haste the letter must have dropped. I thank for proof, for letter and your kind advice. My letter to P. is written in such a careless manner as even you must have some proofs, a copy of it I have not. The word aerial does not seem to be original after ideal seems to be an insertion for my letter ideal stands opposed to practical. Could not you claim the original? The contents of his own petition cards denies a ? ?.
The letter was written under the impression, that the Congr are considered as no more being Jews for their Synag: reformer & for the abrogation of Hebrew see top and so in my haste, I placed? myself as champion when I ought to have heard first. It now serves me right. But this is incontestible and in due time will be stated that I in presence of the Trustees, & at the House of Mr Moise, and with God for ? 3 hour warmly protested against 2d day ? Hebrew and this is meant in my letter in July occid “admissible on the letter of the law, but not so on the score of charity & piety. I have not admitted it as right, though it may be legend With regard to Nusser the case is the same Mr Ab. Moise, with also appear when required. Let the volcano first destroy itself. Strange that there are men who can condone that of opposed Drs views, and none is more that will say he heard me in private or in pulpit preach any thing that is not quite called on.
To his creed I never gave consent, I knew nothing of his changes as little as any body else, I only read about the word Hebrew

I allow all to be as it is. And supposing I had changed my views, or had been inconsistent Poznanski's Gents ought to idolize me, had not their Prophet done such tricks and thereby gained their attachment of respect. The best is told them Hebrew prove that his words ought not be so much attended to as the ? expected Hebrew go on. The letter contains nothing of moment facts fr: first day Hebrew Hebrew What induces you to advise me to go to Engl. I am justified Hebrew Hebrew and qualified to take any orthodox congreg. This reform Synag is Hebrew a Orthodox as any other. Reform has nothing to do with orthodoxy never did I preach any but orthodox principles, and the congreg wanted such, on this ground even Mr Wise was elected. This was held forth in a speech on the occasion of his election by Mr Moise. Though it displeased P. the congreg want such. P and his disciples are of no weight at all when the question is Judaism.
What Ideal is, see traff. In what sense I applied it is proved by my controversy 2d day after my arrival. I reiterate my thanks for your valuable services you will oblige me with 20 copies again, if not to late I remain gratefuly
your
J Eckman
Dr Fränkel Rabbi at Dresden is famous for Learning, Character
& Piety. He is true orthodox Rabbi though he introduced organ, choir & german prayers. It is he who some few weeks ago was mentioned in the asmonean to have stayed at Dr Adlers House in London. Dr F is one of the most famed men in germany. Berlin wished to elect him as Rabbi, this failed in the despotism of Prussia, he wanted some restriction under which the clergy labor re..moved, government would not do so. Through the tyrant would have been glad to have such a man at the head of the Jews of his Capital, see Fost Histo? Torme 12
Dr Jacks was co ? at Prag, in his ancient Synag exists an organ for several centuries as early as 1176 a new one was built. How old must the old one have been? See Shuldt A Herthumer Theil 4. Zunz? Gottesdienst bihe? Vorträge pag 476

Dr Sacko assented to a great temple that was to be built with organ, choir, german prayers
The king would not allow a spot where they waited. The revolution broke out and so the affair is dropped. Dr J. is a strict orthodox man. There is no Hebrew at all. I could here address authorities that would more than satisfy you. When you wrote so harshly against me some time ago I could have easily come out and shown you that nothing that has been done in the Synag is against our Relig. or against any din, but I would have been obliged to show it to the world. And If I can do no better than fear? how Hebrew might be produced? For if the Hebrew various it they will soon here and and there from a desire of innovation etc roughly attack all that is holy, as was done here. Men who know no 2? who neither know nor practice any Relig at all became reformer, green girls scold the Rabbis at vote for or against creeds and so I will rather be thought to be wrong than to do wrong
The great wickedness is not the deformed Synag: but it is.

That neither Bibl nor Rabb Law are observed
The whole treasures heaped by our nation marked and ridiculed
It was not Relig: at all in P.
his Hebrew, & Hebrew
To drive these pious men out of their property
To hurt the feelings of so many people and in the abrogation of Hebrew legally it is but Hebrew; but the feelings of of all who hear of it.
The unparalelled Hypocrisy
His plan to subvert every thing

Here was neither reform, we have all the prayers in hebrew except friday evening | prayer | Hymn & Hebrew is read Heb & then Engl Sabbat ?, 1 confessor ? the Hebrew, & Prayer to government in Engl

It is the relig life that I have to reform but in the Syng, nothing amiss has been done Had a Pious & good man been here of course nothing of the kind would have happened, as it could not be done without a rupture. Yet had a pious teacher been here and a party was desirous of ? and were not to be dissuaded from it. He would have proved his piety by his “life & protested against ? ? & tried by instruction to prepare the mind to ? changes. But here all was preposterous. No respect of persons, no reverence for what is sacred. Like a robber he came against our wise men with
I would rather leave teaching

a battle arc and clubs. And like a thief in the dark to steal their faith a good man would never propose changes, he would wait till asked if a congreg feels no want to curtail prayer, prayer cannot be too long. I cannot write so much.
What P & his men wanted at all in a Jewish Synag I do no know. But my adherent intended no harm
Mayer Lazarus several times assured me “That they intended nothing but to introduce order & decorum into the service to render it more attractive. As to a creed “They never? intended to change or alter, it was but by chance that it was fined up there it was only to have a “p?dent to the Decalogue.
Should I ? to reform the Congreg I shall not complain at all ? about the Syngag. And I am by no means to be blamed so fill up the place I will transcribe part of Hebrew Hebrew I wrote so fast is this the contents?

Identifier

LSTCAT_item93

Date

1851-08-20