Letter from Isaac Leeser to Congregation Mikveh Israel;May 15, 1840

Title: Letter from Isaac Leeser to Congregation Mikveh Israel;May 15, 1840
Author: Isaac Leeser
Contributor: Congregation Mikveh Israel
Date Created: 15 May 1840
Location(s): Philadelphia
Format: Letter. 12 page(s) on 12 sheet(s).
Type: Letter
Language(s): English
Has Format: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p30z71h1x/manifest.json
Link to Colenda: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p30z71h1x
Physical Characteristics: Unlined Paper; Manuscript
Is Part Of: The Jesselson Family Collection of Isaac Leeser Material
content: To the Parnass and members
of the congregation Mikveh Israel
of Philadelphia
Gentlemen
At one of your meetings in the early part of this year, I asked for permission to be present at the meeting and to address you personally in relation to and in ex-planation to of matters which are, as I conceive, of great in-terest to the congregation on the one side and to me, as your minister, on the other. For circumstances had occurred, and over which I had myself not the least control, which had excited feelings that ought not to exist between us, and I fondly hoped that a mutual interchange of opinions might tend to enable us to come to a better understanding, and to proceed in future with perfect harmony and mutual good will. But a construction of the by-law, which specifies that none but members & their sons over the age of thirteen years should be present at any meeting of the congregation, that the congregation could on no account permit any other than these persons to be present at their deliberations, deprived me of this pleasure, and at the same time was the cause, as I truly believe, that the unimportant difference of opinion between us has not been long since satisfactorily settled; for I honestly think that a few hours free & candid conversation would have exhibited things in a light very different from what some now view it, or at least formerly did view it. Understanding therefore, that a meeting has been called in relation to the reengagement or reelection of the Hazan, I take the liberty of sending you my own views in writing, and I shall endea-vour to condense as much as possible, not wishing to fatigue you with listening to a long harangue, or to introduce matters not relevant to the subject. Let me premise the ardent hope, that every member of the congregation in proceeding to deliberate upon the matter before the meeting will discard every thing like prejudice and partiality, (and endeavour for once to throw personal dislike or friendship aside) and vote in a manner which he can conscientiously hereafter look upon as the best conducive to the welfare of the congregation and to the promotion of the spread among us of that heavenly religion which we have received; and lastly act, not as opponents or supporters of the present incumbent of the office, but as men and Israelites anxious for the general welfare of their faith.

2.
To come to a proper understanding of my connection with the congregation I will briefly give a short account of my stay in this city, since it is highly probable that some of the facts may have escaped the recollection of the members. It is now nearly eleven years ago that through the partiality of several residents of Philadelphia I was applied to to become a candidate for the office of Hazan then recently vacant through the death of the Revd. A. I. Keys. I at that time lived with my uncle at Rich-mond in capacity of a mercantile clerk; I had the confidence of many persons in the state of Virginia and the city of Richmond, and if I had en-tered in business for myself my chances of success would have been as good, to say the least, as that of many young men, who since then that time have earned an honourable independence and respectable standing. I had at that time just passed my twenty-second year, my health, though never very robust, was better than it is now and has been for many years past; and though young and inexperienced I was not dazzled with the prospect of obtaining a high & responsible office. On the contrary, I not only expressed, but truly felt a want of confidence in my abilities to discharge properly the new duties to be expected from the situation of a minister properly; and for a long while I absolutely refused to permit my name to be used. My friends were not satisfied, they urged, that the education I had received, and the talents which their partiality ascribed to me, pointed out to me a different calling from that of a merchant; they appealed to my feelings as an Israelite who ought to labour in the propagation of true religion among his brethren; and to my want of a riper years age which I opposed to my fitness for the office, the averred that that would correct itself every day, as daily my increase of age would entitle me to more respect. Without being satisfied that my happiness would be increased by a change of pursuits, I left, being over-persua-ded by the arguments of those who were older, wiser and more expe-rienced than myself, I left the paternal roof of my uncle about the middle of August 1829 to go away persons entirely strangers to me, and upon whom I had no farther claims than the community of faith given to the humblest of Israel's sons upon the most exalted I had fondly hoped, that if the sufferages of the members would call me to preside over their worship and to appeal in their behalf to the throne of Grace, every thing like disunion?, want of confidence, or the wising up with worldly matters, such as regards salary, emolu- ments &c would have been banished. But I regret that such was not the case. In the letter sent to me by the committee of corres-pondence, consisting I believe of Messrs R. De Cordova, L. M. Goldsmidt and

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Isaiah Nathans it was distinctly stated, that the salary attached to the office was $1000 Dollars, and in fact Messrs Carvalho & Keys both received this amount, and I hear moreover that it was understood, that the latter gen-tleman found that amount entirely insufficient for his support. Yet after I had been here a few days I was waited upon by several gentlemen, one of whom your respected Treasurer, who represented to me that the funds of the congregation were then too low to allow the payment of the above sum. I therefore authorized an election for one year with a voluntary surrender of two hundred Dollars; but when the report was afterwards brought to me that I had been elected by a vote of 27 to 7 for two years at $800 per annum, I also consented though against my original intention, thus proving that I was not unwilling to make a pecuniary sacrifice where I thought it was requisite. During the first year, how-ever, of my residence here, various unpleasant things took place, which it is needless to call to mind again; and altho' matters were smoothed over again, still the report reached a distant congregation, that my situation was not very pleasant here. Therefore overtures were made to me by several influential members from that place to take the office of Hazan vacant there. About the same time a meeting of this congregation was held, at which it was understood that it had been left to a committee to reengage me at $800 per annum for five years. As this amount was evidently less than I had a right to expect, I did not think myself at liberty altogether to decline a proposal made to me from abroad; yet I made such exorbitant demands as almost to preclude any idea of their being agreed to; one was an election with-out being a candidate or going on to be heard beforehand; second, one election for life; third, an absence of three months every year, and lastly to be permitted to stay in this congregation three months after the expiration of my time of service, to enable them to provide a suitable successor. Strange enough, all but the two first demands (and they in a modified degree to correspond with the laws of the above Kahal) would have been accep-ted, if I may put any confidence in the assertions of the heads of the con-gregation, if in case I had consented to accept office there; but as their election was to be held in July, and as the meeting of this congregation would not take place till September, I declined soon all farther correspondence, as I could not conscientiously leave this place before I had made every effort at reconciliation. It will therefore appear, that whether I could or could not have been elected elsewhere, which must remain a matter of doubt, I at all events declined leaving

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hastily, though I was offered more advantageous terms elsewhere were I asked here, and it was very doubtful whether your body would recede from their vote which had been adopted after mature deliberation. If then I put the congregation in danger of being unprovided with a minister, I put myself equally in jeopardy of losing a situation, as there was no vacancy at that precise period in any city in this country, and it is not so easy, as some may imagine, to change one's occupation, and that at a moment's warning.
The congregation however found my reasons, addressed to them correct & cogent, and they so altered their vote as to elect me for five years at one thousand Dollars. So matters remained for the whole period, till a reelection became necessary, when although there was no opposing candidate, still I was only reelected, as I heard a year afterwards, by a bare majority, despite that there was no charge of misconduct or incompetence against me. Nay more than this, after a resolution had been amended to read “for three years at $1000 per annum,” the resolution as amended was rejected, and consequently there was properly speaking no minister elected to offici-ate during the latter part of the holydays, a circumstance which evidently must be mortifying to one who had for seven years faith-fully done his duty, and highly prejudicial to the interest of the congregation, as it was thus in my power, if I had chosen to display a revengeful feeling, to leave the congregation absolutely unpro-vided at the very season of the holy festivals. After the holydays I understand a meeting was held, and an election made for one year; but by some oversight I was never officially notified of this fact, and I continued to act under the request made to me by the Parnass that I might not till a meeting could be held. I com-menced at that time the publication of the Discourses I had delivered at the synagogues in this place and New York, which was followed by the printing of the entire prayer book according to our Minhag. These labours required a space of about seventeen months for their completion, and I am happy to mention incidently that so far the usefulness of the one work and the necessity of the other have been amply proved by the support which as been extended from different parts of this & other countries. But during their progress another election for Hazan became necessary, and now for the first time since my first election an active opposition was exhibited, and votes were openly and privately solicited for a

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gentleman who had lately arrived from a foreign country. If any influence was used by my friends to induce any one to vote for me, it was done without my knowledge, and I may here remark that I never asked for any man's vote since the first day of my being called to come here, thinking that in elections, particularly to religious offices the candidate ought to be removed as far as possible from the humiliation of receiving a vote as a personal favour which might otherwise be denied to his merits or qualifications. After a very ani-mated contest the congregation honoured me for the fourth time with their suffrage, but now by a decided majority of all the members of the congregation. But I regret that I am compelled to notice that this renewed mark of confidence was accompanied by a redirection of my salary, when I had every right to expect, that you would have taken the opportunity when voting me in again to increase my income, as since my first coming here your finances had so much improved and the member of worshippers so greatly increased. Why this reduction was made every member knows as well as I can tell him, and I do not wish to revive unpleasant feelings by expressing my own sentiments of a proceeding which operated so inju-riously upon my interests. Enough the congregation thought fit to fix the election for three years at 800 Dollars per annum; but when a committee consisting of two members notified me of the result I answered, that I would accept the office but leave the salary to be farther adjusted at a future meeting. A special meeting was called for general purposes, but no quorum was present; of course the committee were not able to report my answer as their doing so would have answered no purpose whatever. Before now the regular meeting of the congregation came round, a bond was offered to me for signature (the first that ever had been drawn up since my holding office) which stipulated that I would serve three years at $800 pr annum. As I thought that the reduction ought not to have been made, and that the congregation at a later meeting would, as I conceived, see ample reason to amend their vote, I unhesitatingly refused signing except conditionally for one year, and the other two to be left for future adjustment. I accordingly wrote the letter to the Parnass which I believe has been read to you, and also sent such a bond for his approval, as accorded with my own views.

6.
You will please to bear in mind, that I was engaged in a work of great magnitude and importance, and which involved an outlay of several thousand Dollars, which would assuredly have detained me in the city for a while year, whether I had been in office or not. I stated this both in words and in writing to the Parnass, but he conceived it as his duty to refuse the bond I offered, and to insist upon the one which had been tendered to me. It was in fact, that I should resign, or sign a bond which I never could conscientiously assent to. I therefore refused positively for about four weeks. But then reports were spread, in fact the Parnass told me so himself, that a meeting would be called, and that my want of confidence in the congregation would doubtfully so much operate against me, as to prevent any vote in my favour being obtained. This however had no influence upon me, believing myself in the right; and there was then the gentleman who, had been the opposing candidate yet in the city, and consequently my not serving would have left the congregation the choice of a person who has since been elevated to the ministry of two respectable congregations. But appeals were made to my feelings ?, whether I could consent to have those I had served so long, and that besides that there was entertained such a prejudice against the above gentleman by many members, that they would not vote for him; and thus the congregation would be placed by my obstinacy, as it was termed, to be without a minister and that disunion would be the inevitable consequence. Besides this I ought to trust to the honour and good will of the congregation and that doubtlessly at the next meeting ample justice would be done to me. It may have been a weakness in me to recede from my first purpose, yet if I have erred, I erred for the sake of peace. However this may be, I referred the whole matter to the judgment of my honoured uncle, whom you nearly all know and respect, and I told him that I would abide by his advice. So I did; in a few days I got a letter from him advising me to accede to the demand made upon my forbearance; I did press my purpose, I signed the bond, and I believe that no one can say that either since then or before I did otherwise than faithfully discharge my duty; not because I had signed a bond, but because I wish to do what is incumbent on me without faltering or evasion. I had however good reasons for believing that the congregation would have recon-sidered their vote, and not regarded the bond in any other light than that of a peace-offering; but I deceived myself, a bargain it was considered, and so it has remained to this day. I did not tell you, how galling

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such a proceeding has been to my feeling, not for the sake of the amount involved but because it makes by implication the service in the house of God one of mere trade, “who shall serve the cheapest.” If I might be allowed to judge, the congregation ought to choose the most competent, and allow him a sum commensurate with their ability to give, and not according to what he might be willing to take. I therefore last autumn wrote to the congregation stating what I expected of them; and I leave it to their nonsense of propriety whether my views are right or wrong.
For the future I have to state the following. Experience has proved that the salary originally promised me is not enough for a moderate support of a genteel decent appearance. Other congregations not more numerous or at least not greatly so, and not having much more extensive means, give their Hazan a house and from $1200 to 1800 salary per annum, besides perquisites which are larger or smaller according to circumstances. More-over in every instance elections have been made during good behaviour. We have all learned from observation, that a small minority can at any election render the result very uncertain, and besides constant reelections for short periods weakens the attachment of the minister to the congregation. He knows not whether all his honest services will render him sufficiently popular to insure him in his situation and every days longer continuance in office disqualifies him more for other pursuits if he should have to resort to them if in case he should be discarded. It is no argument to say, that such a result is unlikely, as it is within the range of probability; and the constant harrassing of the mind does not pro-mote either contentment or good will to others. Some may say, a minister of religion ought to be above such thoughts, his mind should seek for heavenly support; it is true that there is some sinfulness mixed up with all feelings of discontent; still your minister is a man like yourselves, he has feelings like yourselves, and if he is injured and his mind is distorted he must necessarily feel discontent even if he tries to overcome it. The very thing that he has something to forget and to forgive destroys his usefulness in part, and greatly militates against his inward peace. This can be avoided, and it therefore ought to be done. An amiable arrangement between us can easily be arrived at, if you only endeavour to

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convince yourselves, that the Hazan as an individual has some rights and consequently some little to say about the disposal of his services, no less than the congregation have as a body and as much as they are empowered to select one to serve them, in whom they can place confidence
In consideration of all this I now notify the congregation, that I am willing to continue in their services if they allow me the yearly salary of twelve hundred and fifty dollars. This amount never to be reduced whilst I continue in office. And if the congregation are at any time willing to increase this amount, that they never-theless shall not be empowered to demand any other duties than those hitherto rendered unless by mutual consent. On this condition I must and do absolutely insist.
With regard to the continuance of office I make the following proposition: The election to be, if the congregation think proper for an inde-finite period; I not to be allowed to resign without giving six months previous notice, and the congregation to be at liberty to discharge me at any time if an entire a clear majority of all the members either in or out of meeting shall send a written recognition to that effect either to the Parnass and board or to myself, as I never wish to hold office unless it be by the consent of the majority. I know that I subject myself more to the control of the congregation than by the mode of electing for a stated period; but still it will then be out of the power of a non-resident office-seeker to disturb the harmony of the congregation periodically at the recurrence of every reelection, by not having any incentive or excuse to offer himself as a candidate, for though I may succeed in being elected over such an opponent, it is nevertheless highly unpleasant to be under the necessity of succeeding to the disappointment of another worthy man, and such alone it is evident will offer himself to your suffrage. Besides this, if the election stands till annulled by the congregation, & as it is barely possible that a removal will be made except for good cause: the incumbent will and must feel himself more at home, and his mind more disposed to devote himself to his duties, than under the arrangement hitherto pursued, where he is liable to be sent adrift with or without reason whenever his stated period elapsed. According to my view of the case therefore, I can see many cogent reasons in favour of the proposal I now make to the congregation, & none of any force against it. For it differs in this from an election during good behaviour, that in the latter case the incumbent can hardly be removed except with great difficulty, unless at his own option, and in accordance with my proposition, whenever the majority changes against him.

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If therefore a more worthy man should be within your reach, you can ap-point him to supercede me, no matter when this opportunity may offer itself. And my giving six months notice before resignation will leave you ample time to get a fit successor, as in a late instance in a neighboring city a new Hazan was elected in thirty days after the burial of his predecessor.
Another consideration is that up to this period I have been four times elected, twice when there were opposing candidates; in all I have been nearly eleven years in your service; of the degree of my fitness all of you have had am-ple opportunity of judging, and whatever imperfections of character, qualifications, temper, or behaviour I may be accused of, you have long since known. No doubt I have given offence very often; but I may freely say, that knowingly and wilfully I never offended any one. But even if I had done so, and that you had collectively and individually much to forgive: still you ought to reflect that during so long a period many unpleasant occurrences must have fallen to my lot; and if I have been found wanting in the hour of trial, I can be accused of no greater fault than any other of my fellow-creatures. At all wants you know me thoroughly just as I am; and surely it is high time that I be assured whether Philadelphia is to be my permanent home or not. I am now past thirty three years old, and I ought to be no longer harrassed about my future prospects; I am content with humble means, but I should like to hold them not subject to the constant caprice or change of dispositions to which all public assemblies are liable, and none more so than religious corporations. I will not appeal to your good feelings on account of past services; as I did have done no more than my duty, although I assumed many more details than my predecessors did. All I claim merit for is an honesty of intentions, and a fearlessness in the discharge of my duties, without regarding my own personal interests. This being the case, I will leave it to yourselves to determine whether if I am re-elected, the engagement should not be for an indefinite period, subject to the limitations specified above.
Other matters, to which I should like to call your attention I will leave till the regular meeting of the congregation, not wishing to mix up my own situation with matters not strictly relevant to the present subject. In conclusion let me again earnestly exhort

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you all to judge kindly of my faults, and not to expect perfection from one so frail as myself. One thing you may believe me, that I have had a great deal to forgive, and hardly any one can judge of the bitterness which has often been mingled in my cup since I have lived among you. It is in your power, gentlemen, to sweeten a little the course of life of one to whom sorrow is no stranger. If you resolve to reelect me in accordance with my just wishes, I shall as formerly endeavour to devote whatever abilities I have received from the Creator to the faithful discharge of the duties incident to my station. But if you decline to reelect me, I shall have the consolation that I have staid among you as long as it was in my power to do so, and that I did not leave my post whilst I could hold it with honour to myself and usefulness to others. I certainly am ambitious; but my ambition will be amply satisfied, if with a moderate income suitable to my calling, I am permitted, without fear of a malign influence from abroad or at home to sign myself, and to be the Hazan of the congregation of Philadelphia.
Yours respectfully
Isaac Leeser.
Philaa. Friday May 15th Iyar 12th 5600

Not to be opened unless there be a quorum present; if no meeting is held, it is to be returned.
To the Parnass & Members
of the Congregation Mikveh Israel
of
Philadelphia

Address to congregation by
Revd. Isaac Leeser
May 15th Iyar 12th 5600
(1840)
Identifier: LSTCAT_item7
Date: 1840-05-15

Part of Letter from Isaac Leeser to Congregation Mikveh Israel;May 15, 1840

Isaac Leeser, “Letter from Isaac Leeser to Congregation Mikveh Israel;May 15, 1840”, 1840-05-15, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 7, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/65884