Letter from J. De La Motta to · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Location(s)

Philadelphia

Format

Letter. 4 page(s) on 2 sheet(s).

Letter

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

Physical Characteristics

Lined Paper

Fragment

Manuscript

Is Part Of

Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Isaac Leeser Collection

http://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124370244

content

for the "interment of such Israelites as may purchase lots there" are a ?ding to Mr Cohen the amount paid by him for encloseing it with a small wooden railing, the said portion to be subject as the rest, to the rules in a expectation prescribed by the city council, all this was done without the knowledge con--sent of the congregation or any of the constituted officers; a few moments after this Ordinance was thus hurried through, an obscure number of the Be? intro--duced a resolution to close up the congregational come--? Mr. Hertz a member of council being present im--mediately opposed it in such warmth as to induce the B? of Alderm the man of the resolution to withdraw it thus as you may suppose caused much excitement in the congregation, it is no doubt the object of the instigators of this outrageous and ? act to get the city council to close up on Beth Hyams? this I do not fear will be accomplished as it is on the outskirts of the city. This object no doubt is to force us out, to the Christian Cemetery for it is certainly are, Last Saturday after Mr Ramsela? has got through with his sermon he publickly an--swered from his place that this new cemetery would be consecrated this day. This came on me as well as others like a clap of thunder in a cloudless sky, he ? me a word of his intuition to do such an outrage upon the feelings of a large portion of the congregation the next day I called a meeting of the ?

and Mr. Resinsila? conduct came up on a motion for a resolution of censure. This was opposed ve--hemently by Mr Sol Cohen, and of course I came in for a large portion of his alone, to my regret the ? of the resolution withdrew it; so as I suppose that afterward will consecrate a service then at Judische in this country than has ever been a ? in this Country, who ever heard of a Beth hyan being under the control of a Christian Board, still this man who has been selected as an spiritual guide and who when he came here called himself an orthodox Jew, I think his Ortho--doxy more than Mr. P? for he practices what he preaches, but Mr R. comes with deceitful countenances; Now let me ask you my friend can I consistent with the feelings of a true Israelite retain my office with such a Hazan; he is to remove the body of his child from Charleston and bury him in that new burial place, and many who like the originator of this now ask to be buried in a "sustainable place" will remove the bodies of their deceased friends from its repose to this new place contrary to our law, now also to remain in office it would not permit them as they say they will do so at all hazards and I have no ? to present them committing a sin like that, it is but therefore for me to retire before they do. I have thus given you a statement

of facts I cannot tell you all I feel on the subject, it has made me such, It will very naturally be asked as soon as this outrage is known who was Parnas at the time and why did he permit it; will you my friend do my memory the justice should I then be removed from this world to tell the world the facts as here stated, and that I did all I could to prevent it and that having failed to do so, I resigned my station, held in a congregation which I ? my time many and sacrificed my health in aid of its pursuits. It grieves me beyond measure that for all my labors and ? anticipations such should be the result but I have the consolation of knowing that I have performed my duty; and I can leave my posn with clean hands. I have thus my friend unburdened myself to you and know that when the time comes and you should be in the land of the living you will do my memory justice. I perceive with much surprise from the proceedings of the late ? of the remains of Mr Town that you were a Delegate from Richmond. I suppose from what I saw in the Occident that Mr Hart and yourself were to be Delegates, from your city otherwise I should have been most happy to have appointed you to represent our congregation. Messrs A. Kursheedt

and Mr J Soria were the delegates appointed to represent us. The latter, being unwell could not go. I have writen you a long letter with a pardon of one ?, answer me at your leasure and believe me as ever Your sincere friend
J. De La Motta