Letter from Jacob Rosenfeld to Isaac Leeser;August 20, 1850

Title: Letter from Jacob Rosenfeld to Isaac Leeser;August 20, 1850
Author: Jacob Rosenfeld
Contributor: Isaac Leeser
Date Created: 20 August 1850
Location(s): Charleston; Philadelphia
Format: Letter. 4 page(s).
Type: Letter
Language(s): English
Has Format: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3zc7sf1z/manifest.json
Link to Colenda: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3zc7sf1z
Physical Characteristics: Unlined Paper; Wax Seal; Manuscript
Is Part Of: The Dropsie College Isaac Leeser Collection at the Penn Libraries
content: Charleston 20th August 1850
Revd Isaac Leeser
Philadelphia
My dear Sir
Enclosed you will find, put in a poetical garb, one of those interesting tales of which the Talmud abounds, and whose simplicity and moral tendency may have some beneficial influence upon those of our people, who have no access to venerated books, which Israel claims as an inheritance from their pious ancestors, and the preservation of which has cost them so much. If you think them worth publishing in the Occident, and agreeable to you, I will use my leasure moments for the purpose of furnishing you with a series of them, if possible; one, monthly. You can head them, “Talmudical Tales.” Please let me have an answer to this. What do you think of Dr Wise's course? By the by, I know from good authority that he could produce here no Diploma, except the Hebrew. Upon which the Hazel Street congregation, with equal right doctorized Mr Eckman. It appears that the congregations, not satisfied with the simple Revd, have assumed the authority of conferring Doctordom upon any individual who happens to be their minister If a Hebrew bestowed by any Rabbi or Beth dun entitles the possessor to be considered Doctor of Divinity, (as Wise impertinently signed his name in the last occident) we may all assume it. No Rabbi in Germany, England, etc. is Doctor of divinity, nor do they assume the power of conferring it upon others. Drs Adler, Frankel, Geiger Raphael ect, are all Doctors of Phylosophy. If matters remain so, Dr Wise as well as the Hazel Street congregation will soon fabricate sufficient Doctors to colonize the world

The cause of orthodoxy is fast declining in this city. Pozenanskis resignation and Eckman's pretending to be a strict orthodox Jew, have charged affairs considerably. Many of those who were formerly Champions in our cause have found, after mature reflection, that all their zeal was based on party spirit, and by no means on true religious principles. Many say now Hebrew. The fact is, that infidelism and indifference have taken such root here, that, I apprehend they will never be erazed. Pozenanski left a deep, venomous string behind him which is calculated to poison the latest generations. You can form an idea of the Charleston orthodoxy, when ever Hebrew is neglected. Our Shochet is an old man, whose nervous temperament, together an occasional attack of Rheumatism causes his hands to tremble considerably, which according to our Law, disqualifies him from being Hebrew and yet with all my efforts, I could not induce the congregation even to have him examined, although he has not been examined for many years, and has had almost every year a severe spell of sickness. I know he is incapable. Besides, he never examines the lungs by sight, he is satisfied by putting his hands in the animal and declaring Hebrew, a proceeding which is entirely against law, as it is an impossibility for any man, no matter how proficient he may be, to declare an animal to be Hebrew without examining it closely, Hebrew. Many other things have transpired lately which convince me that Orthodoxy is loosing ground rapidly, And that the congregation Shearit Israel may soon die an untimely death. I think nothing can save it, and if matters remain as they are, and as they will probably be, my stay here will be

of short duration. I hope that your affairs will terminate more satisfactorily than you anticipated, at least this the opinion of your friends here. It is at the same time hoped, and expected that you will yield to conciliatory measures. Hoping that this may reach you in the enjoyment of good health and contentment, and wishing you Hebrew I remain
Yrs Truly
Jacob Rosenfeld

The
Revd Isaac Leeser
Philadelphia
Identifier: LSDCBx1FF7_16
Date: 1850-08-20

Part of Letter from Jacob Rosenfeld to Isaac Leeser;August 20, 1850

Jacob Rosenfeld, “Letter from Jacob Rosenfeld to Isaac Leeser;August 20, 1850”, 1850-08-20, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 7, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/66194