Letter from Gershom Kursheedt to Isaac Leeser;May 03, 1853

Title: Letter from Gershom Kursheedt to Isaac Leeser;May 03, 1853
Author: Gershom Kursheedt
Contributor: Isaac Leeser
Date Created: 3 May 1853
Location(s): New Orleans; Philadelphia
Format: Letter. 2 page(s) on 1 sheet(s).
Type: Letter
Language(s): English
Has Format: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3cr5nh8b/manifest.json
Link to Colenda: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3cr5nh8b
Physical Characteristics: Unlined Paper; Manuscript
Is Part Of: Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Isaac Leeser Collection
content: New Orleans May 3.5613
My dear friend
Yours 20th ? came to hand a couple of days ago and I proceed to answer its most important portion viz. I spoke for a considerable length of time to Mr. Touro in your behalf stating what I think he ought to do for you and other as is my practice with him, left him to ponder the matter. Meeting with him again next day I asked him if he had come to any conclusion in the premises upon which he replied that (as I happen to know to be the case just now) he had not enough money on hand to pay pressing demands, but he added that he had a balance of $300 in the hands of David Hart Esq New York which he would order him to remit to you. Now whether he intends to send you $700 from here or not I can not say. I did not like to press him on this point because you know he is a strange man, and intending to serve you, I might have injured your claims. I choose to infer that he will send you the 700 and after some

little time elapses I shall inquire of him if he has written to Mr Hart & if he has sent you the 700. I think he will do it sooner or later.
I thank you for the information given in your letter. Your note to Mr Isaac Hart I duly delivered. With regard to publishing Dias's letter you will meet with poor support here. I suppose 20 or 30 copies could be disposed of here in both congregations provided the price does not exceed 50 to 75 cents.
Mr de Sola of Canada sent some 40 copies of English's work ? and a number of pamphlets on the Sermon on the Mount. I believe about 10 of the former only have been sold altho' Gutheim & myself have tried to keep the sale.
Your Book, Bibleleft with me by Mr Nathan I will bear in mind altho' I fear it will be a long time before I can sell them.
When your new Bible comes out have the copy which I ordered for myself strongly and handsomely bound and my name printed on the cover

a few dollars more or less you need not consider in my case.
I am still in correspondence with Mr Eckman about China. His advices from Dr. Adler are unsatisfactory and yet I think I know the Jews in this country too well, to believe that anything will be done on this side of the Atlantic. There are some disturbances in China & throughout the East & I pray the finger of Providence may yet point out a release for the unfortunate of our faith in the Chinese Empire. Oh Leeser if I had the wealth of some of my intimate friends. What can I do? I assure you no one knows how much I have to do here in every way, in everything connected with Judaism many are the hours that I feel so sick at heart that if I could I would go and live beyond the reach of man or at least of my own people. I am poor and as yet have not been able to pay off debts honorably incurred in my previous unfortunate business. It is a great question in my mind if I have the right to do the little charity which I do whilst I

am in debt; and then my very manner of living, which is some- what expensive and which nevertheless I ought to continue for very many good reasons, compels me to curtail at times the amounts which I would otherwise give away. But I hope to continue to prosper in the world in order to extend the benefits which I ought bestow on others.
If I do not hear before long of a proper person to fill the office of Minister to our congregation, I think I shall propose to the men here to alter our advertisement simply to call for a first rate Portuguese Hazan and this I will do because I see now that the majority care more for the singing than for the preaching— I have found it imperative upon me even at this late day to pursue the course recommended by Mr Calhoun ? “Masterly inactivity.” I have too much dead weight to contend against & after struggling for an end for nearly a score of years I have now to yield, till a new generation arises which so far as I can I am impregnating with the broad views & philanthropy of the Mosaic teachings. My sister, Brother & theirs send you fond greetings. I am yours as ever faithfully,
Gershom K.
Identifier: LSKAP0055
Date: 1853-05-03

Part of Letter from Gershom Kursheedt to Isaac Leeser;May 03, 1853

Gershom Kursheedt, “Letter from Gershom Kursheedt to Isaac Leeser;May 03, 1853”, 1853-05-03, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 7, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/66257