Letter from Isaac Mayer Wise to Isaac Leeser;May 18, 1851

Title: Letter from Isaac Mayer Wise to Isaac Leeser;May 18, 1851
Author: Isaac Mayer Wise
Contributor: Isaac Leeser
Date Created: 18 May 1851
Location(s): Albany; Philadelphia
Format: Letter. 2 page(s) on 1 sheet(s).
Type: Letter
Language(s): English; Hebrew
Has Format: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3574g/manifest.json
Link to Colenda: https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3574g
Physical Characteristics: Unlined Paper; Manuscript
Is Part Of: Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Isaac Leeser Collection
content: Rev Mr Isaac Leeser
Dear Sir
Since I am very busy to day I must beg you to excuse me when I only acknowledge your labour of last weeks, and assure you that it grieves me to think that you will probably retire from public business; every one laboring in the cause of Judaism may say Hebrew.
Good news in Albany. My cause against Louis Spanier was decided on Hebrew before the Mayor's court of this City. I have fought the battle of all ministers in this country and the victory of th is ours.

The decisions of the Judge are
A minister elected by the majority of the Congregation can be deposed only by a vote of said majority, otherwise none dare prevent him or interfere with him in the discharge of his official duties.
All acts of a Hebrew Parnass without the consent of the majority of trustees are illegal
The meeting of the Congregation Beth-El on the 5. of September last is illegal and all resolutions passed are null and void, because 1. No notice was given, that resolutions shall will be passed offered regarding the minster of the Congregations, and still such resolutions were passed at said meeting; 2 motions were made and seconded to adjourn the meeting, which the chair refused to put to the meeting; in consequence of which the majority of the trustees after a delay of two hours anounced the meeting adjourned, to which the majority of the congregation responded and left the meeting; only 43 out of the 132 members of the Congregation remained and passed resolution concerning Dr. Wise,

The plaintiff Isaac M. Wise DD. was bound in duty to mount the pulpit on Sabbath next, September 7, as he usually did, and did so in a legal and orderly manner.
The defendant Louis Spanier had no right to interfere nor to stand at the pulpit.
The plain f defendant prevented prevented the plaintiff from the discharge of his duty by inflicting upon him blows and pushes.
The defendant is guilty of an insault & battery committed on a minister in the pulpit in the presence of his congregation.

The jury then retired and brought in a verdict of thousand dollars and costs.
I wish you publish these 7 points as the court decided, that I be justified before the world; let the world know, that not I but Louis Spanier created a riot in a Synagogue on the first day of Hebrew; let the world also know, that a Hebrew has no right to do harm to a minister. I have been defiled before the world and I do ask of you to restore me by publishing these facts, as the court confirmed them. I am responsible as to the truth of these facts; but I do not wish to give my name as correspondent.
My time forbids to write more.
Truely yours
Dr Wise
Albany May 18. 1851

The above text refers to Occident Volume 9 No. 7 page 381. Click here to view.
Identifier: LSKAP0232
Date: 1851-05-18

Part of Letter from Isaac Mayer Wise to Isaac Leeser;May 18, 1851

Isaac Mayer Wise, “Letter from Isaac Mayer Wise to Isaac Leeser;May 18, 1851”, 1851-05-18, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 7, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/66303