Letter from Joseph L. Halevi to · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Location(s)

Philadelphia

Format

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

Letter

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

Physical Characteristics

Typescript

Is Part Of

Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Isaac Leeser Collection

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

content

The bros grim
Hebrew
"Better is open reproof than secret love"
(Proverbs 27)
(Ever since I came here this portion of America, the city of Cleveland, about 3 years ago, there came into my hand the book of the "Occident", containing all the interests of the Israelites of these lands, words of truth and peace, announcing the news of various communities, their man-ners and customs, and gathering also valuable speeches for the explana-tion of the Scriptures, according to the depth of their meaning, and I rejoiced as over great wealth to see the honored ones and the heads of the communities arousing within themselves that jealousy which is dear in the sight of God, namely the jealousy among writers through which wisdom is increased).
Note—the rest of this, which is evidently intended for the "Occident", is a learned exposition on the virtue of humility. The author seems to be well versed in Talmudic and rabbinic learning. He quotes extensively and on almost every line. The only passage of interest seems to be one on the second page, in which the author gives the reason for writing the article. It runs as follows:-
Not long ago I read in the "Occident" for the month of Shebat just past, a letter by the editor. It is long and valuable. In it he argues with his opponenet, the Rabbi Solomon Jacobs; the latter had complained bit-terly about him in the "Asmonean" because he had sent him his address which had already been printed, and the editor of the "Occident", after praising him for his learning, had nevertheless found something to cri-ticise about him. This is the reason why Mr. Jacobs speaks harshly about the editor, saying that his intention was to make him disdainful in the eyes of the people and to hurt his dignity. He upbraids him with insulting words and accuses him of not knowing the source of his address, and says that he is a student who forgot what he has studied or that he does not believe in the tradition of the sages. He bends his bow to shoot his sharp arrows into the heart of the editor of the "Occident", and sharpens his sword, a sword of vengeance, to reveal his shame in all the corners of the lands of America. Mr. Leeser answers him with words

2
of peace, that it was never his intention to disgrace him, and, at the same time, shows his learning in the explanation of the verse in all its branches, about which they are arguing,—According to the grammar of the Hebrew language and by drawing from all the wells of the great ones of our faith. I, knowing thesmallness of my worth, do not come to decide between them. For, as I said above, it is possible for both to be correct. Besides, the matter does not touch upon a law of action and among us it is a rule that one must not question a Midrashic interpretation. But for this reason my soul sighs in secret, that the fire of dissension has broken out among the profound scholars and the flame of quarrels has gone up to heaven. Instead of literary jealousy there has come its de-spised sister, the jealousy of honor, the envy of man for his friend. Mr. Jacobs has opened wide his mouth and prides himself by saying, "My lips are with me, I shall make harsh my tongue, the time for peace has set, the day of vengeance has arrived", for this reason the heart of every under-standing man aches. Who has seen such things in Israel? This is not the way of the Torah, whose ways are the ways of sweetness, and all its paths are peace, etc.
The letter is signed Joseph Halevi, merchant in the city of Cleveland.