Letter from to Isaac Leeser;March 14, 1851 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from to Isaac Leeser;March 14, 1851

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Date Created

14 March 1851

Location(s)

London

Philadelphia

Format

Letter. 4 page(s).

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

Hebrew

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3sb3xj7f/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3sb3xj7f

Physical Characteristics

Unlined Paper

Wax Seal

Manuscript

Is Part Of

The Dropsie College Isaac Leeser Collection at the Penn Libraries

content

London 10th ? 5611
14 March 1851
Revd. Isaac Leeser Philadelphia
My Dear Sir,
It was with no little anxiety that I daily looked for the arrival of our good friend Revd. Mr Isaacs (which took place this day a fortnight) both for himself as well as to obtain precise news from you it was shortly after on the Evening I had an interview with him—he dined with me on the Tuesday, and you may easily suppose that the chief topic on both meetings which truly interested me was your affair. He delivered me your letter. I am truly mortified at your present state and situation! Hebrew my dear brother I will exclaim, is this the reward after 20 years labour? Hebrew I am further wounded to find the result such of my letters such, so important, strongly argued, and indeed such feeling ones which I addressed Mr. A. Hart on your behalf Hebrew, my first one to him was with all the dignities & honors of Parnas, and indeed he must have communicated it to his colleagues & friends for on some of my observations he says this. "Neither contention or schism exist or is likely to exist in our midst and your letter is the first intimation to myself and the board of managers of such an event." Any passage in any part of my correspondence you are at full liberty to show only such passages which might be of advantage to you, but I solemnly protest that in no way whatever touching any individual such as Mr Morais &c (as he is a friend) and any triffling information must be kept sacred and in no way my name mingled; trusting to your honor and integrity that such passages at all times will be kept confidentially; Hebrew Our friend Isaacs he is a truly good & honest man I have known something of him before his departure for America, but my intimacy was then with his brother David, their father was a worthy person Hebrew Hebrew. Revd S I see is this day absent, gone to Holland to the same relative on his return to America he will give you a correct and precise account of our English Jews, that which I have pointed out to him, and he himself has witnessed the state of affairs; flattery, emptiness and similar saleable articles only;

no man in this world would I be so happy as to embrace and make my friend and companion like yourself—we have not your equal here who can work for the Jew cause as yourself, your learning, your information; but it is not a market for genuine Gold. They dont want it, anything brass, copper &c so that it has a gloss Hebrew as for literature dont talk of it. I know what my old friend the great Solomon Bennett suffered who had sterling works, was it not for the Christian friends would his work on the Temple & Engraving be out—or his judge by my small & triffling portion of the Hebrew which I merely published to put them to the trial, who came forward to uphold me and say let it published? it certainly was not Dedicated to some one—but made all my brethren poor & rich one; 1000 are spent to get honors & titles. I have sent you my Dr. Sir a small sermon through the hand of Mr. Hart which no doubt you have received. I have had no answer still from the said gentlemen on my second letter to him 19th Adar a reply to his remarks my conclusion to him was as follows "I addressed myself to you candidly as a person of high station and reputation, and also as a friend of Revd. Mr. Leeser of whom I have formed a very high opinion and for whom I entertain great respect, admiring his talents, and conceiving him to be a man worthy of honor and a Hebrew &c and with your own words "that He has done more for the Jews in America than any other Hazan." and who after 20 years in office, and now should be out of office, I cannot but regard not only with regret—but as a calamity." and I continued that even some little you might have been in the fault for publishing—I fully trusted & looked from him, and he might make use of my name to the whole of the congregation regarding you Hebrew the love they should cherish & entertain for a great man like yourself and who for 20 years instructed them the word of God. I hope some of the words may have an effect. I solemnly declare to you that I never felt for any one or God per your treatment. Hebrew—I would at once make friends with Mr. H. for really he Hebrew appears to have been your friend. I shall copy you his language in his letter 25th Shebat. "When at the time he wrote the article he was aware

that two of the three meetings were for special purposes & at which the members refused to allow any thing to be offered. (except for the purpose called) but has also spoken of me in a manner unbecoming a friend, let alone a friend of upwards of Twenty years standing, you will therefore perceive that I cannot, as you say I may "freely communicate with Mr. Leeser on the subject of your letter altho he has as you say remark cognizance of your intention to write me." you must excuse my long letters and in the manner they are wrote I am awaiting your immediate answer to this and let me know precisely how affairs stand. no doubt all the candidates are on the look out. In prayer to God may He be Hebrew of all your opponents Hebrew that you have been reelected in the sincere Hebrew wish of Hebrew Hebrew Hebrew As n? ? honor is such that I should not conceal ? ? thing from you, I deem it proper to send you a correct copy of ? ? in Mr. H letter to me, at the same time I must repeat any part depending on your honor you will make use of them to save you only but that my name be not mingled or to be made ?—I trust to you on this! "I now desire to state for your information that the late misunderstanding between Mr Leeser and this congregation tis between the ?pass of a nut shell, and Mr. Leeser can only blame himself (not his friend or the congregation) if he now finds that he has placed himself by his own obstinacy in so unenviable a position for a man of his high talents and learning" I expect your reply as soon as possible that some good has been effected by your party Hebrew

Revd. Isaac Leeser
Philadelphia
America

Identifier

LSDCBx1FF8_23

Date

1851-03-14