Letter from Isaac Leeser to Zalma Rehine;January 01, 1837 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from Isaac Leeser to Zalma Rehine;January 01, 1837

Author

Isaac Leeser

Contributor

Zalma Rehine

Location(s)

Philadelphia

Format

Letter. 4 page(s) on 2 sheet(s).

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3d21s97q/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3d21s97q

Physical Characteristics

Unlined Paper

Manuscript

Is Part Of

Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Isaac Leeser Collection

content

Philadelphia Menachem 28th. 5597
Dear Uncle.
In Rachel's letter to Abby I scrawled a few lines, but as Mr. Moses does not go till tomorrow I have resolved, to write a little more in detail on the matter just now engrosses naturally a good deal of my attention. The congregation consists of about 48 members, seven or eight of whom are not in town or perfectly in a ?. I or Mr Lyons may be counted sure;

John Moss
Samuel Lyons
Joseph Asch

Frederic Samuel
Simeon Dreyfous
Aaron Asch

Hyman Pollock
Joseph L. Moss
David Samuel

E. L. Moss

10.
Probable

Abr. M. Cohen
E. L. Cohen
J. A. Phillips

Possible

Joseph S. Cohen
S. M. Cohen
Isaiah Nathans

Samuel M. Soloman

– in all seventeen 17.
For me certain

Hyman Gratz,
Joseph Gratz,
Samuel Hays

Isaac B. Phillips
Joseph Phillips
Jacob Phillips

Elias Hyneman
Ab. E. Israel
J. P. Hackenburg

Ab. Hart,
S. Morris
Sol Moses

Isaac Jacob Levy
David Peroa ?

If at meeting which however is doubtful whe-ther they will attend

David Nathan,
Jacbob Nathan,
Liman Gratz

Jacob Gratz,
Isaac Moses,
N. Is. Hays

Barnet Eylinge

7
Doubtful altogether

Lewis Allen,
Zeligman Phillips,
Aaron Levi,

Reuben Etting,
Ern? Etting
Ab. Elkin

6

In all forty four members Absent and I believe no with us Joseph J. Andrews & David G. Seinar; Raphael De Cordova; absent Jacob De Lan?, and Levi M. Goldsmit, who if present would be for me, and be certain at meeting. Of those ten put down for Lyons, it is possible but hardly likely that Joseph & E. L. Moss will not be present; and the Cohens, altho' they are somewhat bitter against me, may perhaps be gained, if Mr. Gratz can get a chance of speaking to them after the Lyons have done all they can. Joseph Cohen is in my favour, but Abraham has somehow conceived an opinion that I have slighted him, but I can freely say, that it is without foundation. He has ? me for about two years, and I never once saw him even at his own house during all this time. No doubt some expenses have been busy with him as well as with others, and he is about such a man, as can be influenced of his pride is flattered. His brothers hardly dare to disobey him, so that if they will not vote for Lyons they will perhaps stay at home, unless Mrs Gratz & her brother, or I have mentioned already can induce them to do as they should and would do, were it not for the friendship of Samuel Lyons.__Old Mr. Nathans is calculated on by them, but I hardly think, that he has authorized them to use his name, on the contrary his expressions are often the whole in my favour. Altamont Phillips never was for me, altho' to all appearance there never was a difference between us. Plock once owed me fifteen Dollars for 18 months, and because he had to pay he is angry there four pay. Dreyfous never was for me; why I never heard. The brothers Asch last year were busy to cut my salary down and thought them at variance with the Lyons' have since been flattered over. Mr. Moss & his sons are likewise his son in law D. Samuel & his brother are of course for the family.__But those on my

side put down on certain have been uniform supporters except Jacob Phillips & Elias Hyneman, as also Joseph Phillips & I. J. Levy, who last year gave such votes as caused all the present difficulty; of them four had supported Abraham Hart's resolution, and not been fooled by Mr John Moss I would have been elected for three years; but Mr. M. pro-fessing that he never wished to see me out of office, they believed him, and were caught in the cunning trap of annual elections, in order as was said to keep the officers defendant, but in truth to make room for Lyons. S. Morris has been friendly, though I know not whether he ever gave a vote for me, I rather think the opposite is the case. Isaac B. Phillips never attended meeting, but now he has been roused by the monstrous injustice the Moss family intend. Simon Gratz likewise was never present at an election these 8 years, altho' it is said he has now expressed his intention of attending. David & Jacob Nathans, son of Isaiah may perhaps be brought to the meeting by David Peroa, as also Samuel M. Solomon, who is counted on by Lyons; Lewis Allen I call doubtful because he is a brother in law of Lyons, and has not said any thing from which his intentions can be known. Mr. Elkin never goes to meeting and then he cannot be depended upon because he speaks fair to all. Jacob Gratz altho' a staunch friend has latterly almost withdrawn from congregational business & it is doubtful whether he will be in town and of whether his sister can make him go down; yet doubtless he will be roused, and if so, he will cast a vote in my favour.__B. Eylinge? is lame of grat?, but yet if urged by my friend may go for me, or otherwise for Lyons; he is like Elkin smooth spoken. Isaac Moses & Isaac Hays never go to meeting, yet Miss Gratz may induce them to attend for that day.—Zalegman Phillips has never been for me, and even if he votes for me, he may do it in such a manner as to destroy all good effects from it. Aaron Levy is also very doubtful, altho'

he is said to have spoken in my favour._ Remember Etting is calculated in for Lyons because I would not attend the funeral of his grandchild; yet I believe this to be false, as he would hardly so much offend his relatives, who always have been kind to him; yet I should think he will not go to meeting. His son Gratz you know has been crazy, and if he is even well, it is hardly to be supposed that he will dare to expose himself to the excitement of a public meeting. I candidly believe that I have given you a fair statement, and you will see that Lyons will have certain from 8-10; I about 14, doubtful when present 19; doubtful whether they will come 10; now if we divide these 20 and give him 20, the rest for me 24; it is certainly; by no means ascertained who will be elected; but if there is a full meeting, it is not likely that he can be carried. The only fear is a thin meeting, when 12 or 14 determined men can do as they please. But persons have so often publicly said, that Mr. Lyon's conduct was shameful, that one would suppose in reason, that it would unite all, who are in my favour; but time only can show. He may be elected, but if he is, it is by management and such tricks as he must be ever ashamed of._They have also avowed to get scholar for him, without asking me, whether it would interfere with my interest._Last Sundry? week I called at Mr. Allen's and left word, that if Mr Lyons would let me see his certificates I would let him read. The certificates were left in Mr A's hands, never. theless? they continued running to members, and at length obtained g? Even to Sol. Moses they sent Joseph Moss & Isaac Phillips, not daring to go themselves; but he told them, they ?ebah belong to me, and I alone have the power to dispose of the prayers. The signers to the petition requesting the Parnass to appoint (whether I would or not) were Mr Nathans, E. L. Cohen, T. Samuel, Hyman Pollock, E. Hyneman, A. Elkin, Aaron Asch, B. Lytinger & I think Aaron Luz; but I am not certain. Hyneman & Nathans declared they merely did it to give him a chance, but nothing further. He read

Identifier

LSKAP0175

Date

1837-01-01