Letter from Kalman Frischman to Isaac Leeser;December 23, 1855 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from Kalman Frischman to Isaac Leeser;December 23, 1855

Author

Kalman Frischman

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Location(s)

Boston

Philadelphia

Format

Letter. 5 page(s) on 5 sheet(s).

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

Hebrew

Physical Characteristics

Unlined Paper

Manuscript

Is Part Of

Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Isaac Leeser Collection

content

Zalman Frischman
Boston. Dec. 23, 1855
Mr. Isai Leeser:
Very honored Sir, I certainly do not want would not be compelled you, dear sir, to be burdened with this letter, had I not heard from many people of your straight forwardness and true humanitarianism as you spread it before the masses fully exemplify it in your preaching. That is what encouraged me to write. I, therefore, presume to rely upon your good under-standing and your subsequent conviction and present to you my most humble request. I want to do so as briefly as possible and not burden you with many words and therefore this is my story:
About five years ago I was forced by misfortune to leave my fatherland, Hungary, along with my family. Quite depressed and without any thing, I arrived in Boston. A terrible misfortune might have over taken me had not Herr Jacob Sachs and his wife exerted all their powers and protected me and my six small children from destruction. That therefore is the scene and some what more elaborate picture in which several characters are portrayed. I transmitted to Herr Isaac Wise in Cincinnati with the urgent request that he use it in his German newspaper. I am enclosing herewith a copy of my two letters to Herr Wise for your reading. "And behold the reaping season is past, the summer is ended, and I have waited in vain". I sent another letter to Herr Wise in which I most politely requested

him to return to me my short work, "And behold the autumn passed, and that which I sought I found not. And I said, 'To whom among the holy shall i turn?'" For, had he sent it back empt the work of my hands back empty handed, I would have kept quiet—but I am like a man who has not heard and there are no arguments in his mouth, but now let me speak and I shall feel relieved. I shall open my lips and thou shalt answer. And let my master decide between my brother and your brother and settle the matter between us. As to you, Isaac Laban (Wise), listen to my words, I will not be partial to any man, nor call you by a man's name, for according to your name such is your praise*. Let your own mouth condemn you and not I. And your lips give testimony against you. Admit in front of the people whether you have done this......or that you are partial to princes, and if you say, "Did this man come to dwell and raised himself to the dignity of Judges", in this you are wrong, for the former is justified in argument. But admit that this is a grievous sin, that you have placed your trust in gold, and had not... etc, etc
Kalman Dak Frischman
*The reference, I suppose, is to Labon and his characteristics.

Here follow the two letters which I sent to Herr Wise, and please include them with my entire correspondence in your well-known Occident. Devotedly yours, Kalman Frischman
My address—Karl Frischman, Elliott Street, No. 101, Boston.
Addressed to I. Wise, Honored Sir:-
Permit me a very urgent wish—to appear before you. I am encouraged by the thought that your very kindly disposition will forgive this step of mine. Three moons have passed since I left my fatherland Hungary. Providence directed my steps to America, that is to Boston. The bitterness of my fortune and the suffering of my entire family was so great that I can barely describe it. In a word, nothing was left us. We were completely without means. We were starving. I was not afraid of death, nor of the passing from one type of life into another. For whoever bethought himself of earthly life, what he is and what he can be, whoever has constantly and willingly occupied

himself with such thought, he can appreciate the comfort which religion gives to the human spirit. This strength-ens his mind and heart. Whoever has implicit trust in God, does not fear death. In this respect I was quite con-tent, by but my duty to my family circle still had to be fulfilled. That is what tortured me within, and that is how I stood upon a foreign soil, namely in Boston, wringing my hands and calling for help. And who is it who fr saved me and my family from annihilation? Herr Joseph Sachs, the preacher and teacher of the German congregation in Boston. Yes, this sympathetic friend of humanity is the one who rescued my family. To this kindly man I therefore feel myself completed indebted to thank openly for his noble action. "Therefore,' said I, 'I shall go to commune with Isaac, to bring the story of my murmuring lips in the collection of Isaac, and through Isaac he may

find fruit for himself, and if my hand makes an error in explaining in dear language all these occurrences which can barely be imagined." Etc, etc. ......
He ends the letter with the request that Wise find him a position somewhere (despite his inability to speak the language) and that he print his elaborate story in his German news-paper.
2nd letter to Dr. Wise. (in Hebrew, with a string of quotations from the Bible, begging him to print his article, or return it.).
Then follows an extract from the article which he sent to Dr. Wise. It consists of rhymed lines on the style of the prayers in the Ashke-nazic holiday prayer book, with indirect references to Biblical heroes and ex-pressions; also an acrostic poem with the name of Joseph.

Identifier

LSKAP_NC-27

Date

1855-12-23