Letter from Jonas Bondi to Isaac Leeser · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from Jonas Bondi to Isaac Leeser

Author

Jonas Bondi

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Location(s)

Philadelphia

Format

Letter. 3 page(s) on 3 sheet(s).

Letter

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

Physical Characteristics

Lined Paper

Manuscript

Is Part Of

The Dropsie College Isaac Leeser Collection at the Penn Libraries

http://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q124516100

content

Thursday, 29th blank, 1865.
Greetings to my friend, the friend of God,
Dear friend:
I still have so many worries to fight against that I can barely gather enough courage to do any work, nor could I answer your pleasant few lines. You annoyed me terribly by permitting Illoway to speak, though he always shows himself to be an ignoramus. Unfortunate-ly, you have confused the issues. The question here is not about the misuse of blank in the matter of proselytization,—such as took place here a short time ago, contrary to Jewish law, nor is it a question of “derivatives from it”, because of which our sages have set it down as a law and said that the head of the court must be thoroughly conversant with Torah and wisdom,—which Illoway is certainly not worthy of being. Here the point of the discussion is about the principle. Very unfor-tunately, I must say, “In a town where no one is learned, it is per-mitted to say, “I am a pupil of the rabbis”. This principle I myself have developed best, and it was your duty as editor to point it out, since both of them were shameless enough to ignore me. How can you suggest to me that I should place myself opposite Illoway, who wrote like an ignoramus that proselytization is no more than voluntary (and not an obligation). Thus, he forgot the sentence “Who sanctified us by his commandments,” not remembering what Maimonides said in the third chapter of the Laws of Circumcision. How can you put me in the same category with Morais, who understands but speaks like a schoolboy, who, though he does not understand the plain explanation of a Midrashic text, ? his ignorance is excusable because of his youth?. It is an-noying that I should be placed side by side with a brazen ignoramus and with a pupil who has not yet attained the dignity of teaching, though he may have meant well,—I have briefly and thoroughly dis-posed of Illoway in the — story, As you may have read. I am very sorry that I took care, because of fear for the desecration of God's name, not to dispose of him in the matter of Chanukah,” Those that destroy

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thee and lay thee waste, come out from thee” (Isaiah).
Isaacs does not want to accept anything more from Illoway. He sent back to him an article about the Redemption of the First-Born. If you should do likewise, you would be doing well. Such ungenuine scholarship does no honor to your publication. It only serves to make us a laughing stock in Europe.
I have indeed already spoken about such matters and with some satisfaction. You know I was never a party man and have criticized Raphall's speech as long as four years ago, because he, too, The Bishop of Jerusalem—spoke like an ignoramus. English translations are no Torah with me, asyou know. You are the only English speaking preacher, in the true old sense of our world preacher (Maggid), who expounds Bib-lical sentences. At this time, such preachers come out of “trees and stones” (I Kings 5:13). Thus Mayers, who was in Jamaica and, with unheardof brazen-ness, carried a title Morenu from some unknown hand, preached in English, which is a scandal. He is a son of the blank in the Dukes Place synagogue in London. Next Sabbath, your friend will let him preach in the Portugese synagogue. “Would that all God's people were prophets” pro-phets of falsehood.
I want to have my sermon printed, then I shall let you have it for the “Occident”. I hear that we had an idea from “This is what God said, 'Through those near to me, will I be sanctified'”. With the ex-ception of the speeches held here, the scandalous ones of Alder's, let me have the reports. In the Dutch synagogue, the tailor-chazan delivered an address. This is the end. I tell you again the orthodox ignoramuses are the ghouls and the reformers have an easy job to cover up the grave and take honor from the act.
I must have a circle of influence, otherwise I am undone. What people are after here, is to honor the Jews but not to feed them. If only I could bring my pet idea to fruition and could establish along

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with you a literary undertaking, namely to expand the “Occident” by means of a German supplement, the land would thus be united. It will, it must work. The blank is well received. It is the only newspaper which is widespread in Germany. if you agree to this idea, I shall go there in order to present my plan to you through which I hope to make my living. I myself will travel in order to extend the circulation of the newspaper. You will see, it will, it must work. If you refuse me, I shall have to realize my idea in other ways. “He who trusts in the Lord, loving kindness surrounds him.” You will agree and excuse.
How do matters stand with your congregation? I hear that Papa wants to become professor. These pigs are the destroyers of America, While chazanim and pests have peace, I must go hungry and my spirit and body suffer under the burden of work. May God improve this.
From my friend Weiler Einstein, etc., I hear nothing. Farewell and remember,
With love, your friend,
Jonah Bondi
The translation leaves much to be desired, but it does make clear the important elements in the letter. S. G.

Identifier

LSDCBx3FF4a_23

Date

29 [?] 1865