Letter from Henry Abraham Henry to Isaac Leeser;January 16, 1855 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from Henry Abraham Henry to Isaac Leeser;January 16, 1855

Author

Henry Abraham Henry

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Location(s)

New York City

Philadelphia

Format

Letter. 6 page(s) on 3 sheet(s).

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

Hebrew

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3ws8jc31/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3ws8jc31

Physical Characteristics

Unlined Paper

Manuscript

Is Part Of

Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Isaac Leeser Collection

content

77 Monroe Street New York
Jany 16th? 5615
Dear Sir
It may appear strange to you to be troubled with my correspondence, but there are times in a man's life, which prompt him to do that which at other times he would not, this is the case with me. I am ready to make any sacrifices to illicit truth. Truth is my motto I have long had reason to feel very angry at your conduct towards me. from the very hour I set my foot on the American Shore you openly declared yourself my opponent—you wrote and spoke against me, and you did more you vilified and maligned my public and private character, and would if you could have injured my prospects in this free Country—my ability and Talents as a Teacher of God's word you could not defy for in that respect my name of old stands high in the List—and the people will judge for themselves & came therefore to the conclusion that it was in your part as well as others of the Clergy nothing else but jealousy in a literary point of view, and to crush me was the main object of all your proceedings—but it happily failed!
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2) wish there few remarks which you see are candid on my part—let me notice in the first instance, that up to the present Hour I cannot unravel the mystery why you should have so inveterate an objection to me. I often ask myself the question what can the reason be? I have never harmed Mr Leeser, nor have I thought I could do so— In looking at your letter to me of Sept 5612 which breathes a spirit of kindness and good feeling, and the amicable disposition with which we met each at the Hebrew at Syracuse, where I officiated as Hebrew Dr Raphale preached—I cannot but be astonished at the Report you spread of me when I met you at Charleston in the following Winter when that Report reached me, knowing that I care defy the whole world as to my character of the truth be adhered to I lost no time in sending without delay to Europe all that you said of me in the name of Dr Raphale and by the next mail I received a Document from the Hebrew of London proving at once all such Reports to be false—and while yet at Charleston I wrote to Dr Raphale calling upon him to state which he know of me, and to say why He did report those things which you said came from him copy of the said letter was handed over to Mr Hart the Hebrew of the Hebrew there—but he deigned not to answer it. I wrote a second—and the result was the same—I wrote a third in which I

(3
used Hebrew and this ended in a reply written in Hebrew throughout of an evasive character and flatly denying any thing ever having been said by him to any one—now I ask you what is all this from men who are placed at the Head of Congregations to level there Religion and Moralists—who am I to believe?— the letter I have in my possession which you can have whenever you please—copies of all the letters and Documents I sent to Charleston Letters to and fro passed between us but were unsatisfactory in their result—
Many many persons here in this City and in Syracuse urged me to indict you for slander in order to ascertain who was the real author of the Report—I would not—for state litigation especially between the Clergy—we are low enough already and for the love of my Religion I would not be led on to such a course. I had hoped to have been in a position long ere this to have learned who was the aggressor in this matter. Having met you here on some occasins I feign would have asked you, but my Head told me Hebrew for such I held you, & you could not blame me, for when I reflect that you had no feeling for an innocent man, who had a large family to support, and by your villainous Report I might have starved with them

(4
Had not the God of Israel been to me Hebrew truly did I say with the sweet Psalmist of Israel Hebrew In spite of all my enemies, I have proved to the American Jews that I am what I represent myself to be a true Orthodox Israelite, capable of filling any office to which I may be appointed—and I can without fear challenge any of the Ministers throughout the United States in point of ability and Competency for a Jewish Divine—and they are now satisfied beyond doubt—that all those who attempted to injured me are none else but Mountebanks and Hypocrites do not my friend think me harsh but “Hebrew” Now I ask you is it not due to me, that you should give me up your author of the Report you spread about me at Charleston you said there it was Dr Raphale. He denies it, and when he was asked about me two years since when I had a call to this City His reply was, Report speaks to? of me, and you knew all about it. but I believe that He himself was the calumniator, for I have had reason to think so since that time—and when I wrote to Mr Sevien of Charleston, He stated He was sure you would make the amende Honorable if you were the aggressor. Now if you are

(5
not the guilty party why you should still be thought so by me HebrewHebrewHebrew I have no desire to make any public use of it but I am anxious to know the Truth for I have never since that time spoken to Dr Raphale for I hold it dangerous until I am set to right in the matter. I must not omit the Circumstance you witnessed at Syracuse at the festival where the Dr spoke of me in such commendable terms—I know you stated this at Charleston—but you should first have asked me, and I could have assured you to the contrary—again I have a letter in my possession sent by the Dr to Louisville in my behalf which contradicts all he said to you about me—Now I leave the matter in your hands whether you think we should remain open and severe enemies for life, or whether you will do me the justice to set the matter at issue by declaring to me the truth throughout Hebrew—Hebrew I shall be willing to return you any favor you may desire of me as far as I am able in my public capacity—my whole time is devoted for the benefit of my people—you no doubt read the Asmonean, and see my articles

against Dr Wise's Heterodoxy—his learning I do not fear—nor do I hold back in speaking out my mind. How many of our Divines do you see fight the Battles of the Lord some are afraid that their own character may be involved and others are too ignorant I know them all—and they know me too and therefore as King David said “Hebrew”
These men can go to public Dinner and spout a studied speech upon an old hackneyed subject. and the public are gulled by them because they can flatter and act the Sycophant, I do not, and must confess you do not, as your Journal proves— situated as I am at present I have nothing to fear from any of these men—now if you consider me worthy your Confidence in informing me of the truth—I shall feel satisfied so that I may not attach any Blame to the innocent—Hebrew this will enable us both to meet in the Square and when this matter shall be amicably adjusted, I shall be ever ready to serve you in writing for your Journal.
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that is if you deem me capable. I have an extensive Hebrew library which will enable me at any time to refer to any scarce rule or passage in Holy writ? you may require, and that shall be at your Service, and in that confidence between man and man—and I shall be ready to assist you in your Holy work by such means to put down those who rise up to undermine our Holy Religion, and revile the Word of God as contained in Hebrew and the whole Hebrew.
In conclusion permit me to say, that whatever may be your determination in the matter I shall solace myself with the reflection that I have done my duty both to you and to myself.
Wishing you success in all you laudable undertakings
Believe me
Yours pas?lly
H. A. Henry
Hebrew
Revd Isaac Leeser
Philadelphia
1-10-5615

Identifier

LSKAP0121_1

Date

1855-01-16