Letter from Leib Blumgarten to Isaac Leeser;January 01, 1855

Title: Letter from Leib Blumgarten to Isaac Leeser;January 01, 1855
Author: Leib Blumgarten
Contributor: Isaac Leeser
Location(s): Buffalo; Philadelphia
Format: Letter. 1 page(s) on 1 sheet(s).; Letter
Type: Letter
Language(s): English
Physical Characteristics: Typescript
Is Part Of: The Dropsie College Isaac Leeser Collection at the Penn Libraries
content: Thursday of the portion ____ , 5615; Buffalo
Living waters from above, and revivifying dew may descend upon the dear and exalted, the high and eminent, the wonder of Jeshurun, the wise and understanding, the great scholar, the excellent rabbi who is here for praise and glory, our teacher Isaac, known by the name of Lesser. Blessed art thou in the Lord, thou who art brave
Although it is a fact that I have not until now succeeded in becoming one of your friends and acquaintances, nevertheless my heart has made bold to approach you by means of a letter. For I have heard of your reputation that you are straightforward with respect to your people, and that in your case knowledge is mixed with the wine of humility, so that you are friendly toward every intelligent person, without regard whether he is of lowly station or from among the princes of the earth. Then said I also to myself let me come to him by way of a letter. For you know about a man by the name of Wise, who is called a doctor (physician), but is no more than a barber come to shave Israel. Now, the other day I received a letter from a dear friend who lives in the city of Cincinnati, in which he tells me about the doings of this man and of his might, along with a man Goldstein, the miss-leader of the Congregation of Louis Ville. Both of them seek to bring a new Religion upon the People of God. Also this man Wise publicly preached about the commandment of Halitza that it is not to be observed outside of Palestine. We know that it is to be prac-ticed outside outside of Palestine, but shall this man who never studied nor ever learned except in a meeting-house of priests, know any-thing about it? His sort of nonsense was never practiced either in or out of Palestine. And like him there are many corrupters of the Faith. Here is this man Goldstein who sings to the glory of Wise, and composed for stanzas of a poem, each of which begins with a letter of the name of “Mary” upon whom the new faith is built. Of the like kind there are many. My friend also composed a song about him. Here it is;
Hebrew A new tower and very high
Hebrew Built mostly of his folly and his lies,
Hebrew His hands are long and his teeth uncovered
Hebrew That is the rabbi of Cincinnati and its environs
My friend spoke at length to me about this accoursed man, and he also prepared a poem for the shame of both of them. He placed Wise at the beginning of the poem and Goldstein at the end. But I know that you, my Master, are wise like an angel of God, and you will know whether it is well to put this poem into your Occident to make it known to many. If so, I shall bless you as well as the author of the poem. I am sure that the words of the poem will please you. For I am convinced of your goodness and you humility, and I know that you will fulfill my desire, and I shall therefore make an end to my words.
Thus are ended the words of your servant, the youngest of the tribes of Judah.
(Judah) Leib Blumgarten
Shochet of Congregation Beth El of Buffalo
If you would bless me with your mouth, or ? me with your pen, here is my habitation, and here you will find me;
L. Blumgarten, Buffalo, N. Y.
Identifier: LSDCBx2FF2_42
Date: 1855-01-01

Part of Letter from Leib Blumgarten to Isaac Leeser;January 01, 1855

Leib Blumgarten, “Letter from Leib Blumgarten to Isaac Leeser;January 01, 1855”, 1855-01-01, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 7, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/69318