Letter from “An Israelite” to Isaac Leeser · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from “An Israelite” to Isaac Leeser

Author

“An Israelite”

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Location(s)

Philadelphia

Format

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

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p32r3ph48/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p32r3ph48

Physical Characteristics

Lined Paper

Manuscript

Is Part Of

The Jesselson Family Collection of Isaac Leeser Material

http://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q125097480

content

To the Editor of the Occident
Revd. Sir,
In justice to our christian brethren allow me to correct an error which your printer committed in the publication of my last letter I am made to say that “our Christian brethren were subjected to subscribe to the fund raiser for the benefit of the Hebrew Benevolent Society, the fact being that they were unsubjected, otherwise, we here were sanguine that, they would willingly & readily responded to the call to an extent amounting to twelve or fifteen hundred dollars. There are many of us, subscrib who would hesitate, ? deem it unnecessary to call for outside pecuniary aid; when our means & prosperity has made some excellent provisions for the relief of our poor during this trying season. I wish I could ? equally for its future government, but un-fortunately a stand has been made against the re-election of the retiring president solely based on his over zeal in enforcing & carrying out the laws of the Institution. This is injustice under the present position of the Society which is outwardly a new one, with a new constitution, laws & name, mainly accomplished through his motrumentality? and during his administration I therefore trust that at the coming election (in Feby) those petty mischievious gelouseres?; unfortunately too proverbial amongst our dispersal stiff-necked race—will be as ? and that the old president will be allowed to inaugur-ate his new & praisworthy farthing. I hope

(2)
you will not deem these comments beyond the purpose they are intended—usefulness. Our Hebrew Sunday School is at present the ruling attraction of the day. Rich & poor vie with each other in seeking the admission of their children, the number enrolled (altho' but 6 weeks in operation) is close upon two hundred. Thus is the true spirit and intent of orthodox Judaism being implanted in the rising generation. Indeed I write without prejudice or bias, and only the sentiments of many free & easy conformers & thinkers, when I add their admission; “That some of the present “reform organist congregations outship? both their “views & desires, and they seek that their “children shall know (however little they may “be inclined hereafter to follow) the religious “& moral laws, customs and interpretations “of our forefathers,” I am happy to say that the senior boys of the school already form a formitable choir in the Portuguese Synagogue, which still progresses in its slow and steady course. I only pray that neither of the forgoing named substitutions will prove but a “new broom”, but that they will con-tinue their practical usefulness, & brush away those cob webs which neglect, convenience & scepticism have engendered around our sacred faith. It is only by or mainly by such agitations as your pages create that the prize master is prevented (for the time) from becoming stagnant.
The Sewing Society to which I made a reference in my first letter, has just celebrated its first annaversary. Some 80 of its members

(3)
(ladies & gentlemen) met to rejoice over it with a good supper & dance.— It is young but useful having during its brief year distri-buted over 400 garments amongst the poor—at the supper it was proposed to engraft? with this society, an industrial one whereby the poor could enter, instead of being defendant, their daily wants. It was said the immence number of Jewish clothing establishments here, would afford a large field, but the directors thought for the present that all events for the present they would continue within present useful course. There can be no doubt that such societies under management & ? of property, would be both practical & beneficial as well as elevating to the poor themselves. The Hebrew Young Men's ? Literacy Society have just presented Dr. A. B. Arnold with a piece of plate for in acknowledgment of his able services towards in the founding & support of their Institution. The plate was presented at a general meeting of its members, and very eloquently acknowledged by the doctor.
your very obt servt
“An Israelite”

Identifier

LSTCAT_item91