Letter from Abraham Hart to Isaac Leeser;January 07, 1851
- Title
- Letter from Abraham Hart to Isaac Leeser;January 07, 1851
- Author
- Abraham Hart
- Contributor
- Isaac Leeser
- Date Created
- 7 January 1851
- Location(s)
- Philadelphia
- Format
- Letter. 2 page(s).
- Type
- Letter
- Language(s)
- English
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3d50gh6v/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3d50gh6v
- Physical Characteristics
- Unlined Paper
- Manuscript
- content
-
Synagogue Chambers
Philad. Shebat 4th 5611
January 7th 1851
Dear Sir
Your Letter of 8th Nov addressed to the wardens of our congregation was received and sub=mitted to the Parnass and Adjunta who compose the Board of Managers, it should have met with an earlier answer but for a pressure of business engagements, and in Conformity with your request I proceed to give you as nearly as possible the information requested,—The office of Hazan is vacant, and the congregation have agreed to go into an election for one on the 13th April, The term of service was to have been originally ten years but owing to particular & peculiar cir=cumstances not necessary to be here narrated I am of the opinion that no new incumbent will be engaged at the outset for more than Three years and that the ten years term will be rescinded. The salary to a single man will be $1300, to a married man seventeen hundred Dollars ($1700) per annum. The Hazan will be expected to say all the usual prayers of sabbath eve, morning, afternoon & conclusion service, and on holy-days & festivals with no other aid except in the Haphtara & on Kippur day , it is not by law any part of his duty to deliver English discourses but as it has been for many years the custom to do so, an occa=sional address or moral lecture in English will be expected. The Hazan is to perform all marriage and funeral services in the congregation and to attend the seven days mourning service, he will be per==mitted to keep school and indeed his ability to teach
the Hebrew will be a great desideratum, but the congregation will not be expected to do more than they bargain for and it will depend on the popularity and abilities of the successful candidate to make more by “Matanots” or by teaching our youth. (he is also entitled to all marriage fees) You remark in your letter “Should you “gentlemen decide upon judging of my capability personally “I should in all likelihood bring with me such certificates “as to meet with your entire confidence, in that case “I should much like to receive a minute account of the “duties attached to the Hazanship before I undertake so “expensive a voyage”
I have already given you an outline of the duties of the office but the Board can take no action or give any advice as to whether you should come out or not, they are acting in this instance simply as the mouth piece of the Congregation in announcing the exis=ting vacancy, the forthcoming election & in corresponding with parties interested, but the election is made by the members of the congregation at a general meeting and not by the Board, it would no doubt be very agreeable to be able to see and hear the candidates & judge personally of their qualifications, but as no provision has been made to pay the travelling expenses of such as wished to come on trial it must be left to the judgement or inclination of the parties themselves whether to come or not, Under all circumstances however it will be very important to have from the best sources the most ample testimonials of capacity and standing. I am dear Sir
yours Very Respy
A: Hart, Parnass K.K.M.S.
To Mr S. Morais
10 Bevis Marks
London - Identifier
- LSDCBx1FF8_11
- Date
- 1851-01-07
Part of Letter from Abraham Hart to Isaac Leeser;January 07, 1851
Abraham Hart, “Letter from Abraham Hart to Isaac Leeser;January 07, 1851”, 1851-01-07, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 7, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/69523