Letter from Simeon Abrahams to Isaac Leeser;April 1847 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from Simeon Abrahams to Isaac Leeser;April 1847

Author

Simeon Abrahams

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Date Created

April 1847

Location(s)

Philadelphia

Format

Letter. 4 page(s).

Type

Letter

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p30p0xh18/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p30p0xh18

Physical Characteristics

Unlined Paper

Manuscript

Is Part Of

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

content

The Ministry
Mr. Editor,
Sir, In the last number of your valuable periodical your correspondent "A Moralizeing layman" has touched upon a subject of much more consequence to the American Israelites and more especially to those of the present age, than I am afraid the importance of the subject receives at their hands, namely: the character and qualifications necessary for Hazanim, the filling of which station by improper and ignorant persons has contributed more than all others inany thing else to bringing the ritual of our holy worship in disrepute with the present generation, and is the chief one cause for which the unceasing and unmeaning call for religious reform is continually sounded: for nothing has a greater effect in giving a standing to the character of a society (and that of a religious character too) than the standing and reputation of its principal officers. What was perhaps a century ago (when the few in many parts of Europe was not permitted to have his place of worship in public, but forced to have his synagogue in some rear Court or alley, where nobody but Israelite was ever seen to enter) a matter of small consequence has at this time and in this country especially became a very important subject indeed. I mean the character appearance and standing in society of the Hazan of the Congregation. When, as formerly, from prejudice or ignorance nobody but Israelites came to our places of Public Worship it was comparatively a matter of small

consequence who acted as the reader because those of his coreligionists alone saw him during the time of divine service, and however ignorant immoral or improper he might be for such a calling it was there a matter of but small consequencelittle importance, because the world at large knew little or nothing about it or the persecuted and oppressed Jew was reduced to so low a degree in the scale of national greatness that the little he could was able to do could not injure him in the eyes of his oppressive fellow man.
But now that we are free and have the privilege to raise our Holy Simples when and where we please and that many respectable persons of various religious opinions, with whom we have daily communication in commercial transactions, friendly visits, &c. come often amongst us at our places of worship for the purpose of witnessing its rites &c. how great the necessity that they in their visitations should not be allowed to see anything that would in any manner tend to our national degradation and how Sir, can this be prevented? surely but by the adoption of one measure which is to have none but moral, respectable and well educated men to fill the office of Hazan.
How ridiculous must it appear, even to our own youth to see a man of known irreligious and immoral character one who does not even know the meaning of a word he reads placed at the reading desk to say prayers for a religious congregation, what a disgraceful spectacle must this be for us when perhaps several of other religious faiths should happen to be at our place of worship to see a man of this kind acting as minister for a Jewish congregation; and what a withering and baneful influence must it have on the rising generation to see that neither character

nor education has any respect shownnor respect is shown to Israelites in education in the choice of their chief religious officer. What inducement is it for our young men to apply themselves to the study of their religion when they see men of that stamp placed in the highest and most important religious stations, men who know nothing about what they are reading or why they read it, men who perhaps could not read a single line in a Hebrew book which is not exactly the one that they were taught (Parrotlike) to say their prayers in. I ask again what in-ducement is there for the young man to curtail his hours of pleasure for the more dry study of his religion, when such a state of things exists, when he knows that instead of a knowledge of the rudiments of his religion and the unerring principles on which it is founded that the high qualifications for the reading desk consists in his ability to favor the congregation with some operatic tunes (tunes generally more fit for any other place than one of religious worship) or that he knows he can read his prayers in Hebrew without understanding them and that his Hazan can do no more. But surely it is high time that this state of things should cease. In this country where we have about sixty Hazanim perhaps there isare not more than ten amongst them that could answer the most plain or simple question about their religion or what or why things are prohibited or allowed by its holy laws; and as in the United States we are multiplying congregations faster than perhaps thanin the whole of the rest of the world it becomes absolutely necessary that the greatest care should be taken in selecting and appointing proper persons for that most important office, important in giving a standing to the congregation over which he presides and important in holding up to those desirous of obtaining such situations the

necessity of qualifying themselves by obtainingacquiring a thorough Hebrew education before any personwithout which no one should receive that honorable and important office; and should it be ascertained that persons properly qualified for the office cannot at present be obtained in this country and that it should be found necessary to establish a High School or College in some central part of the United States for the qualifying of moral young men for that purpose then I say that the quicker that the good work is began the better; and at this time we have in this country plenty of persons qualified to teach all the necessary branches of a hebrew education; for we can never make any national advancement nor give the favorable impression required to those among whom we are at present settled while ignorant or immoral men (whose whole qualification seems to consist in their ability to imitate the actor or singer) are allowed to fill our chief religious offices. The school or college once established, proper Hazanim selected and our religious services again conducted in a proper and solemn manner then will the Synagogue be what it was originally intended to be Hebrew in fact Hebrew a minor sanctuary.
Yours &c
Nissan 5607Simeon Abrahams

Note by the Editor We deem it proper to state that Mr A. alludes, so far as we know to any particular individuals, only to the possibility which exists under our present want of system of bringing into the ministry hazzans entirely disqualifies both morally and intellectually for the position which ought to be the [?] of the highest talent and integrity. We have more to say on education & the ministry begins to excite the attention, which they justly demand, in all parts of the country–

The above text refers to Occident Volume 5 No. 1 pages 25 through 27. Click here to view.

Identifier

LSDCBx1FF3_4