Letter from Menken, Jules A. to Piza, David M. New York, NY; Dec 1885
- Title
- Letter from Menken, Jules A. to Piza, David M. New York, NY; Dec 1885
- Date Created
- 14 December 1885
- Format
- 3 pages on 1 sheet
- Language(s)
- English
- Source
- Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
- Sabato Morais Collection, Box 3, Folder 12
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3rb6wn19/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3rb6wn19
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx3FF12_34.xml
- content
-
Copy.
New York December 14[,] 1885
D. M. Piza, Esq.
Dear Sir,
The subject of your letter of the 26th ult. deserves the earnest consideration of orthodox Israelites. The serious objection to it in my mind is the question of ways and means in relation to the end sought for[.] At the present time a deluge of radicalism prevails, confined to neither our religion nor our country, but widespread among creeds and commun-ities alike. I think you underestimate in the first place the expenses of a College, such as rent or cost of buildings partic-ularly in this city-- cost of library, endowments or salaries of Professors of the first rank—it would be bad policy to have any other,with many other expenses
In the second place you should take into consideration the length of time necessary to put the Institution on a firm and permanent basis. To make an effort at all commensurate with the evil to be counteracted, some hundreds of thousands of dollars should be raised and even then it would be years ere its influence could be felt. Our congregation alone could not with any hope of success attain this result, but I have no doubt whatever the Shearith Israel would gladly co-operate with others in a combined effort that should promise a rational hope of success[.]
It would be better to do nothing at all than to begin with insufficient meansand then fail. The radical tendencies of the times we all deplore, happily such mad periods are not permanent and a reaction is sure to occur. The past history of such movements aboundantly
proves this. Would it not be better to abide your time for a mere favor-able opportunity and meanwhile labor to secure a concerted effort of many congregations which alone can meet the case. As you ask for my counsel I freely give it however discouraging it may seem but the attempt of one congregation—however well disposed__ to act single-handed in this matter would __ so it seems to me-- have as little effect as a pail of water in a sandy desert. I am dear Sir.
Yours very truly,
(signed) Jules A. Menken - Identifier
- p3rb6wn19
- identifier
- SMBx3FF12_34
Part of Letter from Menken, Jules A. to Piza, David M. New York, NY; Dec 1885
Menken, Jules A. and Piza, David M., “Letter from Menken, Jules A. to Piza, David M. New York, NY; Dec 1885”, Sabato Morais Digital Repository, accessed October 18, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/morais/item/88455