Letter from Morais, Sabato to Felsenthal, B. Philadelphia, PA; Apr 1889
- Title
- Letter from Morais, Sabato to Felsenthal, B. Philadelphia, PA; Apr 1889
- Date Created
- 30 April 1889
- Format
- 1 page on 1 sheet
- Language(s)
- English
- Source
- Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
- Sabato Morais Collection, Box 5, Folder 2
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3nz8189x/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3nz8189x
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx5FF2_17.xml
- content
-
C
O
P
Y
Phila. April 30, 1889
Rev. Dr. B. Felsenthal
My Dear Sir
The same promptness you have exhibited, is now gladly copied by one who holds you in high estimation for your genuine learning, but still more for your acknowledged modesty. I spoke of you to the venerable Rabbi Mortara of Mantua, as one of the very few in America with whom I differ on theological points, but whom I consider honest. Believe when I say that your approval of my recent writings was a comfort,--so troubled have I been at knowing that the object I had in view could not be accomplished. I am really grieved at the thought that Judaism will henceforth take the shape in our midst, which is being given it in Cincinnati. Philadelphia is lethargic by nature, and I am not the man who possesses the power to waken her up. New York might do much, but private jealousies are at work, and they militate against joint action. I know very little of Baltimore. I hear that the Jewish inhabitants are given to conservativism, but it does not follow that they are public spirited and sufficiently intelligent to realize the necessity of counteracting the ill effects of Dr. W's teaching. Dr. Szold is all right, so I judge, from my slight acquaintance with him. If your proposition could be carried out, he might answer our purpose as Talmudical professor. But you readily understand how essential the establishing of a school, I care nothing for names, call it a college, a University, whatever people like best-- where the Rabbi, in its grammatical, philological, and principally and in its spirit, is, in order to raise right preceptors for the next generation. A chair in a secular university, would not suffice, nor could a non-Jewish professor impart all we want. Such are my views, but however I may set them forth before my immediate cong; or before the public they yield no benefit. Schools, so termed religious schools, exist in America everywhere, but ask a youth to read and translate understandingly a chapter of the Schriptures, and you will soon form a criterion of the amount of learning in the Hebrew Community of the U. S. [Hebrew] [Hebrew]
I am glad that you received all that has been published of Luzzatto's correspondence. His son contemplates proceeding with it, and to make it cheaper he designs using Rabbinical characters. He asked my advice, but I am ashamed to say I neglected replying. Owing to the little encouragement which the first publication has met with, I begin to doubt that we shall soon be favored with a continuation, though Dr. Luz's filial reverence may induce him to go on, even in the face of an almost sure loss. I don't have any copy of the Pentateuch for sale, but if you wish I will write to Padera, and you will have it sent to your direction without delay. Its price, I believe, will be from three to four dollars.
With kind regards, I am
Yours sincerely,
S. MORAIS - Identifier
- p3nz8189x
- identifier
- SMBx5FF2_17
Part of Letter from Morais, Sabato to Felsenthal, B. Philadelphia, PA; Apr 1889
Morais, Sabato and Felsenthal, B., “Letter from Morais, Sabato to Felsenthal, B. Philadelphia, PA; Apr 1889”, Sabato Morais Digital Repository, accessed October 18, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/morais/item/88763