Letter from Morais, Sabato to Wiley, S. R. Philadelphia, PA; Jul 1874
- Title
- Letter from Morais, Sabato to Wiley, S. R. Philadelphia, PA; Jul 1874
- Date Created
- 3 July 1874
- Format
- 3 pages on 2 sheets
- Language(s)
- English
- Source
- Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
- Sabato Morais Collection, Box 2, Folder 1
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p30r9mp88/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p30r9mp88
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx2FF1_9b.xml
- content
-
S. R. Wiley Esqre
Philadelphia July 3d 1874
Dear Sir
Your letter of the 23d ult, came just now to hand. I hastened to reply as briefly as the subject allows.
Without discussing at all the question as to the language first spoken, though Adam from Adama, and Isha from Ish would entitle the Hebrew to the right of primogeniture, we may confidently venture to say that at the earliest periods of Biblical history, the Aramaic and Hebrew were very near alike—similar to the Spanish and Portuguese of our days. The fact that the alphabet, doubtless of very ancient origin, (according to the Sages coeval with creation—contains the names of letters like Beth ([Hebrew]) and Nun (A) &c &c, carries out the views generally entertained. Gradually, however, the two languages separated diverged, so much to that at the time of Jacob they were entirely distinct. The patriarch called the heap of Hones set up to testify to the truth of his promise Gal Ed, [?]
Laban named at Yegar Sahadrita'h.
The opinion of Philo in the point at issue, is of no value. I believe that the good and learned Jew had scarcely any knowledge of Hebrew. Our Hellenist brethren use the Greek even in public worship. A tyro will perceive that Israel is ana-logical to Yasar El (having power over the mighty) as the context shows, as the prophet Hosea intimates, and as Josephus—no mean authority—confirms. The difference between the history of our fathers in Egypt, and our predecessors in Babylon, in connection with the sacred tongue, is clearly explained in the Scriptures. While intermarriage with heathen women happened constantly during the captivity in Chaldea, in the land of the Pharaohs, they very rarely took place. In one case the mothers taught their verna--cular to the exclusion of the Hebrew, in the other such influences were not at work.
The proof that the 70 persons who emigrated to Heb Egypt spoke the Hebrew, is, among others the following. Jacob's blessing to the heads of the tribes, which notwithstanding modern criticism denying
its avowed authorship, bears internal evidences of its genuineness, contains several homonyms, that can best be carried out in the Hebrew, as Yehudah, Yoducha Dan. Yadin—Gad Gided.
Were I not at present much engaged, I would write more at length, and possibly to your satisfaction. As it is, you must excuse the brevity.
Yours truly
S Morais - Identifier
- p30r9mp88
- identifier
- SMBx2FF1_9b
Part of Letter from Morais, Sabato to Wiley, S. R. Philadelphia, PA; Jul 1874
Morais, Sabato and Wiley, S. R., “Letter from Morais, Sabato to Wiley, S. R. Philadelphia, PA; Jul 1874”, Sabato Morais Digital Repository, accessed October 18, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/morais/item/89061