Letter from Oldmann, Joseph to Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA; Sep 1895 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from Oldmann, Joseph to Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA; Sep 1895

Author

Oldmann, Joseph

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

8 September 1895

Location(s)

United States -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

United States -- Pennsylvania

Format

8 pages on 3 sheets

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?

Language(s)

English

Source

Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies

Sabato Morais Collection, Box 7, Folder 8

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p38s4k811/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p38s4k811

Provenance

Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx7FF8_19.xml

content

Eastern.Penitentiary, Sept. 8th 95.
Rev. Dr. S. Morais
Dear Sir!
I was very glad to have you visit me this week & wish to thank you sincerely for the kindly interest you have manifested in my unfortunate behalf. During the last few years when fate seems to have been against me, when nothing but hardships and ill luck have continuously fallen to my lot, I had almost come to the conclusion that in this wide world of ours there was but little hope for me to rise again to that level of social life, which I once occupied. When I say this, I mean to convey the idea, that considering the difficulties, both material & social, which rise up be-fore my mental vision, seemed to me so great & surrounded by such peculiar circumstances, that it would

2
be an almost impossible task to over-come them all. It is not necessary to moralize or philosophize, or for me to tell you dear Dr that this is a cold, apathetic, nay even relentless world where selfishness is the general rule and true humanitarian love or real sympathy (not merely light-ly expressed from human lips and which consists too often in words lightly spoken devoid of true sin--cerity) are only exceptional. I am glad to be able to say that during all my trials & adversity I have not become a convert to the philosophical teachings of a "Schopenhauer" that is an absol-ute "Pessimist" in all my views of life and its concomitant surroundings, for I cannot bring myself to the point of denial that there is not some real goodness, or that there are not at least a few real true human

to find out these things the following to wit that these inquiries are made in the name & interest of Mr Jacob Kirschbaum's oldest son "Julius.

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itarians existing amidst amongst the vast crowd of the human family. I am es-pecially glad to be able to tell you that the impression which my mind has received of you dear Sir, is such a one, as to lead me to classi-fy you with these last mentioned honorable few, for while I was in the County Prison awaiting trial & absolutely friendless, I obtained the addresses & wrote to three other Rabbis (of fashionable congregations in this city) and harken dear Dr, not one of the three had enough good breeding to even send a courteous reply to my letter & lacking in that respect, I believe I am fully justified in my assumption that neither one, nor the other, was pos-sessed of enough of that human kindness, or could rise high enough above human prejudices to be entitled as real humanitarians. If such they were, why then even

whenever or whoever may have the kindness to write to the one or other forms in Dortmund for inquiries, please have him give as a reason for his waiting

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the most lowly of human begins, es-pecially one of their own race, should be worthy of their thoughts & attent-ion. To a certain extent therefor in that respect dear Dr I'll con-fess that I am a sceptic in as far as the sincerity & motives of the afor-mentioned gentlemen is concerned, for in my own mind I am satis-fied that they do not practice what they preach & as far as I am con-cerned individually, I hold the belief that although some of the good deeds of certain people may be heralded to the public in papers or contribution lists, yet if the motives & spirits of their hearts could be tested which induces them to do these acts, then in a good many instances the truth-ful answer would be not one "true Philanthropy or brotherly love," but nothing but love of notoriety & the desire to appear

5. Eastern Penitentiary
benefactors of the human race & let every one know it. But enough of that now Dr. You kindly offered to render me whatever little assistance you could as I told you that my time here expires on Nov. 23d next & that with God's help I will be liberated again on that day. Now I think I explained to you dear Dr. that none of my relatives know my present whereabouts & that I do not want them to know either. There are plenty of Jehudim in this city some of the most prominent merchants in town who all co me from my native province, some of them from the immediate vicinity of my native town & I am sure all of these know or heard of my father & relations. However I know that it would not be a good or safe policy for me to communicate with these people & let them know where I am

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because eventually my sad lot & disgrace would not be kept a sacred secret & thus leak out & become known at my distant home causing not alone a disgrace to myself alone but to all my dear ones & their children. I wrote home to my dear old father about 16 months ago, but failed to receive a reply from him. Still I was happy to learn through an indirect source that he was alive at that time & I hope & pray to the Almighty that he may be alive today and that I may be enabled to go to him & see & embrace him once more as soon as possible after my release. Now then all I would like you to do for me dear Dr. is, to get some one of your friends in whose discretion you have absolute confidence to write a letter (in the german language) to

7)
the banking house of Messrs. Rosenberg & Isaac in Dortmund in Westfalen or the banking firm of Herrn Wilhelm von Born Dortmund & make inquiries from them con-cerning my father & two brothers & sister, ie. whether my father & the others are still alive & residing at their places of residence where they used to live 10 years ago. My fathers address was then Jacob Krischbaum Rentier Dortmund is Westfalen and he is a friend of the above named parties & was always intimate with them

my sister Rosalie's or brother-in-laws address was Alex Katzenstein Banker Bielefeld is Westfalen & my brother Gustav Kirschbaum resided last time I heard from him about 10 years ago in Cologne (Cöln a/Rh) and the youngest brother Moritz was at that time about to graduate from the University & enter the courts to pursue a judicial career. Well dear Dr. if you could find out about them & where they all reside at present I would be forever thankful to you & ask-ing you to please confirm receipt of this letter, I remain with sincere regards yours respectfully

Joseph Oldmann 7524.

Identifier

p38s4k811

identifier

SMBx7FF8_19