Letter from Solomons, A. S. to Morais, Sabato. Washington, DC; Oct 1875
- Title
- Letter from Solomons, A. S. to Morais, Sabato. Washington, DC; Oct 1875
- Date Created
- 17 October 1875
- Location(s)
- United States -- District of Columbia -- Washington
- United States -- District of Columbia
- Format
- 3 pages on 2 sheets
- Language(s)
- English
- Source
- Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
- Sabato Morais Collection, Box 2, Folder 2
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3rf5m160/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3rf5m160
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx2FF2_22.xml
- content
-
SOLOMONS & CHAPMAN,
Agts., Lawrence's "Pure Linen" Papers, &c.,
SUCCESSORS TO PHILP & SOLOMONS,
METROPOLITAN BOOKSTORE,
Washington, Oct. 17th 1875.
Rev. and dear friend.
I have the pleasure to address you on a subject which has engrossed your thoughts as well as my own, and I feel a boldness to thus address you because of our standing on common ground: both of us being orthodox Portuguese Jews and life-long conformists to one Ritual.
I have not had the opportunity of reading your entire letter to the "Israelite" (I believe) on reform in the Ritual, having only seen only extracts from it. As I understood you, you propose a conference for a change in the "minhag" of the U. S. At about the same time, I judge, you were writing on the subject, I was doing the same for the London "Jewish World," the editor having frequently
you soon and wishing you good "Yom-tob," I am, with gt respect
Rev. S. Morais. yours truly
A. S. Solomons
written me to contribute some articles on the "Jews of America." I enclose you herewith a printed copy of my concluding article and the editor's comment thereon so that you may fully comprehend the pros and cons from his and my point of view.
I am free to say I expected more liberal treatment at his hands, but when I remember how proverbially cold and selfish Englishmen nationaly are, and how jealous they are, and fearful of contaminating themselves by contact with any one else, I ought not to be surprised.
Now, my Reverend friend, I have no pet scheme to nurse, no "ism" to insist upon. All I want is some--thing practicaly good.
I thought well over confining the proposed movement to our own country, but I came to the conclusion then, and I have seen no good rea-son since to change my views, since, that if this were done, the "radical" and a mere shade less radical Reformers would be in such immense majority that all moderate concessions on the part of the orthodox minority would
most likely be completely swamped and ridden over, and rather than assume this great risk, which if un-dertaken by us (the orthodox party) and then afterwards repudiated because of too radical reform, would set back the whole movement many years—perhaps an entire generation: therefore it was I proposed a conference of the Jews of the world who would bring to the convention more knowledge and more real piety to outweigh our own people's ignorance and desire to cast off from all religion whatever brings with it the slightest sacrifice! Besides which I, and I feel sure thousands of others, want some adequate authority for any changes made, while few would be willing to ascribe to, or feel bound by, the dictum of the men assembled in the U. S. In such a case as this, Europeans would well leaden the mass and, let me hope, surcharge the whole pro-ceedings with a wisdom begotten of comprehension of the whole situation. If this could be done, we would feel that there was an authority which all could respect and reverence. I have no idea that this can be accomplished to-day, this year or perhaps in this decade. I have heretofore been frequently years and years ahead of my time and likely I am to now, and I bow with def-erence to learned and religious men like yourself and am anxious to be instructed by them. I have mentioned your name (I trust not to your dis-pleasure) in connection with the rough plan sug-gested. Will you not discuss the matter with others and so attempt something? You have power, influence and learning while I have but little more than a well intended desire and a great scarsity of time to work withal. I have read some of Mr. Sulzberger's writings on this subject with interest and if it is not presuming too much, may I
suggest you conferring with him in this matter. Were he not a stranger to me, ex-cept through his pen, I would write direct to him. Hoping to hear from - Identifier
- p3rf5m160
- identifier
- SMBx2FF2_22
Part of Letter from Solomons, A. S. to Morais, Sabato. Washington, DC; Oct 1875
Solomons, A. S. and Morais, Sabato, “Letter from Solomons, A. S. to Morais, Sabato. Washington, DC; Oct 1875”, Sabato Morais Digital Repository, accessed September 19, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/morais/item/90136