Letter from Voorsanger, Jacob to Morais, Sabato. Houston, TX; Oct 1883
- Title
- Letter from Voorsanger, Jacob to Morais, Sabato. Houston, TX; Oct 1883
- Date Created
- 17 October 1883
- Format
- 5 pages on 5 sheets
- Language(s)
- English
- Source
- Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies
- Sabato Morais Collection, Box 3, Folder 5
- Has Format
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p30k26x3n/manifest.json
- Link to Colenda
- https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p30k26x3n
- Provenance
- Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.
- Is Format Of
- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx3FF5_22.xml
- content
-
Jacob Voorsanger,
Box 319
Houston, Texas, Oct[ober] 17[,] 1883
Rev. S. Morais
Rev & Dear Sir
To-day, for the first time since the receipt of both your postal cards, I find leisure to reply with a few words. I am sorry indeed that my article has not had he effect of convincing you that you were mistaken as to the tendency of the Sabbath School Union, and I regret much more Dr Sonneschein's position, in the prem-ises, which, I assure you, was as much a surprise to me as to anyone else. Still, his having repub-lished my article without any comments inclines me to the belief that he tacitly accepts my inter-pretation. I must reiterate my former assertion, that when the Union was organized—Dr Sonneschein was present—no one ever thought of making it an ex-parte organization. To the contrary, every one of the Gentlemen present seemed to feel glad that by the means of uniform instruction we might in the course of years succeed in doing away with the odious comparison between orth-odox and reform, which, unfortunately, comes
Jacob Voorsanger,
Box 319
Houston, Texas, Oct[ober] 17[,] 1883
in our controversy, to the surface again. I distinctly recollect that there was an earnest conversation held upon the subject of enlisting the many private Jewish Schools of New York, as well as the free schools of that city—as you well know under conservative control-- and the result of the con-versation was the insertion of the words "Sab bath Schools and kindred institutions" in the ap-peal, which, I beg to inform you confidentially, was entirely my work. I must confess however, that I also never intended that the Sabbath School Union should from the beginning should follow a strictly traditional course. In fact, it was intended that the Union should only present instruction in a manner and form object-ionable to no one, and-if ever the Union will be a fait accompli, this will be the only course it will pursue. I must confess also, that I was prepared for opposition, and much as I wish you could have been on our side, I am glad to have to give account to you, and not to the croakers of the press
Jacob Voorsanger,
Box 319
Houston, Texas, Oct[ober] 17[,] 1883
who in every new movement see an object of self-aggrandizement to its advocate, much as you differ with me, I know you will not deny me sincerity and earnestness, and an honest desire to serve God as I understand it. If I erred in bringing this movement to the front, I have the satisfaction that God will forgive me for I did it [Hebrew] for His sake and for the sake of the Torah [Hebrew]. As to my position on Rabbinical Judaism, you have slightly mistaken it, as I will set forth in a subsequent article in the Record. There is a distinction with a big difference between Rab-binical Judaism and Rabbinistic Judaism, and admitting the beneficent influence of the former I contend the evil influence of the latter. Am I to estimate the influence of a Hillel, an Akiba, a Jehudah Hakadosh by the same standard as the influence of Dr Leon, Vital Calabrese, Loria, and I regret to say Mose Luzatto? I cannot do it. I cannot esteem the German & Polish Rabbinists. My measure of historical knowledge is indeed not as
Jacob Voorsanger,
Box 319
Houston, Texas, Oct[ober] 17[,] 1883
extensive as yours, but I cannot plan on one line Maimonides with Eliezer Rokeah, nor the Span-ish Rabbis before their excellent sense bec-ame tainted with Kabbalism, with that un-fortunate school of Talmudical hairsplitters, that glorified the Talmud at the expense of the Bible, and made children recite the Mishna by heart before they well could translate [Hebrew]. But I write in-coherently, I feel myself warming up with the subject and I must not fatigue you nor exhaust your patience. I shall set forth my views in the Record as a reply to yours, but I shall be mindful of our relations and never lose sight of that pro-found respect to which you are entitled from me, your junior and I may right-fully say, your pupil. Your two postals have profoundly touched me, and I am thankful to you and to God that in this clashing of opinions and this strife after truth I will not forfeit your good opinion. I have still much
Jacob Voorsanger,
Box 319
Houston, Texas, Oct[ober] 17[,] 1883
to say, but I have scarcely recovered from the fatiguing Kippur exercises and from yesterday's service. My time is not my own if I am well though, for a few days, with [Hebrew] I have to attend the Visitor which is a more severe taskmaster than my dear congregation. With Nehemia[?] I pray [Hebrew] for there is precious little earthly gain in all this business.
Let me, before concluding wishing you with all my soul's earnestness [Hebrew] and that the Almighty may give you many, many more years of happiness, health and usefulness. Indeed, were you to be different from what you are, less se-vere, less consistent, less unreconciling I could not esteem you as deeply as I am do now. Your very life is a check to many radicals, I hope it will be so as long as God will grant you life.
Truly and faithfully Yours
Jacob Voorsanger - Identifier
- p30k26x3n
- identifier
- SMBx3FF5_22
Part of Letter from Voorsanger, Jacob to Morais, Sabato. Houston, TX; Oct 1883
Voorsanger, Jacob and Morais, Sabato, “Letter from Voorsanger, Jacob to Morais, Sabato. Houston, TX; Oct 1883”, Sabato Morais Digital Repository, accessed September 19, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/morais/item/90737