He was Ohio’s earliest permanent Jewish settler.

This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006

JOSEPH JONAS (1792-1869). Arrived Cincinnati 1817 and in 1824 was president of the newly founded Bene Israel Congr., the very first in Ohio. (He married a daughter of Gershom Mendes Seixas the first native American born rabbi.) Jonas also wrote “The Jews of Ohio” for Isaac Leeser’s “Occident” in 1842. A member of the Ohio legislature (1860-61) and an organizer of that city’s democratic party. He represented Leeser’s interest and periodical in Ohio. Informative two page letter to Leeser from “Cincinnati May 17, 1852.” Neatly penned with fine autograph signature. Opens with discussion regarding shipment of the “Occident” to him and distribution to various subscribers, advising Leeser “…you had better not send to any new names without they are sent for [first] or ordered through me.” Mentions various book titles of Leeser’s he ordered and awaiting; writes of current news of Jewish activities: “…Mr. Rosenfeld’s Congr. provides no teachers, Mr. Kreb having withdrawn and our congregation being set against it, by the pious Mr. Malzyre. I have found your list of debtors…will endeavor to make collections. The Sunday school still contains over 100 children. The Hebrew Gentlemen’s Benevolent Society at their last election elected [names the new officers]…the other societies being in whole or part benefit societies amongst the German’s. I do not know the officers…will endeavor to get them…We find it very difficult to raise funds for our need [Hebrew word] from the ultra-Orthodox of our congregation, although to please them principally we have given a considerable extra sum to have work on the building on [Hebrew word]. Mr. Malzer has given us his seat as a gift to build the new Synagogue with…all we shall ever get from him…and he will sit amongst the mourners at the bottom of the [Hebrew word]. Oh ! hypocrisy !!...If you send the Sunday School books please enclose them with next Occident…” A few very light faint ink stains apparently original by the writer, otherwise exc. (not obscuring any words). Accompanied with two fine bio sketches of Jonas

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