2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
By MOSES N. NATHAN, RABBI OF THE JEWISH CONGREGATION OF ST. THOMAS, VIRGIN ISLANDS, THE SECOND OLDEST JEWISH CONGREGATION IN THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE, THE OLDEST SYNAGOGUE IN CONTINUOUS USE UNDER THE AMERICAN FLAG AND THE FIRST IN THIS HEMISPHERE TO HOLD A JEWISH CONFIRMATION CEREMONY. Its role in Judaism in the Americas has been very much unheralded, and only within this past year has a history "Through the Sands of Time: The History of the Jewish Community of St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands" (J. M. Cohen) been published by Brandeis University Press. This extraordinarily lengthy 4 page (large 8 x 13) letter entirely in his very small, but easily read penned hand with full signature; from "St. Thomas" August 5, 5607 / 1847 to Isaac Leeser. Letter noteworthy not merely for its startling volume, but, also, its significant historical content. The London born Nathan had earlier been rabbi of the congregation on the British Island of Jamaica, accepting the pulpit of a bitterly divided congregation in St. Thomas in 1845 and subsequently resolving much of the dissention and animosity and bringing unity to the community. Fulfilling his contract he went on to take over the congregation of New Orleans in 1850. With dissention once again wreaking havoc among the reform-Orthodox factions in St. Thomas, Nathan was called upon to once again take the pulpit to resolve the friction. Nathan opens his letter by apologizing for the long delay and writes: "to make up for the lost time I intend sending a long letter and will endeavor to continue writing to one [Leeser] whom I hold in highest esteem" and mentions sending along [not enclosed] "…the corrected copy of the 'ROAD TO FAITH' and intend presenting it to you for publication [his English translation from the German of an important Hebrew text book for children 'for use of Jewish elementary schools' which Leeser did publish the following year; see Singerman No. 1028…and which went through numerous reprintings by Leeser and others to the 1860's and later]. …With this condition that [you] will always supply me at the publication price. [Describing a few changes he made and reasons for same]…it grieved me to notice the useless discussion in the pages of the Occident on the question of West Indian Citrons [citrus fruits imported by Jews in U.S. for use in Sukkoth services]…had the writers who so dogmatically insisted upon their being [Hebrew word] grafted, been at all acquainted with the Antilles they would never have broached the matter. In these islands too much attention is devoted to the staple productions i.e. sugar, coffee, etc. to waste laborer's time on the improvement of fruit trees. [He discusses at length the subject of 'citrons' and matters of their growing, marketing, shipping to the U.S.]…one of our brethren in Jamaica use to send an annual supply to the synagogues by his slaves, free of cost. [He] permits anyone to pluck citrons who will send them [mentions various American Jews actively engaged in acquiring citrons from the islands and other fascinating details of the topic]…either the learned in America have passed an erroneous judgment [about citrons] or spurious citrons have been shipped to your congregation and palmed off as genuine fruit. [Advising Leeser how to detect and beware on the acquisition of citrons]…you have written Mr. Wolff again on the subject of my reply to the attack on confirmation [which he introduced to the congregation] but the delay is so long it has now lost its interest…it was my intention to have replied…when the shameless conduct of Mr. Isaac and his confederates in attempting to discharge me from my post called forth all my energies to defeat their machinations and left me little leisure unless inclination for so trifling a matter. Success attended my efforts [while] others sought to do the congregation as much mischievous as possible and turned out only to make way for better men. While this was in progress and my daily bread at stake, when the prospect of having to go out and seek a living elsewhere stared me in the face, could you suppose that I should sit down…to reply to an opponent whose object and motive in assailing me arose from malice ? [He writes in vivid detail all the dissention, under-cutting and backhanded actions going on and being steadfast in defending himself as well as his reasons and actions for introducing 'confirmation']. …I accomplished all these objects…and find it a useful instrument in keeping the sheep within the fold…no child shall be called to the Sepher who is ignorant of the fundamental principles of Judaism…yet I will not make confirmation compulsory; the King of Denmark will however do so [with details and reasoning…he calls upon Leeser to involve himself in that confirmation matter which he states]…will maintain its ground and spread itself in America and elsewhere and time may yet [make] you one of its warmest defenders. [Complimenting Leeser on recent articles in the Occident, Nathan writes at length his opinions of Jewish immigrants from Europe entering America and what they may expect and how they may influence the country itself, offering some interesting observations]…a Polack or Russian Israelite, having once obtained a little refinement and polish is able to make his way in any pursuit whether literary or scientific or mercantile. It remains to be seen what effect the immense immigration of our people into the U.S. will have on our religion. …Great change is at hand on the fortunes of our people [then continuing at length about the depressing situation in Russia and the manner in which the Czar was treating Jews and what the future obviously portended, using biblical analogies. Czar]…will possibly permit a larger emigration of those who can't afford to buy the privilege of departing, but he will not [ease up] on his oppression. Martyred blood will be shed and perhaps when that avails not he will drive Israel from his land as Pharoah did. In politics the danger is as imminent as in religion. Turkey is already in his grasp. Austria will succumb [and more on the international situation v.s. the U.S. Nathan then discusses the major controversy Leeser was then in the midst of]…HAVE YOU YET BROKEN A LANCE AGAINST RABBI WISE AS YOU ANTICIPATED ? I was prepared for something more satisfactory and convincing than his logical reasoning in the Occident. …Part of his arguments appear to me very contradictory [Nathan dissects and rebuts Wise's statements]…The neo-Judaical opinions of Rabbi Wise are not in harmony with the law and prophets…Rabbi Wise's opinions are not new to me. …The Conclave of American rabbis are right in seeking to establish a Minhag America. It is necessary if only to make Judaism and synagogue worship understood by Christians. I shudder at the prejudices which the conduct in some synagogues must excite in the Christian mind. While condemning some of the principles evolved by Rabbi Wise as the mouthpiece of the Conclave, the project has my best wishes." Much of final page is his argumentation for and against the Wise's support of the Reform movement. Were this remarkable letter to have been written on normal 8 x 10 size stationery in a normal size penned hand it would undoubtedly have taken 30 or 40 pages, maybe more. A number of Hebrew words interposed throughout. Although readable in its present state, it has been made much more easily read by having huge 18 x 30 photostatic enlargements made of each individual page. ACCOMPANIED BY a copy of the newly published book "Through the Sands of Time The History of the Jewish Community St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Islands" (2004) in which there are many lengthy, detailed entries regarding Rabbi Moses N. Nathan and his work and importance to the community. A note of interest to the collectors: two very important Jewish Americans were also born in the Virgin Islands: David [Levy] Yulee the first U.S. Senator elected from Florida in (1845) and the famous Judah Benjamin, U.S. Senator from Louisiana (1852) was both Sec'y of War and Sec'y of State of the Confederacy during the Civil War.) Normal aging. Condition exc. +. A unique opportunity to acquire a truly significant piece of American Judaica.
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