2005-11
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2005
Beautifully penned two page 8 x 10 letter in the neat hand and signed by Rabbi Isaac Mayer from Cincinnati June 17, 5614 (1854). Two lines of Hebrew on the top margin. Mayer writes: “Your leading article against progressive Reform in the June issue greatly pleased our friends here and demands our respectful thanks, while the strictures against I. Wise…has paralyzed even some of his best friends. Such weapons so powerful and so ably directed must eventually prostrate that great Champion of Reform. He is indeed miserably humbled already. Doubtless there are many persons who would gladly take the field, but believing the holding of him up to contempt is assigning him too much importance, he is however in proper hands and nothing will afford true believers so much gratification as the continuance of the same and which we have the assurance is to follow [Hebrew words]…Wise has established his headquarters in the Camp of the Blind ! Hostilities commenced on the past festivals when he boldly attacked by seizing the principles of our Ancient Formulas…Expelling [??]…he is now preparing a choir and perhaps an organ. Where this will end; time alone will develop ! This mistaken reform is a novelty, particularly to persons who have no mind of their own, and will doubtless for a time be devoured by them with avidity…but also vanish like every phantom as soon as the light [that is] Dr. Wise’s weekly paper will break [with Jewish / Hebrew phrases following]…the newborn ‘Israelite,’ a weekly paper by Dr. Wise will make its first appearance July 1; its motto is to be [both Hebrew and Latin phrases follow]…it may probably enlighten the gentiles if it does not reform the brethren. I will send you a copy when published.” He adds in tiny print on the remaining space available on the margin a Hebrew phrase and: “the Rev. I. Wise, antagonist of the Kabalah, the adversier of Thalmad, the enemy of the old obscure Rabbinism, performed today a Kabalistical Function…he Benshd a child which died while he was Benshing it…who is the Hyprocrite [all of with Latin !].” Isaac Mayer was teacher and rabbi in Cincinnati 1849-1856 leaving for Rochester, N.Y. until 1859, then serving (until retirement) the congregation at Hartford, Connecticut. He authored first Hebrew grammar published in U.S. and was always at odds with the Reform element. Exc.
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