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Manuscript - Hand written transcription of an acrostic for the Occident by a researcher possibly by Leeser., ....circa 1900s... Peace and blessing from the God of the Universe for our master and teacher, the candle of Israel, the glory of his generation and its beauty, the great Gaon, the truthful searcher, who reveals wh the depths of the Torah and of wisdom, his honor and his glory, Rabbi Shlomo Judah Leib Rappoport, a priest to the high God, may his light continue to burn with shining brightness, Chief Rabbi of the community of Prague and its district. ? May the kindly God increase the years of your life ? To the Jews may you continue to be a light, till the moon is no more ? May the source of your wisdom drip down like the gentle rain from heaven ? Be a blessing forever, revealer of the hidden! The acrostic spells Solomon. [Page 2] How glorious is the day when the honored men of Israel appear before your glory each with the his gift in his hand. The day you attained a ripe old age, when you reached the age of seventy. The heart of all Israel murmurs a prayer to God, to renew your youth like the eagle, that you may continue to be for many years a prop to the house of Judah and a tower of strength to the wisdom of Jeshurun. Pure as the heavens have your years been to this day. Like shining stars you have shed light upon all the borders of Israel. You first began to show to every- one the strong hand of the ancient sages of Israel. You were the first to remove from our people's sages, the shame cast upon them by their traducers, when you revealed to us and to the gentiles which way to find the light which dwelt in an- cient palaces and the hoary halls of Israel. The spirit of investigation which you have chosen was like a combed out the mountains of folly and religious [Page 3] hatred, and broke the rocks of foolish- ness. The fruits of your wisdom have become ripe and risen like a flowering tree, over investigations of times past, and have become like an enclosing vine which clothes rejoices God and man who in its vineyard of beauty. You have accomplished much good for the house of Jacob from that day to this. There- fore when Israel heard this news it said announcing that God had blessed you, our master, and gave you life and strength to this day, for your seventieth year, they all hurried to bring to you their blessing, so that, from the ends of the earth, their song is heard and thanksgiving and praise to God for having granted you life till now. All the lovers of the wisdom of Israel, like one man, express their thanks and their praise in your honor, for all the good which you have done for our brothers, the children of Israel in general. With some a cry of joy they call before you [Page 4] long live the King Solomon And may his Kingdom be established forever, And let his priestly service continue in its peaceful way forever. The wide sea which separates the old world from the new has not separated the hearts of an Israelite, from his brethren. Our ear, too, recognizes the value of your words. We, too, claim our share of their glory. For our head also are you a crown. American Israel, too, is proud of you. And shall we have nothing in our hand, now that the Israelites who live in Europe come forward to greet you with blessings and praises? Shall we be the last to greet your honored countenance and bless you in the midst of the throng of your admirers. One thing we know for certain, that we are incapable of bringing to you a greeting be- [Page 5] fitting your glory. There is no in- terpreter in our midst who could express the feelings of our heart. But let not the greeting of an ordinary man to light in your eyes. Listen to us, for from the depths of our hearts we speak to you. May God renew your youth; righteous priest That your days may increase and your wisdom be multiplied a tower of strength for Israel To strengthen all that is just That you have been always and that you will be all your days. Receive, o master, our unworthy greeting, which comes from the deepest recesses of our heart, and when you cast your eyes upon the gifts brought to you from North, South, and East be good enough to remember us, your servants, [Page 6] who dwell across the seas in the land of the setting sun, who bow from a distance in your honor. Wednesday 13th of Heshvan (October), 1861 Probably in Leeser's own hand. Must have been included in the current issue of the "Occident." For Rapoport, see Jewish Encyclo- pedia.

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