Manuscript Copy Book Concerning Post-Mortem Examinations in Jewish Law, 1856

Manuscript copy book containing letters and commentary debating the permissibility of post-mortem examinations according to Jewish law. The letters, primarily from April 1856, include correspondence from various individuals, notably a letter from Chief Rabbi Nathan Adler of London and rebuttals from American scholars. The copy book also includes six pages of commentary not derived from the copied letters. The cover features a pasted title from the *Occident*, June 1856. The internal first page is dated June 17, 1886, and signed by Dr. M. Mielziner (Professor, Hebrew Union College); however, the majority of the book is in a different hand and ink. The book includes a letter from T.J. Sexias of Jew's Hospital in NYC (April 7, 1856), Rabbi Illowy of St. Louis (April 6, 1856), and an unsigned rebuttal to Chief Rabbi Adler. A two-column clipping from the 1896 *Israelite* by Dr. M. Mielziner is pasted on the final page. The book may have been compiled by Isaac Leeser, possibly in preparation for publication in the *Occident*.

Associated People/Businesses

• LEESER, ISAAC

Geography

No geographic information available.

Subjects

• Autopsy
• Jewish law

Physical Location

Arc.MS.56, Box 3, Folder 5