Subject: Judaism -- United States -- 19th century

Five-page manuscript notebook (6x8 inches) containing a sermon delivered by Harmon Hendricks upon assuming the role of Presiding Elder (Parnas) at Shearith Israel synagogue in New York City in September 1823. The manuscript, written in a neat hand with numerous alterations, offers insights into the religious practices and social dynamics of the early 19th-century Jewish community in New York. It details advice to the congregation on appropriate conduct during prayer services.

Autograph letter signed from Isaac Mayer Wise to Isaac Leeser, dated April 15, 1850. Written in English and Hebrew, the letter discusses a congregational dispute, Wise's support from his Albany congregation, and an article in the New York Herald about the Damascus Blood Libel. The letter includes an integral address panel. Folio.

Broadside circular calling for a meeting on November 7, 1841, to discuss the proposed religious union among the Israelites of America. Initiated by Rev. Isaac Leeser, with Lewis Allen as chairman. Printed in Philadelphia around July 1841 (5601). One large folded leaf printed on both sides. Shows some tears, professionally restored. Singerman 0738. WorldCat locates 1 copy.

A printed circular letter, dated April 1, 1849, issued by Isaac Leeser as Corresponding Secretary pro tempore. It calls for a national meeting of Jewish leaders in the United States to address various issues facing American Jewry, including a lack of concert, inadequately qualified teachers, insufficient schools, and a lack of religious instruction. The letter proposes the establishment of a union of congregations, the development of educational initiatives, and the publication of books to improve religious understanding and practice. The proposed meeting was to take place in New York City on the third Monday in Sivan (June 11, 1849), with each congregation sending a delegate.

A three-page letter dated March 1858, written by "S.J. the Hazan" to Isaac Leeser, criticizing an essay published in the *Occident and American Jewish Advocate*. The letter contains strong criticism of the essay's biblical interpretations and challenges Leeser's editorial decision to publish it. The letter provides insight into public debates among Orthodox Jews regarding biblical interpretations. The letter is written in English.

A three-page letter written by A. Kohn of Chicago, Illinois, to Isaac Leeser in New York City on September 23, 1849. Kohn expresses concerns about the state of Judaism in America, emphasizing the need for Jewish institutions such as hospitals, colleges, and Sabbath schools. He also discusses the attitudes of younger Jews and the lack of support from wealthy members of the community.

Letter from David Judah to Isaac Leeser regarding book business, dated July 3, 1848, in Baltimore, Maryland. This letter is part of a larger correspondence spanning several years, with a notable gap between 1831 and 1848. The letter sheds light on the business dealings and relationship between the two men.

A letter written by David Judah to Isaac Leeser on November 4, 1847, discussing the distribution of books, the financial affairs of the Occident, the prospects of a Mr. Block, and the recent death of Grace Aguilar. The letter was written from Baltimore, Maryland, and sent to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Five-page letter dated October 24, 1865, from Henry Illowy in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Illowy, the seventeen-year-old son of Rabbi Henry Illowy, rebukes Leeser for his criticism of his father and accuses Leeser of playing politics between Reform and Orthodox factions within American Judaism to maintain his position. The letter reveals tensions within American Judaism during this period.

Two-page letter (in German with translation) from I. M. Mayer in Cincinnati, Ohio to Isaac Leeser, dated June 1, 1851. Mayer discusses his position as chief teacher and preacher at Congregation Bene Israel, requests a subscription, and offers an article for publication in Leeser's journal.

Two-page letter dated April 11, 1853, from Isaac Hart in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The letter discusses the election of new trustees for the Shanarai-Chasset Congregation, financial contributions from Mr. Block of Washington, Arkansas, the vacancy of a minister in the Portuguese Congregation, and a gift presented to Mr. Marks. Hart also mentions his reluctance to accept further office within the congregation.

Autograph letter signed by Isaac Leeser to D. M. Daurt, written in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on October 23, 1850, and discussing personal attacks against Leeser. The letter also mentions Curaçao.

A two-page letter written by Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to David Judah in Baltimore, Maryland on May 9, 1830. The letter discusses Leeser's dissatisfaction with his congregants in Philadelphia, his financial difficulties, and his relationship with Judah.

A three-page letter written by Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to his uncle, Zalma Rehine, in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 20, 1837. The letter details the financial aspects of Leeser's book publishing ventures and discusses his concerns regarding his upcoming re-election to a congregational position.

This four-page letter, dated March 5, 1837, was written by Isaac Leeser of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to his uncle and confidant, Zalma Rehine, in Baltimore, Maryland. The letter details Leeser's campaign for the minister's position at Mikvah Israel Congregation. Leeser's contract was in jeopardy due to opposition from some congregants. He discusses his concerns regarding the power of the Congregational President (Parnas) over his position as Hazan. The letter is written in a small hand and fills four 8" x 10" sheets. The signature page is missing. The letter provides insight into Leeser's career and the internal dynamics of Mikvah Israel during a period of significant debate within the congregation, which occurred during the Financial Panic of 1837. In September 1837, Rev. Jacque Lyons of Surinam was considered as a candidate, but Leeser was ultimately re-elected.

A signed letter from Isaac Mayer Wise to Isaac Leeser, dated circa 1850, written from Albany, New York, and addressed to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The letter discusses Wise's inability to collect money for *The Occident*.

Autograph letter signed by J. Mendelsohn to Sabato Morais, written in Wilmington, North Carolina on September 5, 1880, and addressed to Morais in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The letter expresses a New Year's greeting.

A one-page letter written by Jacob Leeser to his brother, Isaac Leeser, in Baltimore, Maryland on December 29, 1833. The letter discusses family and friends, including a mention of Miss Cozen, Isaac's housekeeper. This letter is notable for its rarity, as Jacob Leeser's correspondence is scarce.

One-page letter written by Jas. P. Tyler of Richmond, Virginia, to Isaac Leeser on November 11, 1833. Tyler attempts to arrange an introduction between Leeser and his friend Alexander Campbell's daughter. The letter mentions Campbell's planned visit to Leeser's town and suggests Leeser would find Campbell and his daughter agreeable. A connection between Tyler and Leeser's uncle is also noted in other correspondence. The letter is notable for its unusual context, as none of the mentioned individuals explicitly appear to be Jewish, despite the letter being found among Isaac Leeser's papers.

A letter written by Joseph Brandon to Isaac Leeser on February 21, 1853, from New York City. Brandon informs Leeser that he will be unable to attend a dinner for the Education Society and returns his ticket. The letter also includes background information on the Education Society, its founding in 1848 by Isaac Leeser, its charter received in 1849, its first school opened in 1851, and its acquisition of a church building in 1854 thanks to a legacy from Judah Touro.

Three-page letter dated October 1, 1850, from Rabbi M. N. Nathan and Gershom Kursheedt in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Rabbi Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The letter discusses the contract between K.K. Beni Israel and Rabbi Nathan, expresses indignation at Leeser's treatment by Mikveh Israel Congregation, and offers advice regarding Leeser's future.

Letter from Nathaniel Levin in Charleston, South Carolina, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated November 3, 1852. Levin forwards a charity sermon by Rev. Solomon Jacobs for printing and discusses a potential reunion with the reformed congregation. Levin was the government inspector of imports and later wrote the history of Temple Beth Elohim.

Single-page handwritten letter from Phillip Mann to Levi Phillips, dated 1834, requesting permission for Rabbi Isaac Leeser to officiate at Mann's wedding to Clara Forst. The letter highlights the then-contemporary practice of laymen performing marriage ceremonies and the emerging role of the rabbi in such matters within the Jewish community. It also touches upon the later disagreements between Rabbi Leeser and lay leaders of Mikveh Israel regarding religious authority. The letter is part of a larger collection of materials related to the history of Judaism in America.

This 7.5" x 10" letter, written in German with an accompanying translation, was sent from Rabbi Bernard Illowy to Isaac Leeser around 1853. Illowy requests copies of past issues of *The Occident* and mentions Messrs. B. Abeles and Grunsfelder in relation to outstanding funds. The letter provides insight into the relationship between Illowy and Leeser, which later soured, and offers a glimpse into the Philadelphia Jewish community of the time. Rabbi Illowy arrived in America in 1852 as the first Orthodox Rabbi with a PhD. He held rabbinical positions in various cities, including Philadelphia, St. Louis, Syracuse, Baltimore, and New Orleans. A renowned scholar and speaker, he engaged in significant polemical exchanges with Reform leaders, his writings appearing in publications like *The Asmonean*, *The Israelite*, *The Jewish Messenger*, and *The Occident*.

Four-page letter from Rabbi Julius Lewin of B'nai Zion Congregation in Shreveport, Louisiana, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated August 7, 1866. The letter discusses conversion policy and congregational matters.

A one and a half page handwritten letter from Reinah (Judah) to Isaac Leeser, dated December 25, 1848, in Baltimore, Maryland. The letter discusses Reinah's financial difficulties, her business selling bitters, and social conditions in Baltimore and Richmond. It also mentions family members, including cousin David, and alludes to Leeser's past kindness.

One-page letter dated September 17, 1850, from Robert Lyon, publisher of The Asmonean, in New York City to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia. The letter discusses an editorial in The Occident that attacked Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise and his Albany congregation, and Lyon seeks Leeser's help in absolving him of responsibility for the editorial. The letter quotes verbatim from the editorial.

Two-page letter written by Robert Lyon in New York to Rev. Sabato Morais, rabbi of Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia, on October 26, 1858. Lyon requests literary assistance from Morais. Lyon was a publisher of the *Asmonian* and editor of the *Mercantile Journal*.

Three-page handwritten letter from Samuel Hart of Charleston, South Carolina to Isaac Leeser, dated May 6, 1853. The letter discusses fundraising for books and Occident subscriptions, and expresses concern and criticism regarding Dr. Isaac Wise's appointment to a Cincinnati congregation, perceived as a triumph of Reform Judaism. Hart, a religious traditionalist and president of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, speculates on Wise's motives and beliefs. The letter provides insight into the religious tensions and debates within the American Jewish community in the mid-19th century. The letter is housed in the University of Pennsylvania Library's collection of Judaica Americana.

Two-page letter written by Solomon Cohen of Savannah, Georgia to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 29, 1859. Cohen discusses the decline in readership of Leeser's publications and attributes it to the changing attitudes of educated American Jews towards traditional synagogue worship. He argues for a reform of synagogue services while maintaining core tenets of Judaism.

Undated manuscript draft of a sermon written by Jacob Mordecai (1762-1838), a prominent Jewish merchant and educator in Colonial America and the American South. The 2 3/4-page manuscript, written in Mordecai's hand, quotes a verse and provides a detailed explanation. It's assumed to have been written between 1819-1838 while he resided in Richmond, Virginia, where he served as president of Congregation Kahal Kadosh Beth Shalome.

Newspaper clipping from the *New York Herald*, February 22, 1860, featuring a significant editorial by Rabbi David Einhorn titled "Trouble Among the Hebrews." The editorial is a protest against the establishment of the Board of Delegates of American Israelites, referencing its first meeting in late November 1859. The article is noted for its unusual length and significance as the first major attempt at forming such a board, eventually encompassing one-third of the congregations in the USA. The Board of Delegates of American Israelites (BDAI) was later succeeded by the Union of American Congregations. The clipping is from Volume D, Page 19 of the archive.

This archival item consists of three handwritten pages (8 x 10 inches) of a sermon penned by Isaac Leeser. The sermon, likely written in the late 1830s, affirms Leeser's core belief in the sanctity and infallibility of God and his orthodoxy as a Jew. The sermon opens with a prayer and reiterates his strong beliefs in God's greatness, certitude, and perfection, concluding with a plea for God's blessings on his people. While unsigned, the distinctive handwriting confirms Leeser's authorship. The sermon may be part of a series of seven sermons on the Messiah, possibly included in his two-volume work *Discourses* (1837) or published in early issues of *The Occident*. The manuscript shows some aging and light fading but remains readable. Photostats are included for enhanced readability. This item is located in Arc.MS.56, Box 3, Folder 4.

Newspaper clipping from *The Daily Age*, Philadelphia, dated Saturday, April 29, 1865. The front page features a lengthy article detailing a sermon delivered by Dr. Isaac Leeser at the Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington, D.C., on April 26, 1865, following the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. The article highlights Leeser as the oldest Hebrew minister in the United States. The newspaper also contains reports on the Sultana disaster, the worst maritime disaster in U.S. history; further updates on the assassination of Abraham Lincoln; and the death of John Wilkes Booth. This sermon by Rabbi Leeser is not known to exist in pamphlet form; this newspaper clipping appears to be one of the only surviving records.

A handwritten prayer and speech, undated, found tipped into the family Bible of Rebecca Gratz. The speech, not in Gratz's handwriting or that of her successor Louisa Hart, references the clash of armor and cannon, suggesting a possible connection to the Civil War era. The speech was researched by Professor Dianne Ashton.