Subject: Rabbis -- United States -- Biography

Handwritten sermon delivered by Moses N. Nathan on May 14, 1850, at the consecration of the Nefutzot Yehudah Synagogue in New Orleans. The sermon, written in Nathan's hand just days after joining the congregation, seeks God's blessings on the new synagogue and its members. Isaac Leeser personally inscribed the date and details of the service on the manuscript. Accompanying materials include six letters from Moses N. Nathan to Isaac Leeser, beginning October 1, 1851, from New Orleans where Nathan became the Hazan for K.K. Beni Israel. Also included is a photostat from The Early Jews of New Orleans (Korn) describing the temple consecration and a printout of the entire sermon. This material is from the collection of Moses N. Nathan (1807-1883).

Autograph letter signed by D. Carvalho to Isaac Leeser, dated November 12, 1850. The letter was written from New York, New York, and discusses orders for books. A postmark indicates the letter was processed on October 15, 1851 in New York, New York.

Four-page letter written by D. Salomon of Mobile, Alabama, on January 4, 1846, to Isaac Leeser. Salomon describes the consecration of Shaari Shomayin Synagogue in Mobile, his discourse at the ceremony, and discusses Leeser's requests for funds for the Jewish Publication Society and space in *The Occident* for Salomon's "Short Sermons."

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.

Three-page letter written by Isaac Hackenburg in Cincinnati, Ohio on November 21, 1853, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Hackenburg discusses the election of Isaac Mayer Wise as the new minister of the Cincinnati congregation, offering his perspective on the congregation's composition and Wise's suitability. He also inquires about a public debate between Poznanski and Wise, and Raphael and Rosenfeld, and a minor shohet scandal in Savannah.

A two-page letter written by Isaac Leeser to his uncle, Zalma Rehine, on April 10, 1835. Leeser details his anxiety awaiting a position with Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia and the letter was sent care of Judah Block in Baltimore, Maryland. This letter is one of approximately 15 letters written by Zalma Rehine to Isaac Leeser and seven written in response.

A two-and-a-half-page letter written by Isaac Leeser to his uncle, Zalma Rehine, on January 5, 1836. From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Leeser vividly describes his duties as Hazan at Mikveh Israel. The letter was sent to Rehine in care of Judah Block in Baltimore, Maryland.

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.

Two-page letter (8" x 12") from Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise of Albany, New York to Rabbi Isaac Leeser of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated May 18, 1851. The letter details Wise's legal victory against Louis Spanier following a physical altercation at Congregation Beth-El of Albany. Wise outlines his seven-point legal victory, including a charge of "guilty of assault and battery committed on a minister in the pulpit in presence of his congregation." This letter is one of three in this collection that document the "Congregation Beth-El of Albany Affair."

A two-page letter written by Lem Hillman to Isaac Leeser on May 8, 1853, from Nashville, Tennessee. Hillman describes the activities of the small Nashville Jewish congregation, their plans for incorporation, and their use of Leeser's periodical, The Occident, for disseminating news.

One-page letter from Lewis Abraham in Cincinnati, Ohio to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated May 18, 1847. The letter pertains to business matters related to *The Occident*, a prominent 19th-century American Jewish periodical.

Autograph letter signed from Louis M. Slutsky to Isaac Leeser, written in Buffalo, New York on December 17, 1853. Slutsky expresses his interest in translation work and seeks employment opportunities.

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.

Silver ewer presented to Rabbi Samuel Adler on May 25, 1860, in gratitude from Temple Emanuel, New York. The ewer features an eagle on the reverse side and Hebrew inscriptions. Manufactured by Gale and Will, NYC.

Silver pitcher presented to Rabbi Samuel Myer Isaacs by the Board of Delegates of American Israelites in 1860 as a token of esteem for his devotion to the Jewish people. The inscription notes the presentation and highlights Isaacs' leadership role in the formation of the Board in 1859, a pivotal moment in the national organization of American Jewry. The pitcher is an icon piece from the earliest beginnings of a national consolidation of Jewish organizations.