Subject: Religious practices

Two-page letter written by I.L. Crawcour to Isaac Leeser from New Orleans, Louisiana, dated September 6, 1865. Crawcour requests a set of prayer books for his wife, bound in Morocco leather, with her name inscribed, to be delivered in time for the Holy Days. He also mentions a lack of positive news and expresses hope for a better future year. The letter is part of the collection Arc.MS.56, Box 4, Folder 5.

Autograph letter signed by Isaac Harby, written in Charleston, South Carolina on May 5, 1826, to E. P. Cohen. The letter discusses the historical arguments for not wearing a head covering in the temple, representing an early American document in the history of Reform Judaism. Harby, a key figure in the early American Reform movement, presents his own research and interpretation of scripture on this topic.

A one-page letter from S. Solis to Isaac Leeser, dated September 25, 1850, in Philadelphia. The letter discusses the shipment of citrons and lulabs and inquires about Leeser's health.

Manuscript in English and Hebrew, containing laws of kosher slaughtering with questions and answers for the practicing Shochet. Written in neat English cursive and square Hebrew letters on 17 leaves of paper. Shows signs of staining. Bound in contemporary marbled wrappers; front cover stained and slightly torn. 12mo. Circa 1850-1860. The manuscript may be a copy of an existing book and requires further research. The handwriting varies, suggesting two scribes. The text includes an account mentioning a sum of money ("four months at four thousand and forty three...dollars"), suggesting the manuscript's creation in the United States. The scarcity of trained Shochetim (ritual slaughterers) in 19th-century America contextualizes the manuscript's creation as a training manual.

Photograph of an elderly Jewish man with a beard and skullcap, holding a book. The reverse of the photograph indicates it was taken by Huebinger Bros. Photograph Art Gallery, located at the corner of 3rd and Brady Streets, above the Davenport National Bank, Davenport, Iowa. Circa 1885.