Isaac Leeser, papers
Scope and Content Note
Contains letters and articles in manuscript to Leeser pertaining to: his work as editor of The Occident, his translation of the Bible and his other literary works; discussions concerning Jewish law, the Reform movement in the United States and in Curaçao; Reform and Orthodox Judaism in Albany, N.Y., Massachusetts Senator Henry Wilson's anti-Semitic comments in the United States Congress; the founding of a synagogue in San Francisco; the condition of Jews and Jewish education in America and in England; equal rights for Jews in Massachusetts and North Carolina; the controversy over the Touro Monument; slavery and the Civil War; and converts to Judaism. Also includes information on Israel Joseph Benjamin's trip in the U.S., 1859-1862; Isaac Mayer Wise; Sabato Morais; a manuscript guidebook on Jewish ritual slaughter written by Moses Julian in Barbados in 1820; Moses Montefiore's report on his mission to Rome on behalf of the Edgardo Mortara affair; articles discussing Christian theology; the Jews in Cochin, India and in China; a Latin preface to Leeser's Hebrew Bible; a Portuguese prayer against the evil eye; and poems on topics of Jewish interest.
Major correspondents include Chief Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler of the British Empire, Abraham Benisch, Rabbi Aron Chumaceiro of Curaçao, Elias Haim Lindo, Moris Jacob Raphall, and a large quantity of poems by Marian Hartog and Rosa Emma Salaman.
A typed index of correspondents is included with the collection.
Dates
- Creation: undated, 1811-1919
Creator
- Leeser, Isaac (Person)
Language of Materials
The collection is in English, French, German, Hebrew, Latin, Portuguese, Spanish, and Yiddish.
Access Restrictions
The collection is open to all researchers, except items that may be restricted due to their fragility, or privacy.
Use Restrictions
No permission is required to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection, as long as the usage is scholarly, educational, and non-commercial. For inquiries about other usage, please contact the Director of Collections and Engagement at mmeyers@ajhs.org.
For reference questions, please email: inquiries@cjh.org
Extent
.5 Linear Feet (1 manuscript box)
Abstract
Contains letters and articles in manuscript to Leeser pertaining to: his work as editor of The Occident, his translation of the Bible and his other literary works; discussions concerning Jewish law, the Reform movement in the United States and in Curaçao; Reform and Orthodox Judaism in Albany, N.Y., Massachusetts Senator Henry Wilson's anti-Semitic comments in the United States Congress; the founding of a synagogue in San Francisco; the condition of Jews and Jewish education in America and in England; equal rights for Jews in Massachusetts and North Carolina; the controversy over the Touro Monument; slavery and the Civil War; and converts to Judaism. Also includes information on Israel Joseph Benjamin's trip in the U.S., 1859-1862; Isaac Mayer Wise; Sabato Morais; a manuscript guidebook on Jewish ritual slaughter written by Moses Julian in Barbados in 1820; Moses Montefiore's report on his mission to Rome on behalf of the Edgardo Mortara affair; articles discussing Christian theology; the Jews in Cochin, India and in China; a Latin preface to Leeser's Hebrew Bible; a Portuguese prayer against the evil eye; and poems on topics of Jewish interest.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into a single series.
Physical Location
Located in AJHS New York, NY
Acquisition Note
Gift, in part of the Elsie O. and Philip D. Sang Foundation, 1979.
Digitization Note
In 2017, two folders from this collection (Box 1, Folders 6 and 43) were digitized and made available in their entirety as part of the Digitization-on-Demand program.
Processing Note
The collection is currently closed until reprocessing and digitization can be completed. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Subject
- Adler, Nathan Marcus, 1803-1890 (Person)
- Benisch, A. (Abraham), 1811-1878 (Person)
- Benjamin, I. J. (Israel Joseph), 1818-1864 (Person)
- Chumaceiro, Aron Mendes, 1810-1882 (Person)
- Hartog, Mrs. (Marion) (Person)
- Julian, Moses, -1820 (Person)
- Lindo, Elias Haim, 1783-1865 (Person)
- Montefiore, Moses, Sir, 1784-1885 (Person)
- Morais, Sabato, 1823-1897 (Person)
- Mortara, Pio, 1851-1940 (Person)
- Raphall, Morris J. (Morris Jacob), 1798-1868 (Person)
- Salaman, Rosa Emma (Person)
- Touro, Judah, 1775-1854 (Person)
- Wilson, Henry, 1812-1875 (Person)
- Wise, Isaac Mayer, 1819-1900 (Person)
- Congregation Emanu-El (San Francisco, Calif.) (Organization)
- Board of Deputies of British Jews (Organization)
- Title
- Guide to the Papers of Isaac Leeser (1806-1868), undated, 1811-1919 *P-20
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by Marvin Rusinek and Adina Anflick
- Date
- © 2009
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Revision Statements
- September 2017: dao links for DOD folders added by Leanora Lange.
- January 2018: dao links added by Miriam Clayton.
- March, June 2020: EHyman: post-ASpace migration cleanup
Repository Details
Part of the American Jewish Historical Society Repository
