English News

London, Sept. 3, 1847.

Very little doubts are now entertained as to the admission of our new city representative, Baron de Rothschild, into Parliament; the prime minister’s views are well ascertained on the subject, and it is believed that his influence will be powerfully exerted in favour of the admission. The new sessions are therefore looked forward too with much interest and anxiety by all concerned, as the principle sought to be recognised by this movement cannot be said to have triumphed until the Baron shall be virtually in possession of his seat.—The new Regulations of our Chief Rabbi, to which I have occasionally referred in former communications, have at length been adopted in  one of our metropolitan Synagogues—the Hambro, the smallest and least important of the city Synagogues.—How long the Great and New Synagogue will be before they also introduce these Regulations into their worship remains yet undisclosed. The great anomaly occasioned by this partial adoption, is now more apparent therefore. I informed you before, that some of the country congregations had accepted the regulations, and already introduced them, after waiting in vain for the metropolitan Synagogues to take the lead. From what I learn they work extremely well, and are a decided improvement on the old system. At the “Hambro” they are organizing an efficient choir, who are already in good train. It will appear exceedingly strange, when Dr. Adler shall be making the round of all the London Synagogues, as is his wont during the holidays, to find the one adopting a different Minhag to the other.

I am informed, from credible sources, that Sir Moses, our great Jewish philanthropist, who has recently returned from a very successful mission to the Court of France, concerning the Jews in Damascus, (an account of which you will perceive in the Jewish periodicals), is about to proceed on a mission to the Papal States, to promote an amelioration of the condition of the Jews in those dominions. He will, at the same time, most probably convey the grateful acknowledgments of the Jews to the enlightened and benevolent Pius IX., for the liberal and extensive concessions which he has already made to his hitherto oppressed and <<366>>degraded Jewish subjects. It is surprising to me that this acknowledgment has not been made earlier, seeing that this noble and enlightened Pontiff has, ever since his accession, among other liberal acts, been gradually extending the privileges, or, I should rather say, relaxing the restrictions of our Jewish brethren in his dominions. It is supposed that Sir Moses’ object will be to direct the Pope’s attention to those grievances which still press on his Jewish subjects, and thus hasten the measures which would no doubt meet with regard in course of time. The Jewish community of Manchester have addressed a letter of congratulation to the Baron de Rothschild, on the occasion of his election as a representative in Parliament. This is the first public body, out of London, that has identified itself with the subject as a Jewish national question.

A very extraordinary advertisement appears in No. 79 of the Jewish Chronicle, issued by Stanislaus Hoga, proposing a “new Jewish monthly publication, in Hebrew and English, to be called ציד נאמן ‘The Faithful Missionary.’” The programme set forth, which occupies two columns and a half, promises an expose of operations of the “London Society for promoting Christianity among the Jews.” It appears that this Mr. Hoga, who is admitted to be the greatest Hebrew scholar in England, was formerly in the employ of this society; but, either from conviction of his errors, or through some misunderstanding with his employers, he seems to have declared war against them, and promises to expose their machinations, which he threatens in such language as the following, which is No. 4 of the twenty-three things he proposes to do. “4. He will give full information of the commencement, progress. and conduct of the society; how this adulterous child was born, by whom it was cradled and fostered, until (as the present traders it) apostacy tell their dupes) ‘Kings are become its nourishing fathers, and queens its nourishing mothers.’” Besides this he proposes to refute attacks against Judaism by professors of Christianity, and to explain the history and character of both. There is no doubt that this extraordinary publication, if it ever do come to anything, will create considerable agitation and alarm among the officers and dependents of the “London Society,” whose situations will be jeopardized by some of the revelations promised to its patrons and supporters. The Jews will look on with some interest, and regard the affair as a “pretty quarrel as it stands.” I see that the “Voice of Jacob,” does not admit the advertisement,  but takes notice of the matter as a piece of news only.—The New Synagogue, which has been closed for some months while being repaired and beautified, was reopened last evening, the attendance was very large and select. Dr. Adler, who was present, gave an address.

<<367>>The Jewish College appears to remain a dead letter; nothing has transpired concerning it that has reached the public ear. It is strange that while some of the leading and influential Jews can exert themselves so earnestly and actively for Emancipation, there seems none of them to have even half the energy to spare for an object incomparably more important, and more valuable to Jewish interests. Education. I fear, after all, we shall wait until our younger brethren of your country shall set us the example; it boots but little which moves first, so that there be a movement in the right direction somewhere. Our Chief Rabbi, I have reason to believe, feels most warmly on the subject; but be he ever so much respected or ever so earnest in the cause, he can do nothing alone; ‘tis a pity that the Jewish Deputies during their long recesses, and their term seems to be composed of little else, cannot find time to do something toward this grand object. Though it may not come precisely within their province, they may recommend it, and give it encouragement. If they deem the promotion of Jewish Emancipation a part of their vocation, surely the rendering the Jews fit for and worthy of emancipation, by means of a suitable education, is not less their duty. I believe it was sought to recommend some interference on the part of this body in the late elections; but some wiser members overruled this proposition.

O.

Note.—The English Jewish papers for Ab have not reached us, consequently we are not in possession of the details of the visit of Sir Moses to the King of France. But we may inform, incidently, our readers, that a new Damascus calumny has been started, similar to the one which agitated the whole Jewish world some years ago; but upon investigation the falsity was too apparent, and the authorities dismissed it; still there are persons in Christian France, who profess to believe it true. So much for the enlightenment of the present era.

Respecting Mr. Hoga’s periodical, we would merely tell our readers that he is altogether a singular man, to judge from what we have heard from a valued friend who was not long ago in England. He became an apostate in Russia, when quite a young man, and after coming to Great Britain, he was engaged to work for the Society which is endeavouring to destroy the Jews. He has shown himself a very indifferent aid to the zealots who compose that body; and his recent publication in the London Jewish Chronicle and elsewhere have proved him anything but a sincere Christian. We would have spoken before this of this extraordinary man; but as we do not mean to mention in our pages the name of any apostate, not desiring to embalm their memory even by so slight a thing as an allusion thereto in the Occident, we forebore alluding to <<368>>him; but he appears now as an ally to our people, and we only serve the cause of justice by inserting the advertisement in our advertiser, in compliance with his request, hoping that he may do something to atone for his great sin in denying his God and his faith for the sake of worldly gain. Whether he has repented and reunited himself to the Synagogue, we know not; but hope that when this meets his eye, if not before then, he will do what is the duty of every sinner when he is conscious of his transgression. Only as a repentant Israelite can we have confidence in him; and we therefore trust that whilst defending our cause he will honour it by his own sincere reconversion to the God of his fathers.