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Philadelphia.—In the Board of the
Publication Society the following changes have been made. Mr. Leeser
retires from being Corresponding Secretary, and Mr. Solomon Solis has
been elected to fill his place; and we trust that his letters will meet
with the kind countenance of the Jewish communities throughout the
land.—As Mr. Lazarus Arnold has removed to Cincinnati, Mr. Leeser was
elected to fill his place as one of the Managers. The other members of
the Board continue the same as last year. The publication committee
continues as heretofore, to consist of Isaac Leeser, A. Hart, and
Solomon Solis.—A ball was given in aid of the German Ladies’ Hebrew
Benevolent Society, on the evening of the 13th of December, which, as we
see from the public prints, netted between three and four hundred
dollars to the treasury.—The seventh anniversary ball (see
advertisement) will take place on the 17th of January next. Half of the
proceeds will be devoted to the Hebrew Education Society, and we hope
that a considerable sum will be realized, to insure the opening of the
school at an early day.
New York.—A ladies society has been
organized in New York, entitled “The B’nai Jeshurun Ladies Hebrew
Benevolent Society, for the relief of Indigent Females.” The following
ladies are the founders:—Mrs. A. Lissak, Mrs. Barnet King, Mrs. D.
Samson, Mrs. Edward King, Mrs. Z. Bernstein, Mrs. Aaronson, Mrs. Rebecca
Levy, Mrs. Mark Levy, and Mrs. Henry Leo. The first general meeting was
held at the Elm Street Synagogue meeting room, on Sunday the 19th of
December, 5609, when the by-laws were read and approved, and the
following officers were unanimously elected: Mrs. Lissak, President;
Mrs. Samson, Vice-President; Mrs. Z. Bernstein, Treasurer; Mrs. Rebecca
Levy, Mrs. Charles King, Mrs. Lewis Lyons, Mrs. Henry Leo, Mrs. D. Roth,
and Mrs. E. Goldsmith, Directresses, and the Rev. Ansel Leo, Honorary
Secretary. We believe from what we saw when last in New York, that the
reverend gentleman drafted the laws, and was greatly instrumental in
getting up this benevolent society, from the
<<526>>ladies belonging to his
congregation. They will have ample field for their benevolence in the
constantly accumulating stream of immigrants whom the desolation in
their native land urges on to America.—On Wednesday the 13th of
December, the anniversary dinner and ball were given by the Portuguese
Israelites, associated as the Society for the Education of Poor Children
and Relief of Indigent Persons of the Jewish persuasion, held at the
Chinese Rooms, Broadway; Mr. H. Hendricks was chairman on the occasion,
Rev. J. J. Lyons said the מוציא and the
Rev. A. Leo, the grace after meal, and the Rev. Mr. Isaacs made an
address. The chairman acquitted himself with much credit in the address,
explaining the object of the Society. Eighteen hundred dollars was the
sum collected. The reverend gentlemen engaged at the dinner, and the
whole proceedings of the evening gave deserved general satisfaction.
New Orleans.—The German Congregation of this
city have sent out circulars inviting all Israelites to aid them in
erecting a Synagogue; we know of no better method of seconding the
laudable desire of the gentlemen engaged in this enterprise than by
giving it publicity; wherefore we subjoin it entire, and hope that
persons having the means will be induced to aid them in a work of
primary necessity to those interested, as there is no suitable house of
worship for our numerous and increasing German brothers in the
commercial metropolis of the southwest.
“Subscription List for a Loan to the Hebrew
Congregation Shanaira Chasset, of New Orleans, for the Purpose of
Building a New Synagogue.—Shares of said loan to be $50 each,
bearing six per cent. interest per annum. Payments to be made in three
equal installments. The first installment payable on the 1st January,
1849, and the balance in notes at three and six months from said date,
payable at the Mechanics’ and Traders’ Bank.
“The property of said congregation to be
responsible for the redemption of the said shares. To be redeemed at the
convenience of the Congregation.
“Committee—Isaac Hart, A. Haber, Edward Leon, A.
Lazard, L. Hess, Joseph Turner, L. Reigensburger, A. De Young, Alex.
Mayer, Lewis Schulher, M. Fleshman, J. Barman, Jno. Marks.”
Montgomery, Alabama.—The congregation in
this place, the present capital of Alabama, originally associated as a
Society under the name of Mebacker Cholim, proceed with their
organization; they possess a burying-ground, and have rented a
Synagogue. Their election <<527>>was held on the 5th of November, which
resulted as follows: Jacob Myer, President; P. Krans, Vice-President;
Emanuel Lehman, Secretary; Henry Weil, Treasurer; and M. Englander and
Charles Levy, Trustees.
England.—We see that they have organized a
Society in London, to supply those not having the means, with Tallith,
prayer-books, and Pentateuch, so that whilst attending public worship
they may be enabled to unite properly in prayer with the others
assembled.—This is a good movement, and deserves imitation everywhere;
for nothing is so destructive to devotion as not being supplied with the
books which contain the prayers and ritual. We recommend this example to
the serious consideration of our American congregations.
Europe.—The accounts from Europe present but
little of special interest to Jews. Their emancipation is said to have
been decreed in Rome and Sardinia, and we think Tuscany, and Venice, and
Lombardy. But we are not able to state whether the Austrian government
in its reactionary spirit will not revolve the privileges so long
desired and but just realized. Even at Rome, where all is now
democratic, the mob-spirit occasionally demonstrates its hostility to
our people; and only the One above knows whether the changes lately
brought about, will be for better or for worse to Israel, which has
suffered so long. We learn with deep regret that that fearless and bold
champion of Jewish rights, Dr. Ad. Jellinek, was executed at Vienna as
per last accounts, for his participation in the struggle for liberty in
Austria. He was one of the rising spirits in Israel, and could hardly
have beers more than thirty years old. We know him as a contributor to
the Orient; but as there is another of the same name in Leipzig, we will
not venture with the defective materials at our command, to go into
details. No doubt the Orient will give the particulars hereafter of the
manner of Dr. J.’s death, and a full account of his life, when we shall
give them publicity. Of one thing we are sure, that he did not merit the
death he met with from any crime he had committed; he was fired by the
cruel bondage under which his Jewish countrymen laboured in Austria,
and. he fancied that in the new-born liberty, purchased with the blood
of heroes in the March days at Vienna, he perceived the dawn of better
things for Israel. Hence the ardour with which, he and others of his
belief entered into the struggle. He has fallen, because the tyrant has
triumphed, in the turmoil engendered by the improper use made of the new
liberty just acquired, and to which the men of Vienna were not used.
Again, therefore, Jewish blood has been shed in the struggle for
<<528>>human
rights. Will Christians at length see that we deserve a full equality
with them? But more anon.—In Hungary the Magyars, in revolting against
the emperor, have not emancipated the Jews, though these have with
alacrity joined the national standard against the Austrians and Croats,
the latter of whom have done themselves the honour of removing the
Jewish disabilities. Even Rabbi Leopold Löw, of Papa, marched out with
the battalion of that place, as field preacher to the Jewish soldiers,
and is said to have made spirit-stirring addresses to his
co-religionists. But again, what avails all this devotion to public good
against ancient prejudices? Time alone can effect a cure. which we fear
will be slow. One thing alone, among all the accounts which have lately
reached us gives us real pleasure, and this is, that in Prussia many
Jews who formerly joined the Christian churches have come back to our
communion, since the relaxation of the laws relating to reconversions.
Formerly no Christian, of course including baptized Jews, could embrace
Judaism without being dismissed regularly by his church; but the
churches were prohibited granting this license, consequently conversions
to Judaism were by law prohibited. But now that in Prussia all religions
are alike, anyone can profess Judaism if he pleases, and several have
already taken advantage of this better state of things, among the rest a
family consisting of five, a father, mother, son and daughter, and a
son-in-law, who had been nominal Christians for fourteen years. This
proves what little value can be attached to the conversions produced by
fear, desire for gain or office, the like of which used to be so
numerous, if we may credit reports, in the north of Germany. We trust
that if nothing else will result favourable to Israel, this miserable
hypocrisy will be annihilated in the new order of things.
Our congregation lately experienced the death of
several of its respected members. Miss Sarah M. Cohen departed this life
on Sunday, the 19th of November; Mrs. Maria Hackenburg, wife of J. L.
Hackenburg, on Sunday night, the 27th Nov. aged 49, and Mr. Jacob
Phillips, for many years a member of our adjunta, aged 78, on Monday
afternoon, the 4th of December. Their deeds while living will speak
their best praise now that they have been gathered to their fathers. May
they receive their reward from on high in the abode of the blessed. |
