|
Cincinnati.—We learn that a
society has been organized at Cincinnati for the
assistance of the Jews in the Holy Land. The members
contemplate to collect funds for transmission
through mercantile houses to Palestine, without the
intervention of messengers. The President is the
Rev. James K. Gutheim, and Mr. Seixas Solomon has
been elected Secretary. We have not received the
laws adopted for their government, wherefore we
cannot state the particulars. We understand that a
similar society is to be organized among us at
Philadelphia, and we hope that it will meet with
success.
New Orleans.—We are pleased to
be able to announce that there is now every prospect
that the new synagogue of the congregation Nefutzote
Yehudah, the gift of Mr. Judah Touro, will be
consecrated during the next autumn. An effort will
be made to engage a competent minister, and we hope
that the wishes of the people will be grati<<225>>fied
by the selection of a man who is able duly to
instruct his flock in the way they should go, and
the deeds they should do.—In this connexion, we
must be permitted to state, that from all we learn,
the gift will be a worthy offering of an individual
in honour of the God of Jacob, and we hope the donor
may live many years to enjoy the wellearned fruits
of his liberality. If we arc spared, we probably may
give farther particulars at another and more
suitable occasion.
New Congregations.—We learn
that the Israelites of Wheeling, Virginia, and
vicinity, are about to purchase, or perhaps have
done so already, a piece of ground for a burial
place, and that they hope to assemble in
considerable numbers for public worship at the
approaching holydays. There is another congregation
organizing at Hartford, Connecticut, and the two
small congregations at New Haven have united, and
are about building a suitable place of worship to
adore therein the Most High, the God of Israel.
Hamburg.—Sudden Death of Rabbi
Isaac Bernays.—A shining light was quenched in
Israel, when Dr. Bernays was summoned away to
eternal life, on the afternoon of Tuesday, the first
of May, at an age of about fifty-four years. We well
recollect, when a youth, in our native land, the
sensation which the deceased Rabbi created when
first he appeared in Hamburg after his election,—we
think it was 1823—when he was only about
twenty-eight years old. Everyone spoke of his
learning and his great knowledge of matters
belonging to biblical literature; and we can also
recall the hopes which were entertained of his
ministry. But we fear that his erudition was too
deep for the common understanding; and his learned
lectures, which were given extemporaneously—at least
they were delivered without notes—astonished more
than they instructed the unlearned hearer. In this
respect he yielded to his rival in the reform
temple, Dr. Golthold Salomon, who, without a tithe
of Dr. B.’s learning, still is more pleasing and
popular as a preacher, owing to his fervid language
and pleasing elocution. We only speak from report,
never having seen either of these learned
Israelites. Dr. B. certainly failed in not
publishing anything since his elevation to his high
office; and we fear that all the results of research
have died with him, unless he has left MSS. of which
we at this time can know nothing. He was a native of
Mayence in Hessia, and died as above, of apoplexy.
During his ministry he strenuously opposed the
reform prayer-book, when it was printed a second
Time, about six years ago. He of course was assailed
violently for the honest discharge of his duty, by
the lovers of the new order of things; but he
<<226>>quietly listened while the storm raged
without, and remained steadfast to his purpose. His
funeral, which took place on the afternoon of
Thursday, the 3d of May, was numerously attended;
and even the first class of the reform school,
taught by Dr. Edward Kley, was present. The Rabbi of
Altona, Rabbi Jacob Ettlinger, delivered a most
impressive funeral sermon from Leviticus x.; and
another address was then given by Mr. Gottlieb, a
pupil of the deceased. Dr. Bernays merits that we
should give a more extended notice of him and his
deeds; but, alas! The materials are wanting, and we
fear that our wish will not be readily gratified
from other sources. May he rest in peace. |
