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Augusta, Sept. 15, 1865.
Rev. S. M. Isaacs:
After an interval of more than four years, I have again the pleasure of
greeting you,—I trust with no diminution of the heretofore kindly feeling which
mutually subsisted between us. The acerbity of party politics has given place to
those more generous and sensible impulses which should be preeminent in the
hearts of brethren of the House of Israel, whose aims and hopes are in common.
After the disasters of an unhappy war which I have felt keenly in person, I hold
out my hand frankly to my old and respected friend, and bid him
שלום in all cordiality and sincerity, satisfied of his
whole-souled reciprocation.
I suppose you have heard, ere this, of the whole chapter of accidents which
befell me during the last year. Previous to that period, when a continued
residence in Charleston was considered unsafe, and a general migration took
place, I was "detailed" by the Board of Trustees to officiate in Columbia,
whither very many of my Cong. had proceeded. There I remained and officiated
till the fall of the city and its destruction by Gen. Sherman's forces. I will
not now recall the horrors of that Sabbath Eve, (the 17th Feb. [1864]), when I
and my family were driven forth from our home to a park in the suburbs, where
wrapped in blankets we passed Friday night, and nearly the whole
שבת Save a change of raiment and my תפילין I lost everything in the
world—clothing, furniture, books, manuscripts, provisions—even my canonicals
and תליתות—everything except hope and
confidence in our Heavenly Father. He indeed helped me, for I have found warm
friends here in Augusta, whence wagons were sent for my family as soon as
intelligence reached of our sad condition.
It will interest you to learn that the synagogue here has been renovated; and
religion, I may add with humility, has received some impetus by my presence.
Service is conducted partly in the Polish and partly in the Portuguese Minhag on
Sabbath days, when, from נשמת till the Prayer for the
Government, the former is followed—and the service is closed in the latter. On
Festivals and Holidays, all Polish is used. Of course, the pulpit is the regular
vehicle of religious instruction. Our Sunday School is in vigorous and
successful operation, presided over very efficiently and zealously by Mrs. A. N.
Cohen; Mrs. H. S. Jacobs is Secretary and Treasurer. There are over sixty pupils
attached to it, divided into six or seven classes, under competent lady
teachers, who are members of the congregation.
I
have accepted the ministry here for one year certain, and, if my field of labor
is not very large, still I hope to be useful, and to accomplish some good to the
God of Israel.
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