ISAAC LEESER by Isaac Leeser

Publishing Committee · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 7, 1856

ISAAC LEESER

By Isaac Leeser

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.

GENTLEMEN:—In your paper of Monday last, you inserted the following notice:

"Interesting Ceremonies at the Synagogue on the 4th of July.—The Keneseth Israel Congregation, worshipping in the First Reformed Synagogue, in New Market street, have, we understand, abandoned certain portions of their prayers and customs, which were considered inconsistent with the blessings of liberty enjoyed in this land, and adopted some reforms suitable to this enlightened age. The new services which have been adopted were introduced for the first time on the 4th of July, in the presence of a large audience, composed of persons of various religious denominations. The Rev. L. Naumburg, the minister to this congregation, delivered a most eloquent sermon. Those present were much pleased with the music by the choir, under the direction of Mr. Wm. Fischer."

In the above your reporter seems to give an opinion, on a grave theological question, no doubt furnished to him by some of the members of the First Reformed Synagogue of Philadelphia. As a general rule, I do not think it expedient to refute any mis-statements regarding Israelites, which appear in the papers. The community at large appear so ignorant of Jewish affairs that they believe any absurdity concerning us, and it is really not worth the trouble to endeavor to correct most misapprehensions, since others, of a similar kind, are immediately after spread abroad. Thus, for instance, you published lately a short paragraph, stating that the French Rabbis were about to meet, and abrogate in their convention the Seventh-day Sabbath for the Sunday, which error, no doubt, arose from the mere fact that the heads of the Synagogue in France lately came to an understanding to hold a conference this Summer at Paris, to deliberate on the best means to be adopted to promote a better state of religion than now exists in certain quarters, including the French capital. How the religious and political press of America could for a moment believe that such a re-union had touched the Sabbath question, before it had met, is certainly too strange to be explained by any one who did not fabricate the ridiculous story himself. But, according to my mind, it was deemed useless to correct the error, since, first, those who know anything of the state of the question, could not possibly believe it; secondly, the contradiction could not have followed the false statement through the various channels which had spread it so generally.

ISAAC LEESER

July 11th, 1856.