The Library
University of California, Los Angeles
collection of Hebraica and Judaica
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The Issue is one of only 250 copies
of which this Book is No. I SQ.
THE RABBINATE OF THE GREAT
SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
FROM I 756-1 842
/ BY
Dr. C. DUSCHINSKY
HUM I'll KEY MILFORD
OXFORD UNIVIlRSriY TRESS
LONDOiN EDINBURGH (il.ASGOW NIOW YORK
TORONTO MICLT.OUkNI-: J'.OMUAY
1921
ISO
TO
THE SACRED MEMORY
OF
MY MOTHER
(Died Junk 9, 1919 — Sivan rr, 5679.)
PREFACE
The following pages arc an attempt to reconstruct the
modern history of the Ashkenazi Community in London
on the basis of almost entirely new material, hidden
hitherto in volumes of Hebrew manuscripts. The period
dealt with is comparatively recent, and may be regarded
by many as too recent. The idea that only earh'er history
is worth reconstruction has taken hold of most of our
eminent Jewish scholars, and may account for the fact
that the manuscripts used by me were not taken note of
before.
The majority of these manuscripts are in the pos-
session of Mr. Elkan Nathan Adler, M.A., whose unique
collection of about 5,000 manuscripts has already furnished
material for many important contributions to Jewish
literature. I owe him a debt of gratitude for allowing
me the unlimited use of his library, without which the
present volume could never have been written. The essay
appeared (originally in the Jewish Quarterly Review (new
series), and this accounts for Appendices I-IV being
printed between Chapters I and II. I have to thank the
learned Editor of the J.Q.R., Prof. Ur. Cyrus Adler,
President of Drojosie College and the Jewish Theological
Seminary of America, for the publication in its present
form.
C. D.
T>ondon,
November jo, 1920.
C O N T E N 1 S
PAGE
INTRODUCTION.
Orij^in and establishment of Ashkenazi community ; the
first Rabbis : R. Juda Leb b. Efraim Anshcl and Rabbi
Uii Phoebush Hart I
I. RAlJIil ZEVI HIRSCH LEWIN.
Parentage, early days, education, marriage .... 2-6
Election to London, 7. The Seven Years' War, sermons
relating to same, 8-10 ...... 7-10
Other sermons:
Conditions of London community, 11 -12. Festivals,
Sabbath observance. Gentiles, 13-15. Communal
organization, 16. Synagogue service, Shehita, Neglect
of Thorah, 17-19. Historical References, 20. Religious
philosophy, 21-3. Measfim, method of study, 24-6 . 11-26
Personal qualities, temperament, reasons for leaving
London 27
In Halberstadt :
Election, conditions of acceptance, salary, activity,
reasons for leaving . 28-34
In Mannheim ......... 35
Chief Rabbi of Berlin :
Clauses of Contract, salary, 36. Foundation of Yeshibah,
Mendelssohn's liibic translation, 37. Glcim, Ritual-
Cesetze, 38. Wcssely's Diljrc Shalom, 39-41. R.
Saul b. Zevi Hirsch's Ketab Josher, Mizpeh Jekutiel,
Responsa IJesamim-Rosch, 42-4. Attacks on R. Saul
and the father's defence, 45. R. Saul's life and end,
Meyer Joseph, 46-7 36-47
Rabbi Aryeh Leb b. Saul, Chief Rabbi of Silesia, his
life and end 48-50
Hartwig Wessely's Dibre Shalom and the dispute
aroused by it cause R. Zevi Hirsch's departure from
Berlin, 51. His end, 52 . ' 51-2
Literary activity 535
Approbations 56-7
Pamily 58
CONTENTS VU
PAGE
Appendix I. R. Zevi Hirsch's Ancestry .... 59-60
Appendix II. Description of MS. Adler 22S6 ... 61
Title page and introduction of 'Torah book' . . . 62-3
Appendix III. Hebrew Poem on chess, translation of
same ; A Song for Passover 64-70
Appendix IV. Will of R. Saul b. Zevi Hirsch and tomb-
stone inscription 71-73
II. RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF.
Election to London, Aaron Goldschmidt, Rabbi Jacob
Emden's references to the election, R. Meshullam
Zalman b. R. Jacob Emden Rabbi of the Haml^ro
Synagogue and his departure from London . . 75 8
Origin and early days 79-^8 1
R. Tevele in Worms, Vienna, and Frankfurt . . . 82-3
Activity in London.
Correspondence with Rabbis, 85 7. Reconsecration of
Great Synagogue 1766, 88. Isaac Michael Speyer,
89-91 85 91
Conditions in the community. Neglect of Torah studies,
Beth-Din Dayanim, 94. Salary, Hambro Synagogue,
95. Private life of Jews, secret marriages, 96-7.
Reconsecration of Great Synagogue 1790, Judith
Levy and her family, 98-9 . .... 92 9
Correspondence with his brother R. Meir Schiff Dayan in
Frankfurt, Historical references, Hazan Isaac Polak,
100-2. Business connexions of London Jews, 103.
Charitable gifts, 104. Frankfurt Jews, 104 5 . . 100 5
R. Tevele candidate for the RaljOinate of Rotterdam and
Wiincburg, 106-7. Personal characteristics, 108.
Literary activity, 109-10 106-10
Death, memorials, tombstone inscription . . . . 111 12
III. RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCH ELL.
Youth and early training, date of election to London . .113 '4
Activity in London :
Strict administration in religious cjucbtions, Sholiciini,
1 1 5-1 7. Picth-Din, names of Dayanim, Divorces,
118-20. Names of London Jews, 121. Consecra-
tion of A. L. Moses' almsiiouses. Cases before the
Beth-Din, 122 1 1 5 22
VIM CONTENTS
PAGE
Correspondence, MS. Adler 4160, 123-6. Duke of
Sussex, 127, Letters to Gentiles, London Society for
promoting Christianity among Jews, 128-30 . . 123-30
Missionaries, 131. Joseph Wolf, 132. Collections for
Palestine, Hebrat Terumat Hakodesh in America,
133. Jews in Jamaica, 134. Letters to provincial
congregations, 136 1 3 1-6
R, Solomon as protector of youths, 137-8. As peace-
maker, 139. Letters from R. Akiba Eger, 141 . . 137-41
The Reform Synagogue, 142. Controversies: S. Cohen's
Elements of Faith, Solomon Bennet's ' Tene Bikkurim ',
Mayer Rintel's ' Minhat Kenaoth', 144-5. Bennet's
' Present reign of Duke's Place displayed ', 146-9 . 142-9
R, Solomon's mode of life, his end 150
Family . . . . . . . . .151-4
Funeral and Memorials ....... 155-6
Appendix V. Twenty-one Hebrew Letters and Docu-
ments by and to Rabbi Tevele Schifif . . . 157-217
Appendix VI. Translation of letters, I-IX . . . 218-53
Appendix VII. Extract from the Minutes of the
Frankfurt Beth-Din relating to the sale of the house
' Zum Griinen Schild' by R. Meir Schiff to Mayer
Rothschild ......... 254-59
Appendix VIII. Hebrew Elegies on the death of Rabbi
Tevele Schiff by Isaac and Zalman Keyzer, and
translation , . . 260-3
Appendix IX. MS. Adler 2261. Records of authoriza-
tions to Shohetim in the years 1822-45 .... 264-73
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS . . 274-95
INDEX 297-305
INTRODUCTION
The history of the various Jewish communities, the
tales told about the numerous Kehillahs, forms as great
and as important a part of Jewish history as do the tales
of woe and persecution of the Jews as a people, and as
the political history of the Jews, in their relation to other
nations. Every community, be it large or small, has its
own history with its personalities, scholars, benefactors,
and — cranks. It might be difficult to write the history of
a small non-Jewish community, but monographs on many
a small Kehillah with no more than 50 to 100 families
have often been written and form a valuable part of Jewish
history.
The Ashkcnazi community of London was at first a
small hebrah only, but very soon increased in numbers.
London, as the capital of the British l^mpire, as the centre
of the world's commerce, soon after tiie rcadmission of the
Jews in 1650, attracted many co-religionists from the
Continent. Although the first settlers were Scphardim,
we find a small Ashkcna/.i communit}' as early as the year
1659. In 1675 the community had already developed so
far as U> be aljK- to elect a Rabbi in the person of the
learned R. Judah Locb b. ICphraim y\n.schcl, who in 1 70 "j
became Rabbi of Rotterdam. (See J.Il.S.E. Transact. ^
vol. Ill, p. lo-;.)
D. IJ
2 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Most of the Ashkenazi settlers of that time hailed from
Germany, only very few from Poland. The first Parnas of
the congregation, Abraham, or R. Aberle, came from
Hamburg, and the first Rabbi of Duke's Place Synagogue,
Uri Phocbush Hart, at first opponent of R. Judah Loeb's
and afterwards his successor, was a native of Breslau and was
known as R. Phybush Bressler. He was in office from 1692
until 1752. His successor was Rabbi Zevi Hirschel Lewin.
Through the kindness of Mr. E. N. Adler I have been
enabled to obtain an insight into the spiritual life of the
Ashkenazi community under the guidance of Rabbi Zevi
Hirschel and his successor in office, David Tevele Schiff,
who was Rabbi of Duke's Place Synagogue from 1765
until 1792. Mr. Adler allowed me the use of his manuscripts,
Nos. 1 160, 124N, and 2286 and others. MS. Adler 1248
contains, on 84 folio leaves, most of the discourses which
Rabbi Zevi Hirschel Lewin, or as he was called in London
Hart Lyon, delivered during his tenure of office in London
in the years 1756-63. The first discourse is dated Sabbath
Beha'alotka 5517 (June 1757} and the last the Sabbath
preceding Pas.sover (Sabbath Haggadol) 5523 (March
1763). MS. No. 1 160 contains talmudic and other notes
by David Tevele Schiff, some of them having been written
in London. MS. 2286 is again the work of R. Zevi Hirsch.
I
Rabbi Hirscijel Lewin
as we shall call him for brevity's sake, and as he was
generally called in later life, was born in 1721 at Reisha
in Poland. I Ic was the son of Rabbi Aryeh Loeb (Loewen-
stamm), then Rabbi of that town. Rabbi Aryeh Loeb was
a descendant of great men. His father was Rabbi Saul of
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 3
Cracow, and his grandfather was the famous Rabbi
Heschele Cracow, but the family traced their origin to
Rabbi Jacob Weil of Regensburg (flourished about 1435)
called Mahari Weil, to Rabbi Meir of Padua (IVIaharam
Padua, died November 1583), Solomon Luria (Maharshal,
died 1573), and even to the great Spanish statesman and
Hebrew scholar Don Isaac Abrabanel (born 1437, died
1508). Rabbi Hirschel's father, R. Aryeh Loeb, was at
first Rabbi in Reisha, where he still lived in the year 1728.
Later he became Rabbi of Lemberg, then of Glogau and
lastly of Amsterdam. In 1734 he signs in Glogau an
approbation (no3Dn) dated 17th of Sivan, 5494, to the
Talmud edition printed at Frankfort and Berlin. On the
New Moon of the month of Tammuz, 5400 = July 1740,
he received the call to Amsterdam.
Doubt has been expressed by various historians as to
whether Rabbi Aryeh ever officiated in Lemberg. Landshut
in his history of the Berlin Rabbis (p. 71) devotes a whole
page to the task of solving this mystery. In the approba-
tion to the Talmud edition just mentioned, he refers to
himself as Rabbi elect of Lemberg. There being then
no other proofs known of his ever having filled the office
in Lemberg, Landshut, having no evidence, ventures the
opinion that he was only elected to the office, but never
actually officiated there (op. cit., \). ']%). Dembitzer, in
his excellent work on the Rabbis of Lemberg. entitled
Kelilat Jofi (Cracow, 1888), II, 83 a (without referring to
Landshut's work), is of the opinion that R. Aryeh Loeb was
at one and the same time Rabbi of Glogau and of Lemberg.
According to Dembit/cr he lived sometimes in the one
town, sometimes in the other. We need only look at the
map and measure the distance between the.se two pkices
4 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
to become at once convinced how improbable such a theory
is. The journey by coach must have taken several weeks.
We are now in a position to discard both these theories.
MS. Adler 2286 is a scholar's note-book (a so-called
'Torah book') by Zevi Hirsch written in Glogau, and
commenced in the year 1737. The title of this manuscript
tells us that Rabbi Hirschel, who was then studying under
his father, made these notes in order to keep a record of all
the new points raised by his father in his talmudical lectures
delivered at his Yeshibah (College). He styles his father
nn^ p"pi i"nN* d-jd^ '\n i^a wi^j p"pi Tax )">:> i^b 'ns* i"o)
nT3n) ' R. Aryeh Loeb Rabbi of Glogau, who tv as formerly
Rabbi of Lemberg' (see, however, Megillat Sefer, p. 67).
This leaves no doubt that for some time he was actually
Rabbi of the latter congregation.
Rabbi Aryeh Loeb is described as one of the most
humble men that ever lived. Of a quiet disposition and
saintly life, worldly goods had no value for him. He
never said a word which he did not mean ; strict as regards
himself he was very lenient and most tolerant to others.
Only on one point did he admit of no compromise, and
that was in his unrelenting opposition to the adherents of
the pseudo-Messiah Sabbatai Zevi. He sided with Jacob
Emden, who was his brother-in-law, in the latter's quarrel
with R. Jonathan Eybeschlitz. Many members of his
famil}- (his father R. Saul and his grandfather R. Heschel)
had already before him actively combated the spreading
of the sect of ' Shebsen ' (as the adherents of Sabbatai Zevi
were called). Many of the letters which he wrote against
Eybeschlitz arc printed in Emden's works {Hifabkut, Sefat
Emet. &c.).
Rabbi Aryeh Loeb's wife was Miryam (died in
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 5
Amsterdam, 17th of Tammuz, 1753). daughter of the
famous Haham Zevi, Rabbi of the combined congregations,
Hamburg, Altona, and Wandsbeck, later of Amsterdam
and Lemberg (where he died on Monday, ist of lyyar,
17 18), who Hkewise came from a family of great scholars.
(See Appendix I.)
Born of such parents, it is no wonder that R. Hirschel
Lewin was, from his earliest childhood, brought up in a
religious atmosphere, taught to love his people and their
tradition, and he soon became an eminent scholar. The
education of Jewish children in those days consisted mainly
of Hebrew. From the age of five the child was taught
Hebrew, from morning to night, and Hebrew only. Not
infrequently many boys of twelve or thirteen years of age
had mastered a considerable part of the Talmud. Of a
similar nature was Hirschel Lewin's early training, with the
exception, that in addition to the Talmud, he was taught
also Hebrew grammar, a very exceptional thing in those
days. The MS. Adler No. 2286 was begun by him when
he was only sixteen years old and gives proof that even
then he was a master of Hebrew style, possessed of a clear
head and had quite original ideas. We do not hear about
him again until many years later. The first letter which
we possess (rom him (Landshut, p. 72) is dated 1751,
written when he was a private scholar in Glogau. This
letter refers t(^ the I'.mdcn-Eybeschut/. controversy and is
addressed to his brother Saul, then Rabbi of Dubno (later
in Amsterdam). It appeared in the booklet, Sc/a/ Evicts
of his uncle Jacob Emdcn (p. 22a). Having married
Golde, daughter of David Tcvele Cohen, Parnas in Glogau
(died on the gth of Tishri, 551 = 1751 ; see Zevi Lazzadik,
p. i 7 J, note 20), he .settled there and continued his studies
6 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
under Rabbi Lemmil Levi, Chief Rabbi of that town. At
the instigation of this teacher he wrote another letter to his
father R. Aryeh Loeb, intimating that Eybeschiitz was
tired of the endless strife with Emden, and was willing to
give an undertaking not to write any more charms or
amulets (printed in Ediit Bejaakob, p. 59 a). ' Rabbi Aryeh
Loeb sent this letter to his brother-in-law Jacob Emden,
who replied in a bitter spirit. ' He was disappointed in
R. Hirschel ', he writes, ' whom he had estimated to be a
man of strong will and character, and in that opinion had
asked him to be his messenger to the Rabbis of Poland
and win them over to his side. Instead of this he turned
conciliator, but there can be no conciliation with the evildoer
Eybeschiitz. " Keep away from his net " ', he ends up.
(Emden's letter is dated the 25th Adar, 5513 = 1753, ^"^
is printed in Ednt Bejaakob, p. 59 b.)
It is nearly certain that he lived in Glogau for several
years. When in 1756 the Rabbinate of the Ashkenazi
congregation in London became vacant, R. Hirschel had
already won fame as an eminent scholar, a great Hebrew
linguist and also as one who had some knowledge of secular
subjects. He was elected to the vacant office in the same
year. He had received an offer, shortly before his election,
to become Rabbi of Dubno in succession to his brother
Saul, who had been appointed to succeed his father
R. Aryeh Loeb (died 7th day of Passover, 1755, at the
age of 64; see Landshut, pp. 72 and 118) as Rabbi in
Amsterdam. The conditions were that he should pay the
government fees, which had to be paid in Poland on the
election of every Rabbi, and to provide a house for himself.
He refused, probably because he had already received the
call to London.
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 7
Rabbi Zevi Hirsch in London.
Rabbi Hirschel was Rabbi in London from the end
of the year 1756 until the ist of Sivan, 1764, about
eight years.' It was during the Seven Years' War, when
the pohtical conditions of Europe were totally different to
what they are to-day. England was the ally of Prussia
and had to fight against France, Russia, and Austria. The
year 1756 was an especially critical one for England. The
Duke of Newcastle, who had followed his brother Henry
Pelham as Prime Minister, began the war with only three
regiments fit for service. England suffered in that year
not onh' defeats by the French in Minorca, losing Port
Mahon, but also in America the English arms were far
from victorious. Part of the English Fleet was destroyed
and a despondenc}- without parallel took possession of the
population. Chesterfield cried in despair, ' Wc are no
longer a Nation '.
Under such external conditions R. Hirschel entered
office. The first sermon which we possess from him was
delivered at an Intercession Service'- ordered by the King,
' It is not quite clear as to when he entered upon his duties. Jacob
Kimhi in his 'VJTI npNti' (p. 7) states that he was elected at the beginning
of the year 5517 ^September or October 1756), and signs a letter to him
dated : = Sidra Noah (= November) 5517. The date of this letter
seems beyond question, the letters giving the same being printed in large
type. On the other hand, in an approbation to the book T\\1X\ P3D
(Amsterdam, 1765, sec Bcnjacol>, Oznr Hase/aritn, p. b88. No. 339, Rabbi
Hirschel states that he wrote it at the Hague on Monday the aotli of Elul,
5517, on his way to take up his duties in London. This cannot be rigiit, and
must have been a mistake of the printet (^the book having been printed eight
years later;, who very likely printed the wrong letters in large type. There
can now be no doubt as to Kimlii's date being the correct one, as wc possess
in M.S. Adier, No. 2248, a sermon delivered in London on "jni/yHD T\2^
= May 1757 (p. 3 .
' The manuscript contains four sermons given at Intercession Services
8 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
and was held on Sabbath Beha'alotka 5517 = about June
1757. (MS. Adler 1248,^ p. 3 a.) He remarked in that
discourse : ' The fact that the king had commanded a
special service is a proof that he does not rely on his own
strength alone, but prays for the help of God '. He reminds
his congregation that they live in a country where Israel
is treated with kindness and where they enjoy liberty.
This was said at a time when, in Germany, Jews were
required to pay, not only extra war-taxes in money, but
had to give up all boxes, watches, and rings, made of gold
or silver. If a tax was not paid, the community had to
give hostages, and the lot of the German Jews of those
days was, accordingly, not an enviable one.'* ' We Jews ',
continues R. Hirschel, 'can help the King as much with
our prayers as by joining the Army ' — an opinion very much
questioned nowadays. In another discourse, ' by command
of the King ', referring to some victory, he says : ' The
King does not attribute victory to his own arms but to the
help of God. We Jews have double reason to be thankful
for the victory, as the King's peace will mean peace for us '.
'by Command of the King': (i) on pp. 2a-2b; (2) pp. 21 a-22b;
(3) pp. 23a-24a; (4) 24 a-27 b, all of the year 5520=- 1759-60. An
Intercession Service was held in the Sephardi Synagogue on Feb. 6, 1756
(see Gaster : History of the Ancient Synagogue Bevis Marks, p, T37), when
Haham Isaac Nieto preached the sermon. (Published in Spanish, London :
Richard Reily, 1756.)
^ MS. Adler 1248 consists of ninety-one folio leaves, numbered recto only.
Fol, I is a fly-leaf, fol. 2 contains short notes on various talmudical subjects.
Foi. 3 a begins with : B"y nyiM Dvb c^'m im^ynn 's n"2 nV ]i:)b na
psh 3l"Dpn n"T ^^0n nva. This manuscript belonged to Mr. Adler's
father, the late Chief Rabbi, Nathan M. Adler, and was sent to him as
a Purim present by the Dayan R. Aaron, son of R. J. of Lissa. We find on
the first fly-leaf the dedication : ]"t2^r\ DmS ni3D^ nm^C N\"l HnJCl
acb^ •'"-13 iir^ii uniNi ^i^]} nt<D.
* See Barbeck, Gesch. d. Juden in Niirnberg und FUrth, p. 84.
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN Q
He deals with the question as to whether we are allowed
to rejoice at the news of a great victory, which has involved
the loss of so many thousands of precious lives. He refers
also to the rise in the price of foodstuffs and to the bad
economic conditions of the country. The poor especially
suffered through the war, as the rich people selfishly com-
plained of the sacrifices they had to make, and he pleaded
earnestly for the support of the poor. He mentions also
that nearly every kingdom in the world was at war.
Interesting in this discourse is his reference to Aristotle
(nncn isoa iDOnx DDD) who said : ' War is a hateful thing
in itself. It brings death to many, distress to more, but
when it is over and has brought peace and victory to a
land it becomes a laudable achievement. Often, apparently
trifling events cause war, so that it is difficult to understand
how sane people should risk life and honour and fortune
for such issues. Only the monarchs and the leaders of
the peoples know the real reasons that cause wars— invariably
it is the hope to enhance the renown of their countries ;
it is the prestige for which they arc all fighting. "As the
Macrocosmos, the world, so is Man, the Microcosmos.'"
R. Hirschel continues, 'we must wage war even on our
smallest sins, because if we do not curb them in time they
will overmaster us and self-victory will be more ditficult.
Men and nations must fight for self-respect and wage war
against everything that threatens to reduce them to a lower
level of morality'. These arc Rabbi llirschel's words in
these critical days — great words of a great mind In the
further course of this sermon he speaks to his congregants
as the Rabbi who is anxious for the strict observance of
the religious ceremonies. ' I warn ycju against the small
sins you have fallen victims to. The shaving of the beard,
lO RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
a non-Jewish custom, strictly and repeatedly forbidden in
our Torah ; immorality among young people, the disregard
of the laws of purity (n7"'30 ':n), the desecration of the
Sabbath;^ these are all very important, but you regard them
as minor matters, not realizing that they are the pillars on
which Judaism stands. You direct a non- Jewish servant
to light the fire, to make fresh tea or coffee on Sabbath.
Do not forget that the punishment for this sin is that fire
breaks out in your houses, according to the saying of the
Talmud,'' "Firebrands happen, where people desecrate the
Sabbath day." Jerusalem was burnt on account of that
sin (MS. A. 1248, p. 26). People carry things on the day
of rest even outside the city boundaries, likewise a trans-
gression of an important commandment.'^ The disregarding
of the laws of purity brings the punishment of death by
water upon you.' He says further, ' See what happened at
Portsmouth, the punishment that came upon our brethren
there through the waters. Because they disregarded the
laws of purity, so many wives became widows, so many
^ Desecration of Sabbath is mentioned in the manuscript, on pages 12 b,
22 a, 47 b, 62 a, and 73 a.
* See Talmud b. Shabbat 119 a.
^ The carrying of anything whatsoever on Sabbath day outside one's
own house and precincts is strictly forbidden according to Jer. 17. 21-2.
The Rabbis allowed to make an Erub = SITy ; which literally means
mixing, and is done in the following manner. Two poles are fixed at the
entrance to a street or number of streets connected with wire on top, like
telegraph lines, and the area thus closed in was ' mixed ' into one court.
Within the boundaries thus marked it is allowed to carry things which may
be handled on Sabbath. The City of London seems to have had such
Erubim, or was regarded as mixed area, its boundaries being closed by the
City bars. Rabbi Hirschel complains that people of his time already
disregarded this religious rule and carried articles outside the City. He
says: ^''^--D^ pn lb''SK H'^D W^Hmr^ HDDI .103 niNIIH 1J''0''y Hjni
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN II
children are now orphans. All this should be a warning to
us to fight the enemy within us, the evil spirit {V1^ "IX'').'
He concludes with a prayer for King and Country,
beseeching that England's victory may be followed by
everlasting peace all over the world.
The incident of the drowning at Portsmouth to which
he referred, happened on the second day of Adar I, 5518
(1758). We find an account of it in the Minute-book of
the congregation (p. 7). (Paper by the Rev. I. S. Meisels
in JewisJi Hist. Soc. Trajisactions, vol. VI, p. 124.) The
record says, ' Eleven members of the congregation, young
and old, lost their lives by drowning ; the circumstances
are not stated '. In memory of this -disaster a Hazkarah
(memorial-prayer), mentioning the names of the lost, is
recited four times a year in the Synagogue at Portsmouth.
The sermons that follow generally open with a talmudical
discourse, which must have lasted about one hour and a
half, and continue with a sometimes equally long moral
haggadic lecture. It was, in those days, a regular thing
that the Rabbi, who only preached two or three times a
year, gave on these occasions sermons of three, sometimes
four, hours' duration. The people mostly had a fair
knowledge of Hebrew and nearly all could follow a
midrashic interpretation, a " Wortchen ' as it was called.
To support one moral teaching the Rabbi would use two
or three such Wortchen, linked one into the other, which
were a kind of intellectual gymnastics, keeping the interest
of the listeners alive. Although the Rabbi had no obliga-
tion to preach more than three or four times, sometimes
even only twice, a year— if he was as good and eloquent
an orator as our Rabbi liirschel, he preached more often.
The gap was filled b)- travelling i)reachers, called Maggidim,
12 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
who used to travel from congregation to congregation,
generally during the winter months, delivering sermons.
There seem to have been such preachers in London, too,
as Rabbi Hirschel refers to them in one of his discourses
(MS. A. 1248, p. 44 a).
The Ashkenazi congregation was at the time of his
tenure of office already fairly organized, apparently on the
same principle as most of the continental communities of
the time. Apart from giving decisions in ritual questions
and preaching, the Rabbi's duties consisted in performing
the ceremonies at weddings, halizah, and divorce cases.
His chief duty was to study the Talmud and its com-
mentaries and to spread this knowledge. A Rabbi's
reputation and authority depended not so much upon what
he actually did for the congregation as upon his fame as
a great scholar, and the esteem in which he was held
by Jewry at large. R. Hirschel had, as we have said,
the reputation of being an eminent scholar, nevertheless
he had the interest of his congregants also at heart.
Although most of his time was spent in the study, he
seemed to be well acquainted with everything that was
going on in the community.
The London Jews of his time appear to have rapidly
become Anglicized. They dressed like the Gentiles, shaved
their beards; the ladies wore decollete dresses. They asso-
ciated with the English people, ate at their houses, and even
went so far as to keep the Christian feasts to the neglect of
their own. Christmas puddings seem to have been much
favoured, and mixed marriages were not infrequent.® They
visited theatres and operas. There were coffee-houses
* Pages 4 b and 35 a.
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN I3
which became meeting-places for card-players.^ Apostates,
however, were rare, because, as he says in a sermon, held
on the loth of Tebet, 5518, 'in this Country everybody
can do publicly what his heart desires' (p. 4a). He raises
his voice fearlessly against all these transgressions. His
warning against mixed marriages was in the following
strain : ' The children of a non-Jewish wife are sure to
become Christians, and, although the non-Jews of our days
cannot be regarded as heathens, still they are in the
category of " Ger toshab " ^^ (nc'in ">3), are outside the Cove-
nant of Abraham and have not taken upon themselves the
observation of the Torah and its precepts (Mizwot). To
marry a non-Jewish woman is, therefore, tantamount to
abandoning the faith, even if she should become a Jewess.'
Festivals.
The laws of Passover, Sukkah, the dietary laws, were
not observed in the proper manner. Referring to Sukkah
he says, ' This precept commands us to eat and to drink,
to live and to sleep in the Sukkah. God knows that
I alwa}-s endeavoured in my younger days to fulfil this
Mizwah in its proper manner, and I was not satisfied until
I succeeded in having a large room, beautifully furnished,
adapted for the purpose. There I lived during the whole
seven days of the festival. Now, my soul grieves that here
I cannot fulfil this commandment as 1 ought to and as
I used to do. The bulk of the people (DJ? \'it2n) go into
the Sukkah. say the blessing but do not eat even a morsel
of bread (n-nj there, and go home to have tlicir meal outside
" Pages 69a, 73 a. Card-playing was apparently very frequent, he
mentions it often, sec pp. 19 b, 24 b, 33 b, 73 a.
•0 Literally : a settled stranger.
14 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
the Sukkah. What blasphemy ! They not only do not
keep the precept, but say a blessing in vain (MS. A., p. 35 a).
They say, " God has commanded us to dwell in the Sukkah,"
and, as soon as they have said this, they go and transgress
the command. The same applies to the Etrog ; they pay
a good price for it, and very often in their ignorance do
not even examine whether one or more of the four plants
are not unfit for use (PIDD).'
Concerning Sabbath he has also several other grievances
to report. Apart from the already mentioned points, in
connexion with the kindling of fire (see above, p. 112), he
complains that sometimes even cooking itself is done, and
that generally the Sabbath is not observed as the ' Holy
day ' it ought to be. ' If you are thus keeping the holy
day ', he exclaims, after having reproached them for various
failings, 'by doing things which even the Gentiles do not
do on Sundays, I ask you, " Why do you come to the
House of God?" God knows how tired I am of my life,
when I see all your doings : I am even afraid to hear what,
I am told, is happening publicly, let alone of how you
desecrate the Sabbath-day in private.' He mentions
among other things that people have their letters opened
in front of the Post Office on Sabbath. ' Although this is
not forbidden ', he says, ' I have heard that it is a scandal
(DtJTi S^Ti) in the eyes of the Gentiles.' What this means
is not quite clear. It cannot refer to tearing the letters
open, as he says, ' it is not forbidden '. I am inclined
to think that many people gathered before the Post Office
on Sabbath mornings and asked non-Jews to open their
letters. The large gathering may have become a nuisance
to the general public.
Fearlessly he raises his voice against all disobedience
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 15
to the law. ' Day by day ', he says, ' we can see with our
own eyes the decay of our people. We sin and act against
the law of God ; all our endeavours are to associate with
the Gentiles and to be like them. That is the chief source
of all our failings. See, the women wear wigs (nniJ nss) ^^
and the young ones go even further and wear decollete
dresses open two spans low in front and back (D^ony D''S^'V
□"'nsD DnnnxbDi DiTJd^d), see pp. 12 b, 19 a, 33 a, 62 a, 70 a,
and 70 b). Their whole aim is, not to appear like daughters
of Israel (p. 16 b). On the one side we claim with pride that
we are as good as any of our neighbours. We see that they
live happily, that their commerce dominates the world, and
we want to be like them, dress as they dress, talk as they
talk, and want to make everybody forget that we are Jews.
But, on the other hand, we are too modest and say : We
are not better before God than the Gentiles, we all come
from the same stock, are all descendants of Noah's three
sons, and need not keep more than the seven precepts which
the sons of Noah are obligated to observe. Know you
that ideas like these are the ruin of Judaism ? We must
be conscious that we are the chosen people of God, the
kingdom of Priests, and behave as it behoves " Israel ", the
Princes of the Almighty. Reverse the order! Be modest
in your personal ambitions, be content with the material
advantages you enjoy in tliis country, but be not modest
with your faith. Sec where these thoughts lead you to,
and how we live here. We dress on non-Jewish holidays
better than on our own festivals ; the Christmas pudding
which tlic Christians prei)are in memory of the Apostles
" Parhon, the grammarian of the twelfth century, has ah-cady the same
grievances. See his lexicon "in>n n~OnO, Posonii, 1844, p. 57, s. v. QV.
See also Zunz, Rilus, p. 4.
l6 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
is more favoured than the Mazzoth. Even the children
call the non-Jewish feasts " Holy " days and do not seem
to know that our holy day is the Sabbath. Soon they will
come to regard the " Habdalah " service (ceremony at the
conclusion of Sabbath) as a sign for the beginning of the
Sabbath.'
Covimtmal Organization.
The only institutions the community apparently possessed
were the Synagogues, Rabbi Hirschel does once mention
in a sermon the Yeshibot, but only to state that they are
vanishing. There was no hospital, and no schools were
maintained by the congregation. The Rabbi had a Bet-
Hamidrash in his own house, where he also held divine
services. It appears that some one reproached him once
for not coming frequently to Synagogue, and his answer
was given in a discourse (p. 40 a) in which he appeals for
more frequent attendance of the Synagogue. ' Then as an
excuse for not coming to Synagogue you quote the text :
"It is vain for you to rise up early, because you sit up late "
(Ps. 127. 2), and my answer to you is likewise with the
words of the Psalmist : (Ps. 19. 12 : DnrD"J'3 Dn3 inn inay d:
21 npy) " My servant is warned by them, and they watch
the heel of the great " (which is a witty translation instead
of the literal meaning of the text ; " in observing them there
is great reward "). The people (oy \yor\) indeed look at
(ai 2py) the heel of the Rav, how he walks and where he
goes. I know full well that many criticize me for not
coming to Synagogue, although I am certain that my
coming would not increase the number of Synagogue-
goers. " They stood each at the doors of their tents
and looked after Moses"' (Exod. 33. 8), can be equally
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN I7
applied to myself, but I tell you: Do not judge me, you
who sit in the evenings in beer-houses and music-halls,
who sleep in the morning and do not come to the House
of the Lord, and then say that you stay away because
you follow my example. My conscience is quite clear ;
I pray to God in my Bet-Hamidrash, a place designed
to the Glory of God. I do not sleep, but pray with a
congregation of ten, at the same time as the service in
the Synagogue is being held, so that I fulfil all the require-
ments of the Law. I would, nevertheless, go to Synagogue
("inifn 1133 ""iSD) out of respect for the congregation, but for
my weak state of health. The congregation knows that
not the desire for sleep keeps me away, but the physical
impossibility of attending.' In another sermon (p. ^^ a) he
refers again to Synagogue-attendance, and protests against
people who had contracted mixed marriages having the
audacity to demand being called up to the Torah.
The decorum in the Synagogue cannot have been above
reproach. People gossiped during the Service (24 b).
' Within the Synagogue all seem to be friends and have
confidential news to tell one another, but outside disunion
reigns among the members' (p. 12a). He attributes the
cause of disunion to the desire to be more than one's
neighbour, and to false pride.
We find also a reference to the Shehitah. The
Shohctim were often irreligious and he feels helpless
against this evil: 'The Shohetim are devoid of Mizwot
and ignorant, and what can the Rav do?' arc his words
(3nn iTjT nci nivcn |d Dnyi^o ony: onbc D^oniu'ni , p. 12 b).
* The former times were better than these. See how many
hospitals and houses for the poor were built and maintained,
and here, with us, not one such institution is to be found.
I). C
l8 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
If any one does support a poor man or a poor official, they
would like him to behave as if he were their slave and not
like the man of self-respect that he was in former days.
(Very likely a personal note.) Try and imitate the Gentiles
in this ! See how many houses for the poor they have
built and surrounded with beautiful gardens. They have
houses for learning, called Academies, where anybody who
has a thirst for knowledge can go and study, all his wants
being provided for ; but we do not possess even one
single Bet-Hamidrash. Look at our brethren the Sephar-
dim (p. 19 b), they have a Bet-Hamidrash and support
several scholars. Although this support is small and they
have to find additional means of livelihood, nevertheless
the congregation is doing its best and deserves praise
for it. Especially laudable are they as many Ba'ale
Batim (householders) also take part in the Shiur (Portion
of study). We, the Ashkenazim, have neither a place
where to learn, nor where to teach, and the " kindness of
Gentiles " thus becomes our destruction, for we are too well
treated and so forget our Torah.' The Gentiles, he says on
another occasion (Intercession Service held in 1759, P- 24 b),
are versed in the whole twenty-four books of the Bible, but
our people are so ignorant that they can really recite all
they know while standing on one foot.^^ They waste their
time in coffee-houses and clubs playing cards, instead of
devoting some hours, when free from business, to the study
of the Torah. It is done in other congregations not far
from us, e.g. in Amsterdam. 'It were better if you would
'^ Referring to Talm. B. Shabbat, p. 31 a : Hillel was asked by a heathen
to teach him the whole Torah while he was standing on one foot. Hillel
answered him : * Do not do to your neighbour what you would not like
yourself; that is the whole Torah, everything else is only the commentary,
go and study '.
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 19
read at least secular books instead of playing cards.' ^^ In
another sermon (p. i8b) we find again bitter complaints
of the neglect to teach Torah to children and young
people. ' The Yeshibot are going from bad to worse and
the children, while they are quite young are, first of all,
taught by their parents the English language and customs,
and when they grow older they do not want to learn
Hebrew. Thus it happens that when an old scholar dies,
there is nobody to take his place. In olden times the
saying of Ecclesiastes (i. 5) "The sun arises, the sun goes
down " was true, for when the sun of one Rabbi went under,
another one arose and gave light to Israel. We find that
on the day Rabbi Akiba died Rabbi Judah Hanasi was
born. In these times when a scholar departs from this life
he is lost for ever to Judaism, there are no young men to
replace him, and thus the succession of scholars in Israel
is broken. All this is the result of our mixing among
the Gentiles and of the desire to be like them.'
Historical Notes.
In connexion with this exposition he mentions, as was
customary in Memorial orations, the loss of Rabbis who
had died within that year (1757-f^). Their names are :
(i) Moses Lwow Rabbi in Nikol.sburg •?'' (2) Abraham Mollcr
'• mon^o ^""12'D n£D3 nnpb niD nSi, sec a., p. 27 a.
'< B>"j p"p-l l"3N yd} n:rO I'lnO, Moscs Aaron Lcmbcrgcr known
also as Moscs Lwow was first Rabbi in Lcipnik, afterwards in Berlin, and
lastly Landrabbincr of Moravia in Nikolsburg, where he died 17th Tebet,
5518, 28th Dec, 1757. See Fcuchtwang in Knii/*MaitnGcdeukbnch, p. 378,
and Landshut, op, cil., 23.
c a
20 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
of Bamberg ;i^ (3) Wolf Rabbi of Friedberg;^^ (4) Meir
of Hannover ; ^"^ (5) Abraham Rabbi of Emden ; ^^ (6) Leb
of Heitzfeld ; ^^ (7) Jacob of Greditz (Graetz) ;2o (8) Isaac
of Hanau ; ^^ (9) Akiba Eger Rabbi of Pressburg ; ^^ and
(10) Zevi Hirsch of Hildesheim.^'* In another Hesped
(Memorial Service) held on the 17th of Tammuz, 5522 =
1762 (p. 71a) he mentions the death of his relative
'the Rabbi of Berlin', referring to David Fraenkel,^*
Mendelssohn's teacher ; the Rabbi of Fuerth,^^ likewise
'5 J-iy3?0N2 p'pi TON n^bs'O Dm3N n'10. See Kaufmann, DpJS
nnon p"p, T bv }*2ip, vol. VII, p. 27. He was formerly Rabbi of
Oettingen. See his approbation to Baruk b. Elkana's minn Ci'l^^Q,
Fiirth, 1752.
'« jnimnD p"pi Yia ^bii)) nio.
'^ iniM p''pi n"nN TNO H^ID . See Emden, Megillat Sefer, p. 144
and D. Kaufmann in Monatsschrift, 1896, pp. 220 and 274.
" ivncy p"p'^ n"3N Dmas* n"iro .
*' DbyaVM p'p'-S "l"nN ih n"l». Heit^rfeW or Hatzfeld is Heidings-
feld near Wurzburg in Bavaria.
z" Jacob of Greditz = pny~IJ p"p'^ '^"1\^ apy ."["lO yNZS. the son of
R. Hirsch of Pintschow and became Rabbi of Glogau. He was an ancestor
of Rabbi Dr. Kaempf of Prague. See Landshut, op. cit., p. 75 and Emden
in Edtit Beja'akob, p. 59 a.
21 N:yn p"pi n"ax pv'N n"iD.
" JIUw'y-lS p"p'^ l"3N ■)J''N i^y'PV rfyCi . Akiba Eger the Elder was
Rabbi of Pressburg, died 15th of September, 1757 (and not, as Zunz, Mottats-
tage, has it, in 1746). He was author of the work Mishnat de R. Akiba,
See Auerbach, Gesch. d. Juden in Halberstadt.
2s D>'nDy"i^\i p"p'\ n'^N ti'Tn o^f iY'id.
2* P^~ia p"p''\ 13N":n nXtr. David Fraenkel was a teacher of the
Philosopher, Solomon Maimon, and author of the work V^y^ P"lp) a com-
mentary on the Palest. Talmud (see Kayserling, Moses Mendelssohn). He
was at first Rabbi in Dessau, and became Rosh-Beth-Din in Berlin on the
14th Ab, 1743, and died, 55 years old, on 12 Nisan, 1762.
** Died, 81 years old, on May 21, 1762. He was formerly Rabbi in
Holleschau and Worms, and was born in Frankfurt, ca. 1681. See
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 21
without mentioning his name, referring to David Strauss
of Frankfurt, and Rabbi Moses Rapp,^*^ Dayan of Frankfurt-
on-the-Main.
There are only two other historical references in this
volume of sermons. The one is the mention of the Jews
* who were drowned at Portsmouth, of which we have already
spoken, and the other is an appeal for the congregation of
Jungbunzlau in Bohemia (N^oron), where the Synagogue
was destroyed by fire (Discourse on Sabbath Teshubah,
5.522, p. -j^).
The neglect of the Torah studies seems to have been
his chief grievance against the London community. It
occurs many times in the MS., but the following is, I think,
worth quoting, ' Instead of gathering in the houses of
learning people go to operas, plays, concerts, and clubs.^*^
There is no respect for learning and learned men. Why then
should a bo}' be anxious to study the Law ? He cannot
yet grasp the meaning of 01am Habba (namely, that by
studying Torah he fulfils a divine command for which he
will receive reward in the world to come), what other
attraction could a child have than the wish to become a Rav,
a great and honoured man? If, however, the men of Torah
are not held in respect the child, naturally, has no wish to
study, and thus the Torah is forgotten. Oui- Sages in
the Mishnah say: "Raise up many disciples" (Abot
c. I, Mishnah j). I was not able to follow this rule
in your congregation. I have no pupils, not even a col-
L. Locwcnstcin, Jahrb. d. Lit. (ies. Fmnkfuii, vol. VI, 1908 9, p. 187 ;
Barbcck, Geschuhtc derjudeit in Niimberg und Ftitili, p. 64.
••• p>m E3"d P"PT 3"-! flCSI iTJ'D n"lD bnJH IINCni, died 27 Adar,
1763; sec Horowitz, Frank/. Grab., p. 338.
" DK^pS OiyOilp^ y^E^ y?.2l<S. Sec also MS. A., pp. 69a and 73a
for similar uxprcssions.
22 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
league (i3n) with whom I could pursue my studies. Even
the learned men in the community fail to train their
children in the study of the Torah. I had one pupil,
and that was my son (R. Saul), but I had to send him
away to another country. There he found his helpmate
(wife), and I have found no other pupil since (p. 41 a).'
' When God showed me the way to this congregation ', he
says in 1762, ' which elected me to serve them in the name
of the Lord, I came with the scroll of the Law to you, to
propound His teachings among you, and that is my work
which I carry on my shoulders. I established a Yeshibah
but have not succeeded with it. What is left to me now
but my voice " to publish righteousness in the great congre-
gation " (Ps. 40. 10)? See, I have not closed my lips, had
no fear of anybody, have done nothing with the object
of finding favour in the eyes of anybody, or in order to
gain pecuniary advantage. To God alone do I look for
help, and have never made gold my idol. Thanks to the
Almighty I possess enough of gold and silver, but do not
think that I acquired it here. God knows, one cannot
become rich from a Rabbinate ; all one acquires from the
holy service can virtually be carried on one shoulder.' ^^
His one desire was to keep the flame of knowledge
alive ; to that he devoted all his energy, but to the end
of his days he never liked the office of Rabbi. He con-
sidered it a bitter path, a bread of misery, and expresses
this feeling in a Hebrew poem written in later life : ' O God !
From Thy hand alone I ask for the portion of my inheri-
tance (Ps. 16. 5), be it large or small. I shall thank Thee
for an olive-leaf even, but do not let me fall into the hand
" IN-'' eiriDa Dr\'>bv c;nipn miay ^a (Num. 7. 9).
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 23
of man.' (See Hainmagid, 1870, p. 125, and Landshut,
p. 109.)
In London he did not find the field where his work
would bear fruit : ' The pillars of the Torah totter, very
{q\\ are the students of the Law who desire to rise to
a higher standard, and these few are scattered into the
different distant parts of the town, live therefore a lonely-
life and cannot profit from one another. There are no
Talmud-Torahs for children, and what will be the future
of Judaism if this state of affairs continues? See what is
being done in nearly every congregation, large or small, in
Germany. Are they larger than yours or richer than you ?
And yet how many Synagogues and Bate Midrashim have
they founded to the Glory of God, as a sign that Judaism
is eternal and will never become extinct (62 b).'
He urged for co-operation with the Sephardi com-
munity (pp. 7 and 17 a). The Passover lamb, he says, had
to be eaten in separate unions (mnn), but for its preparation
all Israel entered at one door ; so should we, too, even though
we be two distinct congregations, in matters that concern
all Jewry, co-operate and act together.
In many instances he combines reflections of a religious-
philosophical nature with his moral teachings. Already
in those days there were people in London, who disregarded
the Jewish religious ceremonies. He was a clear thinker,
and h.ifl a profound knowledge of Maimuni's Guide of the
Perplexed, from which he took most of his philosophical
arguments, and made effective use of them in combating
the views of the half-educated Jew of the day (cited on
pp. 4a, 31 b, 32b, 33a, 39b). 'By studying philosophy
in a superficial manner people became unbelievers. After
reading three or four pages of a philosophical book they
24 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
think they have found more wisdom than is to be found in
all the folios of both the Talmuds' (p. 15 b). Maimonides
and Bahya said that the chief precept of Judaism was
to arrive at the belief in God by means of intellectual
contemplation.^^ Others argued against this view, holding
that it is better to believe without trying to understand.
Belief is called in Hebrew ' Emunah' = trust. As no
human mind can attain to understand God, those who
think they have reached that standard are only deceiving
themselves. What they really have achieved is, that they
believe in themselves, in the great power of their own mind
(p. 33 a). We Jews have to believe in the Torah and its
precepts as revealed to us by God and as handed down to
us in the oral tradition. Human beings can never succeed
in understanding God's Being. Maimonides, who considered
that the highest human perfection lay in truly grasping the
es.sence of God's Being, did not mean this literally but
only said it as an apology against aggressions by the religious
thinkers of other nations. He also tried to give reasons for
all the Mizvot, but he failed. More true is the view of our
Rabbis, that mankind reaches the understanding of God
only when the body parts from the soul. The thirteen
articles of the creed are supposed to embody every precept
of the Torah. All the 613 Mizvot are only the means for the
attainment of the belief contained in these articles. If that
were so, why should not people say : ' I believe in all these
" Ikkarim " (articles of creed), will say them every day, and
then I need not do anything else, as all the other precepts
are only intended to bring man to the belief in God and to
prevent him from being an idolater '. This argument would
be quite in accordance with the teaching of Maimonides,
'^ See Maimonides, Moreli, II, 33.
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 25
and shows at once the fallacy of his doctrine, that the thirteen
articles contain the essence of Jewish religion. R. Hirschel
comes to the conclusion that all precepts are of divine
origin and all equally important. They are not only means
to an end or a preventive against idol worship, but are
in themselves a safeguard against the wickedness of man-
kind. The Mizvot are holy because their intention is to
make us holy and bring us nearer to God. Man cannot
decide which precept is important and which is not. For
this reason it happens that people who by philosophical
thinking want to attain the understanding of God mostly
fall into sin.
The spirit of enlightenment seems to have spread
to London, and his references to the 'Philosophers' were
probably meant for tho.se who .studied the books of the
Measphim, the forerunners of modern Jewish research.
We must not think, from what we have just heard, that
R. Hirschel was opposed to all learning which fell outside
the sphere of the Talmud. Like his uncle, Jacob Emden,
he possessed a deep historical sense, a critical mind far in
advance of the Rabbi of tho.se days. Most students of his
time concerned thcm.selves exclusively with the Halakic
side of the Talmud. To them it was of more interest to
know what a Rabbi in the Talmud .said and how he decided
a Din (point of law), than to know that Rabbi Judah
Hanasi was not a contemporary of Rabbi Akiba. Rabbi
Hirschel, however, held that the Talmud cannot be
properly understood without a thorough knowledge of
its chronology. He impressed upon his students to study
the methodology of the Talmud, and recommended them
to read Samuel Hanagid's Mcbo I/aiahnud, Simson of
Chinon's Sefer Keritut and other books of the kind.
26 RAHHIXATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Later, when Rabbi of Halbeistadt and head of an important
Rabbinical school, he used to give an historical introduction
to his lectures. The sources of the text, the commentators
and their periods were all discussed before he actually
commenced the reading of the Talmud proper. When he
heard of the publication of Heilprin's Seder Hadorot,
which was printed in his time in Karlsruhe, he was full of
joy. The publisher asked him for an approbation of the
work, but he answered : ' A work like this does not need
any approbation ; that the sun shines nobody need testify '
(Auerbach, p. 92).
One of the reasons for his dissatisfaction with his
position in London was that he felt his preaching had not
made people more religious. On Sabbath Teshubah,
1760 (p. 35a), he says: 'When first I came here I was
anxious to do something great, something that would
benefit the whole congregation. I had made up my mind
that nothing should be too much trouble for me if I could
only diminish religious transgression and lead my flock
into the right path. You brought me from a far-off land
across the ocean, incurring great expense thereby, and
I said to myself, "This surely is the work of God".
Although I knew my worth to be little, I thought of the
saying of our Fathers : " Those who occupy themselves
with communal matters the merits of their Fathers are
their help" (Abot, c. 2; Mishnah 2). I had courage and
hoped to succeed in my endeavours. Now, after having
been with you for four years, and never having refrained
from pointing out your failings, I see that nobody has
hearkened to me and that things have not improved in
any way (p. 70 h). I know, you have often wondered why
I repeat so frequently my reproaches about your trans-
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 27
gressions of the Laws of Sabbath and the festivals, of your
faih'ngs in public and private life, about the behaviour of your
women-folk, although I saw that my words had no effect.
But what else could I do if I would fulfil my duty ? God
had spoken to me : " Call out with thy voice, do not keep
back, raise thy voice like a Shofar and tell my people their
sins and the house of Jacob their failings "'. I kno.v also there
are many scoffers among you, who, like the Rasha' (wicked
man) in the Passover Haggadah, tell you : n^b nxrn miayn no
'' What good is this service to }0U ? " What right has
the Rav to speak in the Synagogue of your private doings ?
My answer to these people is : ''b "n n:;'y nr inya " It is my
sad lot for which I was destined by Almighty God, it is
my dut}-, which I shall not be deterred from fulfilling "
(p. 70a).'
Half a year later, on the 17th of Tammuz, 1762, he
exclaims (p. 73b): 'God Almighty only knows how weary
I am of my life here. I cannot bear any longer to
behold all that you do in public and in your private life.
Is it not enough that for nearly 1 ,700 years we have been
expelled from the table of our Father, arc like sheep with-
out a shepherd, and (n"ii?3) how many misfortunes have
befallen us, how many kinds of illnesses have we and our
children to bear, how many terrible wars have come upon
us, and all this on account of our sins '.
Notwithstanding the vigour of these utterances he was
a man of even and calm tem[)eranient. He was averse to
all sort of quarrel : ' It is more necessary to avoid strife
than to keep a fast-day' he says ([). 17 b). His general
outlook on life was likewise calm and peaceful. ' Forgel-
fulness ', he says (p. 71a) 'is very necessary '. Onr sages
recommend the provision of a nuiub(.r of wine-cups in
28 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
a house of mourning, so that the people may drink and
forget sorrow and pain. To worry over the past is not
the act of a wise man. It increases melancholy and
deranges the mind of man."^"
jR. Hirschcl in Halberstadt.
In spite of this calm view of life he seems to have
become more and more dissatisfied with his life in London.
A few months later, at the beginning of the year 1763, the
Halberstadt community opened negotiations with him,
offering him the position of Chief Rabbi in their congrega-
tion. On the 1 6th of Shevat, 5523 (= February, J 763),
R. Elijah, son of Naphtali Hirsch Fraenkel, Parnas in
Halberstadt, who was on business in Berlin, writes home
as follows : ' One of the leading men of the Berlin com-
munity had said to him, that if the people of Halberstadt
elect the Rabbi of London, they simply pave the way
for him to Berlin. Halberstadt would only be a halting
stage and give the Berlin community a splendid opportunity
for observing the pastoral activity of the Rabbi, and enable
them to judge whether he was worthy of the Rabbinate
of Berlin '. When, a few months later, the Parnasim of
Halberstadt recommended him for election (Sivan, 1763)
a letter was written to him, in which this passage of the
Parnas's letter was quoted, the Parnasim expressing their
anxiety that the possibility mentioned might become true.
The letter of the Parnasim says further : ' They had heard
that the study of Torah was very much neglected in
so »3 ^^^-^ p^y^^ pnt^'' ;yob ^aNn n-aa niDia nnnn^ V\r\ ivv pi
NUroi n-iincn n^-icc' ir D:3nn nihysD p-x ^niii layn hv nwNin
DnK3 nVnn amy. .See Xalm. Babli KetubotSb; Krauss, Tahn.
Archdologie, II, p. 70; A. Buechler, Am-ha arez, p. 210.)
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 29
London and was causing him to be dissatisfied with his
position and that, for this reason, he was anxious to
exchange his present office for one in a really observant
congregation on the Continent '. It having happened
to them on a former occasion that a Rabbi, whom they
had elected, had, on his way to them, accepted a call from
another congregation,^^ they were now anxious to avoid
a recurrence of such an event. For this reason they must
ask him to give them not only his consent in writing, but
also an undertaking to commence his duties within six
months after his election, and not to leave them before
three years had passed. R. Hirschel replies in a letter,
remarkable for its beautiful Hebrew style, that he was
willing to accept the position offered to him ; but the
undertaking asked for he did not give until the month of
Shebat, 1764, when he received in exchange for it his
Contract of Appointment, called 'Rabbinical Letter'
(m:3"i ariD). This was handed to him in Amsterdam by
Samuel Halberstadt. In another letter written in London
on the 22nd Shebat, 1 764, Rabbi Hirschel signifies his
intention of coming to Halberstadt between Pcsah and
Shabuot of the same year. The Contract of Appointment
is dated the 14th of Ab, 1 763. He was to receive a .salary
of three hundred Thaler (£Jf)0 — in London he had ;^25o),
a free house suitable for his position, and certain fees for
marriages and other ceremonies. The community under-
took to assist the Rabbi in founding or re-establishing
a Rabbinical Academy (Yeshibah) by providing for the
" The Rabbi was R. Jacob Colu-n Popcrs, who on his way to Halberstadt
was elected Rabbi of Frankfurt a. M. and remained there without ever going
to Halberstadt. He was first Rabbi in Coblciiz. In Frankfurt he was the
teacher of R. Tevele Schiff (sec later i, and died 70 years old on Sabbath,
22nd Shevat, 1740 Horowitz, Frmik-f. Rahh., II, pp. 82 and 105'.
30 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
maintenance of twelve scholars. On his election the district
of Ravensberg rejoined the Halberstadt community and
undertook to pay the Rabbi a separate salary. His moving
expenses were defrayed by the congregation and amounted,
according to a detailed account in the possession of the
congregation, to 481 Thaler, 11 Groschen, and 6 Pfennig.
The Rabbi received on his installation the customary
Derashah present ^^ consisting of 179 Thaler and 8 Groschen
(Auerbach, loc. cit., p. 91).
His predecessor in Halberstadt was R. Meir Barbi,^^
who in 1763 was elected Rabbi of Pressburg. According
to Auerbach, who gives no authority for his statement
(p. 91), R. Hirschel arrived in Halberstadt on the ist of
Sivan, 1764. This date does not seem quite beyond question.
He signs an approbation to the book : D^^n niJtJ* (printed in
Amsterdam, 1765) in Amsterdam on Friday, the 27th of
Tammuz, 1764, where he says: ' I am on my way to, and
looking forward to officiate in, Halberstadt '."* Landshut,
referring to this approbation, says that he went to see his
relations in Amsterdam, his brother Saul being chief Rabbi
there. So far he is quite correct, R. Hirschel went to
the wedding of his daughter Sarah, who was married to
R. Jacob Moses, the son of his brother Saul. He is,
however, not correct when he says that R. Hirschel went
soon after his installation from Halberstadt to Amsterdam.
He passed through that city on his way from London,
as he clearly states in the approbation just referred to,
^^ Derashah present was given to the Rabbi on preaching his first
sermon (Derashah), similar to a wedding present likewise called by the
same name, on account of the discourse of the bridegroom delivered at
the wedding or on the preceding Sabbath.
33 Meir Barbi, author of mS D"l"nD n^V.;', Dyhrenfurt-Prag, 1786-92.
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 3I
which, curiously enough, is mentioned by Landshut. In the'
work ZeviLassaddik, published by Zevi Ezekiel Michelsohn,
Rabbi of Plonsk (printed in Piotrkow, 1904), is published
a letter, bearing no date, of Eliezer Libermann, Dayan in
London, addressed to Rabbi Hirschel, who was then in
Amsterdam on his way to Halberstadt."' Libermann
congratulates the Rabbi and his brother, the Rabbi of
Amsterdam, on the occasion of the wedding of their
children. He also mentions that a young student (ins ninn)
who left Halberstadt two months previously and had
arrived in London had told him of the elaborate prepara-
tions the Halberstadt community were making for the
reception of the Rabbi. A fine house ' filled with every-
thing of the best' was in readiness for him, and the com-
munity was awaiting his arrival like the advent of a festival.
R. Hirschel in his reply to Libermann does not refer to
anything of a personal nature, but confines himself to the
ritual question asked. He writes that he is very worried
and low spirited and subscribes himself, 'Your friend, who
is troubled on all sides and careworn, who writes with
a weak hand, &c. Zevi Hirsch' (Michelsohn, /(?<:. cit., p. 71).
Although no exact date is given the earliest at which
R. Hirschel could have written this letter is the month of
Elul, as he sends New Year greetings to Libermann. He
was therefore not only in rammuz (date of the approbation
just mentioned above) but also in IClul still in Amsterdam.
It consequently seems more likely that he entered upon
his duties in Halberstadt shortly before the New Year,
5525 = I 764 and not, as Auerbach states, that he came on
** Sec also letter of Meshuliam Zaiman Emdcn lo his father in the ' Get
of Cleve ' affair, dated ao Tammuz, 1767, in Orllaynsyhar, p. 79 a, where he
mentions Libermann.
32 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
the 1st of Sivan. The wedding of his daughter probably
took place soon after the Fast of Ab and only after that
day could he have left for his new place of activity. He
could not possibly have come there in Sivan and gone
away again for two months shortly afterwards, while he
might have remained in Amsterdam for that period before
proceeding to Halberstadt.
Soon after his arrival he was called upon to settle
a dispute between the congregation and his predecessor
R. Meir Barbi. A certain R. Sender, of Braunschweig,
had presented the congregation with the sum of 6,oco
Thaler, the interest of which was to be given one half to
Rabbi Barbi and the other half was to be used for
charitable purposes. When the Rabbi left for Pressburg
the donor wrote to the wardens instructing them that
they should not send the half share of the income from the
said fund to Rabbi Meir. The latter made a protest, and
the newly appointed Rabbi Hirschel successfully brought
about an understanding between the parties, Barbi receiving
in commutation a sum equal to the interest for five and
a half years, and after the year 1768 the half share was to
be given to the Rabbi of Halberstadt for the time being.
In Halberstadt our Rabbi's chief care was devoted to
the development of his rabbinical school. He succeeded
in bringing it to fame, and many of his pupils became great
Rabbinical authorities in later years. One of his pupils was
R. Loeb Eger, Rabbi in Halberstadt, another, Rabbi Issachar
Berisch, became Rabbi of Hannover. His pastoral activity
outside this Yeshibah made him generally respected and
honoured.
His congregants had unbounded confidence in his
honesty and clearness of judgement, and he was able to
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 33
bring to satisfactory conclusion many cases of dispute
which had been before the Bet Din of Halberstadt for
many years previous to his arrival.
Nevertheless, he did not long remain in Halberstadt. In
J 770 he left for Mannheim. Auerbach gives two reasons
for his relinquishing the office at Halberstadt. The congre-
gation of Bleicherode, formerly belonging to the district of
Halberstadt, had some dispute with the latter congregation
and Hirschel decided in Halberstadt's favour. Thereupon
a certain unnamed individual insinuated that he decided in
this way, on account of his dislike of the Bleicherode people,
who did not welcome him on his arrival as other congre-
gations of the neighbourhood had done. This was declared
publicly, and vvas a grave charge against the Rabbi's
impartiality as judge, and an attack on his honesty.
Although the Halberstadt community did everything in
their power to repair the assault on their Rabbi's honour,
he himself never forgot the incident. The other reason
for his relinquishing the office, mentioned by Auerbach, is
that there were many adherents of Eybeschiitz in the
community. Rabbi Hirschel had in earlier years written
several letters in defence of his uncle Jacob Emdcn. He
had, as we have mentioned, tried to bring about a recon-
ciliation between him and Eybeschiitz, but failed. Although
in later years he is not known to have taken any active
part in the dispute, the fact that he was a nephew of
Emden and son of R. Aryeh Loeb of Amsterdam, h-mdcn's
vigorous supporter, was sufficient reason for the adherents
of I'Lybcschiitz to regard him as their enemy. The appoint-
ment of a Shohct with an authorizaticm from ICybeschiitz
may have been regarded by him as a personal slight, and
confumcd him in his decision to leave Halberstadt.
D. D
34 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
A letter written by Abraham Halberstadt, one of the
Rabbis of that place, to Jeremiah Levy of Berlin,^" is
worth quoting, as being an impartial opinion of his
work in Halberstadt, Abraham having been an admirer
of Eybeschiitz, and consequently not a friend of the
Emden family. He says : ' That the great man has
gone away from us is felt as a real loss by every-
body. His personal virtues, his activity in the community
and in the Yeshibah deserve all praise. We were proud
to have such a scholar at the head of our community. Who
will replace him ? He has undoubtedly left a difficult
position for his successor whoever it be, for he will never
gain laurels or recognition however much he may try to
imitate his predecessor. The splendour of his personality
is still before the eyes of all, and where one was used to
something good, only the better can be appreciated. To
achieve being better than he is, is indeed very difficult.
Already there are cracks in the body of the Yeshibah,
which I fear will be followed by its entire collapse. More
than half of the Bahurim (scholars) have already left, and
they were the best ones. Still it may be God has ordered
it so, that no strife should ensue in Israel. The small
spark of disunion which has been glimmering in the
congregation might have increased if he had remained '.
To judge from the last part of this letter, R. Hirschel's
relationship with Emden was at least one of the causes
of his departure from Halberstadt. (See Auerbach^ loc. cit.^
pp. 192 ffi)
** Brother of Judah Levy, grandfather of Adelheid wife of Dr. Zunz (see
Landshut, p. 120).
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 35
7v. HirscJicl in MannJieim.
In Mannheim he succeeded Samuel Ilehnan, or Hilman,
who had been one of the chief supporters of Jacob Emden.
He accepted a smaller salary than he had at his former
place (Halbeistadt), proving how little he valued worldly
goods where his principles and conviction were at stake.
He was not to find rest and satisfaction even in
Mannheim. In a sermon preached there on Sabbath
Teshubah (between New Year and Atonement-day) of the
year l^w'S : 5,-331 = 1771, he complains of slanders which
were very frequent there. (SceZ^wZ^^-., p. 135.) * I always
heard that Mannheim was a great kehillah', he said, ' but it
is not really so, they are very provincial ' (Dnois "Tii'DC Tsr:^1
nND Th\'\\ 1^'ND ^<^^tr tw:! lym rh\'M nsin n^np:;').
Mannheim at that time was a very observant congrega-
tion, and consisted of 264 families (Loewenstein, Kurpfalz,
p. 2 j6). He once said, by way of a joke, that in London he
had money but no Jews, in Mannheim Jews but no money,
and in Berlin no money and no Jews (Loewenstein, loc. cit.,
p. 2jj). He had been elected to Mannheim in \ 768, but
did not go because he expected a call to Berlin, and when,
in 1770, he finally accepted the call, he stayed there barely
three years. His ministration left so little mark that
Carmoly doubted his ever having held the office of Rabbi
in Mannheim. ^^ Very likely the negotiations with Berlin
commenced soon after his arrival, and that may have
diverted his mind and prevented him from initiating any-
" To the profifs montioncd by Loewenstein for liis li.ivin^r officiated
in Mannheim Tp. ^55, note) is now to be afJ^Jeil the scrinoii in Miehel.soliii,
of>. cit., p. 135.
1) I
36 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
thing impoitant. The Contract of his election to Berlin is
dated theistoflyyar, i772(Landshut, pp. 78-80; Michelsohn,
op. cit., p. 149). while the negotiations had commenced as
early as 1771.
R. Hirschel as Chief Rabbi of Berlin.
He was elected Chief Rabbi of Berlin and the provhices,
his title being ' Oberlandesrabbiner '. The first clause in
the Contract stipulates that his chief duty should be to
attend the Bet-Hamidrash, to study and teach Torah to
old and young and to deliver a special talmudic discourse
at the beginning of every term (NriDnn NPID^'DD). His duties
were further (§2 of Contract) to preach on Sabbath Haggadol
and Sabbath Teshubah, for which he received additional
remuneration. He had to administer the Jewish law in
religious matters as well as in civil disputes brought before
him. Amongst his obligations was also the reading of the
Tal, Geshem, and Neilah services. The custom for the
Rabbi to read the Neilah service at the conclusion of
Atonement-day is still in force in orthodox congregations,
while the reading by the Rabbi of the Tal and Geshem
services was not general, and has since entirely been
abandoned. It does not seem to have been usual even
at the beginning of the nineteenth century. It is not
mentioned in Rabbi Ezekiel Landau's 'Rabbinical Letter'
when he was elected Chief Rabbi of Prague (edited by
Kaufmann in Yearbook Haeshkol, I, pp. 177 ff.). In the
Synagogue he had his seat on the left side of the ark, and
was called up to the reading of the Law every Sabbath to
the third portion (Shelishi). His salary was 50 Thaler
a month (i Thaler was 6 Gulden = approximately loj., the
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 37
yearly salary was consequently about ^300) from the Berlin
community, but other congregations belonging to the
district paid him additional remuneration. A separate
fee was due to him for every function performed and for
every decision given by the Bet Din.
In Berlin his fame as a scholar was soon established
and to his Yeshibah flocked students from far and wide.
In those days, when hardly any Rabbi possessed even
a superficial knowledge in secular subjects, our Rabbi, who
was well read in various branches of worldly literature, was
regarded as a phenomenon. Even a knowledge of Hebrew
grammar was unusual and was regarded as an innovation,
which laid any Rabbi open to suspicion as fraternizing
with the ' Modcrnisers '. Mendelssohn was then at the
zenith of his career, and R. Hirschcl was not afraid to give
an approbation to his edition of the German translation
of the Bible, which called forth'a strong protest from many
Rabbis of Poland, Austria, and even Germany. This appro-
bation was signed the 12th of Elul, 177^, and the Bible
was printed in Berlin in 17H3. R. Hirschel hails the
publication as a necessity from the JcwisJi point of view.
All the nations, he says, have prepared translations of the
Bible, and such Jews as desire to read a German translation
had to use those of Christians which contain many mis-
translations due to theological bias, and entirely contrary
to Jewish tradition. The Yiddish translati(jn i)ublishcd,
with the sanction of the I-'our-lands-Synod, in i^>79,
gives no satisfaction to those who speak a grammatical
German, lie recommends tlu- translation and i)raiscs the
skill and efficiency of Mendel.'-sohn. Whilst in Ilalbcrstadt
K. Hirschel had already become an admirer of Mendelssohn,
as may be seen from a letter of Gleim, the poet, to
38 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
F. E. Boysen, a priest, written in August, 1770, in which
he states that the Rabbi admired the Socrates of Berhn
and was proud of the fact that this Genius had sprung
from his race. (See Landshut, p. 83, reprinted from Geiger's
Jiid. Zeitschrift, vol. X, 1872, p. 232). Gleim's opinion of
R. Hirschel is worth quoting from this letter. ' The views
of this man regarding Jewish scholarship are, you may
believe me, thorough, profound, and vigorous. There is
nothing treacherous, nothing false, nothing misanthropic
about him, and as far as I know, he is naturally good and
honest. Herr Loebel wishes, my friend, that you should
know the great worth of the old teachers of his people in
the same way as you know and appreciate Mendelssohn's
merits in philosophy, and he has asked me to tell you that
he so wishes.'
When, in 1777, the civil jurisdiction of the Rabbis was
abolished and vested in the ordinary courts of justice, the
Government asked the Chief Rabbi Hirschel Lewin to
compile an excerpt of the Jewish Laws on inheritance,
wills, trusts, and marriages. At R. Hirschel's request
Mendelssohn compiled a treatise dealing with these matters.
Apparently Mendelssohn did the whole work himself,
although the book, under the title Kitual-Gesetze der
jfudcn, was published as having been written by the Rabbi.
(Berlin, j 778. See Kayserling's Moses Alendelssohn, p. 281.)
The friendly relations -^^ between Mendelssohn and the Rabbi
'8 A proof of tlie friendly relations between them is in the London
Bet-Hamidrash library in form of a manuscript volume, containing Hebrew
translations of some of Aristotle's works presented by Moses ben Menahem
of Dessau to Zevi Hirsch, Rabbi of Berlin, as Purim-present in 5533 = 1773.
(See Neubauer, Catalogue, No. 43, 4, p. 18.) Ber Goldberg, in Hammagid,
1879, p. 54, states that he saw a book in London which Mendclssolin
presented to R. Hirschel ; he probably refers to this manuscript.
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 39
became strained when the latter attacked Mendelssohn's
friend Naphtali Herz Wessely, for having written a letter
entitled ' Words of Peace and Truth ' (nosi Dl^t' nan). The
letter (printed in Berlin, 1782) owed its origin to the
following circumstances. When the Emperor Joseph II of
Austria issued, in 1780, his ' Toleranz-Edict ' in which he
promised the Jews of Austria full political rights ' as soon
as they were worthy of it ', he ordered them to establish
German schools and to train their children in handicrafts.
This was regarded by the strictly orthodox Jews as an
onslaught on their religion. If their children will have
to learn German and other ' Goyish ' things, they will have
no time and also no inclination to study the Law, the
religion of their Fathers. They thought that the order
to establish schools was only a pretence and was really
aimed at the destruction of the Torah and intended to
make their children irreligious (Goyim). It was then that
Naphtali Herz Wessely issued his * Words of Peace and
Truth', in which he asked his people not to disregard the
Emperor's wishes. He endeavoured to disperse the anxiety
for their religion and explained that they could just as
well keep their religion in speaking a correct and gram-
matical as a corrupt German, namely Yiddish. Many
listened to his words. Most of the Rabbis of Galicia,
however, raised their voices against Wessely as they had
against Mendelssohn's Bible translation. Later events
proved that the apprehensions of the Rabbis were well
founded. The I'lmpcror Joseph's attempt to force his own
culture upon the Jews of Austria and Galicia was ill-judged.
He was a liberal and high-minded man, who would have
liked to see all the people under his rule civilized, educated,
and happ>'. I'ut his methods in achieving this end were
40 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
loo rapid. He recognized this, for with one stroke of the
pen he revoked before his death all his reforms. As far
as the Jews were concerned, instead of giving them at once
liberty and full political rights, and thus an opportunity
of acquiring knowledge, he forced upon them schools of
the prevalent type, with teachers, who were not conforming
Jews and who did their utmost to alienate the Jewish
children from their faith. It is from that time that the
aversion of the Galician orthodox Jews to secular studies
dates, for it was not so in earlier times. When Haham Zevi
was elected Rabbi of Lemberg, he was praised for being
able to speak to the Government officials in their own
language. They were far-seeing men, the Rabbis of the
eighteenth century, who did not believe in taking the Jew
right out of the Ghetto and making a modern scholar
of him.
Rabbi Hirschel probably foresaw the danger which
threatened the Galician Jews. Although himself a lover
of secular studies, he did not believe in the too sudden
modernization of the Jew. Possibly the expectations he
had placed in Mendelssohn's Bible-translation were not
realized, many young Jews were unsettled in their religious
belief by the desire to become German scholars.^^ He may
even have regretted having given his approbation to the
Bible-translation. When Wessely was attacked by the
eastern Rabbis, and the Rabbi of Prague, R. Ezekiel
Landau, had excommunicated him for supporting the
Emperor Joseph's reform, Hirschel likewise protested
against this friend of Mendelssohn. Possibly he was
urged to this by these Rabbis and felt that if he remained
" See Bernfeld, Biography nf S. J. Rapaport: -|"'C:' nn^lfl , Berlin,
1899, P- 3-
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEVVIN 4I
silent he would be risking his reputation as an orthodox
Rabbi. Whatever may have been the reason, the fact
remains that he joined in the general attack against
Wessely and tried to stop him from printing his works.
He even did his best to have him expelled from Berlin ;
Mendelssohn, however, intervened on his behalf. He in-
duced the Minister von Zedlitz to write to Daniel Itzig,
President of the Berlin Jewish community, in Wessely's
interest, and this intervention, as well as several letters
by Mendelssohn to David Friedlaender, secured peace to
the much harassed scholar.*" There appeared anonymously
a small pamphlet called "IC'V 3nD 'A just letter', in which
the author satirically deals with the question of learning
Hebrew grammar and speaking German correctly. It is in
the form of a dialogue between an ultra-orthodox Rabbi
and a modern youth, and was a vindication of Wessely's
' Dibre Shalom '. The author was no other than R. Hirschel s
son Saul, Rabbi in Frankfort on the Oder. This son was
to cause our Rabbi other anxieties aLso. He attacked the
well-known Raphael Cohen, Rabbi of the threefold congre-
gation Hamburg, Altona, and Wandsbeck in an anonymous
booklet entitled Micpch Jekntiel, which was a strong attack
against the book Turat Jckuticl (Berlin, 1772), and its
author R, Raphael Cohen, whom he accuses not only of
having written a large book on trifling matters, and of in-
accuracy, but also of deciding religious questions contrary
to Law and of having been guilty of plagiarism. The
book was published by Isaac, son of Daniel Jaffc, and
his brother-in-law David I^'iicdlaender, two friends of
Mendelssohn. As author figures nominally Obadiah son
of Rabbi Baruch from Poland, the real author, however,
♦" Sec Kayserling, oji. tit., pj). 307 (T.
42 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
being Rabbi Saul ben Hirschel. In the month of Adar,
5549 (1789) the book left the press (see Zedner, p. 619)
and was sent out broadcast to all prominent Rabbis. In
Hamburg, where Raphael Cohen was highly respected, it
caused great consternation, and it seemed unjust that
a book, that had been printed and known for sixteen years
previously, should form the ground for such a violent attack
on the honour and scholarly reputation of the Hamburg
Rabbi. The Bet Din of Hamburg promptly issued a Herem
(ban) against the book Mizpeh Jekutiel and its author.
R. Hirschel himself was greatly annoyed at this slanderous
book, and, not knowing who the real author was, prepared
to sign a Herem against him, when one of his friends,
R. Meir Weil, whispered to him, 'Oh, my Master, it is
Saul ' (2 Kings 6. 5 ; see Landshut, p. 91, cited by H. Adler
in his ' Chief Rabbis of England ', in Jeivish Hist. Exhib.
Papers, p. 283). The father had not the heart to issue
a ban against his own son. Landshut gives as reason for
this, that he regarded him to be of unsound mind [ibid.,
p. 92). Saul, however, proclaimed in a second pamphlet
the right of the author of the Mizpeh to criticize any work
by any Rabbi, and states that there were no grounds and
no justification for excommunicating the author. The
booklet, consisting of 16 pages in 8vo., entitled Teshubak
of R. Saul to Rabbi Moses, was printed in Berlin, 1789
(Zedner, p. 682). On pp. 15-16 appears a letter from his
father, which is a confession that his son was the author.
He says : ' Do you suspect me not to have joined the
Herem for personal reasons? Thank God, everybody
knows that in anything that concerns the honour of God
and his Torah I would not regard the interest of cither my
brothers or my sons. The Herem would only increase
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 43
Strife in Israel and give reformers an opportunity to laugh
at " Talmide Hakamim " (scholars).' The whole letter,
however, contains nothing which constitutes a valid defence
of his son. With the same object R. Hirschel next pub-
lished two more letters, both from anonymous writers,
purporting to come, one from a Rabbi in Germany and
the other from a Rabbi in Poland, together with a Re-
sponsum of his own (Landshut, pp. 94-9), in which he states
that the author of the MizpeJi proves by his work that he is
a great scholar. He, R. Hirschel, is aware of the fact that
the author studies Torah day and night, that he wrote his
criticism in true religious enthusiasm and in the conviction
that certain passages in the Toj-ai Jckntiel might be
construed as decisions against the traditional Law. The
critical writer of Mizpeh Jckutiel raised his voice against
these points in honesty and religious fervour without
fear of causing to himself harm, inconvenience and
pecuniary losses. His language may have been too aggres-
sive, and I do not approve of that ; nevertheless, there is
no justification for excommunication.' He warns his con-
gregants not to take any notice of the same, and that
anybody who regards the author as subject to the ban,
deserves to be, and is to be regarded as excommunicated.
A letter from K. I'>x'kicl Landau of Prague to R. Saul
follows this decision = pT pD3. Landau says in this letter
that a controversy between two great scholars cannot form
a grounJ for excommunication, but reproves the author for
having used offensive language against a great Rabbi.
This letter is dated the 29th of Sivan, .'',5.',o (Landshut,
p. 9S), There is also another letter in a similar strain
which the Prague Rabbi wrote to Saul on I'!lul the 17th,
5549 {ibid., \). 99), R. Saul himself wrote an apologetic
■44 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Rcsponsum on the matter, which was published in the
Ilamcaseph, 1790 (p. 223). He is mentioned there as
Rabbi of Frankfort and refers to the forthcoming publica-
tion of a volume of Rcsponsa, the famous NJDnm ND3.
This work he had printed at the same office as the Mizpeh
Jekutiel, namely in the Verlag der Jiidischen Freysc/nde,
called nny: I13n man, at Berlin in 1793, and brought still
more trouble upon himself and grief and annoyance to his
respected father. The full title of the book is, * Responsa
Besamim Rosh, 392 Responsa by great teachers, mostly by
R. Asher b. Jchiel *^ which were collected by Rabbi Isaac di
Molina, a great scholar of the time of the Bet Joseph ; *''■
printed with notes and additions, called XJDim ND3,^^ by
Saul, son of Zevi Hirsch, Chief Rabbi of this Town '.
Soon after its publication doubts were expressed as to
whether the great Rabbis had actually written the Responsa
attributed to them. Wolf Landsbcrg, formerly Rabbi
of Wallerstein, published a booklet called Zeeb Jitrof =
finD* 3XT, and pointed out that the author of the book
declared lawful certain matters which are really forbidden
according to Jewish law. ' If the author of the book had
had any regard for his father ', says Landsberg, ' he would
not have done such a thing.' Rabbi Mordecai Baneth,
Chief Rabbi of Moravia, went further and declared ** that
the whole book was a forgery by R. Saul, denying that
either Asheri or Isaac di Molina had ever written or seen
these Responsa. R. Saul had stated in the preface that
*^ Called ' Rosh ', died in Toledo, 1327.
*' Joseph Caro, author of the Shulhan Aruk and Bet Joseph to Turim ;
born in Spain 1488, died in Safed Nisan 1575.
*' Literally: a tasty dish. Cp. Talm. B. Bezah 16 a and Abodah Z.,
p. 38 a.
** See Litemlurblalt d. Orients, 1844, pp. 53 and 140.
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 45
when in Piemonte some years before, he bought the MS
from a Turkish Rabbi called Hayyim b. Jonah Sabi.
R. Hirschel thereupon again issues a booklet in defence
of his son and calls heaven and earth as witnesses that he,
personally, had the MS. copied by his son R. Solomon
(Solomon Herschcl, later Rabbi in London) and that he
himself had prepared an index to the work while in
Piemonte.''^ Some of the people who now write against
it and attack the editor had seen the MS. and had read it
with pleasure. If it were as the enemies of his son allege,
then he would be the guilty party for having assented to
the publication and given his approbation to the book.
Landshut remarks on this (p. 104) that he was at a loss
to understand how R. Hirschel could have written in this
manner. Azulai, Straschun, Zunz have fully proved that
the Responsa attributed to Asheri and other early scholars
were never written by them.
R. Saul seems to have lost his position as Rabbi in
Frankfort-on-Oder soon after the publication of the Mizpdi
Jekuticl. In Hameaseph, 1790 (p. 222), he is still mentioned
as holding that position, while in the title to the volume
of forged Responsa there is no mention of his then being
Rabbi at l<>ankfort. It would seem that by the publication
of the Mizpch he had already lost whatever respect and
esteem he had possessed in his community. He, apparently,
moved to Berlin prior to 1793, because he describes himself
in the title of the Responsa as 'Saul b. Hir.schel, Rabbi of
our congregation'. Ikit even in Berlin his residence was
made unpleasant after the publication of the latter work.
*^ He writes: "t:iCTD ; I liavc found no otiicr reference of his sojourn
in Piemonte or any reason for his journey there. He slates in 1791 th;it it
was a matter of ten years previously.
46 RARRINATK OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
For ill it ideas which evidently belonged to the Mendelssohn
school are propounded as coming from Asheri, whose
aversion to all secular learning is well known. The falsifi-
cation is in some places even clumsy. References are made
to circumstances which did not exist in those bygone days,
but which existed at the time of Mendelssohn and R. Saul.
(See Brann in Graetz-Jubelschrift, p. 257 ; cp., however,
Straschun in Fuenn's Kiryah Neeinanah, p. 296, and
S. J. Rapaport in Biography of Nathan Hababli, Note 13.
The latter scholars praise Saul as scholar and clever head.)
R. Saul, seeing himself abandoned by his friends, left
Berlin and proceeded to London, where, a few years
later, his brother R. Solomon Herschel was elected
Rabbi of the Ashkenazim. In Halle he became so ill
that he made his will. However, he reached London,
where he died soon after his arrival on the 23rd of
Heshvan (i6th November), SSSS = I794' His name is
still mentioned in the Hazkarah recited for the Rabbis on
Holy days. Michelsohn {Zevi Laz., p. 176) doubts the
veracity of the statement that he ever came to London.
We have, however, the testimony of a scholar named
Meyer Joseph, who states that he visited him there re-
peatedly before his death,^*" and published his will in
*^ See Literaiurblatt d. Orients, 1844, p 714 and H. Adler, loc. cit.,
p. 284. A letter by Meir Joseph is printed in Kerent Chented, IV, p. 239.
See also I. Abrahams in JQR., vol. Ill, p. 471. Meyer Joseph was also
known as Michael Josephs, and was generally called Meyer KOnigsberg.
He wasa native of KOnigsberg (Oct. 8, 1761), came to London 1781, and was
one of the founders of the Free School. (Information of Mr, Israel Davis.
See also Jew. Ertc, vol. VII, p. 274.) B. Goldberg in Kerent Clienied, vol. IV,
p. 239, mentions that Meir Joseph had one son in China and another in New
York. Joseph translated into Hebrew the Statutes of Dukes Place Synagogue
(London, 1827) and was author of an English and Hebrew Lexicon, entitled
DvD l^'■^10 (London, 1834). Steinschncider in Hebr. BiUiogr., \ol. V, p. 39
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEVVIN 47
Orient. Liter atiirblatt^ 1844. Moreover, apart from the will,
Meyer Joseph pubhshed an elegy on the death of R. Saul,
'n -|'n3 hxc niD ^y nycn ^ip, in three verses of six lines
each. Joseph adds hereafter: 'It was in the year 1794
when this exceptional man died here, and I think I have
a right to publish this article as I was the only friend he
had here. He was on a long journey, the object of which
I do not remember any more, and intended also to stay in
London for some time. I visited him daily, we remained
often together for hours at a time, and^ although I am now
(in 1844) 83 years old,'*' the impression he made upon me,
his eloquence and his whole personality remain unforgettable
to me. A few months after his arrival he fell ill with
cramp {Krdmp/c) and it was I who closed his dying eyes.
On his death the London community paid him respect.
He was buried with great honours on the 25th of Hcshvan,
J 794. On arranging the things he left behind him I found
this will, which I then copied for myself. The will stipulates
that R. Saul wished to be buried in his clothes, just as he
would be found, in some forest far away from the graves
of other men. The will was not found until some time
after his burial, as Dr. Abrahams already pointed out in
7GAMII, p. 371.
mentions tliat : * The London Jews College Library was enriched by several
hundred volumes from the library of ihc late Mcir Joseph (died 1849)
presented by his son Walter'. Leopold Dukes wrote a memoir about M. J.
in Orient. I ith., 1850, pp. 7-10 in which he describes him as a charming
personality, who was a protector of every Jewish scholar who visited
London. 'His house was a meeting-place of Jewish students in London,
where otherwise the study of the Talmud was nn unusual tiling'. Dukc.^
also wrote his tombstone-inscription which is reproduced at the end of the
memoir.
*' Jew. Awf., Vli, p. 274, gives M. Joseph's d.ntr nf birlh as 1863. It was
according to this, his own testimony, 1761.
48 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Saul was the son-in-law of Joseph Jonas Fraenkel,
Landrabbiner of Silesia in Breslau (born 1721, died 20th
October, 1793), having married his eldest daughter Sarah
(born 1744), and having thus become related to the famous
R. David Oppenheimer, Chief Rabbi of Prague, whose
wife was Rabbi Frankel's first wife (Kaufmann, Samson
Werthcimer,^. 96, note i). R. Saul had a son called Aryeh
Judah Loebusch or Lewin, who afterwards succeeded his
grandfather and was the last of the Chief Rabbis of the
province of Silesia. This Aryeh Loebusch, likewise, had
a very sad end. Born in 1765 he spent his childhood with his
maternal grandfather at Breslau, later he became a pupil of
his grandfather R. Hirschel in Berlin and spent also some time
in Frankfort-on-Main at the Yeshibah of Rabbi Phinehas
Horowitz,*^ teacher of the famous Moses Sofer known as
the Hatam Sofer.^^ He became Rabbi of Dubienka in
Poland and on the 3rd of July, 1800, Lewi Saul Fraenkel,
as he was officially styled, was elected as ' Chief Rabbi of
the Province of Silesia with the exception of Breslau and
Locum Tenens of the Rosh-Bet-dia of Breslau ' (Brann.,
ibid., p. 267). Like his father, he had an inclination for
the modern Mendelssohn type of Judaism. In the preface
to the book Or Enayiin of SoTomon Peniel, a work on
mysticism, he mentions nearly all the Greek philosophers,
modern classics and scientists in one breath with the Rabbis
of olden and recent times in the obvious desire to impress
the reader with his profound knowledge in all subjects.
A sound Talmudist and good Hebrew writer he read with-
out any system all kinds of secular books, and probably
** Called the ' Haflaah ' after a book he published.
*'' Born in Frankfort a. M. 1762, died as Kabbi of Pressburg, 25th Tishri,
5600 ^Oct. 3, 1839).
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 49
thereby unbalanced his mind. When in 1807 the Sanhedrin
of Paris was summoned by Napoleon to discuss the
modernization of Judaism, Lewin received a passport to
travel there ' on family matters ' for which he had asked,
on the ground that a relative of his, a certain Carl Anton
von Pavly, had died in Paris and left a considerable fortune,
to part of which he was entitled. Before his departure,
however, he addressed * a letter to his coreligionists referring
to the latest, most wonderful, events in the Christian
world '. He is overjoyed at Napoleon's happy inspiration
to summon the Sanhedrin, and says: 'You can profit
from such Christians, upon whom rests the Spirit of
God ! Examine, therefore, carefully the resolutions of the
Sanhedrin and listen to their appeal '. In the further
course of this letter^" he advocates a general reform of all
religions, in which Jews and Christians, Turks and idol
worshippers should all unite into one universal religion.
In spite of this plea he later tries to prove that Jesus was
a descendant of the house of David. This made his
position quite clear to everybody. Although he still uses
the title of ' Oberlandesrabbiner von Schlcsicn ' the Jews
had long ceased to regard him as one of their own.
Already in 1 796, before he was appointed in 15reslau, his
grandfather, R. Ilirschcl, to whom he had announced his
intention of visiting him, writes to him on the 13th of
Tammu/, to Frank fort-on-thc-Oder, that he does not wish
him to come, especially after ' the great thing (3~i n"'yo)
which he had lately been guilty of '.'^' Wc do not know what
'important event' he refers to, but it would appear that
his grandfather was ashamed of hini, and that he was
'•o This letter was publislicd in liicblau by Adolf C.clir in 1807 and
consisted of sixteen pages. •' Sec Ztvi Laz., p. 176.
D. ii
50 RAHHINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
afraid of what people would say if he were to receive this
fjrandson in his house. In i(So9 the Schlcsische Provincial'
Blatter pubHshed the announcement that ' Lewi Saulssohn
Fraenkel having, by virtue of his altered religious persua-
sion, embraced Christianity, resigns his post as Chief Rabbi
of Silesia '. What became of him during the next six years
IS not known. The tale goes that he repented soon after
his conversion and spent his life as a beggar wandering
from town to town, and everywhere spending his time at
the Bet-Hamidrash studying Talmud. He made notes
in the books he read and these were always excellent,
proving the writer to be a great scholar.
When the Rabbis found these notes and inquired after
the writer he usually had already left the town. Like
Cain he had no rest on earth, never slept where he had
spent the day, always disappearing before night set in. In
1815 he arrived, a complete wreck in body and mind, at
the Jewish hospital at Frankfort-on-the-Main, where he
died as true Baal Teshubah (repentant) on the 27th of
Kcshvan, 5576 (30th November, 1815).
But now to return to R. Hirschel Lewin. The scandals
caused by his son, Saul, embittered his life. Although
there was no animosity against him personally, the part he
took in defending his son's literary falsifications probably
caused many of his former friends to turn against him.
His position had become still more unpleasant when the
Rabbis of Poland and Germany publicly protested
against Wessely's Dibri Shalom. Among the letters
which Rabbi Tevele Schiff, R. Zevi Hirsch's successor
as Rabbi in London, wrote to his brother, R. Meir
J)ayan in Frankfort, is one which is of special interest,
and throws a clear light on the whole affair. The
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 5I
letter is dated the 20th of Elul, 1782 (see Appendix
to part II), and R. Tevele writes there with reference to
R. Hirschel as follows : ' It is now known here all about
the Rabbi's departure from Berlin. I have seen a copy
of the letter which he left behind with instructions that
the same should not be opened until six days after his
departure. He is now said to be in Vienna, and from
the letter it appears he intends going to the Holy Land.
I have also seen a letter from the Rabbi of Lissa to the
Rabbi of Amsterdam, as also a copy of a sermon of
the former, in which he blames R. Herz Wessely, and
strongly disapproves of his letter. This sermon is very
clearly written, full of wise and pious words, and carefully
construed so as not to commit an offence against the
Emperor (Joseph II). From the letter and sermon of
the Rabbi of Lissa it appears that they did the same in
Posen (preach against Herz Wessely), and in Vilna they
burnt the letter of R. Herz Wessely outside the town by
order of the famous Gaon R. Eliah ; also that the Rabbi
of Prague likewise preached about it at first, but now he
is obh'gcd to remain quiet, is only acting secretly, and
induces other famous Rabbis to condemn him (i. e.
Wessely). — After all this it is easily to understand that the
Rabbi of Berlin could not continue in his office, and left.
If you can send mc a copy of the proclamation issued
there (namely, at the Synagogue of l-Vankfort) I should
be glad to receive it.' Rabbi Ilir^chel's letter, which is
printed in Landshut's work, sots forth the reasons for his
leaving in a slightly different form. lie says tliat he
saw he could not improve the religious status of the
congregation. Kspccially difficult had become his task
since reform had raised up its head and estranged the young
t 2
52 RAHRINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, I.ONDON
people from their faith. He had decided to migrate to
Palestine, and asked the leaders of the community to forgive
him for not leaving with a solemn farewell. The answer
of the Parnasim is not extant ; they, however, succeeded in
inducing him to return to Berlin and remain in office until
his death on Monday the 4th of P!lul, 5560 = 1800. lie
, had spent his life as Rabbi of the most important congre-
gations then existing. His fame as a Rabbi and leader
was known far and wide throughout Jewry and, still, all
his life he had hated being a Rabbi. Nevertheless, or on
account of this, he devoted all his life to promoting the
welfare of his people, bearing high the standard of the
Torah, which he loved from the depth of his heart. He
was the last of the Chief Rabbis of Berlin. A brilliant
preacher and great scholar, he commanded respect wherever
he appeared. Although in later years he always writes in
unhappy strain, there are many little bonmots of his in
circulation showing that he possessed a deep sense of
humour. In many sermons he offers witty interpretations
of biblical and talmudic sayings: '"'VPn "jTta ". In a dis-
course given in Berlin [Zevi Laz., p. 142) he admonished
his congregants to restraint. They should not follow what
their hearts desire, and not always desire what their eyes
see. The Jezer Hara, the evil spirit, is alive in everybody
and must be kept in check by strict adhesion to the Torah
and religious precepts. ' Once I met a man, he says, who
seemed familiar to me, but I did not remember where I had
previously seen him. He was then very downhearted and
low-spirited. Some time later I beheld the same man and
saw him running busily about the streets. He only nodded
to me and ran away. I met him again a short while ago
here in Berlin. He was sitting in a restaurant, treating himself
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 53
well. I asked him who he was, and why he had avoided
me when I met him before. He answered : " I am the
evil spirit, the Jezer Hara. The first time I saw you was
in Halberstadt, which is a very religious community and
business was not at all prosperous with me, as I hardly
had any customers and felt so downhearted that I would
not speak to anybody. When you next saw me it was in
Mannheim. There I had plenty to do, for the people were
inclined to listen to my persuasions and I was busy all day
long and, therefore, could not stop to speak to you. Here,
in Berlin, I have, at last, found satisfaction, the whole
Kehillah readily follows me and I can now enjoy myself ".'
So far as we are concerned it seems a pity that R. Hirschcl
does not state what opinion the Jezer Hara had of
London Jews.
Literary Activity.
His literary activity was many-sided. Halakic responsa
of his are to be found in many of the contemporary collec-
tions, a list of which is given in the book Zcvi Lazzaddik^
by Michelssohn (pp. 151-2). He used to make extensive
notes in all the books he studied from, and many of these
are preserved in the Ik-t-Hamidrasii library in London. So
far the book Zevi Lazzaddik is the only C()nn)lctc work of
his which was .sei)arately iiublishcd, and this is also more of
the nature of a collection. It contains tahnudic notes, some
responsa and sermons, copied from various manuscripts in
the Bct-Hamichash library. The appendix contains biogra-
phical notes by the editor Michclsohn,who claims to be one
of the Rabbi's descendants, under tlic title ' T5ct Zaddik '.
Besides these the book contains many occa.sional verses,
some of them humorous. Interesting is a poem on I'mim
54 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
entitled nms^ 1D1?:i p^^ nn 'The daughter of wine (or a
barrel of wine) and a moral for Purim '. This is a warning
against the custom of getting drunk and disorderly on
Purim under the pretext of fulfilling a Mizwah, based on
the talmudical saying : Everybody must drink wine on
Purim until he does not know the difference between
>3l"iD inai pn -inx ' Cursed be Haman and blessed be
Mordecai ' (Talmud b. Megillah 7 b). He points out that
the sages never intended this saying to be taken literally.
The festivities of Purim bore a holy character in olden
times and not like at present, when people only keep that
part of Purim which refers to eating and drinking (and to do
what they like to do).^^
A short elegy on ' Zion in Ruins ' is given in the book
Bet Meshidlam, edited by the same Rabbi Michelsohn in
Pietrkow, 1905 (p. 57), where the editor also prints a list
of homeopathic remedies and charms, some of them
Kabbalistic, similar to the recipes contained in MS. Adler
2286 (pp. 133 fif.).^^ The Bet-Hamidrash library which
consists mainly of the late Solomon Herschel's books
and manuscripts has several MS. written by R. Hirschel.
The MSS. of this library were catalogued by the late
Dr. Neubauer and the Catalogue was published under the
misleading title Catalogue of the Hebrew MSS. vi the
Jews' College, London (Oxford, 1886). Under 'Jews'
College' is meant the Bet-Hamidrash in Mulberry
"^ Of the further contents of the book are to be noted : Pages 1-13
haggadic notes to the Pentateuch, pp. 32-91 Talmudic collectanea and
responsa, among which the editor interweaves some of his own. On
pp. 92 140 are haggadic discourses, arrong them one for Sabbath before
Passover, 5544, held in Berlin (p. 108), anotiier held in Mannheim,
5530 ''P- I '7)1 0"G to 'he Penitential Sabbath, 5531, likewise given in
Mannheim, while pp. 154 6 contain small verses, some of them already
previously published.
^' About this manuscript see Appendix II.
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 55
Street and not the Institute known as Jews' College.^*
MS. No 22 contains notes on the Turim copied from the
margins of the books belonging to the R. Zevi Hirsch of
BerHn. On folio 140 of this MS. is to be found the will
of R. Leb Norden, Jacob Emdcn's friend. This will was
published by Dr. Israel Abrahams in JQR., IV, p. 341.
Michelsohn mentions another MS. written by R. Hirschel
which is in the possession of M. Isaac Bcharier of Lodz,
and contains discourses held in London in the year 1756
on the occasion of his installation, and on the following
Sabbath Haggadol and Sabbath Teshubah and thus seems
10 complement MS. Adier 1248. The British Museum
possesses a copy of Sabbatai Bass's Sifte Jeshenhn with
manuscript notes by R. Zevi b. Aryeh. The Order of
Service at the consecration of the New Synagogue, on the
13th of September, i^3'^, contains the ' Consecration
Anthem composed in Hebrew by the late Rev. Dr. (!) H.
Hirschel'. This Anthem is reprinted in the Order of
Service of the rcopenings of the New Synagogue on the
2nd of September 1847 (r"-in h!?N n"3 'n), and of the 6th of
September 18,55 (rt:-in hh^ :"3 'n), also in the Order of
Service at the Opening of the Branch of the Great Synagogue
Portland Street, London, on March 29, 1H55, and frequently
since. Mr. Israel Solomons possesses a poem by R. Hirschel
to be used at the consecration of a Sefer Torah. It was
" No. 24 of Nciihaucr, Co/., contains rcsponsa to R. Hcrz Pintscliow, .ind
on folio 41 has the date Venice, 1744 ; folio 42 is daleil Rovigo. Page 18,
No. 43, 4 is a manuscript whicii was presented to R. Hirscliel by Moses
Mendelssohn. At the sale of the property of the late R. Soloindii Ilcrschc
jn March, 1843, was sold a small Kiddiish-ciip 'containing the medal of the
Emperor Vcspasi.in commemorating the conrinest of Jiidea, iircscntcd by
the great Mendelssohn to the father of the late Rabbi '. It fetched
five guineas. Some of R. Hirschel's poems are published in Kobaks
Jcscliurun, others in Ihinm^il, XIV, under the title: '^V vb^l .
56 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
used XL": 'd, 1 819, by his son R. Solomon Herschel.and was
printed under the title Tit:rD -ck', by H. Barnett, St. James's
Place, Aldgate.^^ Two letters by R. Hirschel referring to
the quick burial of the dead, dated November 9th, 1794, are
printed inZeitschr.f. Gesch.d. Judenthums in Deutschlandy
vol. Ill, pp. 216 fif.
Approbations R. Hirschel gave to the following
works :
*in '3"n by R. David b. Raphael Meldola, Amsterdam, 1793
(appr. dated Amsterdam, 17 Elul, 1757).
Pentateuch, Amsterdam (Proops), 1764 (dated Halberst., 27 Tam-
muz, 1764).
Responsa Maimonides, nnn 1XD, Amsterdam, 1765 (dated
Halberst., 22 Shebat, 1765).
ni33"i "TiDC* 'd of Isaac b. Moses Satanow, Berlin, 1773 (dated
Berlin, 10 Elul, 1773).
Job with Commentary ("im "i^^D "12D HT), Berlin, 1777 (dated
4 Adar, 1777).
D^r:K' moy '^, by Baruk b. Jacob, Berlin, 1777 (dated 27 Tebat,
1777)-
PD: 'dd ijy D^D": '"l '""n, Berlin, 1778 (dated 3 Kislev, 1777).
Pentateuch : Dl^rn nUTiJ ed, Mendelssohn with translation in
German, Berlin, 1783 (dated 12 Elul, 1778).
Psalms : bn'^U'' niTDT, Berlin, 1785-90 (dated 15 Heshvan, 1783).
Pentateuch ivith Commentaries, ed. Frankfort-on-Oder, 1784 (dated
22 Tammuz, 1784),
B'mp mw 'd, by Simon b, Nata Walisch (Wolcz), Berlin, 1786
(21 Elul, 1786).
" The Sefer Torah was presented by ^"f 5]DV niJ?2n3 ^Dj;T = Semi
Josephs. The booklet consists of i6 pages 12°. There are seven poems,
one for each ilEpn, each consisting of six verses, dealing with the objects
of the Revelation and the value of Torah for Israel and the world in
general. ,
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 57
nyi n?:K of Isaac Satanow, Berlin, 1784 (17 Shebat, 1784; con-
tains also an approbation by Rabbi Saul, Rabbi of
Frankfort-on-Oder).
Responsa: DVIcy D^» of R. Eliah Mizrahi, &c, Berlin, 1777
(19 Sivan, 1777).
pyi n£in mane, Berlin, 1778 (dated 13 Heshvan, 1778).
h^DO 'd, Hebrew Grammar by Hajjim b. Naphtali Coeslin, Berlin,
1788 (dated 1788, no month and day given).
Responsa: :;'X~i D^CC'D, Berlin, 1793 (see above), (dated 1793).
p^tTin ^^^3 of David b. Meir Friesenhausen (about whom cp.
now C. Duschinsky : 2py^ nn^in, London, 191 8, p. 27),
Berlin, 1795 (dated 18 Ab, 1796).
D"n ^"510 by R. Jacob Hajjim b. Josua Cohen, Berlin, 1796 (dated
28 Adar H, 1777).
n^'J'TJ'n 'd ed. Isaac Satanow, Berlin, 1787 (dated 25 Elul, 1783).
ni3^n njlf 'd of R. Simon Kahira, ed. Amstd., 1762 (dated
30 Shevat, 522).
pain p^O 'd ed. Frankfort-on-the-Oder, 1781 (dated 28 Adar II,
1780).
(This list does not pretend to be complete.)
To the list of notes made byR.Zevi to various works, enumerated
by Landshut, p. 112, is to be added the Aruk, ed. Basel, which was
used by Kohut ; cp. Aruk Completum^ Introd., p. liii.
His Family.
Rabbi Hirschcl's first wife was, as already mentioned,
Golde, daughter of David Tevelc Cohen of Glogau. She
died in Berlin on Thursday, ist of April, 1794 (ist of lyyar,
5554), and had borne him three sons and three daughters.
R. Saul was the eldest son, the second was Abraham David
Tevcle, called Berliner, and the third was K. Solomon
Uerschel, afterwards Rabbi in London. 1 lis three daughters
were (i) Sarah, who married his nephew, Jacob Moses, .son
of his brother Saul, Chief Rabbi of Amsterdam ; ''" (2) Rciscl,
"* Jacob Moses was at first Rabbi in Filchnc and afterwards succeeded
his falhtr as Cliicf Kubbi of Ambtcrdain, where lie <Jitd on llic 151I1 tA
58 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
wife of Ber Ginzburg, Rabbi of the province of Russia ; '*'
(3) Beilah, second wife of Mordecai, Rabbi of Tiklin. She
was well versed in talmudic h'terature and an excellent
Hebrew writer. It is reported that she held a Hcspcd
(necrologue) on the death of Rabbi Asher of Wisin, and left a
will written in classical Hebrew at present in the possession
of a certain Berl Raschkes (Michelsohn,/^z^., p. 178, note 23).
R. Hirschel's second son, David Tevele of Pietrkow, was
a saintly and very charitable man. He was a well-to-do
merchant with an extensive business, but all his free time
was devoted to the study of the Torah. He was offered
the post of Rabbi in Pietrkow, an important Jewish centre,
but refused it. He died at the age of 85. Before his death
he warned his children to keep away from the Law Courts.
He never sued anybody, even if large sums were involved.
A letter to him by his father is printed in Zevi Lazzaddik
(p. 178), dated Berlin 1790, and the certificate of ' Habcr'
given by R. Hirschel to David Tevele's son Aryeh Loeb
is likewise to be found in the same work (p. 180) and
bears the date 8th of Tammuz, 1791. Another son of
David Tevele, Isaac Nathan, was for nearly fifty years Rabbi
in Bielagora, and died there on tiie 9th of lyyar, 1864.
Many of R. Hirschel's descendants still occupy positions
as Rabbis in Russian communities.^^
Adar II, 5575 = 1815. His wife Sarah died on Wednesday, the 8th of Elul,
1797, three years before her father's death.
'•'' The Province of Russia was one of the four represented in the
Four- Lands- Synods held in Poland and Russia. See Zuiiz : plim "I'y,
p. 59, c. 20. It is the part called ' White Russia on the borders of
Poland '.
^ R. Hirschel's second wife, whom he married in 1797, three years after
his first wife's death, when he was 76 years old, was Sprinza, daughter of
Abraham of Hildcsheim, a descendant of IHaham Zevi. After the Rabbi's
death she married Zabcl Eger, Rabbi of Braunschweig (Landshut, p. 114).
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 59
APPENDIX I
Rabbi Zevi Hirschel Lewin's Ancestry.
His father was, as already stated, Rabbi Aryeh Loeb
Loewenstamm. He was born in 1690, the son of Rabbi
Saul then Rabbi in Lakatch, who later became Rabbi in
Brisk, and in 1701 became successor of his father the great
Rabbi Heschele Cracow. He was not very popular there
for some unknown reason, and left Cracow three years later
in 1704. For some years he lived in Breslau, and in 1707
he was elected as Rabbi of the Ashkenazim in Amsterdam.
It was not his fate to officiate there. On his journey to
Amsterdam he passed away in Glogau on the 17th of
lyyar, 1707. (See Landshut, p. 71 ; Dembitzer, H, p. 82 ;
and Carmoly, , . D-aiiyn, p. 34). His son Aryeh Loeb
eventually held the office to which his father had been
called. Aryeh Loeb's grandfather. Rabbi Heschele Cracow,
was one of the greatest talmudical authorities of his time.
Even the foremost scholars of his day — like R. Mendel
Krochiiial, Chief Rabbi of Moravia — living far away from
his sphere of activity, accepted his decision in ritual matters.
(See Rcsp., Zcviali Zcdck, No. 107, and Dembitzer, loc.
cit.^ H,46a.) Many people regarded him as a saint, and
many are the talcs of wonders and miracles woven around
his name. His wife was the granddaughter of R. Saul VVahl,
the famous ' one-day king' of Poland. R. Heschele at first
acted as Rabbi in Lublin and lirisk, then migrated to Vienna
in order to plead for help 011 behalf of his brclliicn in Poland.
He remained in Vienna fijr some time and in i'')^>5 became
Rabbi of Cracow, where his son K. S.uil succeeded hini
aflcrwardb. R. Heschele was the son of Rabbi Jacob of
6o RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Lublin and grandson of R. Ephraim Naphtali Hirsch (died
1664) of Brisk.
R. Aryeh Loeb's wife was the daughter of the Haham
Zevi who likewise came of a family of great scholars. His
father was Rabbi Jacob son of Rabbi Benjamin of Wilna.
Rabbi Jacob was son-in-law of Rabbi Ephraim Cohen,
Rabbi of Buda (Budapest), who afterwards settled in
Jerusalem, author of the Responsa collection Sha'ar
Ephraim. (See preface of this work, ed. Sulzbach, 1688).
Jacob Emden in his Autobiography, Megillat Scfer
(p. 3), states that R. Ephraim possessed a pedigree right
up to Aaron the High Priest.
R-. Aryeh Loeb and his wife Miryam had two sons and
three daughters. The sons were R. Saul and Rabbi
Hirschel ; the daughters were: (i) Dinah, wife of Saul
Halevy, Chief Rabbi of the Hague ; (2) Sarah, wife of
R. Isaac Halevy of Lemberg, Chief Rabbi of Prague; and
(3) Naitsche, wife of Moses Zolkiew, Parnas in Lemberg
(see Bet Meschnllam, p. 66), The eldest daughter Dinah
was a very good Hebrew scholar. She wrote a letter in
excellent Hebrew to her brother R. Hirschel, then Rabbi
in Mannheim, on the 3rd of Tammuz, 1770 (printed in
Michelsohn's Zevi Laz., p. 158). Rabbi Aryeh Loeb gave
approbations to various works. As Rabbi of Reisha
he signs one for the work 3py^ nnbin by Jacob Eulcnburg,
the approbation bears the date 484=1724: to the
Pentateuch, printed in Dyhrenfurt, 1727, and finally to
Moses Jekutiel Kaufmann's "|"n vn (Dyhrenfurt, 1747),
which approbation is dated in Reisha, 1728. (See Landshut,
loc. cit., p. 71, Dembit/.er, I, p. 132 a, and L Zunz, pTSP^ TV,
p. 158.) In Glogau he signs an approbation on the 17th
of Sivan, 1734, to the Talmud-edition Frankfort-Berlin.
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 6 1
APPENDIX II
MS. Adler 2286.
This MS. contains 138 quarto pages, many of which
are only half filled and a good many are blank. The
contents are mostly short notes written down after a talmud-
ical lesson at the Yeshibah. R. Hirschel used this book
for several years. On p. 61 b we find, after his signature,
the date pal? a^pn ]up cms "a nv ^:zh "n mpn nr = 14th of
Adar I, 5502 = 1742. On p. 67 b is the date given
a'pn nr:n ai'o Dvn = 17th of Tammuz of the same year. But
we find many notes of much later origin. On p. 91 b he
writes : ' It is now twenty years since I wrote the foregoing ;
in the meantime I found a reference to what I said here in
the book of Responsa : |VJ'c N'-ino fc'ni '. Most interesting
are the first and last leaves. P^ol. i has an elaborate title
in verses, the contents of which we have already mentioned.
Fol. 2 a is a continuation of the same as a secondary title.
Fol. 2 b has a ' Nice song for Hanukkah ' — (n3i:n^ nx3 nor),
a rather primitive, but considering the youth of the author,
remarkably well written verse. Then follows : ?]} ns3 mn
^^nCDNC impi:' pinvn ' A nice conundrum on chess ' what he
calls ' the game of Chcsstable '. This verse is, in spite ot
a few linguistic errors and platitudes, cjuitc a remarkable
piece of work. Here I will only mention that R. Hirschel
compares chess to a battlefield. The King is guarded by
his statesmen, the knights and bishops, and has a dutiful
wife at his side. The Queen manages all his affairs for
him, while the King in his high dignity only moves one step
at a time wherever he goes. His soldiers fight for him
regardless of their lives. I'Varlessly they go forwar<l in
one straight line. There is no withdrawal, no avoiding
62 RARI^INATF OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
danger, they fight and die on the battlefield, and only when
all his soldiers are dead must the King fight for himself.
The verse is obviously written under the influence of
Ibn Ezra's poem, which likewise begins with the words :
nrn^ca TC' "niC'N (cp.ed.Kahana, p. i56,and Steinschneider's
Schach bet den Jiidai, p. 195 ff., also Hcb. BibL, XII, p. 60).
VVe have further (p. 3 b) a short verse on Passover,
an acrostic on the Alphabet and his name ' Zevi', and also
a poem dealing with Israel's covenant with his Heavenly
Father (p. 4 a). On p. 5 a is the address only of a letter
to Moses Chagis, Haham in Amsterdam. It was probably
the beginning of a letter by his father R. Aryeh Loeb,
but the letter itself is not copied. P. 5 b has a few riddles,
while on p. 7 a we find the beginning of a letter to Naphtali
Herz, Rabbi of Pintschow.
Equally interesting is the concluding part of the volume.
P. 129 b contains a kabbalistic remedy for a sick woman,
and on pp. 130b and 131 a we have ten more prescriptions for
various maladies, all of either homoeopathic or kabbalistic
nature. Pp. 135-7 form the index of the book prepared
by R. Hirschel, in itself an indication of the writer's scholarly
nature.
APPENDIX III
Title page of MS. Adler 2286 and some selections from
the same.
Title page : (Folio i a).
yi^b :"'VN n::'N njn did^ cst :2"^p no 12 t^** nrn iDon
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN J^3
133 nv^ Tnon i^Tii^ nr:3n im htt- api;" n^sn ^n' n:3
n-i""i'e XM 3in2N "ic's nrn -no^i
mniD ^3n npax i^a nioipo njn^i iid
n^ib 'si^ b^r^ piKn nn:i ):b in: tj-n /"inyi Snp iin3 ij^bnx
n^n: nyo jnj '^ d:i nuxn ^^^d nin^bi pnn^ ^:3T^ Dunyn pitr
ni>cm 210 313 D^Ow-n jd d^^d3 n3>33 ':3n' Nin>
nb: "n 11331 D'^nn }-in3 irN''3^i D'?:vo pin^
Tn3i ^3 nN i)^bb p3n^ m^3 in n^
Folio 2 a.
Dyo 1^ DVD' bix i^n 'yrh loy: na
C'Di^ S2-IO CDsn Dyi: nos n*L" "iid n3L"^
px:n cnn tj'x b'r c^nnsi d*:vj'ni D'pdidi nsDin niw ^m^n
N^sicn :''nt<Dn nSn:n rns' ib n^nn r,iN: i^ n"3 n"y ^"3 nnn nsra
n^:E^ '\n -il"s* 1"^^ x:ib p'pn n'^x i"^: 3^^ "nx i"d ni33 j^dici
3n3 nrs nt:3n3 3X '3n '3-ii mo in^j sin n-i"'3n 3i3^ p"p3 i''3N
D"'-i3T n3-in cnn .n-ic:n hD^D3 r\-\'C"' xn3D3i incnn nipni incsn
Iivs;n *3x ^:nsi isdd px *3 -idd^o invy *3 ^n^i .onp'i D"'*ir:n3
nniDi iSn n^c^ni irhn bi ninoi iibn i3^n v^y n33 oyn xtno ^"-13
.D^C3nn n3'c^3 hzhzb .Dv^^n b ir:y "^ni .v:vyb i^ iS 3ni3i
nnsT 'b'D D"pb ^2i:k ^f* "n-icx >i:^N3 bm 'L!3;^'3 |Dp *33n ^3X1
13'Xw' '^3 u'rrntr'i nnx xi3> x^ iy?:>!? ."^did L:y3 .iccn ^y D3n3h
64 RABBINATF. OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
TJ'^' i?3X nsr HN-i ^3 •'"-13 ]'\ii:in ^3si .i^"i:S idc niDon jyro^ i^b'
na D'pnnD^ N*\n D^'n yv noN:^ min n^n n^-n pNi c^nn tit na
DNT ^ycu'3 ^31:ni Tii'-i T-ax bi^^ ^^"03 ^j^xc' ^:a ynn x^ nij'xi
T»:^y Tii'wS*3 .^r\''i^'D nai >mDX ncxa niB^y^ ^2^2 "•nvoxn^i "Tiprnnj
.ani^'^D "ixT
,t:L"2n pbm mnn p^m on^B^n pbn nnxn ov^n n^^Dni? in^np^ni
^3V p"n (?) ariDon p^m pn p^m nxn p^n n-'p^n ^jcr^ tid^ oc'Dni
.2^b "nx "12 pxjna t:'-i\n
Fol. 2 b.
pxjna trn^n ^nv "pn
n::^ nr .ni^no >:^ .noDm nj^n a"y novo rnon^tDi -i^c^ miK'x
nnxn |d ni^no ^:E^'^ p^nnj mnDi nano ^di .o^nMxn anni' n^axj nr
-iXB'jn njnDn "mi .hod hdd nj-'-nni inani nnxn nanon ^x xu^
^aK' P31 .nasi nv bo .n^icc' onio ^!jy cynp n:n ]m .r^D^bth
Dnn "iK'x .D'^'-atr n"^ m m^ yiap nii'njn nunDn oy D''3^cn
D^B'naa IDT m:nr:n r\}:ir\ i6n .DnTiiDnbo i^nyi .on^jsix \m^>
niiinx ''n^n .ona: ^j::> .onnj D/Id .onnx nninn .onvaoi
.njiB^xnn m'lti'n '•nvci .D':n:i dd^d^ D^anp .o^ypT ^Jt^'i .omnv
^x non^D itrr incx oy xin ?ix "]^cni njn^ onciy ont^ ijk'
ncn^on ha .onny njioc' .nn^D^n vnc^i i^dh ••jd^i .no-in nyaa
^3 nnt:i:^'D nuya o^^'^ *i^'^ mciyn n^^oni .onoiy nprnn
iiDC'^ .mcni?:] a'y n^n x'-n .n^ya nnuy .n^^incn ny^xm .n^
Dncy "i^"" 2Dnni .niaicri D'-^-nn -iiiot^'b nn»iy i^i'*' n^jpini .mn*
t2Qti'D3 Dipy nnxi .0-^:113 it^'-n d*:u' .ni^iaj ib hk'I^k^i .nii^p^py
nprna "a ."laaDy* x^ e'"'xi n^-in xy'' .n^'nroa xim D'-cam n^jprn
,xnvn niJ' nnc^ni ^yr ivsn nno ^x ny ,y*DS* oy •'tj'x-i ^yi /asnn*
,Dnn:»' ^x cn^n^D id'^jd"' coysi nanxi run 3-13 ,n1t^•^ 3r»3 d^dSh
nns 1^ D''nni2"i i»^^y vxjvj' ixu* x^ ]v^b loipo ^x pxn'' ncni
RABBI HIRSCHEI. LEWIN 65
Folio 3 a.
r,'a nn3 b .ncni'oa f]x "]^j:n *3 ^onnin -in-j-d ^onia yms Q"y
DDi^M ^231 ^i:n^i lyD' pnvDH D"yi /;2^ inynns^ Dn^:3 CTk^'ni
,n^''Dcn n3i:^ ^ribnni onciyn n^bnn na^o ,Dnxrn p v^3 cnn^n^i
ion' n^nn ba D2i .n^i^no nnx htj' D"yi nh^D im D^D^in non
.Dnninsb n:n' sh .on'-ja ud'' i6 onD^at icm^ x^i 13^ onoipya
D^^:nni ,v:nK nx -iij::-^'!? ^vjs iny ^n t^'-'s* dn ^d ,Dnnv ks US'" n^i
n:non *iv3 QnDiyn D'!7:nni ma^i-n nr\b r^iyb'C' ,qd^o nvn ^ja^ ncx
1-j'N nSni oniD n-^^::^ s"y ^onnw ly^os^ ^non^on n^nna ncn ca
:r\x DN1 nioy nv^^tj-n mv^'n /t^i ohajo ipnT omu nr^ti' q"j;
d: ni?:n nnws*n nicai ;^\-i ^53 nya pnic^ i^^sn^ i^jcn ^y t<n*
p-icyo ijy ncyi ncv' nn' msn ^n D"yi ,n''n3i n^xn ^^ni n^rj-n
^^y "i^cn ,Dnn3 "^b ins nnx ,Dncyoi onvo ,1x2 bi^: isnx nny^
13^3 n^-ii |2 ^n^-n p niDy> ah) ,n:y y^'cxn .lopa ^ym -no
nDiy nnx !?d irvxi ^nav^-m nbyn i-y rnai::^: ,n3V3 b:i:> "h^m) ,n^'iJi
,i3-iy3 no CXI na: ox ipinD nnx b:ib ,Tirn '2^ imn onnin^ |pr
T^i ,njno3 (? m^ni?) p^n^ ^ncn^o noi^o 33n poiy ipr ^d nvo^
2n' /3^ix inline "\ni ^no^^ nc'y^ tj'x n-j-yon nx ,nv3 nr^iy xai'n
"n2n^ ,n^nn pn^-j-" onix ^o^any Dn*:Q^ n^m^t:' n:ir:::'i nnx o ,nn
Dnoibo nni /i? a^'j'o im^c nfjc'^ /^dc' ^2!? nnx b^) ,r6'\:i n:non nx
^x D'ipn ;o ,xr xiv^ nx n^ni pox Tina Dy323 ^p•;^T "i-'x n'j*yf:n nx
noy na'x nir:3 loy anpa tj'I /ovyb pnx ni:']}^ .nvcti'i ^2n ^^3 ^nvpn
^x 12.T ,i!?cn 3U'i?D nn bx y^:^ n^ni n^in .-ir cxi ,ioipD3 r32i>
,D'rcn*:'o nnx -^n^i d^^^d ^rj' nvn^ pn^ x!? ^d ^nc^x nnn n\:'tin
"b ni-'N^ nxr nx ,inL"x nnpi^D ix n^'j': ^nc nnx i^o^ pn^ !^3X
x'HK' nz'iin niD ,.Tj'x-i3 niD^o inD |n:i ^n^vj-x-in inrx nnn /ijto^
.nSinh Di^'b r\bv^ niDy
.nD2^ nx: idt
iDyi D'h:f?D D^n y::o ib'm nyiD ,d'^x ^x ba D*Si'\m D'nai" "^n
Nin /'h n'DD c"x ^"y x*an nno TJ'y *2^\x ny-a ^y ^^^'3'3 imn
.nrro p:x: nyn
D. F
66 RARRINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Folio 3 b.
^mirx'i ^33 nnny .niinn npb n-m:n "do n^-on nv^n^ ip^''ni
^n^ijD Dy^ nr^v nu" n n^isj DV sin hds :n*j'n"3 dji nnt min
Translation.
Title-page (i a).
Hear, O Israel !
This book contains 139 leaves on which I will arrange
before you, what Thou, O Holy One, wilt teach me of Thy
statutes. I have offered my prayer to the Most High God,
the God of our Fathers ; be gracious unto us, God our
King He will help us. Make us understand Thy statutes
and enlighten our eyes in Thy Law. O Almighty God,
turn to the prayers of Thy beloved Jacob, Thy only one,
and give wisdom in Thy great mercy to Zevi son of Aryeh
Thy servant and teach him all Thy numberless secrets in
the Torah which Thou gavest with Thy hand to Moses
Thy saintly (servant). In the following I will arrange
before you, and as I shall write it will be made plain, that
' which is perfumed with myrrh and incense and all the
powders of the merchant' (Cant. 3. 6). God is our King,
to Him is due praise, I will praise Him in assemblies and
congregations, for He gave us, as cherished treasure, the
perfection ot beauty (the Torah). The Dweller of the
Clouds may grant me to understand and to be able to
write down the words of the Fathers (of my Father). He
gave me also a small portion, and He may grant me under-
standing with a double measure as a gift from Heaven, in
His great Goodness and Mercy may He bring us into the
land of Life, and may God's Glory be revealed. 5537 a.M.
RABBI IIIRSCHEL LEWIN 67
Folio 2 a (i b is blank).
Behold how pleasant are to my palate the words of the
wise, which are a cure for the soul.
These are novellac to the Talmud, Tosaphot and com-
mentators Rishonim and Aharonim (of olden and late
times) by the Gaon the great Rabbi, &c., R. Aryeh Loeb,
Head of the Congregation of Glogau, who formerly was
Rabbi in Lwovv the Imperial Residence (Capital), he is my
Master and teacher, my father, who in his great wisdom
and learning has produced many new interpretations and
explanations of the Talmud. When these novellae became
more and more numerous, while the quality of the scholars
and pupils of my father became more and more inferior,
and every one of them wrote down the products of my
father's mind, to use them in later life in talmudical dis-
putes as his own achievements, so I, the smallest and
humblest of my father's pupils, have made up my mind
to write down what I heard from him, so as to preserve
my father's words, who is too busy with communal affairs.
When my father saw this (book) he spoke to me : You do
right, my son, write down everything so that you may
learn the way of life, which is the way of the Torah, of
which it is said : ' She is a tree of life for those who grasp
it ', and what you do not know, ask me, as it is said : ' Ask
thy father and he will show thcc, thine elders and they
will tell thcc' (I)cut. 32. 7). These words I have taken to
heart and have done accordingly, as your eyes will see.
I have divided this book into five parts, the one is the
part of songs, then the part of the riddles, the part of the
Peshat, while the i)art of the Peshat is again divided into
the pait of the father and of the son and of the writing.
Zevi liirsch b. Ar)'ch Loeb.
68 RAIU'.INATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Folio 2 b contains first : A nice soncj for Ilanukkah. Then
follows :
A nice conundriun on the game called Chess {Shachtable).
I will sing a song of war, founded on wisdom and
understanding. Two armies arc arranged one opposite
the other, to kill their enemies. Each army is again
divided into two parts, in order that if the one army
comes and beats the first part, bringing it right down,
the other part can still escape. They are arranged in
eight rows each on one side. Between the two Kings
with their great armies is a field with thirty-two different
ways in which paths run, and there they arrange their
battles. The camps are like trenches and forts. Young
fierce men, all heroes. Two warriors riding on white asses,
and two elders (bishops) dear to their King and wise, and
at the sides of the first row two princes are standing, and
the King himself with his Queen take part in the battle
on the high hilltop. In front of the King and his honoured
princes are eight servants (pawns) ; they face the first
strong onslaught, and the Queen who stands at the side
of the King, moves about for him everywhere. This praise-
worthy wife, the ornament of her husband, walks about
the whole battlefield to guard her beloved ; the elders pro-
ceed first to guard the various paths and the knight goes
with them on roundabout ways. He has three paces, two
straight in front of him and one sideways like the elders,
the wise men. He (the knight) hurriedly goes forth,
nobody can stop him as he would push him away in his
strength. He moves in front of the people until he reaches
the desired position, and the princes, the generals of the
army, proceed in an even step in unity and friendship (with
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 69
one another) ; sometimes they take the King to their side
and take his former place to hinder the enemy from reaching
him. They open up for him a way of escape, but when
the King has once stepped out, he does not change any
more from his usual manner to move to either of the four
sides, like the ordinary soldiers, as the King, even in
war-time, keeps his dignity, and he takes only one step to
whatever side he proceeds, slowly and evenly. All these,
the King and his officers, can turn to every side of
the four, according to the player's wish they move
and rest, and like their coming and going so are their
attacks, except for the infantry, who stand in front facing
the battlefield, for they go only in one straight line and only
move one field. They are, however, like the knight in
their attack, for they hit out sideways and give no quarter.
When they move, however, they do not turn and cannot
go backwards, they cannot turn to their enemies but have
to meet them face to face to guard their master. This
infantry who stand before the entourage of the King have
accordingly three ways of moving forward, and also those
of them who stand at the side, can, at the bei^inning of the
battle, step out like giants (heroes) three rows forward,
and all those who have stepped forward these three rows
have to stop there. If any one attacks the King his whole
army has to die for him, and so also in the opposing
party, and all have according to the will of mankind (the
player) to stand on their assigned places.
Now I will explain to you their order of position, each
one according to Iiis status. The King has his i)l.uc in the
fcnirth row in the middle of his people. lie must not
stand at the side, so that he may not be caught. Next
to him his helpmate stands, the honoured one by her
70 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
consort's side, and next either of them stands an Elder
to show them the way as is meet, to every one according
to the rules whether high or low is his position. At the
side of each Elder stands a proved rider to keep order in
the camp, and a General stands next to him to instruct
him what to do. When he fights the enemy he stands by
him, in true affection (for the brother-in-arms). The eight
messengers are marched up in front of all these, they are
sent first of all to get information about the enemy's
position, and each one (of the officers) sends his messenger
or keeps him back and they are all instructed what to do,
if misfortune befalls them on their way. But if he is
able to get from one end of the battlefield to the other
without coming to harm, he becomes his own master, and
a prince of his people like the one before whom he stood
in his old place. If that one (the officer) is slain and is no
more, he takes his place or even comes back to the court
of his King and becomes a woman (Queen), but not a King
as it is impossible for two Kings to have one and the same
crown, but one King may have two wives. If his first wife
is gone and taken, he takes this one in her place, puts the
royal crown on her head as is the right of the wife, the
crown of her husband, she is his ornament and honour.
A Song for Passovkr.
Give praise and thanks to God the Mighty, Pharaoh He
threw into the deep sea, but His people he led through as
if on dry land. He sent ten plagues against Pharaoh my
enemy, by the hand of the man from the tribe of Levi.
It is Moses who led us out of Egypt,
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 7I
Folio 3 b.
He let us walk on dry land in the midst of the sea,
brought us down the Torah from Heaven, which he received
from the lips of God, divided it into five parts ; all well
arranged and observed is the Torah and her explanation.
Pesah is the day of relief, on that day will come help to
the chosen people, He will lead us out of our exile, then
we shall sing a new song.
(Here follows a verse of which each line begins with
a letter of the Alphabet.)
APPENDIX IV
Will of R. Saul b. Zevi Hirsch.^^
Copy of the will of Rabbi Saul son of Rabbi Zevi
Hirsch, Chief Rabbi of I^erlin, which I copied word for
word from his own handwriting, found on him after his
death, which occurred on Sunday, 23rd of Heshwan, 5555.
'The lot of man is unknown to himself, as to where
and when (he would die), it is therefore the duty of every-
body who goes on a journey to make a will as long as he
is alive (and decide) what he wishes should be done to him
and to all that is his when God shall have gathered him
from under Him. The more so it is the duty of a man
travelling from land to land, from town to town, especially
if he is a sickly man. I am now on my journey here in
Halle, and intend to travel to distant lands, and perchance
I shall not be able to speak to any one about myself; then
any one who will find me dead, he will find my will in the
pocket of my coat, and it shall he to him as if it were the
■'» From the Hebrew in Onntt. I.tthl., i^.\\, pp. -jia 13.
72 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
words of my lips, and if he be a righteous man, who is
Avilling to do a true kindness (nos b'y non), may he fulfil
my words, as follows :
* Everything that is found upon me, be it little or much,
may be sent to my father, the Rabbi of Berlin, after he has
taken from it the purchase-money for a burial place for
me. All the writings, however, which shall be found in
my trunk or in any other receptacle, it shall be forbidden
to anybody to take even one leaf and to read it. Every-
thing shall be left in paper, be sealed up and sent to my
above-named father or to my children or to trustworthy
men in Berlin, and they shall give them to those who are
worthy of them (to whom they concern).
'The following I ask for myself: No garment which
I have upon me shall be taken away, just as they find me,
they shall bury me in some forest, or in any place they
find, only it shall be far away from the graves of other
people. And I ask everybody whose heart has been
touched by the fear of God, not to talk behind my coffin
on account of my having asked for this, for he cannot
know the reason for this stipulation ; however, even those
who speak blamingly about me, shall be forgiven — only if
they do as I ask.
' Any one who will act, in any of the points written
here, against my will, it will be counted as a great sin to
him (T-'n"' m) and God will not forgive him ; as anybody
who has knowledge of the Talmud knows that only one
who says, " do not bury me at all " should not be obeyed
but a stipulation like this one (which I have made) may
be made in one's Will.
'And God, to whom are known all the desires of human
beings, He knows my intentions, and will yet help me to
RABBI HIRSCHEL LEWIN 73
good days and a life in which I may serve Him in pleasure
(when I shall be able to serve him amidst joy), when I shall
be able to devote myself to Torah and wisdom, which give
joy to the embittered heart and soul, and be able to live in
quietness and safety without being tied to a seat of vanity
(M. Joseph's note : " referring to the office of Rabbi, which
he hated, as is well known to everybody "). These are the
words of one with an embittered soul whom God has given
to drink of the cup of misery enough and more and still
has not given up in his heart to pray to God and to hope.
Saul.
The following is the inscription of R. Saul's tombstone
to which Mr. Israel Solomons called my attention. The
stone is standing near the wall facing the entrance at
the Alderney Road Cemetery in Mile End, London.
. . . (N^-::n) DD-n2?rn b)i:r] ^in
.... \s:n Dw'U n^pi (Ponn npiy)
.... Dvn iy -ir:N"' ncN 3id o
n-i"in?D niD p nro n"3 Nin
(?n"D) "iJDinn dv^n x't:'^
. . . i""!: trn^n ^3:» -n"inD
N> pi'ia p"pn o"ii n"3N*
('3n) nvx . . . .
irnSipT t"::n ■t:^::' 11" no
c . . . . n-j'x DwS*
. . . nany ".-13 nL^n" pn:;
('jD) cva om-Tn (?TiJ) nnsj
P"d^ n':pn ;vj'n
74
II.
Rabbi David Tevele Schiff.
R. Zevi Hirschel Lewin left London for Halberstadt
in the spring of 1764, and the London community was not
long in finding a successor, for in 1765 we see R. Tevele
Schiff already installed as Rabbi of the Great Synagogue
in Duke's Place. Chiefly instrumental in bringing off his
election was Aaron Goldsmith (Goldschmidt), the founder
of the well-known Anglo-Jewish family, to whom his
uncle, a certain R. Johanan, had recommended the Rabbi.
He is styled by Rabbi Tevele as cousin in a letter which
he wrote to his brother R. Meir on Adar 21, 1776
(App. V, Letter I). A certain Rabbi Meir Hanover
was likewise one of those who helped his cause by
writing to friends in London."" We only know of one
competitor, who tried hard to succeed R. Hirschel, and
that was his cousin R. Meshullam Zalman, son of Rabbi
Jacob Emden of Altona, who ultimately was chosen as
Rabbi of the Hambro Synagogue, and came to London
likewise in the year 1765. R. Jacob Emden in his Auto-
biography gives us some interesting details with reference
to this election,^^ He says : ' In the month of Nisan of
the same year (1765) my son Rabbi Meshullam Zalman
*" See letter I in Appendix V.
«i "lED n^':?2, cd. Kaliana (Warsaw, 1896), p. 209 ff.
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFP^ 75
was elected as Rabbi (jn n'3 3y) of the Ilamburgcr con-
gregation in London, likewise a result of my activity and
endeavours for some time past, and after I nearly gave up
every hope for it. For he had many opponents on the
part of the Synagogue in Duke's Place, which separated
from the community (!) and elected another Rabbi, R.
Tevele Schifif from Frankfort-on-the-Main. It was, how-
ever, from God, and so all the plotting and obstacles, the
opposition placed in my son's way, could not frustrate his
election. Even after he had duly been elected they con-
spired against him, and people wrote me letters threatening
that, if he came to London, they would attack and abuse
him. All this was done at the instigation of that man
" Laze " (y'6), a pupil of " th'at man " who made special
efforts and wrote me letters, full of perversions and untruths,
with the intention of frightening me so that I should
prevent my son from accepting the position. The con-
gregation of the Hamburg Shool (Synagogue), however,
was anxious to have him, and they had warned me
beforehand to take no notice of that shameful letter.
He visited us here, and remained during the past Shabuot
festival, and all the most notable men of the three Kchillahs
(Hamburg, Altona, and Wand.sbcck) gave evidence of the
respect they felt for him. He left us and entered upon
his duties in London at the middle of Tammuz, and was
welcomed with great honours and with joy. I have since
heard that even his former enemies have now become his
friends. May God grant that lie rise higher and higher
anl be blessed with children.'"'^
Il appears from this note th.it the l.oiiclon coinMUiiiily
liau oritjinally intendcil to appoinl one ivabbi only for both
*' Ap|i,ut nlly Mtsliullain Z.ilm.in Ii.kI im cliildrcii.
76 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Synagogues, in the same way as Rabbi Zevi Hirschel had
filled both offices simultaneously. Jacob Emden had en-
deavoured to secure this position for his son, but the more
important part of the community was opposed to him, and
they elected R. Tevele Schiff for Duke's Place. Emden's
party afterwards succeeded in appointing him as Rabbi of
the Hambro-Shool. The man Laze, or Lazar, mentioned in
Emden's note, was an adherent of the Baal-Shem Samuel
Falk, a cabbalist and mystic, who lived in London for
about forty years until his death in the year 1782, and
Emden may refer to Falk when he says that Laze was
a pupil of ' that man '.^^ We cannot tell whether Falk had
a great following in the community, but at the end of his
days we know that he was well disposed towards R. Tevele,
as he bequeathed him an annuity of ^10.'^* Also another
member of the Beth Din, R. Abraham of Nancy, is benefited
by the same Will to the extent of fifty guineas.^^ The
man Laze is often mentioned in MS. Adler, No. 2241,
which comprises the most interesting diary of Falk's
factotum, 'Zevi Hirsch son of R. Isaac (Isik) the Levite
Shtadlan of Kalisch ', written in the years 1747-51. This
Zevi b. Isaac styles the man ' Laze Levi of Hamburg '
or yiN^ nnn (the windy Lazar), and it appears that this
Laze was sent by Falk on secret missions to Germany and
Holland, but was nevertheless very often in dire poverty,
** The reference may, however, also mean Eybeschiitz, whom Emden
often calls ^'H iniN.
" The Will says : 'To the High Priest of the Great Synagogue for the
time being, whoever he may be, Ten Pounds Ten Shillings annually . . .' ;
see J. Hist. Soc. Engl. Transact., VIII, Misc., p. xlviii.
*5 ' To Mr. Abraham the son of Solomon, usually called Abraham
Nancy.' He signs, however: 'Abraham Hamburger of Nancy' in the
document of testimony dated 5 Elul 1783 and 26 Elul same year. See
Appendix V.
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCIIIFF 77
although he had a well-to-do relative in London called
Selig of Hamburg. Whole pages of the MS. are devoted
to the debts which I.aze made by borrowing from Faik's
servant various smaller sums. It is not unlikely that
Laze opposed the election of the son of R. Jacob Emden,
who was known to be a bitter opponent of every cabbalist
and mystic. Lazar Hamburger's daughter, Sarah, married
Benjamin Wolf Franklin of Breslau, the ancestor of the
Franklin family, in London on August 28, 1765. Mr. Arthur
Franklin in his • Records of the Franklin family ' (London,
1915), p. II, reproduces the tombstone inscription of Lazar
Hamburger's father. According to Mr. Franklin {ibid.,
p. 10) this ' Eleazar Leiza ' was known as Lazarus Joseph.
Although the Halizah-letter to which he refers docs not
call him Leiza, but Ifv "iryvN, i.e. 'Lezer', there seems
little doubt that he was identical with the Laze mentioned
in Emdcn's autobiograph}', who was the follower of the
cabbalist Falk. The letter of Halizah to which Mr. Franklin
refers, and which he has shown me, is dated Rreshiu, 28tli
of Kislev, 5526 [I'/f^')), and is an undertaking by Asher
Antshcl and David Franklin, brothers of I?enjainin \\'i)lf
Franklin, to give Halizah U) the latter's wife should he
die without leaving issue. Neither of thee l)r()thers,
however, signed the document, the signatories of which arc
Samuel ben Fliezer, scribe of the lireslau community, and
Asher Lcmel ben Isaac, the beadle of tliat congregation.
They address the document to ' The great Rabbi, who was
formerly in I'odhaice and is now Rabbi in LmikIoh', namely,
Rabbi Meshiilhim Zahnan linden. As timi- wcnl on, the
opponents of ICmdcn's son seemed to have increased in
number, contrary to what l.nulen writes in his diary, and
Mesliullam Zalman was ultimately compelled to leave
78 RABRINATF. OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
London. We learn this from a letter of R. Tevele to his
brother, dated ist Ijjar, 1780,"'' in which he writes that
R. MeshuUam had implored his congregation to let him
remain in London, but they insisted upon his leaving the
country, and agreed to give him an annuity of £50, and
so ' he is leaving during this week *. He appears to have
gone to Stary-Constantinow in Russia.^^
Rabbi Tevele, on the other hand, was apparently well-
liked in his community. He was descended from a family
'* See Appendix V, Letter 4.
"^ Opinion of Prof. G. Deutsch. Cf. also my Jacob Kimcht and Shalom
Busaglo, p. 20 (London, 1914). There is an 'Order of Service' extant,
in the possession of Mr. E. N. Adier, for ' Tiie Fast Day held by Command
of the King on the 13th of December 1776 ', in which R. Meshullam Zalman
is mentioned as author of the Hebrew Prayer said on that occasion. The
title pages read as follows :
Page I a
*c'c Dva imn on^ i^cn li-ijinK rmz> n-iJiTi nv\> rhz,r\ "no
Page 2 a
' A Form of Prayer composed by the Reverend and Most learned Rabby
Israel Meshulam Solomon D D. Rabby of the Jews Synagogue in Magpy-
Alley Fen-Church Street and of the New Synagogue in Leadenhall Street.
To be used on Friday the 13th day of December 1776. For success of His
Majesty's Arms according to His Majesty's Proclamation. Faithfully trans-
lated by Alex. Alexander, Printer, and sold by the Translator No. 78 White
Chapel High Street.'
The booklet consists of sixteen pages in 8vo. The sermon preached on
that occasion was likewise printed by A. Alexander and consists of twelve
paragraphs which fill twenty-seven octavo pages. The title reads : A |
Sermon | Preached | On Friday the 13th of December 1776 | by the Reverend
Israel Meshulam Solomon | Rabby of the Jews Synagogues in Church Row |
Fen-Church Street and Leadenhall Street 1 Being ja Moral Discourse | Suited
to the Solemn Occasion of the Day | Appointed by Royal Proclamation | For |
a General Fast | To pray for the Success of His Majesty's Arms. | A Free
translation from the Hebrew | . Printed by A. Alexander &c. (as on the
Order of Service). E. N. Adler possesses a copy of this sermon (ep. Wolf-
Jacobs : Bibl. Am/^I. Jud-i p. 190J.
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF 79
of Rabbinical scholars. The famous Rabbi Mcir Schiff of
Fulda, author of f\''U n-|"nrD ^"J'ln^n, who died in 1641 at the
age of thirty-six, was also a member of this family/^
According to Dietz there were two branches of this family
in Frankfort, the one descended from the head of the
Frankfort Yeshibah, Jacob b. Beifus Cohn zum Wedel (died
1655). This branch became extinct in 1714. R. Tcvele
was a descendant of Jacob Cohns brother Isaac, who lived
in the house called 'zum Schiff' (thence the family name
Schiff), and died in the year 1656.^^ His grandson, Moses
Meyer Schiff, was a wealthy man, and lived in the house
called ' zum grlincn Schild ', which remained the property
of the family until the death of his grandson, Solomon
Schiff, R. Tcvele Schiff 's father, in 1777 (22 Adar II).''"
The well-known philanthropist, Jacob H. Schiff of New
York, is a descendant of another son of this Moses Meyer,
namely of Joseph Moses, called Josbcl Mayer Schiff,
likewise of the house ' zum grlinen Schild '. After the
death of Solomon Schiff, his sons R. Tcvele, then already
Rabbi in London, and R. Meir Dayyan in Frankfort, sold
their interest to Mcir Rothschild, the ancestor of the
Rothschild family. The minute-book of the Frankfurt
Beth-Din records a dispute between the vendor R. Meir
Schiff and the purchaser, the former insisting upon payment
of the balance of the purchase money in gold coin, while
Meir Rothschild insisted that he need only pay in ' ininz '
** Sec Locwcnstcin, Grsc/i. d. Jiui. i. d. Kuif'/ah, p. 153; Dic-lz,
Slatttmbuch d. Frank/. Juden (1907), p. 358; Horowitz, Ftattkf. liahh.
(i. FR.), vol in, pp. 38-40, and Frankfurter GrabinschrifUn {•^■- FG.).
** His !K)n Bcndit dird 4th Tammuz 1660. Hor., FG., No. 864.
'" Hor., ibid., No. 3573, where lie is styled ^*^VT\ •« the vrnrrahle,
Dietz slates as his birth date 1730, which cannot be correct, as in 1777 his
son R. Tcvclc was already more than forly-scvcn years old (sec later).
8o RABBINATE OF TIIF. f.REAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
money, which was less tlian the gold currency. There was
also a dispute between the parties with reference to the
ground rent (called ' Grundzins '), which R. Meir Schiff
contended was not to be allowed to the purchaser until
it actually became due, while the purcliaser required allow-
ance for it at once. The minutes mention that half of the
house had been the property of the London Rabbi Tevele
Schiff. The house ' Griines Schild ' was already in existence
in the year 1608, as mentioned by Schudt {Ji'id. Merk-
wurdigkeiten, III, p. 147), and it is also in his list of
houses of the Frankfort Judengasse of the year 161 1 {ibid.,
pp. 153 and i54)Ji
R. Tevele's mother was Roesche, daughter of Abele
London. R, Meir Schiff, in the preface to his work "im
n^JN, referring to this grandfather, says that his brother
had come back to the place of origin of their mother.
R. Tevele was a devoted son, and even in his old age
he mentions his parents with reverence and gratitude.
In a letter to his brother written in the year 1776,
when his father was apparently already old and feeble
and unable to read, he expresses his doubt whether his
brother should communicate the contents of the letter
to the father, lest he should be disappointed, in case
the election of his brother Meir to the Rabbinate of
Copenhagen, referred to in the letter, would not be
realized. Writing about the anniversary of his mother's
death (called Jahrzeit) in 1787, he says: 'He could not
answer his brother's letter of Sivan ist earlier than the
26th (date of the letter) as their mother's Jahrzeit inter-
vened, which he spent studying all night and fasting
'1 ' Hiertz zum Gruenen Schild als der Zeit Baumeister' (p. 154); see
also Appendix VII.
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF 8l
all day for the benefit of her soul, as it was to her that
he has to be thankful for the tender care, and " the wine
and oil she bathed him in during his childhood " ^^ which
enabled him to fast in his old age.' In another letter of
the 2ist Adar. 1782, he writes that he post-dates the letter
to the 22nd, because that day was the Jahrzeit of his
father, and he could not write then on account of the fast
he observed on that day. His father was, in keeping with
the tradition of the family, a learned man who trained his
children in the traditional way, his chief object being to
make his sons min 'J3, religious Jews learned in the Law.
We know little of R. Tevele's early days, except that, as
a young man, he was a pupil of Jacob Poper, Rabbi in
Frankfort, the celebrated author of the Responsa 3py* 2^,"^^
and of his successor, R. Jacob Joshua Falk,""* of Lemberg,
author of the work y•k^•^^'• '33 — one of the classical works
in Talmudic exposition— who was also famous as a great
adversary of R. Jonathan EybeschiJtz.
R. Tevele married Breinle, daughter of Isaac Sinzheim
of Frankfort a. M., and thus became connected with another
famous and respected Jewish family. His f.ithcr-in-law
was a brother of Abraham Sinzheim, the famous Shtadlan
of Vienna, and of Juiiah Fphraim Lcb Sinzheim, founder of
the Beth-IIamidrash in Worms; while another brother,
Solomon Sinzheim, played likewise an im{)ortant role in
the life of the Jewish community of Vienna."'' Solomon
" Referring to the saying of R. Ilanina, ' tlif warm water (baths) and
the oil with which my mother treated mc in my you'll tiu-y gave mc
strcnptli in my ohJ ago', see Ilullin 24 b, where it is statcci tjiat R. Ilanina
when eighty years old could stand on one leg while he sli|)|)ed off his shoe
and put it on again. A ROschen Schiflfdicd ag Kislev 5503. Cp. FG , 3.(79.
'' Frankfurt a. M. 170a.
'♦ Died 1756. See about Popcrs and F;ili<, H(jr., /A'., vnls. il .iikI III.
'* About Solomon S. see I'.aimigarten-Knufmaiwi, D*~nD n/30, Intro-
1). G
82 RARBINATF OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Sinzhcim's daughters were (i) Mate, wife of R. Tevele's
brother, R. Meir Schifif, and (2) Mindel, wife of his son
Moses, who in this way was a brother-in-law of his uncle
R. Meir. The letters printed in the appendix furnish
convincing proofs as to the correctness of these data, and
dispose of the statement made by Dr. H. Adier in his
essay, ' The Chief Rabbis of England ' {Jew. Hist. Exhib.
Papers, p. 285), and accepted by Mr. Israel Solomon
[Transactions J. Hist. Soc. Engl., VII, p. 241), that R.
Tevele married Ber Adler's sister (true is only that R. Ber
Adler's wife was R. Tevele's sister). The Hazkarah-Book
of Worms '^*' contains in praising terms a lengthy record
of the death of Breinle, wife of R. Tevele Schiff.
Soon after his marriage R. Tevele became head of the
Beth-ha-Midrash in Worms, of which his wife's uncle, Leb
Sinzheim, was the founder. Horowitz {FR.^ vol. Ill,
p. 18) was not aware of the fact that R. Tevele lived for
some time also in Vienna. This is evident from MS. Adler,
No. 1 160. This MS. contains on 147 quarto leaves notes
of Halaka and Haggadic lectures by R. Tevele Schiff,
duction, p. 5, The genealogy of the family is given by Loewenstein,
Kiitpfalz, p. 215, and ibid., Anhang, 13 a. Loewenstein does not mention
Solomon Sinzheim except the grandfather of the same name, while Baum-
garten did not know of Sol. S.'s two daughters. Mate Schiff died 21st
Kislev 181 7. See FG,, No. 4899. Cp. also L. A. Frankel, Inschriften,
Nos. 429 and 689.
" See n^ ^jy f'nij?, vol. in, 1887, p. 49: n'-nnn nyi:^n :\iwn hk-nh
nn^sni ,n:iyi ny ^^n '■•"jy^ n::nD hdd ni^ya p^ini ,n:ijni [n]yij^'
□^"■nn -inv3 nc^sj nvnh mj -iwni '"P^n n^ nnai ^nT^t^ injir-N
P"b^ y\yb \>"\>'^ mt3D:J "inr mtry ^muyn rp'rh n^ya jnji mnv
onN ^D 'D2 riN-ipji "b 3"^pn t33c^ n"-iy "n "v imnoi' mnpji
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF 83
delivered in Worms, Vienna, Frankfort-on-the-]\Iain, and
London. The earliest date given is :''pn = i743, and the
latest 3"cpn = i;!^^. From this MS. we gather that he
was in Vienna in the years 1758 and 1759, where he acted
as Maggid (preacher) from the month of Adar, 5518, until
Hanukkah, 5519. After that he lived in Worms for about
eleven years. His son IMoses was Barmizwah there on
Sabbath 'n"!, 5512 (November, 1751). Notes from Frankfort
are dated 1762-3, while the first note written in London was
the concept of a sermon for the penitential Sabbath of the
year 1765."
In Frankfort he acted as Dayyan under the celebrated
Rabbi Abraham Lissa, the successor of his teacher, Joshua
Falk, as Chief Rabbi of Frankfort (1759-69), who a few
years later (1766) was one of the chief actors in the much
discussed ' Get of Clcve ' affair. The senior Dayjan was
R. Tevelc's life-long friend, the Rosh-Yeshibah R. Nathan
Maas."^ He acted as Dayyan in his native town for
approximately three years, and during this time had also
a Yeshibah (jf his own, instructing young men in the
knowledge of Talmud and Rabbinic law. One of his
'" Tlic following is a list of data contained in the manuscript. Wortns :
n"pn nb'J' 'e, p. 142b; D'pn u* 'd, p. m" ; ^"•'pn pen, pp. 47a and
48a; T'-pn ins, p. 52 a; n"'pn pen, 59b; n^'pn S^s y'3 and nrrn"!
C'-pn, p. 178a; u"^[>n 2X3 ro, p. 1143; t2'''pn nmo n"2, p. 177b;
t2"''pn ^ibs 'T, p. 191 a; t^"'pn S^« 2''\ p. 196a; 3'pn jd^j nn,
p. 179a. Vienna: n"'pn, p. 59b and the following otlicr flatcs of the
same year ; "nN, p. 181 b ; ticn "1, p. 185 a ; W'Zn n"3, p. 1H4 a ; 3X '3,
p. 199a; Dn:t3 N"\ p. 183a; Dmo vn, p. 176a. Frankfurt-. \\i\ nS^nD
3"3pn )"P, p. 188 a; J"3pn, p. 200 1). I.mtdon: VI^'PH n3VJ' n3f,
p. 166a; S"pri ;vj'n, p. 193).; n"Spn ynr, p. o^a; C'^pn in'j*.
p. 173b; Kf;"pn, p. 7fi6; 'yopn cn-j* '"n. p. 180 b.
'" See Horowitz, /-A'., 11, j). iH,
(i I
84 RABRINATK OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
pupils, the most famous one, was the <jreat cabbalist Rabbi
Nathan Adler (a near relative of the late Chief Rabbi of
London, Dr. Nathan Marcus Adler), who for a short time,
in 1782, was Rabbi of Boskowitz in Moravia, and is known
as the author of a commentary on the Mishnah, entitled
fn: "-1 n^CD (ed. Dr. B. H. Aucrbach, Frankfurt, Kaufmann).
Horowitz has proved that many of the notes in this work
are identical with the explanations on the Mishnah which
R. Tevele Schiff gave in his work 3nr 'i^^b, and he suggests
that the real author of these explanations was R. TevcleJ''
In February, 1765, Rabbi David Tevele Schiff was
elected Rabbi of Duke's Place Synagogue, in the same
year as Haham Mose Hacohen D'Azevedo became Rabbi
of the Sephardi congregation and R. Meshullam Zalman
Emden of the Hambro Synagogue, each one using the title
Ab-beth-Din. We have heard that R. Meshullam Zalman
had been desirous to obtain the post of Rabbi for both con-
gregations, and probably to emphasize his independence he
styled himself' Chief Rabbi of London and the Provinces' in
the approbation of Buzaglo's ^7J^ XD3,^'' in the same way as
R. Tevele always signs, even in the letters which he sent
to his brother (see Appendix), ' Rabbi of London and the
Provinces '. R. Tevele soon won friends in London, and
he enjoyed general respect from his own congregants as
well as from people outside his congregation. He seemed
to have lived in peace with his colleagues, no quarrels or
disputes are recorded, not even between Emden and him.
His reputation was so great, that when Buzaglo attacked
'' See Horowitz, FR., IV, p. 39 ff.
*° My conjecture in 'Jacob Kimchi and Shalom Buzaglo' {J. Ih'st. S.
Tr., VII, p. 272, also London, Luzac & Co., 1914) has to be modified
accordingly.
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF 85
Emden in a most aggressive and offensive manner,^* the
latter applies to R. Tevele for a testimonial, while Buzaglo
gave him the title hn:n pDn = ' the High Priest '.
R. Tevele's name soon became well known in the
Jewish world. The London Jews had business connexions
on the Continent and overseas, and frequently questions
and inquiries reached him from relations of London Jews
in those parts, especially religious questions relating to
marriages and divorce cases. He in turn had occasion
to address letters of a similar kind to Rabbis residing
on the Continent. Thus we have a letter he wrote to
R. Joseph Steinhart of Fiirth, inquiring whether the letter
of divorce produced by the woman Frumet, daughter of
Lcb, wife of Lebcle Roedelsheim, dated five years pre-
viously, was a valid document, and he asks him for con-
firmation of the same. This letter (App. V, Letter XHI)
also contains a request to the same Rabbi to intervene
in the case of a certain Gedaliah b. Lcb of Maineck, near
]>urgkundstadt in Bavaria, now living in London. His
wife refuses to follow him to this country, ami R. Tcvelc
asks the Rabbi of I''iirth to persuade her tt) acccjit a Utter
of divorce which the man intends sending to her thmugh
a messenger (n^bu). Interesting is the stor)' of anutlu i-
woman, the wife of Nathan Harris of London, recorded
in a document of testimony (nny n^'^:, Apj). V, XXI),
taken up by the I'cth l)in of London umler llie |)residcncy
of R. Tevele in the year 17^3. The iHishuid hid left
I-"-nglancI on board a warship for Jamaica, and dictl some
time afterwards on board another ship, anchored at Tort
Antonio, on his return joinney U) I'^ngLmd, ;iii(l was I)nrie(l
in the latter place. As witness figures a certain Solomon
"' C|>. my edition of Buzaglo'i. "H H-'VO, iSic, in Ilftso/c/i, vol l\'. nii.].
86 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
b. Isaac the Levite, who lived in Detroit opposite the house
of Admiral Route (or Rowthe?)/^ whose steward brought
him the news of Harris's death. There being also other
evidence in the form of a letter written by Abraham Simson
of Jamaica to his mother living in London, in which the
circumstances of Harris's death were related in agreement
with the witness's statement, the Beth Din accepted the
evidence, and permitted the woman to re-marry. Another
letter relating to a divorce case sent to Rabbi Saul of
Amsterdam is likewise printed in the Appendix (No. V,
Letter XIV), though not only questions of practical religious
nature formed the subjects of our Rabbi's correspondence.
Among the nineteen letters preserved in MS. Adler, No.
4095, are several dealing with theoretical expositions of
Talmudic dicta. Most noteworthy of these are two letters
by Rabbi Isaiah Pick, generally known as R. Isaiah Berlin,
one of the first critics of the Talmud in the eighteenth
century. He wrote fourteen important works, among which
the most noteworthy are : Notes on the Aruch nx7Sn
p^nyatr^^; Novellae to the Talmud D"'C'n "-tl'ITn, now to
be found in nearly every later edition of the Baby-
lonian Talmud, and his commentary on the Sheeltoth
entitled CI^K' n^'^Nt^'.^^ Prof. A. Berh'ner, in his biographical
sketch {Rakbi Jesajah Berlin, Berlin, 1879), compares him
to the Gaon Elijah of Wilna, and says that while the latter
excelled by his erudition and genial spirit, R. Isaiah was
a storehouse in which all the treasures of Jewish tradition
were to be found to an astonishing degree. His knowledge
of nearly every word of the Talmud was amazing, and
"2 He writes : i'DMl, cp. App. V. No. 21.
*'' Vol. I, Breslau, 1830 ; vol. H, Wicn, 1859.
^* Dyhrenfurt, 1786.
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF 87
Berliner regrets that most of R. Isaiah's responsa are lost.
We are now in the happy position to give in the Appendix
(V, Nos. 17 and 18) two responsa which R. Isaiah wrote
to R. Tevele Schiff in the years 1785 and 1787, con-
taining important notes to various passages of the Talmud.
He addresses R. Tevele as 2"'^' 'relative', on account of
R. Isaiah's father, R. Loeb Mohiah Eisenstadt, having
been a descendant of the famous R. Meir Schiff of Fulda,
known as the ' Maharam Schiff'.'*^ In one of the letters
R. Isaiah refers to his recently edited commentary on the
Sheeltoth, and says that lie had sent two copies of this
work through the good offices of R, Bendit b. Leb Halfan
of Amsterdam, one for R. Tevele and the other for R. Leb
Pressburg, Aaron Goldschmidt's son-in-law. Responsa to
R. Isaiah are to be found in the work Lcshon Zahab
of R. Tevele Schiff, vol. II, pp. 10 a and 30a. Other
famous Rabbis with whom our Rabbi had correspondence
were R. Ezekiel Landau of Prague and his friend R. Nathan
Mass Rosh beth-Din in Frankfort, to whom he sends a
detailed description (jf the consecration of the Great Syna-
gogue in 1766,'*'^ and with whom he corresponded in the
'* Sec Horowitz, IR , vol. II, pp. 35 10 ; Berliner, ibid.^ p. 7; cp.
also Weiss, IjnM n'3 ^33X, p. 3a, and Locwenslcin, Kutf/als, p. a-ji.
R. Isaiah was born in I'.isenstadl, Hiin(,'ary, in the year 17 19, and died
as Rabbi of Breslau on the i3lh of May 1799. Cp. Jew. Euc, III, p. 79,
where the year of his birth is given as 1735; sec also Brann in Grafts-
JuMscJiri//, p. 263, and I. Ziinz pli'n ')'']}, p. 163.
*• The Order of Service to this Consecration is not in the British
Museum, but Mr. V.. N Adier is llic fortunate owner of the one ropy of
which I know. The title p;mes read:
I'a^e I a
irn^np ns cnno nja:^' nijin^n nojan n'an n'3n nDi:n tc
h^N i"3 'Uw'n D.'2 u*Tn:i n:nn:i diDw*" Dw'n D'n^t'N mp Sip
88 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE. LONDON
most friendly manner for many years.^"* Letters from and
to R. Saul, Chief Rabbi of Amsterdam, brother of R. Zevi
Hirschel Lewin, and others from R. Nunis Vais of Livorno
have also been saved, the latter being published in R. Tevele's
work Leshon Zahab (p. 29 b). The Rabbi of Livorno had
asked for his advice in the case of a marriage and subse-
quent divorce of a Cohanite and a black woman from India.
Most of R. Tevele's letters which I found in MS. Adier
4095 are, however, of a private character and addressed
to his brother R. Meir. They are of special interest owing
to the vivid and homely style, the unrestrained manner
in which the brother answers the requests or questions of
the other, rebukes are intermixed with expressions of sincere
attachment, and we see the true brotherly love which
united the Rabbi of London with the Dayyan of Frankfort,
who was also bound to him by other ties, to which
circumstance we have already referred. When reading
these letters we can well imagine the complacent life our
Rabbi led in London, but we are also enabled to see some
phases of Jewish life in general, how the Jew lived, his
small and great troubles as member of his Kehillah or as
nciona niD^j:n nunh xiun nna!? jnJii' p"^ ns (!)DiDnj
^bayu nn n"iD in^ n"y n"s <": hnjn pwn u^ani miQ i^jhs*
\s33 D'Dns D^rvp D^Dii'Nn mip23i H^'-ncni y':n \>"\>'^ *i"ns* •i"n3
.nc-n DinD 102 -""y (!)iDi£nn naro by s'3ini i'^"- irnbnpn r\\>'^n
Page I b
This Praj'cr used at the Opening of the Great Synagogue in Duke's
Place 29th August 1766 composed in Hebrew by Rabbi Nahum Joseph
Polak and made EngUsh l)^' J N. Inscribed to the Most worthy Presidents
Naphtali Franks Esq., Mr Naphtali Hart Myers Gent, and Mr. Joel Levi
Gent. Stewart. Performed by Mr. Isaac Elias Polak Principal Reader and
his Assistants. (Eight pages in 8vo.)
8"' See Horowitz, /7?., IV, p. 19, and 3nl \\vh , vol. I, pp. 6 and 26;
see also Appendix V.
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF 89
merchant, and as Shtadlan who has to use his influence
for ^NTw'^ bb:^, the general Jewish community. Private
letters of this kind are very rarely accessible to the public,
although, as a rule, they are just the most important and
most true sources of history.
R. Tevele shows himself in especially favourable light
in a letter referring to the sentence of death of a young
Jew who had gone wrong by getting into bad company.
The boy's associates were waylayers, who, having been
caught redhanded, were condemned to death in accordance
with the law of those days. R. Tevele having persuaded
himself that the Jewish youth had not committed any
capital sin for which he would have deserved the death
penalty, moved heaven and earth to obtain pardon for him,
and, although the letter in which this affair is described
does not report the final result of the Rabbi's endeavours,
it permits the conclusion that the Jew was pardoned on
condition that he should leave the country and return to
relatives in Germany who would take proper care of him —
for such was the undertaking the petitioners gave. The
letter is addressed to his relative Isaac Michael Speyer,
banker in Langenschwalbach near Frankfort (see address
to Letter XI). Speycr's permanent residence was in
Frankfort, where he occupied a respected position in the
Jewish community. When on the occasion of the I'.mpentr
Leopold's coronation a deputation of representative Jews
waited on him, Spcycr was the leader who spoke the
address of homage on Oct. i, 1790," and two years later,
•' Sic H'.rowiiz, FN., IV, p. 68. Isaac Sprycr'.n cicalli is recorded in
Mcmorbook OfTcnhach, MS. Adicr, No. 950 (formerly in possession of ihc late
Mr. S. Scliloss of London, who acquired it from Dr. Carmoly's librory),
p. 9a a. bpcycr died in Offenbach, where he spent the lust years of his life,
90 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
when Franz II was crowned as Emperor of Germany,
Spcyer was again chosen as speaker of the Jewish deputa-
on Friday, 3 Kislcv 5568 (1807) ; his wife Fradle, daughter of Gedalyah
Rofe, died on Sabbath 13 Ab. 181 1. The following is the text of the
memorials of Isaac Speyer and of his wife (the latter on p. 93 of the
manuscript) :
P'cn DiiEipjs-ia p"p^ y'vr 'n5<^"'SK^ hyf2 n"3 ••mnn DD-nDr:n
in^sn ncyi n:3ir2N3 :"ij ,n-iD"' -I'M! vd^ b ^^^c nuy .iV
'•'•'jy Dnso ''n^ .nrno ^an ^^1^ lycB' .njiyn \2)^>n bub n^iiaa
"I"S3 P"p3 y"y] 2:V'S mvna nic'y^ ^^n:n -ir-Ni .njiyi ny ba
npnvh niVD nm ^d^ hm n\snpn b^b tJ^xS .njnb ^13^ 'd
Dnnn n^'pb) pmb ib^ nai: ^I'Din^ nnnN niyi nxr .n"3^i
I'Y 1TQ1N p"p HD '\:'nbnp ••ntin^ i'y 3"a ysin nom niD .hjidx
mpD inn i"in3 ppnni ■'^Dpin ic'n .v^n "'D'' sj-id in-in DipD nNna'
pnnn^ "n ^xi^^ '^-l inn .nT,n ^nDi^^ JD'TllS*! yn"lS ns:
^:a^ 3": HK'y nsD pini Sn: did -im :nsn n^pn D"n"a uk'V
'n^'< HK'i^tr tr'-n^nh .d^jdp^ td^^i ni:!?^ n'Tn ^<t^'np irmnn
njno VK'nv ijnrkr mnni nr ni^n .n:tri njtr ba n"n n^Dbno
)'\'\2]}2 ^ ^^'y:^• nipivi D^Jipn nx::' nn^o . minDn inotrj 1122^ np•^^;i)
: pa iv^yn py pac' v"iv in-^ y'yi ^SSc^ V'^X 2"y H'^l'V'yn
vho^ ": jrnip n::tr nny m^ab mra n^''^^^ pn:c* nv^i
n"v^ nx3''Dix p"p ns p"Qb hDpri
.p>Di s"sD nx^^fit:^ p^f^X n":j mx b ^sa xipJi
.x"y 93 fjT ,
na nSnXIS nnro nDD"iiD?:n nn^njn naipn nc'xn nct:'^ nx
QD-iiaon T3jn pvpn nJD^x ^'^r XSII n''':'i:i n'-i"nD m3r:n I'^'upr:
^^nnn x^n "n nxT n:rx nriNnc* nuy .y'vr nX^^StJ^ pX^X n"in3
no-'ja ^^D n3 niDD .TK'yon npi!»i noma no^cn nn\i .t'd^ b
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF 9I
tion. He had great influence in official circles, and exercised
it with great success on various occasions in the interest
of his fellow Jews in and outside Germany. The principal
Shtadlan in London was R. Leb Pressburg, son-in-law of
n^'yrk:' nnu ^di^'i 'pdv ^d bv nin'pa n'3'y n^^n '^^^ n^nn mpy
n^?;n pn in""iyn "jijyn ni:;'a '^ry n:nj n^i "n nsn^ni nnu'^n ^^n
ncna nsa nn^n ':*^:y /D ^y ny nnn n'':rn^ nn-'a n'o^^n n-'sis
'NTa "n nN mny .n-rn nci^^ 121221 '-^vdn^ nnk" nn^i ':y^
iTn nxr ^32 .rn^'j'yi nhnj n•L^•x nn^nc ^ixi n^sn it z^nc' mnyn
niD'Ti: d: .N3T nx pvj'n^ D'::nn3 bi-cnn^ nDn:i -itj*3 n^ nb
nnnsjD |n*N nbpi nnDi d'L"P 'mD'3i n'yn ''•N^na D'r^ nt:D
n^nN b'c D'2VJ linn nsSi dj .njipi? n-j's^ n-iDr;i hidd naioh
pa D^iDD ID n:"it:cD p^n^ nnnvi ^"vr D^m:cn dv'"'^''1 ^^V^ 't^'^
D'P"ii^'ci D^aio Dnan nn^ myi "nD"s P"pT ''':y pai nsn "^^jy
p"j^ D-iDD ^D muy .Tc-ir i:n:r 13-^01 nr nau'a .nnric': n^yini?
liiiiSi '~2DN^ "n mnDi i^n^ .t:d^ pnyi n^yn n^yo nnr:*j'j n^-yn
.iCN y":'■n:^' r""iv ns-^' 3y"i nntr vx :"y
nnyc^ nn:o pa pnnsi "S ti'Tlp nar cvn aiu nu-a muDJ
•P'si' Xyph in^siN p"p n3 cm:: y* sin "X "vn mnc^ n-apji
3"VT nx^'SC' p^'X n"in"a ni-s nSnxnS b^ '^2 nxnp:
They had three sons and f)nc dauglitcr who was the wife of Isaac
Spcyer's brother Lazar Michael Speycr. (See letters of R. Tevcle and his
son Moses, who send greetings Wnm VflN? 'to your brother ami son in
law '.) Dietz relates that Spcyer left a fortune of fl. 480,000 (about jT^o.ooo,
while at that time the fortune of Meir Rothschdd was only il. 60,000
{S/a>nni/>uc/i, p. ago). Michael .Speyer olTcred hospitality to Rabbi H.iyini
Joseph David Azulai, the famous cabbalist and bii)liogr.Tpher, when he wa^,
'" '755' onhis mission in Frankfurt (cp. Azulais inlincrary ',2M2 73yD
in one of ihe latest volumes of the Meki/.e Nirdamim .Society, of which, so
far, I have only scon the proof-sheets. The reference is under date Ab 37).
Kliezer, son of Michael Speycr, and Isaac Michael Spcyer's, his brother's
son-in-law, died as a yoiiuj,' man on the 7th of Ijjar 53(9 17*^9) > '''"^ de;ith
was attributed by Leb Welzlar in his book D'ymyn HCyO (.Frankfurt a. M.,
1789., a work directed against Rabbi Nathan Adlcr, the cabbalisl, and his
adherents, to the threats of Moses Horllcschau, one of Adlers followers,
who had harassed Speycr with the description of terrible dreams which he
purported to have had about him rp. //</»;. BihliKfinifiliif, vol. IV, i86a, p. 78).
The Memorbook of the oncnbach Community (^Mb. Adlcr, No. 950, p. .)8a.
92 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Aaron Goldschmidt,*'^ a learned man, one of the leaders
of the Jewish community. Lcb Prcssburg was known as
Lyon de Simons, and was a son of R. Samuel Pressburg,
banker in Vienna. ^^^ It was this R. Leb who, in the
interest of the accused Jewish boy, travelled after the judge,
then on a circuit in the country, and obtained from him
permission to appeal to the king for mercy. It was in
all probability he who came into touch with foreign
ambassadors and noblemen, and obtained their signatures
to the petition. Graf Kognek (or Konnek) and a certain
Baron T"i* (?), as well as the Russian ambassador, were
among those who took interest in the matter, and signed
the petition. Isaac Speyer gave the Rabbi permission to
spend forty guineas on his account, but this, R. Tevele
writes, will not be quite sufificient, and he asks for per-
mission to draw more on Speyer's account. The Rabbi
reveals in this letter (dated 15 Ab., 1785) a truly noble
mind. He is in great anxiety lest he should not act
No. 480) mentions Rabbi Kalonyirus Kalman, son of Rabbi Kalman Posen,
' who brought up the late Eliezcr Speyer'. The entry reads as follows :
n)> naiD nTti^n -inpji iudj iniD nv ny loy id^i n"3DD
N*Dpn ybo^ y'l "l (cp. also Horowitz, FG., No. 3993). We can thus
understand why R. J>Jathan Maas, Rosh. -Beth-Din of Frankfurt, was a bitter
opponent of R. Nathan Adler the Cabbalist (A. Geiger in Hebr. Bibl., V,
p. 77), Maas was a son-in-law of Michael Speyer, and thus brother-in-law
of Eliezer Speyer, whose untimely death was attributed to a follower of
Adler as mentioned above. His wife Jutle, daughter of Michael Speyer,
died on the 6th of Tebet, 1754 (Horowitz, FG , No. 2813, and FR., vol. IV,
p. 21). Sir Edgar Speyer is a descendant of this family.
^* R. Tevele mentions his engagement to Goldschmidt's daughter in
a letter to his brother R. Meir in 1781 'Letter V).
*** Samuel Pressburg or, as he was called, Samuel Simon was an uncle
of Simon de Geldern, great-uncle of Heinrich Heine. Cp. D. Kaufmann :
.Ihucnsaal, pp. 36 if. and H. Adler in JIISE. Trans., vol. V. p. 168.
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF 93
promptly enough, and by hesitation become the cause of
a man's death ; sends word to the condemned man urging
him to spend his time in fervent prayers to God that He
may spare his Hfe. His anxiety is so great that he has
no rest in daytime and no sleep at night, and he writes
to his brother, R. Meir, in a postscript which is added to
the letter, ' would it have been a question of a Shidduch
(marriage) where I could have earned a great sum in
negotiating it, I would not have done it, even if it would
only have meant writing so many and long letters as I had
to do in this matter.' ^^
Another letter written in the public interest is the one
addressed to R. Herz of Edelsheim, whom R. Tevele gives
the honouring title of Tiin f^int^, and refers to the legacy
of the Baal-Shem Samuel Falk, which formed the basis of
a law-suit, dealt with at length in JHSE. Transactio?is
vol. VHI, Misc., by Mr. H. S. O. Henriques. Cosman
Lehman, an admirer of Falk, claims that the whole of the
estate belongs to him, and as most of the money was
invested in French government bonds Lehman sued for
an injunction in Paris that the money should not be paid
put to the legatees.^" R. Tevele and the trustees of the
legacy, one of whom was Aaron Goldsmith, wrote, on
the advice of a certain R. Simon Boas of the Hague to Herz
of lulclshcim requesting him to use his influence and obtain
permission for the money to be paid over according to the
*' Negotiations for marri.agcs or, as it is termed, 'Shadkanut' was nut
an uncommon secondary occupation of the Rabbis in those days. R. Jacob
Emdcn is proud of the fact that while Rabbi of KukIch ho lu.vcr tried to
mai<e money in tliis way. Sec ^DD n?3D, p. iii^.
'" Cosman Lchmann was son of Herz Lehmaiin of Vienna and ncjjhew
of the famous Hoffactor Behnnd Lehmann of Hanover. Cp. Grunwald :
Sam. Ot>t>tnheimcr, p. 293, Mitt, z.jud. Volksk. 1903, p. 157.
94 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
will. He was sure Hcrz would not refuse to do all he
could, especially as many scholars and poor people were
waiting for the money. If more convenient, R. Isaac Speyer
could act as intermediary between them.
The Jews of London had not altered much since the
days of his predecessor R. Hirschel, and the Rabbi's duties
likewise had remained the same, consisting chiefly in giving
decisions in Rabbinic law. The study of Torah had not
been advanced, for R. Tevele complains in nearly the same
words as R. Hirschel of having no pupils to teach and no
friends with whom he could study Torah : ' I have no pupil
and not even any one to whom I could speak on Talmudic
subjects;' ^°^ and in another letter he says, ' the Shulhan
Aruch Orah Hayyim is forgotten here, and nearly also the
Yoreh Deah.' ^^
Communal organization progressed in so far as a proper
Beth-Din seems to have been established, one of the
Dayyanim being Eleazar Lieberman, who lived in London
already in R. Hirschel's time. His full name was Eliezer
Lieberman Speyer of Halberstadt, for thus he signs in the
document II of Tishri 28, 1772. It is the same R. Eliezer
who wrote to R. Hirschel after his departure from London. ^^
Other Dayyanim were Simon b. Meshullam of Prague,
Abraham Hamburger of Nancy, called Abraham Nancy,
and Jacob b. Rabbi Eliezer. It is, however, quite possible
that they were not paid Dayyanim, but private scholars
only, whom the Rabbi invited to join him when he wanted
to form a Beth-Din for the purpose of arranging a Get or
Halizah ceremony.
^"^ Cp. what R. Hirschel sa3's above, part I, p. 22, and Letter IV of
App. V.
*' Letter V of Ajtp. V. ^'^ Zevi, Lac, p. 71 ; cp. above, p. 31.
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF 95
The Rabbi's salary was ;i^200 yearly, which very nearly
was reduced during the American War. In a letter written
to his brother on ist Ijjar, 1780 (Letter III) he complains
that since the Rabbi of the Hambro Synagogue, MeshuUam
Zalman Emden, had left, he had to do all the work without
getting any remuneration for it. Although, in all proba-
bility, the Duke's Place people will claim some contribution
from the Hambro Synagogue for his services, and as they
had no intention of electing another Rabbi, may succeed
in getting ;^50 yearly from them, that would not benefit him.
Neither had he had any income from weddings at that Syna-
gogue, as the Parnassim gave their members the choice to let
cither one of their own Hazamin officiate on such occasions,
or to ask R. Tevele to perform the ceremony. It was on
account of this permission that he had only one wedding
at the Hambro Synagogue during a whole year, and that
was when the daughter of an intimate friend of his, R. Leb
Tosca, married. His brother, R. Meir, had asked him for
pecuniary assistance, and R. Tcvelc answers that his income
was scarcely sufficient for his own needs, especially in war-
time, and had he not in better times invested a little
money in Government bonds which brought him a little
extra income, he could not make both ends meet. In
spite of that, he says, there are at every Synagogue meeting
proposals to reduce his salary! And 'then you imagine
London is a Kchillah ', he writes, ' far from it ! I cannot
explain it all in a letter, it could only be understood if
told personally.' Similar remarks are found in Letter IV,
written two years later on 22 Adar, 17<S2, at the time of
the peace negotiations with America. The proposals for
a reduction of the Ral)bi's and other official's salaries
continued to be put forward, but 'do not think', he saj's,
96 RAI3BINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
' that this is done on account of my not being in the favour
of my congregants, far from it, I have very many intimate
friends here. It is simply the way of the land, which
nobody can fully understand who has not lived here, just
as little as they can realize in other countries the full
meaning of the war with America, and even what the
papers now print with regards to peace prospects.' The
powers of Parliament, the rights of the king and other
political affairs are different in England from every other
land, and in the same way is the Kehillah different from
others, as well as the proportion of his income and expendi-
ture, which no one else can judge but he himself, and ^
he regrets having to refuse his brother's request.
Two documents in MS. 4095 throw a light on the private
life of London Jewry at the end of the eighteenth century.
Mr. Zangwill, in his Children of the Ghetto^ when he
describes the story of a girl who in jest had a ring put on
her finger and found herself married without her wish
or even knowledge, seems to have taken the story from
real life.^^ According to Jewish law,^* if a man gives to
a woman anything that is worth a' perutah' (small coin) in
presence of two Jewish witnesses, and says, ' I herewith wed
thee as my wife according to the Law of Moses and Israel ',
that is sufficient to make it a valid marriage. This was
used sometimes by wicked people as a means of extorting
money from a rich man by marrying his daughter in this
way, and then to make payment of a large sum the
condition of giving her a 'Get' (divorce). In Zangwill's
novel the story is different, as the whole thing was meant
*^ See Zangwill, Children of the Ghetto (London, Heineinan, 1893), p. 51,
and the same author's King of Schnoirers, p. r.
9' Talm. B. Kid. 5 b. Shulh. Ar. Eb. Haezcr, c. 27. i.
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF 97
as a joke only on the part of the young man, and it is
interesting to find that in the time of Tevele Schiff ^^"^ such
things really happened, for two such cases are recorded
in the documents which we print as Nos. 19 and 20 of
Appendix V. In one instance Judah b. Joseph testifies
that he performed the marriage ceremony on the girl
Serche, daughter of Moses, with her consent, although she
now denies that the ceremony ever took place. The other
case was that of Simon b. Hayyim Levi and the girl's name
was Mindel d. of Samuel. The fact that the bridegroom
himself came forward as the chief witness in both cases,
and that the girl denied having given her consent, seems
to indicate that we have to deal with intentions of black-
mail, against which could be argued that the parties appear
to have belonged to the same class, and that, in case I, the
young people had been on intimate terms with one another,
but it would be unwise to draw any conclusion as to the
state of morality among the London Jews from these
incidents, which may have been to the Rabbi some of the
most exciting ones in his quiet and smooth career.
Official functions, when he would have been expected
to give an ICnglish address, very seldom occurred, and
Rabbi Schiff knew probably very little English, although
his Yiddish was often intermixed with luiglish phrases.^''
When the need arose he had the assistance of English
teachers to heli^ him out of difficulties. Although it is
stated that at the consecration of the Great Synagogue
*** ' Wlicn Tcveic SchifT was Rabbi in Israel and Dr. Falk the Master of
the Tctragrammaton, a saint and cabbalistic conjurer flourished in Wcllclose
Square' iZaogwill, ibid.).
»* He says, e.g., p»r^3N - obfi^ircn for 'to obhgc ' ; ij^NliTIINQ =•
favourable ; lKPp'D">t<D - particular.
D. II
98 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
in Duke's Place, in August, 1767, two years after his
appointment, the ' High Priest pronounced the prayer for
their Majesties and the Royal Family in English instead
of in Hebrew as was usual ',^^* he never acquired sufificient
knowledge of the Engh'sh language, so as to be able to
.speak it fluently. At the consecration of the re-built Great
Synagogue in 1790 David Levi, author of ' Lingua Sacra ',''*^.
had to translate into English the Hebrew Dedication com-
posed by R. Tevele. The daughter of Moses Hart,'-'''
founder of Duke's Place Synagogue, defrayed the expenses
of rebuilding, by offering ^4,000 for this purpose. Her
name was Mrs. Judith Levy, widow of Elias Levy, son
of Benjamin Levy, who had been her father's partner in
business. The order of service for the consecration cere-
mony was composed by David Levi, who says on p. 7,^^
' With munificent hands hath the right noble and virtuous
^^^ See Picciotto, Sketches of Anglo- Jewish History, p. 141.
^ The most extensive contemporary Hebrew-English dictionary pub-
lished in three vols., London, 1777.
9'' Brother of Rabbi Uri Phoebush Hart, first Rabbi of Duke's Place
(1690-1752).
^8 The full title of the booklet is : ' A song and praise to be performed at
the Dedication of the Great Jews Synagogue, St. Jame's Duke's Place
London, on Friday March 26th 1790 composed in Hebrew by the Rev.
David Solomon Schiff, High Priest of the said Synagogue and translated
into English by the order of the President and Treasurer thereof, by David
Levi, Author of Lingua Sacra, etc. London : Printed by W. Justus No. 35
Shoemaker Row, Blackfriars, anno mundi 5558.' About Benjamin Levy
and his children see the article of Mathias Levy in Jewish Chronicle^ July 31,
1903. Judith Levy's biography is to be found in Granger's 'Museum',.
She and her husband Elias Levy are buried at AJderney Road cemetery
a few rows behind R. Tevele Schiflf's grave. Elias Levy's tombstone
seems to be a substitution for the original stone ; it only bears the short
inscription : (top) "h'^ '3 D"1D y'2, (middle) ' Elias Levy Esq.'. He died,
according to the testimony of Falk's servant, on the i8th Shebat, 1750
{MS. Adier 2441, p. 26 B).
Judith Levy's tombstone inscription is still readable as far as the Hebrew
text is concerned. It reads :
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF 99
lady (David Levi in a footnote : " Mrs. Levi of Albermaile
St., relict of the late Elias Levi, Esq.") bestowed a princely
sum to exalt and beautify the house of God. In the gate
will we rehearse her praise, in whose mind her father's
noble deeds are imprinted (footnote by D. Levi : " The
late Moses Hart, Esq., who, at his sole expense erected the
first Synagogue on this site").' The verses and anthems
by R. Tevele do not show special skill in Hebrew poetry ;
he writes a Rabbinical Hebrew, introduces acrostics on his
own name (on pp. 4 and 6) p^n nr^bu U"13 in, but neither
these nor the blessing ']12^ vo for the donor, Judith,
daughter of Moses = nc'a 't na nn'- noDrnDr^n r]^''2:r] nuan,
come up to the standard of his predecessor's writings.
His sphere was the Talmud, and in that branch he was
a master recognized by all. He laid the foundation to
the office of Chief Rabbi by the general respect he enjoyed
and by his learning which made his authority indisputable.
Thus we find that the community of Portsmouth stipulated
in their minute-book that matters of dispute between the
members * should be brought before R. Tevele, Chief Rabbi
of the Great Synagogue, London '.^^ Haham Moses Ha-
cohcn d'Azcvcdo refers to him in friendly and respectful
:"D
niicn r\2 no" mo n')''2:r(
^'T '"bn '3 o"iD ni3on n^^ha
p"6 (?)i":pn
The F.nglish inscription is no more decipherable. Tlic grave next to hers
on the left is that of her son, but liis name is not readable any more, except
for the words 'son of F.lias and Judith Levy'.
» Sec/ His/. Soc. Engl. Trans., vol. VI, pp. ii4-5»'
H 2
lOO RABRINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
terms.^"° We are not surprised thai he was generally liked
when wc read the letters he wrote to his brother R. Mcir.
There he shows us his lovable nature, his modesty, and
unassuming simplicity, his upright and straight character.
' Please look well into this account ', he says to his brother,
' and answer me as to each point separately, for, you know,
I am a lover of orderliness '. The letter refers to a list
of charitable donations which he sent to his brother for
distribution (Letter VII of 22 Adar, 17H2, Appendix No. V).
On another occasion, in the matter of the Jewish boy's
reprieve, he says, ' You know my nature, I like to be
peaceful and keep my head clear' (Letter XI, 15 Ab, 1785).
His modesty is revealed in an answer to his brother, who
urges him to have some work of his printed. ' You ask me
whether I do not think of printing something of my
Hidushim (notes) on the Talmud. I do not approve of
anything that is lengthy to be published, even if it refers
to Maimonides or any other early commentator. . . . You
say that some one who is unworthy might come and use
the result of my studies, my words, as his own. I do not
mind that at all — God will know. As for the purpose
of leaving a name behind after 120 years (after my death)
should I print a book — who will read long deliberations ?
To my mind the right thing to do before publishing a book
would be, to give the MS. to two or three real scholars
and let them examine it, but not in the author's presence,
and only what they think good enough should be printed.
I am sure in this way hardly any one would gain great
fame, as probably only one page would be found worth
printing out of a whole volume. As a matter of fact, he
who studies for the sake of study (D''»t^7) and not for his
»oo See Biizaglo's pamphlet in "Ijn pN» HDIifn, IV, p. 12.
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF lOI
own Imaginary honour, to be mentioned among the great
men, he does not mind whether much or little is said in
his name. ... If a rich man in whom Torah and greatness
(riches) are combined would direct in his will that his notes
should be dealt with in this manner when he has come
to the end of his days, that would indeed be the only
proper way, the right thing in the eyes of God and man,
for then even the suspicion of hunting for imaginary
honours would fall away. Only he who is quite sure of
himself to be free from such vanity may do it in his
lifetime' (Letter XII, 26 Sivan, 1787).
If Prof. D. Kaufman emphasizes the importance of
preserving and editing minute-books of congregations,
Hazkarah, and Memor-books, &c. (nnsDn nviN, vol. II,
pp. 91 and 92), the more so applies this to private letters
which contain particulars concerning the Jews generally,
as in many instances they give references which are not
to be found in any other written document, and would
therefore otherwise remain unknown. In some cases they
furnish confirmation of doubtful reports, or supplement
missing links to the chain of events. The reader will find
this in the letters written by and addressed to R. Tcvcle,
which we print in the Appcndi.x. Though of later origin
than the collection of private letters edited by Drs. Alfred
Landau and Bernhard VVachstcin under the title JiidiscJie
Privatbricfc aus don Jalirc i6ig (Wicn: liraumiiHer,
191 1), the same qualities may be attributed to the letters
printed in Api)cndix V, as the editors apply to their
publication. They .say in the Preface : ' Rightly has general
attention been given in our times to these human docu-
ments out of which we can construe not only a picture
of external circumstances, but also a reflexion of the feelings
I02 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
and sentiments of the people of past ages'. (Einleltung,
p. XV.) As far as Anglo-Jewish historical records go,
I believe this is the first publication of Yiddish and
Hebrew private letters. There are nineteen letters in
all, and from the point of view of Anglo-Jewish history
those written by R. Tevele himself and his son Moses
to R. Meir Schiff are the most important. We hear the
story of the Hazan Isaac Polak who had gone bankrupt
and was put into prison. The community resigned itself to
its fate to have to do without its reader, but when Atone-
ment day was approaching ' many speak well of him and
wish to get him returned to office ', writes R. Tevele's son,
Moses Schifif, on 14 Elul, 1781 (postscript to Letter VI).
* They say that whatever wrong he has done was not of
his own free will, but he did it being misled by that man
Hayyim (?). As is usual in Jewish communities, they
follow the way of their forefathers ; what the one loves,
the other hates, and some are quite indifferent, do not care
one way or the other, are neither friend nor foe. R. Isaac
is still imprisoned, and, being a bankrupt, cannot regain
his liberty unless the majority of his creditors agree to his
liberation — such is the law of the country — and it will be
difficult to get them all under one hat (to agree to it).
It is a dishonour to the community, such outcasts as exist
here are not to be found in any other town. It seemed
all in vain, the judge had passed sentence and the matter
appeared settled, but God helps those in trouble, and the
community advised R, Isaac to present a memorial to
the judge stating that the congregation had reserved him
his post, and that he was really punished on account, of
some one else's fault. So far no answer has been received.'
This R. Isaac Polak was reader of the Great Synagogue ;
: RABBI DAVID TF.VELE SCHIFF IO3
an engraving of him is in the possession of Mr. Israel
Solomons in London.
In 1776 Parliament brought in a new law regarding
passports, which made travelling more difficult. R. Tevele
advises a certain Sii-skind b. Jacob Schloss, of Frankfort,
who had the intention of coming to London, to bring
a proper passport and health certificate with him, or should
even postpone his journey in case he had not left on arrival
of the letter (Letter I).
We hear also something of the business connexions
of London Jews. They dealt with Jews in Frankfort,
Holland, and Italy. But R. Tevele knows nobody who
had correspondents in Copenhagen which, he says, is like
a suburb of Hamburg, Brisk business was done in East
Indian wares. R. Meir made some suggestions to his
brother that his sDn Moses (who, a year or two afterwards,
became his brother-in-law by marrying R. Meir's wife's
sister, Mindel Zinzheim) should try to do some business
as commission agent. R. Tevele answers him on i Ijjar,
1780, that only East Indian goods are worth while dealing
in, but to deal in woollen merchandise is not profitable
because most of the German merchants order these goods
from ICngland direct from the manufacturer. To be an
agent for export to Germany wouUl necessitate having
great credit here (securities) as the goods are sold on
.six-monthly bills. liesides, there would hardly be any
profit attached to it. Moses Schiff later became agent
for Isaac Spcyer of Frankfort, whom we have already
mentioned. On 20 ]--lul, 17H2 (Letter Vj Moses Schiff
thanks Spcyer for what he has done for him, and asks
for further cipportiinilics to act for liim. R. Tcvcle's
adviser in this matter was R. Jac<^b Rotterdam in London,
I04 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
who acted as agent for R. Leb Haas^"^ and J. Schuster'"'^
of Frankfort. This Jacob Rotterdam had also business
connexions with Jacob Homel & Co.^"^ (Letter IV).
It was R. Tevele's custom to send charitable gifts to
relatives and poor people in his native town, to which
he remained attached all his life. Through his brother he
acted as intermediary between people in London and their
relatives in Frankfort, and even accepted lottery stakes
from his friend Moses Munk in Frankfort, and adds, ' Falk
shall insure it ', obviously referring to the Baal-Shem
Samuel Falk (Letter III). Among the regular recipients
of gifts from the Rabbi was his brother R. Meir himself,
another brother Moses, his sister-in-law (mother-in-law of
his brother Meir and of his son Moses), a certain Abraham
Giessen, and the widows of Moses Trumm and Moses
Platz. A certain Moses b. Leb Zunz, who lived in London,
asks the Rabbi to let his stepmother know he was astonished
to hear she was not satisfied with the allowance he and his
brother, living in America, sent her. If, however, his other
brother, who is studying at the Yeshiba in Pressburg, has
any particular wish, he should write to his brothers and
send the letter to R. Meir Schiff (Letter II). Reference is
made to Abraham Emmerich's bankruptcy, which greatly
astonished the Rabbi, who uses the phrase ' it is like
fire in a cedar-tree', nan^y^ n^D3 nmsa DX.^"* Abraham
Emmerich is mentioned in MS. Adler 935, p. 91 (Minute-
i°i Died Adar 11, 1789. See Hon, FG., 3989; Dietz, p. 156.
^^ Ibid., p. 273.
'*' Son of Joseph, son of Isaac Hammein, who was a son of GlQckel von
Hameln. See Kaufm., Gliickel v. Ham., p. xxxix.
^*** In Letter VII, to Isaac Speyer, R. Tevele refers to the bankruptcy
of a London firm of bankers named Brown & CoUinson, which involved
a great many people, Jews and non Jews. (See App. V.j
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF I05
book of the Frankfort Beth-Din), He buys a seat in the
Synagogue from Solomon Sinzheim in 1780 {ibid.,\i. 114 b).
His brother Meir had some dispute with the D"'313, the
treasurers of the Frankfort congregation, and collected
signatures in support of his plea. R. Tevele mentions
several members of the Frankfort community who, he
thinks, will sign the memorandum. Their names are : the
children of M. Scheyer;^°5 j^ Kulpa;i"« Lima b. Zaiman
Haas ; ^^'^ David Cassel, son-in-law of Z. Cassel ;^°^ Hirsch
Haas ^^3 and his nephew M. b. S. the Levi ; Madl (?) and
R. Jacob Kann.'^" In connexion with this dispute R. Meir
Schifif had complained to his brother that things had come
to such a pass in Frankfort that many members gave up
(:'r\\>r\ npin) their membership in the community to join
small kehillas in the neighbourhood, and R. Tevele says:
* I am sorry for the place and the graves of my ancestors
that such a state of affairs should have arisen.' It is not
unlikely that this refers to the persecution of R. Nathan
Adler who, a year or two previously (1779), had been
excommunicated, and in the year when this letter was
written (17H2) left Frankfort to take up the Rabbinate
in lioskowitz. R. Tcvcic remarks at the end of these
references, ' However, all bad things (DITU) must pass some
time or other', and he considers it his duty to see to it
"** Moses Schcyer, who died i Ijjar 1775; Hor., FG., 3530.
>"« Juda(?i, died 1785. Cp. Diet/, p. 176; Hor., FG., 3887.
'"■' Died 1789. Dietz, p. 136.
">» Died 181a (?). Hor., /Y7 , 468a.
'"■^ Died 5 Shcbat 1796. FG., 4303.
"0 Jacob b. Beer Kann, died 15 Tarn. 1784. FG., 3835; Dielz, p. 164.
His cousins were called LOw Beer, and iiad inisincss relations with the
brothers Abr. and Simeon Boas in Ilaag ; .■jec above letter of R. Tevele,
No. VII. Cp. Dielz, tbid.
Io6 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
that his family's connexion with the community should
be kept up for future generations, and for this reason he
did not allow his membership of the community to lapse
(Letter V}.
On one occasion R. Meir Schiff asked his brother's help
to obtain the post as Rabbi in Copenhagen (1776, Letter I).
It is then that we hear who were R. Tevele's patrons at
his election in London, as he approaches them to do similar
service to his brother in this matter, and Aaron Goldschmidt
writes to his nephew Jacob b. Mendele Kik ^^^ in Hamburg,
who has reason to be thankful to his uncle, he having
assisted hfm greatly in his business connexions, to recom-
mend his cousin R. Meir Schiff to his friends and corre-
spondents in Copenhagen. R. Tevele himself composes
the letter for Goldschmidt, and sends a copy of it to his
brother. He remarks among other things that the fact
of his not having been Rabbi, but only Dayyan, should
not be regarded as a fault. For R. Tevele himself was
only Dayyan in Frankfort when elected as Rabbi to
London, ' and thank God we are satisfied with our bargain '.
R. Tevele also addresses a letter to R. Meir Hanover for
the same purpose, in which he mentions that he helped
him to obtain his present position, and was by this a means
of his brother succeeding him as Dayyan in Frankfort.
In London there was only one merchant who had direct
correspondence with Copenhagen, writes R. Tevele, and
that was a friend of the Rabbi of the Hamburger (Hambro)
Synagogue, Meshullam Zalman Emden. To approach
this man would be harmful to his cause, as the family of
the Haham Zevi would certainly try to obtain the post
for one of their own family. He had, however, approached
^^* Probably Kiik ; cp. Gruiiwald, Hant'>ur^''s deutsche Juden, p. 270.
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF I07
a certain R. Moses VVallich of London to write to his wife's
stepmother, the widow of R. David Hanover, who was
a native of Copenhagen, to write to her friends there. The
letter bore no result, as R. Meir Schiff remained Dayyan
in Frankfort till the end of his days. Before he obtained
this post he was Dayyan in Vienna, where he signs the
Statutes of the Hebrah-Kaddishah in 1763 (cp. Mitt. z.
jiid. Volksk2(7ide, 1910, Heft 33, p. 13).
R. Tevele himself tried at least twice, as far as we can
ascertain, to change his position. In 1781 (Letter HI) he
aspired for the Rabbinate of Rotterdam, and reproaches
his brother for not doing anything for him in this matter.
The Rabbi of Amsterdam had apparently put some ob-
stacles in his way, and ' who can stand up against this
people?' he says, pointing again to the Emden family, the
Rabbi of Amsterdam being then R. Saul, brother of
R. Hirschel Lcwin. The Rabbi of Halberstadt was elected
but seems to have refused to go, the postal service being
very irregular in those days on account of the war between
Holland and England, he only received the news of this
together with a letter informing him that the Rabbi of
Kmden had been elected. This haste must have been
intentional, says R. Tevele.
Half a year later (Adar, 1782) he was anxious to
become Rabbi of VVur/.burg, but the letter he wrote was
lost on a boat which was sunk by enemy action, and
he did not write again, but would have no objection if
R. Meir could arrange it, although ' it rests with God what
is good for inc and my son, for our body :ind soul'. R. Levi
Fanto (cp. ny hi, p. 62), Dayyan in Prague, had bcc-n
elected to Wurzburg, but did not go there. News did not
travel fast in those days, and R. Tevele did not know of
Io8 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
the refusal until by accident he saw the signature of this
R. Levi on a letter addressed to him by the Rabbinate of
Prague. He writes thereupon to a friend of his, R. Moses
Rofe (in Wiirzburg?), inquiring for the reason of R. Levi's
not going, whether it was that the income from that
Rabbinate had diminished of late or for some other reason,
as he can point out to him some one who would be open
to entertain an offer if made to him, clearly referring to
himself (Letter IV). R. Levi Fanto died on 23 Teb., 1782, of
that, however, R. Tcvele was not aware of at the time {ibid.).
Of interest is also a reference in the same letter to
a Jew who had lived in England somewhere in the country
among non-Jews, and gave up all his property to the man .
he lived with, for an annuity. When the Rabbi Gershon
Pulitz of Nikolsburg ^^^ was still alive he wrote to him
asking for assistance for the man's sister-in-law (his late
brother's R. Jekl's wife) and children, and R. Tevele was
successful in obtaining aid from* the man whose name
was David Fridland. Some time later, when his nephew
Isaac, son of the said brother Jekl, came to England, the
transfer of his property had already taken place, and he
could not assist this nephew. Only after his death this
Isaac succeeded in getting some money from the man who
had the property by a compromise, but now there was no
more hope of getting anything out of him. This R. Tevele
writes to R. Meir Schiff in answer to an inquiry and
request for help for some one of Fridland's family.
We get a glimpse of the Rabbi's homely character in
the orders he gives to his brother in Letter II. He did
not consider it beneath his dignity to order half a dozen
' white cotton caps not striped but plain white (D2^nDB"a D''J
1" Chief Rabbi of Moravia from 1753-72.
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF I09
Q<<>)) tslK'D P"i "iny^ip nrr^x d-d) neither should they be sable
caps', he adds, which was probably meant as a jest. We
even find an order for half a dozen handkerchiefs, but these
should not be white ' on account of the snuff-tobacco '.
His wife Breinle having been dead for years (she died in
1772, see above), he had to trouble himself with these
domestic trifles. The same letter (No. Ill) contains a
postscript by his wife's niece Mindel, daughter of Solomon
Sinzheim, who writes a very good Hebrew hand. This
lady acted to all appearances as a kind of housekeeper,
as R. Tevele describes her in Letter VHI, which is dated
a year later (17H2), as (pjnna) : servant. In Letter XI
R. Tevele mentions her already as his daughter-in-law,
which letter bears the date 15 Ab, 1785, so that the
marriage of Moses Schiff must have taken place between
the years 1782-5. Mindel was quite a good Hebrew
scholar, as will be seen from her postscript to Letter IV.
The marriage was childless, and I have not been able
to ascertain when Moses and Mindel Schiff died. Moses
was apparently well to do ; the Great Synagogue pos-
sesses a silver basin used by the Cohanim before reciting
the priestly blessing, which was presented by Moses b.
R. Tevele.
Before his death R. Tevele asked his son to have some
of his niaiiuscrii^ts published, and Moses .sent the manu.script
of the book 3nt ]^Z'b to his uncle, R. Mcir, to prepare it for
publication. We print in the appendix the title-page of
this work written by R. Tcvclc himself, which proves that
he intended this name for his book. Another manuscript
containing answers to questions raised by the To.safot against
the explanations of Ra.shi in Tractate B. Batra, men-
tioned by R. Tevele in Letter IV, seems to have been lost.
no RABRINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
R. Meir Schiff, who was Dayyan in Frankfort from 1768,^^^
and author of the work D* 1^3 iTJN Tn (Fiirth, 1798), was
aheady an old man when his brother Tevele died, and not
able to copy and correct the manuscript, so as to make it
ready for the printer,^^* and he died on Aug. 2, 1808^^^
without having edited the work. Moses Schifif then sent
the manuscript to his cousin R. Mordecai Adler, Chief
Rabbi of Hanover, who was a nephew of R. Tevele (his
mother, R. Beer Adler's wife, was R. Tevele's sister), but
Moses himself died before the book appeared in print.
After his death his widow and executors again approached
Mordecai Adler to fulfil the wish of his late uncle R. Tevele,
and on his advice the publication was entrusted to his sons
Gabriel Adler, Chief Rabbi of Meiringen and the province
of Schwarzwald, and Ber Adler of Frankfort, brothers of
the late Dr. N. M. Adler, Chief Rabbi of London, and at
last, in 1822, the work was printed in Offenbach under the
title ' Leshon Zahab ', which means the ' Golden tongue '.
It consists of two folio volumes,^^^ and contains expositions
on the Pentateuch and Talmud, Responsa, and various
haggadic lectures. MS. Adler 2296 has apparently been
utilized for this edition, although it contains other matter,
not embodied in the book. The greater part of the manu-
script is taken up by a commentary on Mishna Tractate
Horayot, which is identical with Leshon Zahab, pp. 14 a
to 19 b, but there are also several pages relating to Mishnah
Zebahim and Menahot, and several Responsa.
Beloved by all who knew him, R. Tevele Schiff passed
"» See Hor., FR., IV, p. 37.
"♦ See preface to 17\\ \Vih .
"6 Zunz, Monatsiage, erroneously gives the date July 22, 1798; Hor.,
FR., IV, p. 37, and Dietz, give the year 1807. See, however, MGIVJ.,
vol. 50, p. 607.
"* Vol. I contains 32 leaves ; vol. II, 44 leaves.
RABBI DAVID TEVELE SCHIFF III
away on the 23rd day of Kislev, 5552 (Dec. 17, 1791), and
was buried in the ground at Mile End, which is also the
resting-place of his son Moses. His funeral was a testimony
of the general esteem in which he was held by Ashkenazim
and Sephardim alike. The Bevis Marks Synagogue was
represented by the Haham, three Dayyanim and five
wardens, while all the Ashkenazi synagogues sent repre-
sentatives."^ His death is recorded in the Hazkarah Book
of Worms, where he is praised as having been ' versed in
the secrets of the Torah, which he studied all his days '."*
'^■^ See Picciotto, Sketches, p. 223.
'18 Hazkarah-Book of Worms has the following record of his death :
!?": f-2 ei^-j' \'cb^ -n''nD m^cnn ^^nyu "in nnnic \\>^r\ 3n"n js'^
'\ni iniJDix iniin '\m mc^n n^r:no n\-i vd^ ^2^' luya nD"DO
d'-ii n'ax ''m ,mait2 ni^yoi nn^o hdd n '^m nnin mnn v^
D^i^p3 n-n:r UDiro Sn i3n!?np3 d:i ny^y d^c'^c'd inv pji!? p"[>2
"inr n-i-Lry i:n: v^rivi n"DD p"p3 pn 'm dji d^j^-' Tk:'yo "ini»
[. . . . V3 \\'M'b [>"[>2 D":rn -i3p:i iudj] maya npnv^. The date
is missing, and it should be added : I'jpn 1vD3 3*3. See Kobez al-Jad,
vol. Ill, p. 53.
Tombstone inscription of Rabbi Tevele Schiff.
His grave is next to that of his son Moses in the burial-ground at
Mile End. .»_
^y'Mn pN*:n (ir-ii)r3
nnS"'''ivi 1.-13.-1 *^3yo nn -ni.-iD DD-1120.-1
^vi )*'3 ei't' |D^r n'lo "33"^ ni3rD."i p
ncNH Dtn cn'sD [>''\>'^ NJ^m n^^-'o
(?V3-i3) ^yi nn"in3 .iL*'yi dscd n-'vih
.... y'3.T n-iy;:»n ^x (?ii3-i.-!) 'nvrSn iS-i:n:
NL"D nnn ]*3-ii niici 3-1^ i:n^.ip .ns -in33 .i^nn
n-i^n' nj"':n3 D'ar y3L*n nn-j'y no3-«n
. . . o }nNn 'Dy^ -nc'V33 -yh^rh r\''r\ nciv
(?j*yv^) n\-i D^"?1^-^1 □'3np^ . . . yvD3
Tr i^ys -i::'N3 '.i n-nn3 (?-in:n .-i:.-ii)
(? 1.TD3) ? vnDC'3 'n'.-i nr:N mini 3nr \ych pn* . . n
112 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Mr. Sigmund Sceligmann of Amsterdam, the well-known
scholar and collector, was good enough to send me a copy
of a leaflet in his possession, containing two elegies on the
death of R. Tevele, composed by Isaac^^^* and Solomon, sons
of Eleazar Keyzer of London, the one thirteen, the other
ten years of age. The leaflet, measuring 26 x 24 cm., was
printed by their uncle, Abraham Keyzer in Amsterdam,
and bears the date, Tuesday, 24th of Kislev, 1791, while
Abraham Keyzer's note, giving the ages of the boys, is
dated 22 Shebat of the same year. The versatility in
Hebrew of these young boys was indeed quite remarkable,
and the verses well worth printing. ' David, King of Israel,
has fallen ', exclaims Isaac, who appears to have been the
elder, * his flock will not be guarded any more by his love
and piety, their shepherd is dead who has loved them as
a father loves his son. Woe to thee, O London ! where
is to be found a man, a scholar like the one thou hast lost ?
What was thy sin, that thy punishment is so great ? '
Such words from the pen of a boy of thirteen show at least
that the Rabbi was held in high esteem, and was beloved
by his community.
"iTy"" Dn n^Ki s"!?! nycn2 mo n^'^
\b) p2i:* . . . (? D"'N:n) no-'i'jn vcyo ^y
v^D3 :"3 '2 Dvn) nnn ("ij)jnx .... (D^^n
118a The leaflets are reprinted and translated in App. VIII. Isaac
Keyzer had a son called Eleazar, who in later years married a daughter
of the Parnass Jacob Norden. Rabbi Solomon Hirschel sends him as
wedding present a copy of the book PN^S pJQ by his uncle R. Saul
of Amsterdam. The inscription on the cover of the book is printed in golden
lettering, and reads: nUDH ]2 '"^ "^vb n'3 pvpil Jfinn^ nt^m JIH
i'^-^ pniij npy^ nn"nD d"is |nm ^'r -\V'P pVN n'j d"id. The book
is in the lieth-Hamidrash library in London.
113
III
Rabbi Solomon Hirschel.
Born in London on the 19th of Shebat, 5522 (1761) as the
youngest son of R. Zevi Hirschel Lewin and his wife Golde,
he was not quite three years old when his father left London
for Halberstadt, in the spring of 1764. He was only eleven
years old when his father entered into office in Berlin in
177a, and there it was that the most important years of
his early training were spent. The Berlin community was
then on a not much higher standard of culture and modern
education than most of the Polish congregations of our
days. Mendelssohn and his circle met with opposition even
in Berlin, and although R. Zevi Hirsch had recommended
Mendelssohn's German Bible translation, he did not give
his son Solomon a very extensive schooling in other matters
than Rabbinics. It is quite certain that R. Solomon never
possessed the title of Doctor from any University, although
he was generally styled as such in the later period of his
life, and often uses the title himself in his letters (see later).
He became a recognized Rabbinical scholar and, like his
father and his brother Saul, a master of Hebrew style.
He married at the age of seventeen Rebecca Koenigsberg,
and later became Rabbi of Preiizlau in Prussia. The
Rabbinate of the Great Synagogue was vacant after the
death of Rabbi Tevele Schiff for a number of years.
There is no reliable record of the exact date of R. Solomon
Ilirschel's election. While Mr. Picciotto mentions 1S03,"*
"'' Skdchfi, p. 307.
D. 1
114 RARRINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Solomon Bennett^"" gives 1802 as the year of his election.
In 1805 was published a sermon held ' on the day appointed
for a general Thanksgiving for the success of the Fleet off
Trafalgar ', arranged and rendered into English by Joshua
Van Oven,^^^ and this was, as is stated there, ' soon after
R. Solomon's accession to office '}'^^ All these dates seem,
however, incorrect according to the tombstone inscription
of R. Saul, brother of R. Solomon. He is described as
'son of Rabbi Zevi Hirsch Tii, Rabbi of Berlin, formerly
Rabbi of our congregation, and brother of our Rabbi
Solomon'. As R. Zevi Hirsch died in 1800, and was still
alive when the tombstone was set, as indicated by the
letters 1""I3 (= may his light continue to shine), R. Solomon
Hirschel must have come to London prior to 1800 (cp.
7QR., N.S., vol. IX, p. 408). One of his qualifications
which made him particularly recommendable for the post
was the fact of his having been born in London.
The Rabbinical duties at the Great Synagogue were
in the interval discharged by the Rabbi of the New
Synagogue, Moses Myers (died 1804); nevertheless, there
seem to have been continual differences between the three
Ashkenazi Synagogues, and not the least reason for these
frictions was the practice ^of enticing members of one
Synagogue to another. In 1804 an amalgamation of the
three Synagogues, as far as finances were concerned, was
contemplated by L. de Symons, but without success. The
only result, achieved through the influence of the new
'*" See The Present reign of the Synagogue of Duke's Place Displayed, d-'C,
by Solomon Bennett. London, printed for and published by the author,
No. 475 Strand. 1818, p. 66.
^** See Voice of Jacob, II, p. 68.
'^* In 1805 R. Solomon gives an approbation to the first edition of Wolf
Heidenheim's Mahzor. See vol. IX (Shabuot), Rcdelheim 1805.
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL II5
Rabbi, was an arrangement as to the contributions of
the Synagogues towards the relief and burials of the poor.
These treaties were renewed every five years, until in 1838
a somewhat closer union of the three Ashkenazi congrega-
tions was brought about through the endeavours of Mr. N. M.
Rothschild. The convention then signed did not constitute
them into a United Synagogue, as each congregation
retained its independence. The agreement chiefly referred
to a concert of action in charitable matters, and was, in
a way, the forerunner of the Board of Guardians.
Under Rabbi Solomon's guidance the community grew
from day to day, and the Duke's Place Synagogue was
rightly called the Great Synagogue, its development being
the most marked. He is reported to have been very
tolerant towards the failings of others during the early
days of his activity in London. He did not repulse those
who transgressed the Law, but tried to influence them by
kind words and often by a little pleasantry. The story
is told of a prizefighter who became a religious man through
one kindly act of the Rabbi. On Sabbath R. Solomon
wore a long white silk robe, and was once, clad like this,
on his way to Synagogue attacked by a few hooligans.
The Jewish prizefighter saw this and dispersed the crowd.
Thereupon the Rabbi took his rescuer's arm and walked
with him to Synagogue. On being approached for having
in this way shown appreciation of one who pubh'cly trans-
gressed the Law, he answered : ' The path of repentance
is open to all '. It is rc[)()it(_d thai from tiiat day the
prizefighter became an observant Jew. Yet another taie
of a different tendency has rcmaintd in circulation, showing
that, where the observance of tlic Law and orthodox
customs were conccrnrd. ]\at)})i Solomon knew no com-
I 2
Il6 RARBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
promise. Asher Goldschmid, one of the principal members
of Duke's Place, once wore his boots instead of slippers,
as is customary, when called up to the Law on Atonement
Day. The Rabbi ordered him to descend from the reading
desk. It was Goldschmid's custom to send the Rabbi
a present of fish for every Succot. On the eve of that
festival following this Yom-Kippur the Rabbi told his wife to
buy fish, as he did not think Goldschmid would send any.
The fish, however, arrived, and with it an ornamental box
containing a doctor's certificate which stated that it would
have been injurious to Goldschmid's health had he worn
slippers on Yom-Kippur.^^^
Especially strict was R. Solomon as regards the religious
conduct of the Shohetim. MS. Adier 2261 gives the names
of those authorized by the Rabbi during the years 1822-42,
and contains even some who were authorized by his suc-
cessor. Dr. N. M. Adler, the latest date being Ab, 1845.
Every Shohet had to give the following undertaking :
* I herewith undertake by giving my hand to the Rabbi,
that I shall not slaughter (any animal) where there is
another Shohet authorized by the Rev. Rabbi of London ;
even for my own use I shall not do so. At any time,
should the Rabbi forbid me, if only by word of mouth
even, to slaughter, I shall obey him at any place I may be.
I further promise not to shave my beard and not to drink
wine that is not specially prepared for the use of Jews.'
Some of the names mentioned in the manuscript are of
interest. Jonas Levy from Exeter receives authority to act
as Shohet for Philipp Symonds in Cincinnati, Ohio, United
States of America (No. 5). In 1788 Mr. Abrahams of Van
Demons (Diemen's) Land shakes hands on his appointment
123 p>«^Y^ ^2'^, p. 177, note 21.
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL II7
(No. 49), while on Jan. 5, 5589 (1829) Arjeh b. Jacob
Hazan in Jamaica (he writes 'Jamicar') signs the pledge.
The list of places in England where a Shohet was employed
is especially interesting, and we give therefore in the
Appendix the whole list of the 152 Shohetim mentioned
in the MS., together with the date of their authorization
and the place of activity. Some of them could not write
Hebrew, and the undertaking is written in English ; others
could not even sign their name otherwise than in English.
The place of origin of these Shohetim was in most cases
Poland and Russia, but also Germany is fairly often repre-
sented, e.g. Moses b. Leb Deutz of Frankfurt called
himself Moses Levy, and was Shohet in Dover (No. 25) ;
Michael Zalman b.S.Pollak of Schoenlanke was in Plymouth
(No. 10), and Moses b. Hirsch Lissenheim (No. 109) signs
' from Schoenlanke '. Michael Elijah b. R. A. hails from
Rawitsch (Nos. 15 and 72), while Simon b. Jacob came
from Wrcschcn in Posen (No. y^), as well as Shelomo
Zalman b. Rabbi Eleazar Schottlaender, whose father had
been Dayyan there (No. 97). Breslau (No. 100), Nlirnbcrg
(Nos. 105 and 137), Posen (No. 128) are all represented, but
wc find names even from Hungary (No. 50), Galicia and
Holland (Ncumcgen, No. 12). In one case R. Solomon
adds to the usual undertaking that the Shohet in question
(Isaac Jacob b. A. Cohen) promises not to officiate in
(Jxford, which pcjints to the probability that there was
already some one else authorized for that place, and we
must at least infer from it that several Jews were domiciled
then in the famous University town, while to-day only two
or three Jewish families arc permanent residents there,
and they do not require the services of a Shohet.'^^"
'■"• MS. Adicr, 2257, p. 25, mentions: Mr. Wulf Haiiis, resident in
Oxford in 1839.
Il8 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Bidefield could also boast of such an official, and I was
unable to ascertain whether any Jews are to be found
there at the present time. Cheltenham, Norwich, Bedford,
Chichester, Canterbury, Scarborough, Greenwich, are like-
wise worth mentioning. In 1 845 Sir Isaac Lyon Goldschmid
engages Edward Himes (Hyams?) as special Shohet for
himself (No. 144) ; that, however, occurred after the election
of Dr. N. M. Adler. During the vacancy the pledge was
given to the Beth Din.
The Beth Din in R. Solomon Hirschell's time consisted
of two Dayyanim and a Sofer (scribe). MS. Adler 2257
contains the short minutes of the Beth Din from the years
1833 (5 Tishri, 5594) until 1855.'^* The first case recorded
is a divorce, given in the county of Guilford [uilSD^^a mDon
yDJ'ip] ^^^ by Isaac b. David to his wife Hannah daughter of
Alexander, and the officiating Rabbis were R. Solomon
Hirschell, R. Zeev Wolf (who soon afterwards died, as he is
styled b"l Fi^Nii 2xr n''iD), and one R. Solomon (no^E' '-| "nni).
In the second case the Dayyanim were R. Zeev Wolf, who
is now called Gallin [^'r I'bba: fi^Nii asr m*o (or f^^^NJ?)]
and R. Hanoch Zundel of Jerusalem, while in the cases
Nos. 3 and 4 (Tebet, 1838) the Dayyanim were R. Azriel
b. David Levi and the said R. Hanoch Zundel ^^® (p. i a).
^^* The manuscript is a quarto volume of sixty-five leaves— fol. 9 is
missing — and represents apparently the notes of the Sofer (and afterwards,
Dayyan) R. Aaron Lissa. The signatures of neither R. Solomon Hirschell
nor Dr. N. M. Adler are to be found there, but generally the Da3'yanim
signed the book.
125 Page 5 b is mentioned a divorce, given at ' King's Bench near
London' . . . pnjli? NHC^ "JIDOn C'JVD D^p mDi:3, and a note added :
mor:a i"i'pn n:\^'2 ^:V2 nvpa a": "^^c nns* djd xnoi^a 3n3 pi
pnnn pnjii? nhd^ iicdh tr:y2 djjv-
i2« R. Hanoh's signature on p. 3a is: m"D aina ^1311 "jl^n DIN^
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL II9
In case 5^^'' Judah Leb b. Aaron Moses figures as one of
the assessors, but his name does not occur again, and
instead of him R. Arjeh Leb b. Rabbi Issachar Ber of
Krotoschin officiated as Dayyan.^^^ He occupied the
position from 1H33 and his signature as well as that of
R. Azriel b. David Levi (who always signs first and appears
therefore to have been the senior Dayyan), and of R. Aaron
Lisser appear throughout the whole MS. R. Aaron acted
generally as secretary except in the years 1841 (p. 31 a) to
1845 (p. 39 a), when R. Eliezer b. Uri Lisser was Sofer.
The minutes in MS. Adler 2257 refer mostly to divorce
cases, of which about 13 to 15 took place every year.
There are many instances of conversions to Judaism, mostly
of women who were about to marry Jews, and others who
lived with Jews and had children from them, in which
cases the children were likewise converted. The English
law did not permit conversion to Judaism. The 'Act for
the more effectual suppressing of Blasphemy and Profane-
ness ' of 1698 provides: that if any person 'having made
profession of the Christian religion within this realm shall
by writing printing teaching or advised speaking, deny any
of the Persons of the Holy Trinity to be God shall
from henceforth be disabled to sue in any court of law
or equity or to be guardian of any child, or executor or
>" Son of Mr. Samuel Alia St. nn 0"n 13*:D^ ^3D3 N' '2'V :n2D
D'n lyjD^ bip nxiv ny cn^a niy3i ^ntj"' bnp2 xn^ ^iNn Nin
^"r *iSn nn ni"o n):^n2 ^xnty dix: ^ncnpn i:min mi |n b^
HD'bD n"3 ]'^r\ii P'n 'iNJ ^'VT ^^^•D pnN n"D2 yb nth^ din*:.
"" His signature is: 1]}2 -\2^:^>'* iTlD 3nn3 2^b KIVT 'nx '1XJ
P'J'XCXIpD. His father, R. Issacliar Beer, it seems, died about 1838 ; his
son puts y'VT for the fir.st lime on .) Ilestvan 5599 after his name (p. 34 l>^.
I20 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
administrator of any person, or capable of any legacy
or deed or gift and shall also suffer imprisonment for the
space of three years without bail or mainprize from the time
of such conviction ' (H. S. Q. Henriquez : Jews and the
English Law, London, 1908, pp. 13-14), This Act enabling
criminal prosecution against Jews who obtain proselytes
from Christianity, though never acted upon, still remains
in the Statute-Book as part of the Law of England {ib.
p. 18). During the Rabbi's tenure of office a non-Jew who
desired to convert to Judaism had to go to Holland or other
places on the Continent to undergo the ceremony.the London
Beth Din only confirmed ^^^ the act by the repetition of Tebila
(n7''nD) or in cases where the authority of the continental
Beth Din was not sufficiently proved (New York, p. 57 b}.'^"
The majority of these people went to Rotterdam, some
to the Hague and Amsterdam, others to Elburg, but a case
from Paris is also recorded. This refers to a lady called
Sarah, who was engaged ' to one of the Rothschilds ' in
1840, and the minute book states 'she was obliged to come
to London from Dublin to undergo again the ceremony of
the ritual bath (p. 29 a).^^^ Conversions which took place
in Holland are recorded even on the last page of the MS.
of the year 1855; a Dr. Samuel, who is often mentioned,
acted as Mohel in cases of conversion of men.
The MS. is full of other important information relating
"9 Page 3 b (19 Tebet 1833) : nvn^ DTID^ON ^"\>h '^'h D'^DH . . .
m5< u\v 1^^:^ riNTH njnoa ni::^"i pxc nono dc' ^id^j.
'" m^jrij "y:;^ rr\-^ nni^jn v"nn irj2n ni?3D: n"3 'n or :fVD
none"! Rothschilds D'N'ipjn D"'nNn p nnx^ myvD nmi mxD p"3
N\T nnyoi n'^jc' oys h\ixh p^nxi "po t\':t\ nu^ .niDivin didjh nya
.... \r\yCi pn ^XTki-'^i? ^■^'xh nnniD (follow the signatures of R, Azricl
b. David, R. Aaron Lisstr, R. Arjeh Jchuda Leb Krotoschin).
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL 121
to the contemporary status of the London Jews, and it
would be a laudable undertaking to have it printed in
extenso. To mention only a few items. The names
of the Jews are already then nearly all anglicized, Levy,
Benjamin, Nathan, Cohen, Lazarus, Harris, Samuel, are
very frequent, but we meet also names like Baker, Moseley
(p. 19 b), Butcher (p. 20 b), Lyons {ibid.), Marks, Lewis
(p. 21 b), Jones (pp. 33 and 40 b), and even Picard ^^^
(p. 43 b). ]\Ir. Levy of Eagle Court, Strand, calls his
daughters Minky, Polly, Betsey, and Fiby (1840, p. 27 b).
The places of residence are likewise of interest. A certain
Hindele, daughter of Jacob, lives in her father's house
No. 87 Piccadilly (1835, p. 10 b), while Mrs. Bcr Reeves,
whose husband divorced her on the 3rd of Sivan, 1837,
lived at 'J,^ Great Marlborough Street, which house was the
property of a Mr. Rolfe. Most of the Jewish addresses
were, however, in the East End and City, some of them
are given with special accuracy : * 13 Mount Terrace, White-
chapel, opposite Pavilion' was the dwelling of Haim b.
Isaac in Gnesen, who had become ' Henry Marks of London',
and married secretly the girl Leah, daughter of Lsaac
Alexander in 1838 (p. 21 b). Of special interest is the
record (in^r^) of the erection, in 1838, of twelve new, fine
houses called ' New Buildings ' in Devonshire Street, Bethnal
Green, built by A. L. Moses, Esq., for twelve honourable
men and their families, 'houses the like of which never
were built before'. Moses also erected there a Synagogue,
which should be open for prayers day and night, and
appointed a scholar who should ' learn ' there Torah every
evening before the evening prayer (n^3"iy n7Dn mip).
>« Notable is llic following entry, p. 1 1 h, N3 U '2 '3'V "I^D2 li'pn
•Jew U.y' ^3 'D3 Sip: 'm TJ'« ^'I ejOV n3 ^D'J nC'NH >»'"n3 'J£^.
122 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
R. Solomon was asked to make an Erub (nnvn ""aiTy) for
the inhabitants of that courtyard to enable them to carry
from one house to the other on Sabbath days, for which
purpose the Rabbi appeared and addressed the new
residents with words ' entering the hearts ', impressing
upon them the importance and the holiness of the Sabbath
day, and made them promise not to carry outside that
court (p. 23). The ceremony took place on the 6th of
Tammuz, 1838.
At other times cases of less pleasant character called
for the attention of the Beth Din. Mention is made of
people who are transported to Sidney for a number of
years, and the wife commits adultery in the meantime.
Cases of the marriage trick (see above, p. 467) are recorded
several times. Civil cases, which as a rule form the
greatest part of a continental Beth Din's activity, were
hardly brought before the London Rabbinate, unless it
be that they were recorded in another book, against which
speaks the fact that one or two are recorded. On p. 29 b
we find the claim of Zeev Wolf Raphael (i'ssyn) of Cologne
(r^yp x^'V^) against Meir, the Reader of the New Synagogue,
for the return of a bag of money containing £'K1S- Raphael
had given him a sack in which were two bags, but only
one was found on reopening the sack. The Beth Din
decides that although there is not a shadow of doubt upon
the honesty of the Hazan Meir, he was, as guardian of the
money handed to him, responsible for the loss, and would
have to pay the whole money claimed if Raphael confirms
by oath that the sack contained the amount. In order
to free Raphael from the oath the parties agree that
R. Meir should pay him ^315 by monthly instalments of
;^5 each (27 Tammuz, 1840, p. 29 b).
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL I23
Of the further contents of the MS. are to be mentioned
a copy of a Responsum of R. Akiba Eger, Rabbi of Posen,
in matters of a Get. The letter was received by R.
Solomon on Friday, 3 Kislev, 1835, and he is addressed
as ]^'^:^b na"s '": nr^bii' n"io ddiid?:.! "Tin^Nn pKjn '•n^nn nnj^
(p. 7 b).
A Responsum by R. Solomon in answer to a question
addressed to him by Jacob (of?) Sunderland, referring to
a mistake found in a scroll of Law is found on p. 22 b,
while on p. 35 a is a document of testimony from Manchester
signed on 17 Heshvan, 1843, by Simon b. Reuben, Parnas
of the congregation, Abraham b. Jacob Benjamin Zeev
Franklin, warden of the Hebra Kadisha ; Eliezer b. Abraham
Judah, and Israel Joseph, son of the Rabbi Aaron Mirels,
Shohet and Reader of the Manchester community. The
testimonial referred to the conversion in Rotterdam of
a lady, who, accompanied by Isaac, son of the warden
Abraham Franklin, i.e. Dr. I. Franklin, went to Rotterdam
and brought the document of the Beth Din from there to
Manchester.
R. Solomon was, as is apparent from the foregoing,
conscientiously and strictly religious, and was recogni/xd
as an authority in Rabbinic Law. The community appre-
ciated their Rabbi, and held him in high esteem to the end
of his days. We hear in 1841 that ' iit a banquet held at
Birmingham the health of the Chief Rabbi was drunk,
everybody rising in respect *. This was no more than he
deserved. His whole life was devoted to the care of his
congregants. Even their private interests were furthered
by him where and whenever he could he of lu-li) to tlum.
We have, fortunately, in MS. Adler 4 1 '')0 a number of
letters preserved which give us an account of the last
124 RABRINATF. OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
fourteen years of his life and activity. This MS. contains
copies of letters of R. Solomon in Hebrew and English,
dealing with family affairs and official correspondence.
The MS. consists of 269 folios in large 4to, of which
fols, 39-95, 98 a, 100 a, 160 b, 165 b, 187 a, 189 a, are
entirely blank, while others are only half filled. The
English letters cover most of the written pages. The dates
extend from 5586 (1826) till 5600 (1840). He signs mostly
' S. Hiyschcir , not Herschell, and the address of his resi-
dence is given as '5 Bury Court'. The MS. represents a
wealth of material not only for Anglo-Jewish history, but
also for the History of the Jews in America, always closely
related to the same, and to the Jews of Poland and Russia.
His correspondence with Poland was so large that he had
to petition the Government in respect of letters sent to
him without the postage having been paid by the sender.
This document is written on Nov. 18, 5588 (1727), and
is addressed to ' Francis Freely, Esq. ' (MS. Adier 4160,
p. 163 b), and a few passages of the same may be quoted :
' ... In the first place I beg leave to acquaint the Honourable
Board that having passed the early part of my life in study
of several of the Jewish Colleges in Poland, as well as
having officiated for a time as Chief Rabbi in that country,
I became generally known throughout the several congre-
gations therein, and having since been called to that office
in (p. 163 a) this great and important metropolis, it is
a natural consequence that all those who have no com-
mercial or natural connexions in London fly to apply to
me as a resort to assist their various wants or inquiries,
besides, as the principle organ of Religious or Statistical
regulations, a considerable correspondence is necessarily
imposed on me with respect to marriages, divorces, &c., &c.,
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL I25
those combined causes join to overwhelm me with letters
which in no way concern me, and induce an expense far
beyond my means to supply, and from my unwillingness
to return letters which appear to have the most distant
probability of being important to poor persons although
unknown, I am in possession of a considerable number
for which I have paid the postage, but which I neither
know whom to deliver or expect to be repaid.
Great as this evil may be, I should (be) content to
sacrifice all that I can for the benefit of the many wretchedly
poor persons who are concerned, but the additional expense
of the register renders this impossible, and on this point
I request more minutely to enter into explanation in order
to account for the number that arrive under this increased
expense. It is greatly to be lamented that the Post Office
regulations, and certainly a great number of delivery of
letters sent by that conveyance are in great number of
foreign states far inferior to that of this country('s) great
commercial emporium, but most particularly is it to be
deplored throughout Poland and perhaps Russia and no-
where so much in respect the communications for the
smaller towns and villages therein, seldom does a letter
from a private individual, unless a regular commercial
established house, arrive at its destination whether the
money received for postage is unaccounted for and the
letter destroyed I will not venture to assert, but certain
it is that if any person wishes to insure its transit it has
imiformly been found expedient to register the same as
then the office receipt is brought back to the sender, this
part will account for the number of letters arriving with
such a guarantee in this Country even from poor i)eoplc
to whom such letter is of vital importance, so strong indeed
126 RAIBBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
is this truth that I have very frequently lost many impor-
tant letters sent from my own family whom I have for-
bidden to register (such warnings are found in many of
the Hebrew and Yiddish letters of this MS., e.g. pp. lob
and 23 b), and very often receive letters from the cir-
cumatious (?) sorrow on that account. The forbidding the
parties to register is impossible as few come from the same
source, the number arriving are in great part from new and
strange correspondents.
The evil of which I complain and hope for some
arrangement to be made by the Honourable Board for my
relief comprehending the levity to be wished for in behalf
of the poor distressed correspondence is : the charge made
by the London Office for Registry, which infinitely sur-
passes the postage. I am quite alive to the possible
opening this may form for fraud, but the cases that come
under my observation are in no way connected with mer-
cantile or commercial concerns. The subjects generally
consist of enquiries from wives after husbands, children
after parents, subjects alas lately becoming too frequent
in consequence of some severe Russian Decrees against
our devoted nation, or professional letters respecting
divorces, &c., &c. I am aware that in many instances
where I have sent the parties them.selves to claim their
letters that the Registry fee has generally been remitted,
but I wish it to be understood that I have never purposely
sent them with an expectation that such would be necessary
consquence. The Office must be best judge of its own
actions. Where a particular request from me should be
presented, stating the inability of the party to pay . . .'
What better proof is required for the saintly nature,
kind heart, and at the same time for the honest, business-
like manner of our Rabbi than this his own letter, which,
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL I27
I believe, was written by his own hand, although most
of the EngHsh letters were written by others according to
his instructions, as he himself says in one of these letters.
That the Post Office authorities handed out letters from
abroad to poor people without making them pay the postage,
was obviously done out ©f regard for R. Solomon Hirschel,
and proves that he had influence even in non-Jewish quarters.
Of this we have also other indications in this MS.
The Duke of Sussex was a great friend of the Jews ;
reports were current that he knew Hebrew which he had
studied under the Rev, Solomon Lyon of Cambridge, and
that ' he read daily portions of the Bible in the grand
old language in which it was originally written ', says
Mr. Picciotto {Sketches, p. 286). Rabbi Solomon seems
to have been well acquainted with him, as we see from
a letter which he sent to the Duke in 1840 after a dinner
at the house of one of the Goldsmids. The letter reads
(MS. Adler 4160, p. ic6 a, middle) :
'May it please Your Royal Highness:
I respectfully crave Your Royal Highness permission
to offer my humblest apologies for having withdrawn from
Mr. Goldsmids without offering my humble duty to Your
Royal Highness: but as I felt very unwell and did not
wish to derange the party, I left the house without bidding
farewell to any one.
That it may please the great and merciful Lord of all
long to preserve and prosper Your Royal Highness, the
friend of Israel, the zealous patron of justice humanity and
liberality is the sincere wish of Your Royiil Highness
faithfully and obedient . . .
."J Bury Court City
24 June 5600 am.
To His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex.'
128 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
We have also other correspondence with non-Jews.
At the time of the blood-libel in Damascus (1840), when
Sir Moses Montefiore and M. Cremieux played such a
splendid role in vindicating their brethren in the East
and the Jews in general, R. Solomon Hirschel apparently
declared publicly on oath that Jews never use nor have
ever used human blood in connexion with any of their
ceremonies. The MS. contains a ' copy of a letter ad-
dressed to Dr. Hirschel ' by a Mr. John Joseph Stockdale
of Gloster Gate, Regents Park, dated July 4, 1840, wherein
the writer reminds the Rabbi that his oath, ' pure in its
intention and spirit as I am satisfied it is, may not go
farther than you contemplate. According to our Chronolo-
gists in the year of the world 2106 — or when the L — d
G — d Omnipotent constituted Abram and his seed by
Isaac, G — d's peculiar people, he appointed circumcision
as the seal of such covenant. Should no blood be shed
in your rite of circumcision your oath is, I admit literally
correct ; but if circumcision induce blood, I submit it to
your consideration.' Although the writer adds : ' Permit
me to add, I could not for an instant implicate the sacred
purity and propriety of what you meant to swear, " no use
of human blood in any human rite ", I believe your object
to be truth, charity, and humanity, pursued with zeal, which
I wish were universal. Pardon me, who I am an unworthy
Christian, but not less an admirer of G — d's peculiar
people, of whom your ancestors and Self for more than
ten generations have been chief spiritual guides . . . pardon
me I repeat the bold, but not unholy intrusion ' (pp. 104-5).
We find no answer of the Rabbi recorded. The writer's
bad faith was apparent, for, if he knew anything about
Judaism and Jewish rites, he must have known that even
RABBI SOLOMON IIIRSCHEL I29
at the ceremony of circumcision, the blood itself is not
used, but is washed off and dried up in the ordinary surgical
way. The Rabbi therefore probably thought it best not
to answer, for he did not believe in polemics with people
of other faiths. Such polemics could only bring about
conflicts between the adherents of different religions. The
Rabbi says so plainly in a letter to Rev. T. Smith (p. 135 b),
which reads: 'Dr. Hirschell's compts to the Rev. Mr. T.
Smith, assures him that his occupations have been too
multifarious to allow him to peruse the sermon sent, and
having long made up his mind not to enter into Polemical
Correspondence on religious subjects seeing that each Party
remain of the same opinion still, and that they only produce
and augment a bitterness of spirit, he must decline replying
to the questions proposed on the verses of Daniel, which
have so long been subjects of dispute and of acknowledged
mystery. Neither can he consider the tone of the second
note enticing, nor the threat of publication imperious
enough to induce him to alter his resolution of avoiding
all conflict between religionists.
5 liury Court
Nov. 25,th 5591 {1^31).'
The Rev. T. Smith was probably in league with the
' London Society ' for Promoting Christianity among Jews,
founded in 1S08, which at the time this letter was written,
unfolded a feverish activity among the Jews, and not
always without success. The Rabbi, although he did not
enter into public discussions, did his best through activity
among his own congregants, to frustrate the iiiissidn.uics'
efforts. Among the leaves of the MS. (between pp. 105-6)
I found a loose letter addres.scd to a Mrs. Magncs, asking
her to hclj) her sfjn-in-law in bringing up his children in
D. K
130 RABBINATF. OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
the faith of their Fathers. ' I feel extremely sorry to state
to you this most unpleasant affair of your Daughter, which
I suppose you are already acquainted with, who after
receiving so frequently your kind assistance in perhaps
more than is in your power, has thrown herself away with
her 2 children. But what is past can not be recalled.
Yet as the children have been so fortunate that their Father
arrived from America and in the midst of great sorrow and
calamity has tried to rescue the innocent children and has
taken them out of the hands of everlasting ruin, I feel
it my duty knowing you for so many years always acting
up to our religion in the strictest manner, and nevef
withheld your assistance to the poor, where is there greater
^nd important Charity than to save innocent children from
the hands of D^IJ much more your own dear grandchildren
which are considered as your own children, that you will
do what lies in your power to assist their Father to keep
them.' Equally important is another letter addressed to
a member of his congregation warning him not to attend
meetings of supporters of the London Society (p. 146 b).
The letter was written on Feb. 22, 1827, but no name is
mentioned. ' Sir, Allow me from the nature of my Office as
well as from my conscientious feeling to call youf attention
to the necessity of not only duly practising the duties of
our holy religion but also of avoiding in places where
contrary doctrines are held forth as it appears you have
done by attending at a Meeting held by the supporters
of the London Society, where much was spoken by one
who has abrogated the Jewish religion for reason best
known to himself. The presence of any Jew at such
a meeting is not only improper in itself, but gives an
apparent sanction or approbation to it and, however un-
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL I3I
founded, encourages a false hope in the practice that their
preaching has effect. Let me therefore caution you not
to appear at any of such meetings lest it should appear
as if you encouraged the system when you merely went from
curiosity: (Prov.c.i.v. 15) DDTDiD ib:'^ y:D ons* i"n3 "i^^ri ba ""33
and let me direct your attention to the fifth chapter of
Proverbs which alludes particularly to the doctrines of such
a society.
Nor let any personal figure (feeling ?) against any
member of your congregation induce you to act so un-
wisely merely in opposition to them np^ e|Dn Dan v^^
{ibid. c. i. V. 5}. I hope you will take this in good part and
believe it is transmitted to you in good faith and with the
best wishes of your welfare by your
sincere friend.'
Other letters referring to missionaries are on pp. 201,
203, 235 a, 256, 259 b, 260. On one occasion he requests
a provincial congregation to give every facility of returning
to the Jewish fold to a man who seems to have repented
his conversion to Christianity. If he publicly atones and
in the Synagogue declares that he again wishes to adhere
to the Jewish faith and to the tenets of Jewish Religion he
should be received in a friendly manner and supported in
his efforts to again become a true and faithful member
of the Jewish community.
A 'Society for the prevention of Juvenile corruption'
called itself likewise the ' London Society', and R. Hirschel
writes with reference to this (p. 201): ' I need not add that
your Society has my best wishes and that any assistance
in my power will be readily afforded. I would recommend
that your circular be sent to each of the Synagogues in the
Metropolis, a list (jf whitli I add. I iiiiist however beg
K 2
132 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
leave to observe that the designation "London Society"
which you have adopted is rather fclicitious (unfortunate ?)
as you expose your laudable association to be compounded
with, and mistaken for another " London Society " for
promoting Christianity among the Jews, for the confusion
of ideas resulting from this similarity of designation may
tempt many to identify you with the other London Society
which certainly does not number many friends among us.'
A missionary Mr. Wolff, by all appearances an apostate
Jew, receives the following letter in answer to a request for
an interview :
(p. 144a) 'Copy of an answer to Joseph Wolff, a mis-
sionary for Palestine.
' Dr. Hirschel acknowledges the receipt of Mr. Wolff's
letter, but feels it is inconsistent with his official situation
as it is incongrous (su: !) with his personal feelings that he
should admit Mr. Wolff to be capable of reporting any
conversation between them on his return to Palestine.
' Dr. H. has however no objection to receive any obser-
vation Mr. W. may think for to communicate to him in
writing.'
The position of the Jews in the East, and especially
in Palestine, was a very precarious one at the beginning
of last century. Cries for help from their starving brethren
in the Holy Land reached the ears and hearts of the Jews
all over the world. A society called Pckidim and Amar-
kulim of the Jewish Congregations of the Holy Land was
formed in Amsterdam under the presidency of R. Zevi
Hirsch Lehren (i 784-1 853), and his brother Akiba Lehren
( 1 795-1 876), and a similar society was formed in London
in 1827 (cp. y.E., vol. VII, pp. 668-9). The appeal was
made by the Rabbi at a meeting of the Shehita Committee
quite spontaneously, and the Parnassim of the Synagogue
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL 133
at St. Albans Place were offended that they had not been
approached to become members of the committee set up
for the purpose. R. Solomon Hirschel sends them a letter
of explanation on June 12, 5597, and asks them for help
' in behalf of those unfortunate sufferers '.
The Committee consisted of J. Guedalla, Sir Moses
Montefiore, and H. Bensusan. Similar societies under the
name ' Hebrat Terumat Hakodesh ' were formed also in
America. In New York ' Geo. A. Furst, Esq.' was Secretary
to that Society, and the London Committee informs him
in June, 1^36, that they had resigned their offices, asking
him to instruct the ' Rev. Dr. Hirschell as to the way in
which it is your pleasure he should dispose of the moneys
you have remitted to him' (p. 187b; also p. 204b). In
Charleston, S. C, Mr. H. M. Hertz was chairman of the
Society (p. 191, dated 5596; p. 204a, Elul, 5597 ; p. 204b,
Jan. 4, 5597, when the money collected at Charleston is
sent by Mr. S. C. Levy of that city to Messrs. Rothschild).
A Mr. D. Davis of New York dedicates his lectures to the
London Rabbi, who, on Aug. 27, 5597, sends him 'best
thanks for the honour you confer on me. Permit me to
assure you that I deeply sympathize with our bicthicii in
the Western 1 Icmisphere and am happy to liiul they arc
not inattentive to their best interests, moral and mental
improvements, and consequently obedient to the Laws and
observances enjoined by our G — d and beiiueathed unto
us by our fathers.
' That the Giver of all Good may vouchsafe to render
your efforts to instruct his people as useful as they are
will . . . and reward your /cal with all hap[)ine.ss here and
hereafter is the sincere wish of.
Dear Sir,
Y(jurs very truly.'
134 BABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
The congregation of Kingston in Jamaica addresses
several questions to the Rabbi. On one occasion he sends
with his reply : Regulations for the Kadeshim (D''K"np) on
the eve of the 9th of Ab, 1841 (pp. 97 a-96 a), while in
1830 he had addressed a letter to 'Messrs. P. Lucas, H.
Levy, D. Jacobs, of the British and German Congregations
of the Jews in Kingston in Jamaica, dated Feb. 2, 5590.'
He writes : ' Gentlemen, yours of the 9th Nov. ult. I have
received and feel obliged by the polite mode in which
my official actions are acknowledged and in return must
express myself as ever ready and willing to promote the
welfare of the English and German Congregation at
Kingston.' The letter deals with a case of Halizah of
a Mr. Benjamin Phillips. Another letter (p. 235 a) is
addressed to Messrs. Lawrence, Jacobs, and Lyons,
Committee of the Vestry, &c., Kingston.
R. Solomon was not always reluctant to enter into
correspondence with non-Jews. A most cordial letter to
Colonel Powell, who was a friend of a Mrs. Emanuel, is
found on p. 113b. The colonel had asked him for the
meaning of the word C'lT'p (he spells it in English as
'Keedush'), which question is answered fully on three pages
(113a, b, and 112b). The letter concludes, 'Dr. Hirschell
regrets to learn that colonel Powell is indisposed. He had
(as he thought) understood from Mrs. Emanuel that colonel
Powell was desirous of personally to communicate with
him, which was the reason why Dr. Hirschell appointed
a time for the interview, as his advanced age and infirmities
do not permit him at all times to receive visitors ' (March 20,
5600).
A ' friend of Israel ' receives the following answer
(p. 124b): 'Sir, the letter you addressed to me, and the
call you and your friend Mr. Simpson have favored me
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL I35
with afford me the agreeable satisfaction of knowing that
among your people, the friends of truth and universal
happyness are anxious for the restoration of Israel and
address their supplications to the most High beseeching
him to hasten the day " when the whole earth shall be
filled with the knowledge of the Lord ". To us the scat-
tered Remnant of Israel the certainty of our hope, the
conviction " that God is not a man that he should lie,
neither a son of men that he should repent", the perfect
reliance which consequently it behoves us to place in his
sacred promise — has during centuries of suffering such as
no other nation ever experienced — afforded constancy un-
yielding and submission unrepining, without a murmur
we receive the chastisement his paternal hand inflicts and
tho' our fervent prayers implore his pardon and supplicate
his mercy, submission to his will is our first duty.' The
letter goes on to prove from scripture that Israel must
wait patiently for redemption, which can only come from
God alone (pp. 121-2 where the first page is re- written).
Unfortunately the name of Mr. Simpson's friend, to whom
the letter is addressed, is not disclosed.
Mr. Peppercorn, another non-Jew, author of the ' Laws
of the Hebrews relating to the Poor', receives a letter
of thanks from the Kabbi for a copy of this work.
•. . . The Rev. Dr. will take the earliest opportunity
which his advanced age and pressing avocations permits,
Mr. P's work by comparing it with the original of Maimo-
nides and will not fail to acquaint Mr. P. with his opinion
on that, till then he can say he is much pleased to see the
truly philantropic love of his Nation, enlisleii as the
Auxiliary of Charity and Benevolence.
' ', ]}ury Court
' 2 May, -,5y«.'
136 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Among letters to individuals we find such addressed
to Sir Moses Montefiore (p. 218), to Amshcl Mayer Roth-
schild (pp. 146 a, 183), Solomon Heine in Hamburg, Dr.
Raphael, Leopold Dukes (pp. 208-9), ^"^ others of less
note. Letters to provincial congregations fill by far the
greatest part of the volume, and deal mostly with ritual
questions such as the appointment or dismissal of a Shohet,
marriages, and divorce cases, but also on occasions when
internal strife, quarrels among the individual members
disturbed the peace in a congregation, the counsel and
advice of the Rabbi was invoked. Portsmouth gave him
most trouble in this respect (pp. 99a-i07b, ii6b, 119,
130 a, 135, 143 a, I4«b, 169 a, 221a, 223 a, 229 a, 244 b,
261 a). One passage in a letter to this congregation
(p. 106 b) could well be applied in our days. ' Do not let
selfish considerations stand in the way of unanimity and
Concord. Those who hold offices should recollect that they
are not appointed for the qualification (gratification ?) of
their vanity and self importance but for the good of the
congregation. And those who do not hold office should
remember that officers duly elected by the majority are
entitled to respect and obedience. Do this and good
feeling and propriety of conduct will soon be restored
among you for G — ^ will bless his people with Peace.'
Among other congregations are to be mentioned : Bath
(p. 166 a); Brighton (pp. 109, 145 a); Bristol (pp. 167a,
173 b, 176 a, 222 b, 227 b, 228 a); Birmingham (pp. 196 b,
aiaa, 220, 225 b, 238 a, 239 b, 251 b) ; Canterbury (pp.141 b,
181 a) ; Chatham (pp. 208 a, 252 a) ; Edinburgh (pp. 126 a,
179b); Glasgow (p. 179a); Ipswich (pp. 142a, 23za,
248 b, 254 a); Liverpool (pp. 115 a, 156 a: to Mr. Moses
Samuel, St. James' Street, 194 a, 245 a) ; Manchester
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL 137
(pp. 108 a, 1 1 1 b, 195 b, 251 b) ; Newcastle (pp. 142 a, 256 b) ;
Jersey (p. 198 b); Plymouth (pp. 168 a, 215 a, 359 a);
Portsea (pp. 1 18 a, 206 a, 249 b, 350 a) ; Swansea (pp. 225 a,
344 b); Southampton (p. 178 a). Letters in which the
personal motive is predominant are perhaps more illus-
trating to show a full life-picture of our Rabbi. In this
connexion one letter, of which my friend Mr. E. N. Adler
said it was ' quite classical ', is w^orth quoting in full. The
letter (p. 268 a) is addressed to ' Master Elias ', who, I ven-
ture to suggest, was the son of Hazan D. Elias of the
Great Synagogue, who had to resign his position on
account of ill-health in 1829 (Picciotto, Sketches, -p. '^'^}).
The Rabbi writes:
' That you are obstinate and unruly I have long known :
but that you would carry these faults to the extent you
do, I did not expect. Recollect yourself and reflect on
your situation. Your only hope of ever becoming a useful
member of society rests on your behaving properly during
your apprenticeship and learning your trade as you ought.
Do this and I will still be your friend as I have been : but
if you will be disobedient and persist in your ill conduct,
I must decline assisting you or doing any more for you.
You know what trouble and anxiety I have had on your
account : and now I devote money and time for your
welfare I have a right to expect that you should prove
yourself worthy of my kindness, which you can only do
by proper behaviour to your Master. If you (juit hini the
money paid for you is lost, and I shall certainly not do
any thing whatever for you. I therefore again repeat,
reflect on your situation ; your welfare or ruin dc[)cnds
ui)on }-(jur own conduct. Be wise and show those who
have befriended you for your father's sake that their kind-
138 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
ness has not been wasted on you. If you do not bestow
on my advice you will repent it when it is too late, I am
your well-wisher as you behave.'
It is like the words of a father to his son that we
hear spoken when we read these lines. Amongst all his
activities, his infirmity, and in the midst of his continuous
study and arduous communal duties, the Rabbi finds time
to write a letter like this to a young boy whom he
befriends. And this was not the only boy whom he took
under his care. On p. 206 a of the MS. we find the
copy of a letter to Messrs. B. and VV. Levy at Portsca,
dated Feb. 9, A. M. 5597, written on behalf of a young boy
named Elkin Gollin, who was to be placed under the care
of Messrs. Levy. The Rabbi would have liked the youngest
brother of the boy to go to Portsea instead, but ' Mrs. Gollin
not being willing to send her youngest son ... in answer
to yours of the 24th ult. concerning Elkfn Gollin Ibeg to
say that Mrs. Gollin is agreeable to send him to your care
and I trust that under your protection he will do as well.
You are no doubt aware of his being much younger than
his brother Elias, and I hope therefore that your fostering
kindness may be extended watchfully over him, were it
possible I should be desirous of having a little conversation
with you, whereby you might explain many points to
me. . . .' The rest of the letter deals with the question
whether a Jew having a non-Jew as partner may allow the
business to be open on the Sabbath day, and the Rabbi
replies in the affirmative with the reservation that the
contract between the partners must clearly state that
the profits made on the Sabbath day belong solely and
exclusively to the non-Jewish partner.
Another document (p. 184 b) dated June 6, 5.;;96 (1836)
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL 1 39
reveals the Rabbi as peacemaker between father and son.
' I should have replied to your letter earlier but waited
in hopes being enabled to affect a reconciliation between
yourself and your family. ... I have and am yet willing
to do all in my power to make Peace, in the mean time
you must not forget that it is your duty to open the road
and to strive (strain ?) every nerve to bring about the
required object you are anxious to obtain.' The letter is
addressed to the son, and I do not think it is a coincidence
that the names of persons are omitted in the copies of
private letters. lie was so anxious to guard the secrets
of others that he would not even entrust to his private
copy-book the names of the people concerned. The letter
of the Rabbi had the result hoped for, if, as we may
assume, the letter following on the next page (185 a), dated
June 15, 5596, refers to the same people. This letter is
addressed to a brother of some one who had had a dispute
with his parents. ' I am happy to find that my letter has
produced the desired effect, indeed nothing affords me more
pleasure than to promote peace and goodwill among my
flock and much more between Father and Son and I hope
tliat this will, at all events have the happy effect of teaching
people to be more cautious before they take an oath, which
I am inclined {o think too frequently occurs from their
acting from the impulse and passion, and not attaching that
importance to the sacred name which as human beings
they ought to do and next to this in tiic words of the
divine I'salmist: " How beautiful and pleasant for l^rethren
to dwell together in harmony". I can assure you (liat my
pleasure will not be a litlle increased by }()U ami )'our
]irolher entering the compact and hence forward feeling
towards each other as Ihnlhers and men ou;.;lit to do.'
140 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
A similar letter follows, very likely relating to the same
people, bearing no date and no names ; of this I shall only
note the postscript : ' N.B. This letter will be handed you
by Mr. Cohen to whom I have instructed to tell you that
Immediately after the Post is in you will call on your
Parents and ask their forgiveness and also write to your
Brother and thank him for his interference. I have written
to them on that head and trust that after all unfriendly
feelings betwixt the families will be done away with.
Should your parents not be at Portsmouth you will imme-
diately on receiving this write to them and also to your
Brother thanking him for his interference.' The beginning
of the letter reveals the cause of the father's anger. ' I this
day received a letter from your Brother of Southampton
by which I was more than happy to find that your
respected father is likely to be reconciled to the Marriage
which you are about to celebrate, I hope to your happiness
and prosperity, having done all my efforts to produce this
desired end, I feel it now my duty to call on you religiously
to perform your part, and as we hope to be forgiven our
sins on our nsin day, so we must do our part to merit it. . . .'
I have reproduced the last sentence for the purpose of
preserving this old and beautiful Jewish tradition which
I think is almost forgotten. To enable the young couple
to enter the sacred state of matrimonial life in perfect
purity of heart and purpose God forgives them all their
sins on the wedding day. That is the reason why both
bride and bridegroom fast on the wedding day till after
the ceremony, an introductory part of which is that both
say the afternoon prayer for the eve of Atonement day,
with the full confessional prayers.
Among the professional Rabbinical letters we find
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL I4I
several addressed to R. Akiba Eger of Posen, to whom he
sent money for distribution to relatives of London Jews
living in Poland, to R. Efraim Zalman Mar^'olies of Brod,
to the Rabbi of Lemberg whom he calls 'cousin' and to
the Rabbi of Paris (p. 250). Many of these letters refer
to the divorce of his daughter Fegele, of which we shall
hear later. He had correspondence with the Rabbi of
Bordeaux, David Marks about the supply of Kasher wine
and brandy (pp. 119-20) asking him to supervise the expe-
dition of such wine by a wine merchant called Mr. Isaacson
of Bordeaux. Page 269 has a note : bi^yr^ N'byriSD p"p1 ann
Events in the commercial world were also taken note
of. On p. 228a we read: 'Copy of the Cornwall Royal
Gazette : The Queen has been graciously pleased, by
warrant from the Lord Chamberlain to appoint Mr. H.
Harris, No. 8 Leman St. to be her Majesty's Jeweller in
ordinary at Truro.' Copy of a notice by the ' Wherry
Mining Company, Mounts Bay, Penzance, Cornwall ', in-
forming shareholders that ' the third call of 30^-. per share
is now made', dated Nov. 27, 1837, discloses that the
Rabbi must have had some interest in these shares.
A great deal of trouble must have caused hini the
letters received from Poland and the money sent through
him for distribution in Poland. Apart from Rabbi Akiba
Eger, his son-in-law R. Samuel Zellikcr, husband of his
daughter Golde, and his father Nahum Zellikcr received
remittances from our Rabbi for distribution in Poliinl.
On one occasion the Rabbi nearly lost ^^104 in these
transactions for the benefit of others ([>. 1 1 h).
While their Rabbi was thus engaged working constantly
in order to strengthen and preserve Jewish life and Jewish
142 RARBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
tradition his congregation developed on what we call
nowadays 'modern lines'. Already as early as 1821 a
petition for the shortening of the Mishebcrach, signed by
several members of the Synagogue, was submitted to the
managing committee. The petitioners were anxious to
improve the decorum of the Synagogue. They call the
institution of Misheberach 'a system of finance for which
the most solemn prayers are hurried over and which is
inconsistent with decorum and public order'. This was
a sign of the times, a beginning of the modernization of
Anglo-Jewry which ultimately ended in the establishment —
in 1841 — of the Reform Synagogue. Although most of
the founders of the West London Synagogue were members
of the Sephardi congregation (three-fourths), the secession
was more keenly felt by the Ashkenazi community. R.
Solomon Hirschel issued a 'caution* on Sept. 9, 1841,
stating that ' persons calling themselves British Jews pub-
licly and in their published book of prayers reject the Oral
Law ', and further that ' any person or persons declaring
that he, or they, reject and do not believe in the authority
of the Oral Law cannot be permitted to have any com-
munion with us Israelites in any religious rite or sacred
act.' Picciotto tells us on ' unimpeachable authority that
the Rev. S. Hirschel, as well as the Rev. D. Meldola,
signed the above paper with the greatest reluctance, know-
ing that it would cause much exasperation ', &c., and
'even after the Rev. S. Hirschel had been induced to affix
his signature to the document, he wished to recall it. The
caution was not promulgated for some time'. On Saturday,
Jan. 22, 1842, it was read publicly in the principal
Synagogues [Sketches, p. 380). Picciotto apparently knew
only of the first caution, dated 24 Elul, 5602 (1841), and
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL ^43
issued soon after that date. The caution read on Jan. 22
was a second one, dated 9 Heshvan, 5602 (Oct, 24,
i<S4i).'23 The Hcrem was read in all the Synagogues,
except — which is worth noting — in the Western Synagogue,
Haymarket, where the wardens refused to have it read.
The Reform Synagogue was nevertheless established, and
the Herem was afterwards confirmed again by the late
Dr. N. M. Adlcr in 1846.
The stand taken by R. Solomon in connexion with this
secession from the orthodox Synagogue was about the
only part he took in the public life of the London com-
munity. His whole life was devoted to the study of the
Torah and the exercise of the holy Law. From early
morning till late at night, often till long after midnight;
he was bending over the large folios of the Talmud. Of
a keen intellect, he was more a receptive than a productive
scholar, and too much absorbed in his studies to find time
for writing works. No complete work of his remained
after him, the products of his studies were only notes on
the margins of the books he read, of which so far, nothing
has been published. lie was rather tall and of commanding
appearance in his long robe and broad hat, but was rarely
seen except on his way to and from Synagogue. lie lived
an ascetic life, and it is said that for years he did not eat
meat from Sabbath to Sabbath, and fasted every Monday
and Thursday throughout the year.^^*
In iH2.'J Salom J. Cohen published the book Elements
of i'aith in Hebrew, with an l^igUsh translation, by
Joshua Van Oven. '1 he publication was a[>i)rovcd of by
"^ Sec W. Aycrst, 'I'hc Jcwa i>/ the Ninelccttth Century, London, 18,18,
pp. 311 ff.
"* Voice nf Jaroh, II. p. 59.
144 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Rabbi Solomon Hirschel and Haham Raphael Meldola. 'It
is necessary', writes R. Sol. Hirschel in his Hebrew appro-
bation (dated i Kislev, ^l^J^ = 1814), 'to make the Jewish
youth acquainted with the elements of our faith, especially
in this country. I have examined the book carefully and
much approve of it '. This book and Rabbi Solomon
Hirschel for recommending it were attacked by a man
named Yomtof Bennet in a pamphlet entitled Dnip^3 X3D =
x\ basket of Criticism (London, 1837).^^^ Yomtof Baneth,
or as he called himself in English, Salomon Bennett, was
a native of Polotzk in White Russia, and after having been
to Riga, Copenhagen, Berlin, and Paris, came to London
in 1799. He claimed to possess a patent as Royal
Academician of the Berlin Academy in his profession as
engraver. He had acquired some Hebrew knowledge in
his youth, but was not an observant Jew. ' As orthodoxy
was not a favourite theme of mine ', he says of himself,
' particularly as a foreigner and a single man, who cannot
abide by all the strictness of ceremonial laws, I was then
declared a heretic '.^^^ He found friends among the ' English
Gentlemen' who were> divested of religious and national
prejudices, but still he took a lively interest in Jewish com-
munal affairs, apparently to a greater degree than was
agreeable to the community itself. He says that Rabbi
Solomon Hirschel carried hatred against him in his bosom
1^ Another controversial pamphlet appeared in 1808 under the title
'The Axe laid to the Root', or ' Ignorance and superstition evident in the
character of the Rev. S. Hirschell, High Priest of the Jews in England, in
several letters to him on occasion of his having ordered the trees to be
felled in the old burial-ground at Mile End Road.' The author was Levi
Alexander {Bibl. Atigl. ludaica, p. 112).
13^ See Present Reign, &c., p. 4. I am indebted to Rev. M. Roscnbaum
for calling my attention to this rather rare pamphlet.
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL 1 45
since his stay in Berlin on account of some dissension
between Bennett and his father, Rabbi of that metropolis.
R. Hirschel, he complains, caused him ' losses of money
of above one hundred pounds and imprisonments on account
of his portrait'. I have not been able to discover what
portrait this refers to. In the pamphlet ' Tene Bikkurim ',
the English title of which is ' A Collection of Rabbinical
Discussions and Criticisms', Bennett accuses the Rabbi
of having given his approbation to a book which did not
contain the ' elements of faith ', but in many instances
' elements of unbelief (p. 16). In answer to this pamphlet
Mayer Cohen Rintel published a booklet called niiSip nn^D
(London, 1H17, printed by Jechiel Hanau, Bassist of the
Great Synagogue), in which he vindicates ihe writer of
the ' Elements of Faith ' and the Rabbi. It is quite possible
that the whole defence was prepared by Rabbi Solomon,
Rintel being a Shohet and under his jurisdiction. At least
Bennett says so in the reply which he published under the
title 'The Present Reign of the Synagogue ol Dukes Place
displayed '. Rintel, in his Minhat Kenaot, speaks of the
Rabbi in very respectful terms : ' I know the mind of
our revered Rabbi well *, he says, ' he is a Zaddik who
follows in the footsteps of his famous forefathers. Me is
a man (bion N'jij) without pride, not being pleased with
praises, but he also does not grieve when he is blamed,
and docs not mind being criticized. I cannot, however,
stand by and sec our revered and esteemed leader's honour
attacked.'
Bennett's account of R. Solomon is naturally tjuitc
different, but his charges arc, after all, not so very serious,
the principal one being that he cannot speak ICnglish, and
that he had not }'et published any literary work. His
146 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
picture of London Jewry, however, may be of some
interest.
When he arrived there, he tells us, he found the doors
of Jewish houses barred against him in spite of recom-
mendations from friends on the Continent. ' It is a theme
in their religious sentiments, if a Jew be not orthodox in
the extreme they proclaim him to be an infidel, on the
other hand, a man may commit all depredations and im-
moralities, if he contributed to and attended the Synagogue,
he is then, they say, " a good Idde Kiend ". Would I have
been qualified to be a good companion, to associate in
their convivialities, to give an Italian, a French or German
song, would I possess gallant poliicness, undoubtedly I might
obtain their friendship, but alas ! I was never educated to
such fineries '. The causes of these views he explains by
a further statement, that his brethren ' entertained an
inherent hatred against him ', and on which score he had
never met with any cordiality from them. That ' proud
Pontiff, R. Solomon Hirschell, even formed prosecutions
and plans with those who cringe under his government
to obstruct all intercourse among my nation ', and all this
on account of the small work entitled ' Tcne Bikkurim '.
He (Solomon Hirschel) became enraged like a tiger, and
having been unsuccessful among the Chief Rabbis with
respect to an anathema, he had that poultry-slayer Mayer
Cohen, a member of the Petticoat Lane gentry, to compose
the book niNJp nmo =' Avenge Offer'. The anathema was
refused by the Rabbis, the Haham Raphael Meldola, and
by R. Zalman Bahur and Wolf Lissa of the German Jewish
Synagogue. ' One wretched hireling Mr. Miiday of the
Portuguese Synagogue was employed to ruminate the library
of the Medrash ', and from this and ' the extensive closets
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL I47
of a Rabbinical library, which is only in the possession of
R. Solomon Hirschel (if not in his head) was compiled the
vindication entitled "Avenge Offer "P'^ For the last 15 years
of Rabbi Solomon's reign he never made any display of
learning, but rather an exhibition of rabbinical books,
constitutes his Rabbiship.^^** He presented an inventory
of his Rabbinical library with no other views than to
dazzle the sight of his illiterate adherents, as if possessing
an extensive stock of learning exclusively of his council
to consult on every trivial law, namely, R. Zalman Bahur,
R. Wolf Lissa, Z. Mousse Croutchick, Muday, &c. It is
Mr. Witherby (cp. Picciotto, p. 284 ff.; Wolf-Jacobs: Bid/.
Aiiglo-Jiid. nos. 407, 411, 415, pp. 71, 72), Doc. Van Oven,
Mr. Joseph, the poet of Dukes' Place, Mayer Cohen the
poultryman, who arc Solomon Hirschel's Hebrew and
English writers and the active part of his goverment.' He
asks the Rabbi: Why is he so scrutinous of the supposed
conduct of one individual, and yet so indifferent to the bulk
of his Synagogue, the followers of his standard ? seeing that
the Royal Exchange, the Stock Exchange, and the Coffee-
houses adjoining are all filled with Jew-merchants transact-
ing business on the Sabbaths and holy days quite public. Tiic
Rabbi is also aware that the most part of the Jew-merchants
transact business in their countitig and ware-houses on the
Sabbath days without exception ; that Jewish shop-keepers
many of them, keep iheir shops open on the Sabbath day.
' I have very often seen myself, he says, 'Jewish picture
dealers of pretended piety, furniture and cloth-sellers, attcml
public sales on the Sabbath day, all without blushing
before the Christian community . . . and yet our pious
grand Rabbi never rebukes the generality or any individuals
'" Sec HcnncVs Pi escH/ /irii;n, pp. 12-14. "" //W , |i. 19.
I. Z
148 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
for doing so. And why? VVc have sufficient reason to
conjecture, because it would not answer so well his purpose,
or because his followers would look upon him with a
frown.' ^^* Better still than these outbursts are his state-
ments in the Appendix from which I cannot refrain from
quoting a few sentences. ' People at large run away with
a notion, a man of high station in life, when speaking
of a modern Jewish Rabbi, whom they vulgarly call " the
High Priest". ... In my country, viz. White Russia, and
Poland in general, this title of " grand Rabbi " is quite a
legend with the Israelitish public, and I do not hesitate
to assert that taking on an average, one out of two are men
of letters sufficiently qualified to direct themselves and
their brethren so as to live according to the ritual laws
of Israel. All the towns of the mentioned countries have
chosen their Rabbis and teachers out of their own Israelitish
inhabitants. . . . But different is the case in this country,
scarce ojie out of a hundred of the native Jews who, though
they understand a smattering of the Hebrew language, yet
understand not the Hebrew rites, and their liturgy in
general is quite out of the question. The Rabbles, &c.,
functions all must he far fetched, viz. from foreign countries.
Nor is it necessary for a Rabbi in this country to be over-
stocked with difficult learning, as every dispute, even
between brother and brother, comes before the Magistrate
and Law courts. With vehemence I exclaim Alas ! That
the whole Hebrew literature is at stake with my people
«
"9 Ibid., p. 56. Sol. Bennet published also the following works :
Constancy of Israel, 1812; A Discourse on Sacrifices, 1815 ; "'3"lin K^m,
A Theological and Critical Treatise on the Primogeniture and Integrity of the
Holy Language. 1835 ; The Temple of Esekiel with engravings by S. B. 1824.
About him cp. Mathias Levy in Jewish Chronicle, July 31, 1903.
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL 149
in this kingdom (p. 64). A Rabbi in this country is
introduced rather by favour than by merit, and good
recommendations of merchants is quite enough for his
importation. Adding to this, they who instal the Rabbi,
are, unfortunately, not the judges of learning and merit,
and those who are the connoisseurs of that article have not
any authority or vote to speak for or against that, which
was decreed by the rich people.' All this is applied to
R. Solomon Hirschel. 'Now for the happy year 180-2!
London stood in want of the article Rabbi ; acordingly
some of the Jewish merchants, the friends of the Rabbi
at Berlin, recommended his son, the Rabbi of Prentzlow,
to the Jewish merchants in London. Among the eminent
literati were such as Abraham, Benjamin, and Asher
Goldschmids ; Amshell and Lizer Kysers ; Samuel Joseph,
&c. Having been proclaimed by these authorities Pontiff
of Duke's Place, a stop must have been put to any inquiry
whatsoever and whosoever.'
Solomon Bennet's attacks did the Rabbi very little
harm. His charges were all clearly inspired by personal
motives, and it mattered little whether Iknnet considered
him a great scholar or not. I have quoted the foregoing
statements of Bcnnct in order to preserve the names
mentioned therein, some of them well-sounding to this day
in Anglo-Jewry, and in crdcr to depict the state of affairs
in the community as they appeared to him ; part, at least,
of what he says, must have been in accordance with the
facts.
K. Solomon llir.'^chcrs mode of life was v(r\- simple
and modest, and he was able to save /; 14,000, which is the
amount of his estate left on his death. About two years
before he died, he accidentally fell and broke his thigh,
150 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
and never quite recovered from the shock. Two months
before his death he fell again while walking in his room
and broke his collar-bone. The effect of this fall caused
his end on Monday the 27th of Heshvan, 5603 = Oct. 31,
1842, in his eighty-first year.
His wife Rebecca Koenigsberg had predeceased him
by ten years. She died Wednesday, 6th of Tammuz, 1H32,
just while his son Saul, who had settled in Sandomishel
province of Posen, was in London on a visit to his parents.
Saul fell ill during the week of mourning, and died shortly
afterwards in London at the age of thirty-three. He was
one of the Rabbi's youngest children. Of his wife the
Rabbi always speaks with great respect and affection, and
his married life seems to have been a very happy one.
On one occasion he writes to his son David Tevele, who
xvcis his eldest and most troublesome son, that' he would
not have answered his letter had not his mother said a
good word in his favour (MS. A. 4160, p. 256). He had four
sons and four daughters. The sons were David Tevele, Saul,
Ephraim, and Zevi Hirsch. The daughters were Golde,
Shendel, Fegele, and another who apparently remained
unmarried and died some twenty years ago at Ramsgate.
David Tevele married the daughter of Isaac, son of Jonah
Reich of Gumbinnen. A daughter of his marries in 1827,
and his father sends him 500 florins towards her dowry and
loo florins for wedding expenses. David does not seem
to have been reliable in business, and his father sends the
money to his son-in-law, Samuel Zeliker, in Warsaw with
the order not to hand it over until the wedding-day (MS. A.
4160, pp. 25b-26a). The son belittled this contribution from
his father, and he writes himself a letter and, in addition
induces his sister Shendel, of Rava, to plead on his behalf.
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL I5I
The father's answer has some reference to his own position
in London : b'c U'bin i'2n nai^ ]m it:n n^*c -nnriD -i33i . . .
fjDD '^533 ::i3"i."i t2>cn n^ni /nm'' nil" Dn-'S nti^x ^^3i nhyn
'ns^j t:yc3 tj\s mJ3->n hy 'bo T^'nh fi ic's iri^nno 'pia^o
D'^^n c'nya y"? 'jtd n-ii^in nn^o nnntam mnyn nno niy nil''3
i"y3 i3''C'n nnb tj'n nnym nivnsno ,nn mio ijy sidij [i^^n]
'lycv^ ■]3"j' D'JTNi mxn 13"' o^ry^ ms. '. . . I have already
written you not to listen to the general talk of the world,
they speak falsity. See the little possessions I have in
silver and books, I do not deny having them, but I wish
I could afford to sit quietly [live a retired life] and should
have enough to live on from my income, to throw off the
yoke of the Rabbinate from my shoulders, which I can
hardly bear any longer on account of the heavy work and
amount of trouble, apart from my weak state of health
and the aggravation I have on account of the religious
laxity and shamelessness which has become frequent in
our days on account of our sins.' Is it not as if we
heard the Rabbi's father speak seventy years previously?
(MS. 4160, p. 26 a; cp. 7QR., N. S., vol. IX, pp. 124 ff.).
On another occasion the Rabbi writes with reference
to his fame as a rich man (p. 13b). 'I am not a Roth-
schild perhaps not a tenth part of the tenth of his money
do I possess, not in Pounds but not even in Thaler.' David
Tcvcle afterwards settled in Jerusalem. When he left for
the Holy Land the father gave him recommendations to
Messrs. Ililbc Ileugh & Co. of licirut, and sent him letters
throui;h tlic Hritish Consul in Alexandria and Jerusalem.
The addresses were noted in M.S. A. 4160, p. 269 a, as
follows: 'Mr. D. Iliischcll care W'" Young I'lsii"-" H. M.
Vice Consul Jeiubalcm care of II. W. M"" Consul Alexandria
152 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT S\NAGOGUE, LONDON
via Marseilles.' The same address is repeated without the
words referring to Alexandria.
Saul, the second son, had lived in Sandomishel, province
of Posen, and died in London in 1827.
The third son called himself Ephraim London, and
lived in Tysmeni^a in Galicia.
The youngest son was Zevi Hirsch. For some time
he was a wine-merchant in Cracow, and supplied wine to
his father in London (MS. A. 4160, p. 13 a); afterwards he
settled, like his eldest brother, in Jerusalem (Zevi Laz.,
The eldest daughter, Golde, was married to Samuel,
son of Nahum Zelliker in Warsaw, and seems to have been
in good circumstances. They were, as mentioned, the
agents of their father for distributing money from London
Jews to relatives in Poland. On one occasion the Rabbi
received a complaint from the senders that too much
commission was deducted in Warsaw for a transmittance,
and instead of 108 thaler 12 gr. only 102 thaler 20 gr. were
received. The Rabbi warns his children not to do it in
future, and appends some very sound morals as regards
behaviour in business. They should not try to make too
much out of one transaction, and in the case of trans-
mittance of money from him, which mostly is done in the
interest of poor people, they should not charge anything
except the actual commission charged to them. ' Who
knows how many have sinned in such matters, it is better
to be economical and to lead a simple life, always to spend
less than one's earnings so as to be able to save little by
little. If our sages say that even the most liberal man should
not give more than a fifth of his possessions for charity,
how much less justified is anybody to spend more than
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL 153
that for outward appearances. I was myself also a young
man once and had money, but I would never do a thing like
this. It is true I lost money, (otherwise) I never had the
idea to become a Rav, indeed I intended to become a wine-
merchant at a time when I had offers of several Rabbinates,
but I wanted to live on my own earnings, although I could
at the time already stand up and hold my own among
Hebrew scholars, and also among people of Din'»^ (ancient
families) wc need not be ashamed, but God said it should
be (and so I had to become a Rabbi). My opinion has
not changed even now, and I still hope he will enable
me to live a retired life, so that I can serve Him for the
rest of my days with all my soul and all I have.' This
letter was written on the 27th of Tcbet, 5587 (1827). There
are several other letters written to this son-in-law and
daughter dealing with remittances of moneys to Poland
(pp. 5 b, 14 b, 1 8 b, 21 b, 22a, 27b-3ia).
The second daughter was Shendel, married to R. Michael
Rawer (of Rawa). This son-in-law stood not in great
favour with our Rabbi. On one occasion he writes he
would send her some money to go to a watering-place for
the benefit of her health, fl. 100, and if that is not enough
her husband and his father should also give her something
towards the expenses.
The third daughter Fegele, or Feige, caused him anxiety
and trouble for many years. In 1827 she married in
Poland, at the same time as her niece, the daughter of
her brother David Tcveic (p. 13 b). The name of her
husband is not mentioned, but we know that he was a
grandson of Kabbi Akiba Kger of I'oscn, Ixing the son
of R. .Solomon Kgcr in Warsaw,'"''" with whom R.Solomon
Ilirschel stood in frequent correspondence (MS. A. ^i6o,
'•"• Cp. L. Lrwiii, fif>f/i. <l. Jiiii. Ill Lis.-it, |). 246.
154 RABI5INATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
pp. 4b, loa, lib, 12a). In 1828 (23 Shevat) her father
sends her an answer to a letter which she had written to
him on the back of a business letter to some one in the
provinces. He mentions in the letter the towns of Hamburg
and Herzburg (Hirschberg in Posen), but we cannot gather
from the same where she lived. The father would like
to know whether she could send him from her place
Hungarian wine, as he thinks that his son Hirsch of
Cracow takes advantage of him {ibid., p. 34 a). In 1836
we hear that her husband had become insane. The Beth
Din of Brod (Brody in Galicia) was ready to arrange her
divorce, as it is stated he was sometimes quite sane, but
they required to be well paid for it, as they held the Rabbi
of London to be a very rich man. Rabbi Solomon Hirschel
writes to the Rabbi of Lemberg (no name is mentioned)
on the 22nd of Elul, 5596, thanking him for the hospitality
he granted to his daughter, and asks him to further the
matter, but in a reasonable way, as he was not a rich man,
and did not feel justified to sacrifice all he had for one
child, while his other children were also in need of help
from him {ibid., p. 123). The divorce was not granted
easily; a year later, on 1st of Ijjar, .5597, the father has
still to plead the cause of his daughter with the Rabbi
of Posen (p. 212 b), and the Rabbi of Amsterdam, R. Saul
(p. 212 a). One Mr. Eiger married a granddaughter of
R. Solomon, and was the chief mourner at the funeral.'*"
It is said that the Rabbi, having been afraid that his
children would not remain religious in England, sent them
abroad when quite young so as to have them brought up
in a religious atmosphere. This explains why none of his
descendants settled in this country.
"0 Voici ojjcuob, U. p. 58.
RABBI SOLOMON HIRSCHEL 155
The funeral took place on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 1843
(28 Tebeth, ^S^3) ^^'i^h great solemnity. All the shops,
even most of the non-Jewish ones, were closed on the route
of the funeral, and his remains were interred in the burial-
ground at Mile End. In his will he had forbidden all
funeral pomp, and had expressed the wish that no funeral
oration should be delivered. The Service was read by the
Hazan, Mr. Asher. The ' Order of Service for the Funeral
of the lamented Chief Rabbi Rev. Solomon Herschel,
Wednesday, 29th of Cheshvan A.M. 5603', consists of
fifteen pages 8°, and has the following Hebrew title: D'piDD
o'd y": rnob:^ n"i'D :"r\7\ -iiD"nN* mi3p nv2 nos""^ Dnir:noi
j'-in pcn-iD (cf. Zedner, p. 477. A copy of this Order of
Service is also in the possession of E. N. Adlcr). The
Rev. Henry Hawkes, B.A,, F.L.S., however, a Christian
clergyman, held a funeral sermon at Portsmouth on the
occasion of the Rabbi's death, which was afterwards pub-
lished under the title 'Position of the Jews' ((jrccn,
Newgate St., is.). llis text was, 'Know ye not that a
great man has fallen this day in Israel?' (2 Sam. 3. 38).
' Who shall say how often his heart bled for the sufferings
of his people? And will you not comfort those that mourn
him?' arc the words of this worthy divine, llis sermon
was a pica ftjr the admission of the Jews to all rights of
ICnglish citizenship.
The estate of R. Solomon I lerschel was valued, as
mcnti«)ncd, at about /^ 14,000. The effects were soltl in
I'^ebruary, 184', by an auctioneer named Robin, and com-
prised many an inleicsting article, such as the already
mentioned silver cup with the medal of Vcspasianus,
presented to R. Solomon's father by Mendelssohn. l-'or
the benclit of those to whom the ' Voice of J.icob ' is not
156 RA13HINATE OF THF. GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
easilv accessible, I mention the followincr. Two curious
spice-boxes, used at the close of the Sabbath, fetched £20.
Two Hannuccah lamps fetched loy. 6d. and 12s. per ounce.
The trovel, used for laying the foundation-stone of the
New Synagogue, was bought for that congregation. Some
of the curious walking canes ' elegantly mounted with gold
fetched high prices, one as much as £'] los.' The total
proceeds reached the sum of £i,i^oo. The library was not
included in the sale, but was afterwards purchased with
money bequeathed by Mr. Solomon Arnold for the Beth-
Hamidrash and the 148 MSS. were later catalogued by
Dr. Neubauer in 1866.^*'
In memory of the defunct Rabbi a medal was struck
during the following year (1843). One side of this medal
bears the facsimile of the head and bust of R. Solomon,
while the reverse gives the record of his age, date of death,
and term of office. It was published by H. Hyams,
medallist of Cornhill, who also produced a bronze bust
a few inches high.
With R. Solomon Herschel passed away the last of the
old Rabbinical school. After his death the community
was of opinion that it required as Chief Rabbi * a man who
not only possessed deep Jewish learning and was versed
in the depths of Talmud and Halakah, but who was, at
the same time, a man of classical and general attainments,
of ability to understand and discretion to use the times',
and will be able to organize the elements under him.^'*'^
The choice of the community fell, after nearly two years
of deliberations, on the late Dr. N. M. Adler, Chief Rabbi
of Hanover.
'*' Cf. above, p. 54. See preface to the Catalogue.
1*2 5t-(. y(jic,; of Jacob, ibid.
^d7
APPENDIX V
Hebrew Letters and Documents.
1. R. Tevele to R. Meir Schiff. 21 Adar 1776.
2. R. Tevele to R. Meir Hanover. 21 Adar 1776.
3. Aaron Goldschmid to J. Kik in Hamburg. 21 Adar
1776.
4. R. Tevele to R. Meir Schiff. i lyyar 1780.
5. The same to the same. 14 Elul i7(Si.
6. Moses Schiff to R. Meir Schiff. 14 rZlul 1781.
7. R. Tevele to R. Meir Schiff. 22 Adar 1782.
8. The same to the same. 20 Elul 1782.
9. R. Tevele to Isaac Speyer. 20 Elul 1782.
10. The same to the same. 15 Ab 1785.
11. R. Tevele to R. Meir Schiff. 15 Ab 1785.
12. The same to the same. 26 Sivan 1787.
13. R. Tevele to Rabbi Joseph Steinhart of Fiirth.
19 Adar 1771.
14. R. Tevele to Rabbi Saul of Amsterdam. 19 Adar
1771.
15. The .same to the same. 10 Adar 1779.
16. Title paRc of the book 3nr pc'^.
17. R. Isaiah Ikrlin to R. Tevele Schiff. 16 Tammuz
18. The same to the .same. 3 Adar 1787.
19. Document l)y the Hcth Din of London. 27 Nisan
1769.
20. Ditto. 28 Tishri 1772.
21. Ditto. .', Elul 1783.
158 RARBINATE OF TIIH GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Letter I.
Fol. T a.
'b vhr^n -nx n'"d p^-h n'a
nrj:D''i"i pD inoNn inm pcnno tis'dk' s"yN inn s;n\n ni^nin
-pis* o'o ncn ''D noia n^i p::'in nr:K'i? (Ppinn) jN^^'NiDpyi pD^"^
nr:Na o ."idio iid^ D"y i6 Dx nrn c^'yin nx tr^ynn n^'^:' '^npins*
.xi'DVW* iniN^ '"""isn ncn dj:;' 'noi^ (i) nvd^ 'otdo nnt:n ppa oa
n Nnn ^n ihn nosn a'sys* p"n p''p -inK '^-n23 n"p p"p n^om
pann ni:3^ ]V'C'rh no ^y n^ c'"' ds* D-isni .^"rn -«3xr:3 nan b:h
i5DiKC> ID'S* nrxn c'lnnh mpn^ "-itNa d33j nw^i ^Ninn mD^n i?y
n'pi> fs*3D iDpyn nyn nns* pn "tinvd nsn njm ■•'nya nryi? n^ 'vni?
nr Nin '3i . na nmaon an^an ons nn« pvp svni DnnJNsrrnp
aniN Nin umyi ^na nnuon 3'nan nnn D"'t:\n fnis-a in3^ N-an::'
N^D3 '^ax Ninn ^"'unb n)b:b mox Nin a'xi .^an anni? ns'o pan
. pnaoipyn is pnsn on-anpo nns* iNvrD"" \xniia |'"n nns-j'D ^a ko'^j
'" a:jn pnN Nin jsai . pn n-riDJo na poy ^sasi CNn ^^N no pa
"inivn "'jsD m^j^ Tiansvnty ]rM6 nons n3""p Dvn iv B'''ni
N^Ja nnuiD^ DJcx ;^:iip'z n"p p"pn maann en nbv^ moai nnona
^y Tiana nayn ri oral .''n"'L"y ^n^ia^ar no nxr^ x"n oi^a
yt Di2^£i j'nai piann fina pnyn 10a nai:n n"'^<o 'n 'pn^ ni^izn
y'r nai:n nn "n "a inamn imon!? anac t^tnii n^^o "n "pn fsa
ei^i?p :"-i "pn a'K' jnn nai:n p^r "n 'pn n:i . , n"p n^^o N\ni
':n fo^T "n "pn NonDoi n"p n-^^o nninx nn\n njvj'Nnn inirK
nmacn . . Dn^ii uainy ^'bp o"n "pn ']D':r: |Nii -)nv ^y nicy
.n"p^ DNO'^nss 103 nrx pno ^^d ns3 a': ••nyn^ pjyp D*j^>;p
Tx .niD\n ip']} 'anb no'^^'o fOJynos'Dunip ^'y i? Nia^ D'l^'ra Noncoi
143 ^«^ |//[3 nmoD; D"^ i"o ymn\ a'o 'a n^:"sna.
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS I59
ptstj'iir .fyp pn v^x Tin^s )*no isn ins ps v:vy iv!3 ^3xn nax
^'d "pn 3'c* Dy nvy Tipnrrn nxr^ .Dayiua juro^yr 12': yr2 b'"''\^
nrt:^\T u'^ iy Dn^-ir ^jyo!? dj /rry D-'^om pv:c* ni"N3 pns* n'j
tsjKf mn pni3r:n3 p^p ••^njyD n'a apy n'3 'pn inins* pi? t2L*'X3
pn i?"!! .jniu IV n3",o p\s* n^ino Dn^s* b':n N'a c'T nvo
Dn'N fs )-np IV D"-: nayn '^d^i Dvn ny orx t3jynjiS'3::'-i^p
bn] p^n:r -iy t:'xii pvyrs'-is bai "i\s* cixn -i'd b':r] n"-i 'pn .pcip
N^ii .punn ^ina pnyn t:"!^ vnana ''n'::'yi .r\br22 n'>D p'ny n^si
p3yn:ND:jnip \sniui tin "^no y'jn x'n ors ujxi n""i 'pn -iv:i
'-ycw'i '\T N^J yjn n"-i n^Tj' in^ ^y nb' bn"] ,t3Tii pxn n"pb
.imoD poyn b'Zi xt nnx d: 'jx d: pj'm "d^xii "* pDon nn^nD
1133 pn px t:vr rr^xai .pxn ru''3 ni33n p-p n^-a t?:) pu^r
nicyb [ pv x^vr:o p:yp "nxn ^x :;*xii c^^x p3 orx cxn ,DnpD3
i^^n '-:^jy3i /bx nan^-j' n-'^'y ns' s'^y ,nyvj'M 'ni?i "id'j6 '"L-y
"'x^nD ^t23y"iu'j'3 ns ninnn c'oix n*x n 'v^m jnixa *:"'y3 ti^x"!
-i3x DDip ."i\Nio p''x IV T"i^< ]^^ t23'n3 p'-OL" "iv^'p *CJ'x noxi
brtpb DL"3H'f Tx ix^j'jx nyn ^ncinn n'^nrj' moM ^y jx np^yn
t:in p^n-^:' iv n"p
Fol. I b.
n'3
D*:-" ni /::x3 d:d^ xS d;i .;ryi"i: i^'briD c: v:vy3 '■'w* 'nx
nr'x '^m no*j' n^yn n^L'-yo n"pD nns m:2 ;TyiiJ 1x3 i^rx ni3-i
vr3yi piT ocxL"n:p3 'cba ^n t^^^ 'nyna ^narm /nn3 'vj^ya
• lyp ;nio nmo p^x pi'n u': ino 3mx p^nt:' pbxi .""ic: xin "xim
nn^'^ xy-ix mix ix^i:' p:yp \2""\\y Snxii ^*x ^oyn 3n3n imai
c'ry p'- ^npn ^3^ 'an3 nixing ^3' xm 3"cys 3npn b^ imn
'" ir'n iryo d":*3 r:"33i X3iy':3 rbr>^: x^nrr ::d 'y^i*': X33
"j'rx n»2X"i.
l6o RABRINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
D30X ;•"'' bnpr\ b ^ry^ inac' onjnh yb^nh uaxn: D^M^jyi?: 't:yn
DyD iniN3 ii)nn f^sn ixii jsd n'nn b^a ncmni n^pHn inx
'L'-cNi? .jy^^NDj jyiiK 3': mhcf^a "lyn dt-n nt .idt dhd -iNtt'j n^i
••yvr^N ^"yi n"ph n'n^ i?D3 mjN nxinn niDvy nxo noyns p3
nro bv ei'Din^ px p3 ."lae'o pinni nocn^ anptr ^33 *n3n3 ->33
nxD ''^m 'i^K^i D^''Dx 31D31 31L3 ^3 i:ny3 -nor ainn 'm ."•n-'^^'yB'
.c"n T-n^ ''J»»i "n
ei^K' p"3 ''b3yt2 "pn
N-^a N*n iniuj t^siiuy t-ix Dxn c'"! )*"3 nco n'3 'n3n ^33
t:3yo 3"3 Donj "ti h^j^d 'd '3n ino": cpmn '''3n3n pTiyn^
n-in3n i'-i3 ir^r^n x"vS*^ .n3iD^ imu x'-u xn t^xiiuy pyj "j^ix
.nrSn ''3n3D Drx n^:D on^x '■^'^ ^nx |yii |D3n iv T"'1x iif] nT3
Letter II.
Fol. 3 a.
.i^pn -nx 31U I'V -i3ijn o"-i "pn^ ysxp n'a
w pn-iny ipM 'ino^ nut^'no 3cin "•n^'-n ir njnoi' 'xin dvd
ny3 nsb jx''i*xnrDipy-) n:''n u^jd nijnjn n^ by "b ntryjn 3iDn pjyp
^JXu:^•^D•'1x T'dh inxn i-x I3x ^03113 jx n"ij3in mx k't x\-in
xn^n nvnnx ••cjyp pn |S)ix nrx3 jjt' -oi .prs is xn t2''\n::yi?:
pbnxD-i3x 'pn 'ino^ Din d-d t2'"'n::y^a i3x ••3xn t-x x^i^3 ^did
d TiyrDU'U' T^Dyj .njie^xnn n3iDn pyc pirny ix n3it: nj"'''x 3dix
fl'C' 1^X0 -mno3 x^Dicn ^:3-in pnn '•nxi Djxp-'a n'^p p"p3 ni:3-in
nvni? 0311 T'DXi l^•JX^Dyv-lyt:3''x nr:^>x ^n^ 2'dd 'n3 )*"3
bx B'^X3 ^nxiu''"ix Dr''x ^3i' '•ix-i pj iy t^n ^^"jn p"p3 ^"3X>
n3iy ^531 '"ih^ xT3yi xn^o xin d:ox .I''3 nny ^idq vnx
D3 ^nyiM ni2nn3v '^po^^^ i" )b t^^i n^i^b r\:iw piTi pn^y^ n~nx
bvx ^'yoK'j r-i3Ti y:n pp3 ijnj dci n^ ''•K' 'pn 'ino^ ^^'^ Tiyn*
'nj ■'nx^ njix v:^b nmn -ik'3i vry3 p ^nxso dx 3'y Tyn n33:
p hu' nmn -13C^'C' n3^o /d^jxii pn:oipy-i pnxn '"'d'3D3
»" D-in n"i33 n^''no3 n"-i ^n"3r:3 '.nvr^b "]nv "Sx.
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS l6l
fTr^2vs* 'j:i"3yn -\'bbii t-n e;*ix i-ix yr^ ^d^it ,mn3n |di n'n oipon
nnoni? ^nyn ^y rhuiif fTDipDpy iv "j'o i:j^33 od^j nnsiiv d^^ti tivS*
p:y3 n-'D ^D'c-j'n ;o y^TiDsn ^'x-m >ti^c NJto^D dj?:s* .nrn ims
?"p2 "oipci 3'''y ''tr ^nxi .|3s-it23 N^n ^i'^'D 'pn 'mo fSD m:2-in
3'j '•'U' "pn 'iHD 3'n'c'3i ^'nryn -hx pixii rhnpn pn^ "in!i: d"d
^s:;* ;t:'3 I'^d^^j* b')) pi .pnxcip:^N d"'j ^"h p:yt2C'r:ix -nnyD
n'3C3 p:yii iv |s (?-in>Tn) .... nprnm n^n:n n^i ^cpn ^JX""*
piD 'vn^ 'I'b Ni3"'"J' DX3 nr n^iy^ pnysix ^no 7x hr ^nxL":.-ii
nry^o ^'y 'm?:vy nvD p3 3'inD pn p -i3 :;'xn ^ncnpn -122 . inaiui?
Letter III.
n'3 "pn imnx in!' D'cc'nKs: pnx n'2 i"d "pn ^u* nnanrD yaxp
. 11:1^53 I'^pn -nx x"i n'nn pp npy^
*nyr:r "tj'xd ybr^vi pn ~iy nnio p'x dix ^'ly x"3^ ^5*11 c'3r-iTx
iDr3 "^i^'x ons"D n^ya ^r nrsn pj ;r:yj |x ai p\s n"p2 jxd i'Mi
irnSipi I'ax ^r vnx }*"d ti'w' txd 'inrra :^2ir:n ':3-in pnn 3"-j*
i:rn -nn p'3 "^^vd 'mo px:n n"!-
I'd. 2 b.
r.yny)\ ps ^m p'p^ 'vvxnr:vyi '^'2 i^ix t:in ':ix ni:3-i '^hr
mx'pai 'ir-in3 po^ Tj'm: crx ,12^ ^-x-i ly crx ncxni .lo'^b
.;ryii3 3-1 'C'p .-i:n ny -;'ix ny fyn .nn'jji n^yon bn nb-io ca
/,.„^ 10 '':3-i I'T poy3 nihi: m^-np ncsi one's p"p3 pn ny t:rx
'iro px;n 3"u' 31 "ir:ix pn ;nmj 3'; ;x3 i": x'li /3n"£S p"pn
^n ixn pn to ':ix .pyv,: "es p"p3 pn nij inx orx y:n *byt3
px vo' inx' 'n ;mD3 inoi xro *di: p\x d!'x 'cniEo xni n'3
ni:on inn |o ^'^n = jnyj-j n* bv bzn tsrx cyo inix3 pxi iv nox
iryiu n'^yo I'x '3xn ''nry3) D3xn3 'vvxno^.py-i ^v"r |:nr -nnj
p: .;oi;3 cix cn'x uro n3^ n'x L"n ;x3 nSnpn i"33 'onico n:rxD
nshr p\x TIN p'r -,\so nn"in*:3 pnn 3""' vnx^ py: tx -o^yo
1 ». M
1 62 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
n"pn "3 '12): 'b'i: \stiu '"t:^ N"ai b':n (? tv^) y"y!5 t23yt:ji3t:'-i"ip
pyb |s' pn^ cahi ti^< ""^n jniw 1"in xmi jniD iv yair "ly p3 Din
DDip 31D -i»:^ 'nry3 jnii y-innna I'^s* m^ub yvs'iDipy-i o''o .pn
N'n^ nyii DisaN t^* '-"i^* .^"i'"i'> i^'I P3»<t ^113 nna ••'c' s'"2 trn
onT'ii i:n^npT n'as* pN:n 3"c* 'd-c'di ]'<'t dtj^^^n t-sni •''^'
n"2 c'nt diw yb:v^2 cnii "-'c s'a 'i.-in pn p^r innio^ pio
n:iN jnyc': nrnD "'DIj m^N y'\)'^ mis* "ly pncipy-i r\"pb ponbyi
'm'11 p3 'jiN* o^^ai -in^Dy^D t;'Mnj -i-o D3''tr: pnNstr iv 0^3 Tr
.inaiD^ piD mnai nina
Letter IV.
.p"£h D"pn T^x n"-i p":;'y p:i^ n'n
injiT Dy p"d n's'D 'mo pnn '^Dion >:n-in nn^ •'hn 'ins*!? di!?c^
.|"x ''"u'^'soS '^n Dnni 'ti n-^p^^ tid-j
.na^jn nnn !5y ']!' "nnc-n punn c^nm /n^jap jd'-: 'n |o i^na
b ^jy Tinoyi inann Tiyrni^'n-j-' niNnn!) n^jn ■^n^pb TiNa x^ji
n!'3ii> HT nixn!? nayn d'^ j^iyi nnji? ^b 'mi ismoj nyi xt:>no yiii
2)r\3b i^DU n'on n\x3 on^'p Dnmn nroix noxni .i^vy poiyi
pun •'!' pxi "^ /33X aa^n pixa '''pioyi 'onx onana ^Jax .ni^j nr
Dic'i'i 1J3D ijap!? •'^j x"x pn^j nac^n p x'-vin!' i^j'-dx /n^o^ni '^nnn
n!5X nc^yn!? nD^in ttiv!? n'm^b dx '^D^^!' mn^i ."ym^ )^bv '^w
"bv r\i:'p .n^^nn nnm nm dic' ix nxj c-'nnn !'''>d!? ix niDiixa
pa ''^'•yn nc^n nnx tin^'d x^j uyo^ prniyn!? '••dx "vn ^jyi pTwrb
y3D3 x^J men "ivp nm dib' '•T'n ix '•'nrya ']T2 n^jy^ D^r^yc!? nx
'^p-iDn p3 p^DSJ x^J ny::^ ■'d^ ^nxr d: n^^i /'^^^ '^f "^'V^b '''nryn
nDi3 t2jyn:x2K>y-iip nj^D""!'3 d'^d ::'in "''nya pa 'jix y"' ''313 n pjya
noxB' 'vsn-^exn 3": ij^vd nr:^'^ pi .njcx max::'^!' noi!? n!'''bni pn
nar nvp p^jn!? tr-i:' ■'s"yx '^"131 *xr:p irnn x^^n i^'-'-jd xniDcn
iT'JB'B' *:nr:n .Dnn^JD i^o pn p3 -noa pna b]3 n'-yx nnyroi
1" (143) ".03 b^y!? '^^y. J" n"!) ni3-i3.
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 163
n-DDriw* ""'H -is-inro pa .':]} iniN^ cdd an^n^c' ion ii''3D ^:y iniNij
.pjc^sn^ r"2 ''n jn^i? nn^jmiN nrai T^y TiDn ^3n* .id^^d inis*
rTw"cn nuy my i^ |nn ^on '0':^ may -iaa nnr^' }•"£) ''m na^ci
Ncnoro pj DT11 NriiD 'jjyDxn (fl. 6, 12) ':iac'n!? nicym 'inr
.pn p?:"ip -1N3
IV ^npD nvj'-i nyi"^ nyj-D p\*vn ^a ib -innon p"p-i 3-in
'"u'on 1^ ipcau* nca ncy as"yNi pj^yn p^'^a |Na cnt p^uyn
inr.'Dnn ,13-n^ i?" ^'''yan ynca vcayi .vn ^d* b nyj^b nnu^^
'n^£i n'l ^y m:no n^ir tid pvj D:n3 t'^x i^s* c'N*n nc^v 'I'^n
vray pm'p mnn .pr ims^ ^^ ;n^^ n'x^a ''i?^;-! '\nL*' tmsD
'niK rp^^ mnan '^jninonij-j' on^^' ijnpD miis' 2"y 'n*3^3 ji.th
nj'j-n ^3 nu'v^ p'':nD c'aa pna x^c' ''^rnn::^ ^sh .on^c pn ix
V'''\^ Nint' . .xpw'iD T^ '-I na nnx^ nKx i^'j'n^ -mnD x!? mayj'
n'j'D n'2^ vnnix ^y x: ^xr ^n: -it:'iyi naa^i •'mn l"'x '•b nxa
fp:yi nn'^x a"iipD 'jxc loy 'naa: nrrai nr^n a^^ 'i nr^xai . .p:iD
pny nyai .lybi'XQ D^nx "i'd pm^p nnnn dimi n^v nyn ovo
pr:ip a": nv:nn '':d nr^x piyii CD^n nima irDs .nio pirn
^x'n pv t2;'x n:r^ b':r] br^pr:) aivp nn^a::' nax b':r] '-jor^ m:n?:3
^3' ,D^iy?3 mx nyn ^y n^y xh n^y x^ 3'n ^np3 3-1 pmjx p^p
'b '':ni:'j' nnotr^ yvD 3'n ^npo pTiiDJX pnyii ^b^' bnp nvn^
ID"-i rnx nno^^ 50 x-r piyii 'nyn^i ,r[yz'b nnt:^^ 'tixch ir\n
pnc Vi Tix ovjxT p3 t:Tn pop ■'o^ab nnx nt:n2 o"'J to ixn
'noiy 'm '^"' ^npno ^b *j""J' nnL:^^ D^nxonc' i^ "nana 133 o
myoi nx»"in ^nu 'o nro nan ^ipo ns'Dxi nD'::s b^) p'D-13
I'X nivp3 n^npn n3yvj'o ix-'i ain lau' yna^ D^maio '\t nc::in
.nxrn Tyn ^r ''eix i.td'J' ixd d^: c^x dl"Tii |r3 no3 p^nc ;yp
3'n3i .p£XT c"ii p'J .n^np p'X Lirx p:6 p-x "in il;l-i^'3
nmv-ip 'n:3n '131 "'■'n:: n'h nvrp .103 n^ ncpr iOw'3^nt:'
b':' ''s:^x yivn ^3^ nixo ovj'2 i-n3 ;-in^ ^aix ^an nx .inrnani
nix-iS narx na ti nnynr "px .3n33 piot' x"xi /mixi I'yn
laiS 'S^Jsa 311231 nnoL-3 inixib iv:3 'npvjTiw' mnoi;' y3it:'
MJ 3"y "• c]T nil rnuy.
l64 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
cycf ;*"3 n-j'D h'd 'nan ^:2 "ioyc3 '•n^an ^jn 'ml"3 nnyn u'^a
'':pT m^noi ,^^3i ^b '■'son^ nvi sbi /Jirii nr^ npitrn D\'iy v^y
n:i3n -pi-n •k^nDx n'-'x s'd3i ^'-'^pja nr^n cwd n/nii no^n up'^
'•'".::t"3^ 3"-ii irr2 '"ntr -imon^
in IP 'i? "icxi "•nnm |':iv t^ n'n ncD n's 'nnn "pn oy
ny ^^3 pns IV D^: vns '"22) inmn v:s cnt .n^'^ ^''^5 tj^j
:3": ^sniu i^ap n-j'S'3 .s'pnyrrxnc' vnx nyvon cb'^ n^iB':r aivpn
•jwiDy '-''^''d p"p3 nr:i^n vns 'nnn jsii a'ay .-layn no^n
■j^vNi iTn-j' mu^-iNn cn^ba ny jp osn vnx^ ncpn nx^p^DiNs
p^ns'v n'''s* IN3 r2'i]ri n-'o onMi ^jn nc^o n'3 'nan jd-'^c' n"'^
^^VN* c'"n n'c'pan inii cd^t i\s* jyp tin* M'b nmn nn^Doa
.n'^N jTij^nipn
ws'D^aip '^B* |*"3 nc'o n"j '':i3 ?oi"fD poyn t^c^a^nri' xn k'nii
.□anvw-ni y'r c'"iDn ni:Dn -"j^ '••nsn 'n^Dn'iDon '^j^vpn^ hr pn
"I'D ^axn .bp2 nmn jy^::* |n* '^^n pa i\s* iTn";:' iv in^^n ^"'^ii
i?"'nn cnn-:!vsn nps^ "n "pn oy nr pjyn naii^ pn py^j jx pn^
"'n rn a^^ "n /'yin\n ''DnvL"r:n ''j^vpni nr^:;-^ 'jnN"'D'Dip3 nvs'D
^nmun nx3 o'^y nmno yc'j'Dw'ix px ni-jyo-Dip inn n^yi nuDity
nuy t:v ^c' nnmon a": nnxiiv oino ny nov bt:' nnino i''x nnx
nxs LD'j D'-D't:' nnx ,id':i x^yn ^'n '•'snvj'on 'Tvpn ^c' '"n
nat^'o |D*i^nbyT xn \y^cf r\'0'y 'nmon d^jipc' nmnon nn ^nnnun
un-ii Ljp'u'j r\D2'b ''■cv^b nyjy^D'Dipn cxii n njno3*k:' jt^jxpn^xa^
^bba nmnon b'^)) pxn nnynp n nrnon fxa nyjy^D'cxpn no
D'D nn^n' nnnm ,nnyii Ds^p nxD nni^i o^^^nn nck^ Dnynp 5i""ix
Vi n:nj:n^ iL^pyn "ix nou^ iX3r:i t:p'''^ jxa^ nrncno pnyDC'
n^ir p:n-n nxa v** x^u xn t;'p>3 'jix /nrD-^:'^ ni^t^^ n'">''^'i"i^^<
^rnDtr orx niJOD po D*^2'>n'^ xn cxii n^^z'o Doipn crsii ix^D^oip
,xn jp-'j* ni^n onn^nmx nmnni i^p'-y nrnoni? po'k^'iD jxo xni
orx tr^^xr pD'ip l^n^ny^1^' p JX3 |xo t:;xrj nvj^i:' nD^:' nr^x Dxn
i«a j.//y /Q cp Q>-i-i3 /^«y. 160 ny3> ^zb nn m .'ir'n.
15' nnoyns.
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 1 65
'ctN^ eiDn n-nnDn lyn pD'^ip -ir-N 'so no cn^nrivj* p i^^:nn
•Tin ]""? DT'N fp^-j* IV nt^-L:* ynp iniD^ d'n'J'd .pas'o n^y: i:; fi^n
no piyTi DTvn2N2 njs^jjyn n-'T -ij:v mino p -ly^yo^Dip p3
"icv ^r riTHD IN yc^^ro::'iN jn mino n^i'^::'^ a'^y i:"'nn pn 'n:'"'s*
'"n "pn )r22 p''r OD-nsD D:N''D''r:'ip -ins jnd no nj^^^yr -iyn ':in
.nrn '^^"nn ''L":n nxL" vx b":r\
."2 moy
^N noL"o t2r''"^:3N n:>vj' dn^u' 2py^ p nj^poir 'n^ 'nnn jnii
1Y yonvs* no*.;' Nin pny dn D:r:s .not:' mns'j'a ''jn nn^n tiio inn
i:dd i^D^i:' nn3 ^y ei''Dr:i .loi^cn ::'-in wrn t^ n"3 "pni" psr
p-iNt:u' -iT'ii ''o^ nT'N D'''r l-nt "inyn nD2 ^l" Tk:' D"''y jnd anajn
t2'o mm 'cn)n^ nmm n"-i> -i:yr2^^nND ^vn L"xn o-i^n nna
INT 3'ix n'3 n-in^n pn .Lirs ;rynj inyn nrL'O im poya oyn
n''N fn"3 Vi* jn3^ t:Ti;hTy-i y] ;nti s"ry .in!? in b')^ pt:ip in:!'
Dcyj L^'Q n'T' n-iiL"D nofo iy nyn dns p^r pN t:'Nn pyr Ksr.
pi CND nritj p\s -11J t2::':ir c^n t^Tii D^yo-j'j p''J^■l nnyn :;'N"nt:y
ni:p^ ;n3^ ihni nr:-j'c nv pt:"j' n'iX" -il-qn dn i^'nn ci^Din^
CN v^N in"""iin3 ''''\'2-in v^i)r\b nnxn ^n 2"Dy ,"in',D Nim ,-ninD
".-11 '131 innnr:) ns' inipTit:' i3-n^ i^i "i3d dni nr:c' 'C^'^y
.13-n n'^v'
fyi 11' ^y ^3p^ n"'N ti'Lj: c:\x p^sj in t:n"j n"\s* ;n::^ inii
.nnyn ^^nrn -^r iit.n ""y mn'N 'bn in^ cni .^'d:nd
n:nDn -i"3nd ^^pi? |N3 Nirn ind ^'3i"3 ymsii: p3 ^n
1311 .-ip'rii TD -131 IN ''3i.ir niNo 'iiif id n*j-ii' ^'3t:'3 nnvm
N-'3 Ni ':iN .":?:!: '"Cipn nnmoi jjid'HP b":n i"3n^ "nn^::'
inn DN 'n^3P3 inbp Nr'in nny it^) b':ri id niH-^ Ln^mix
T1 CN3 lyni.l^ 'nN3 p3 -i''N -JI'^ IC^DVl^ -jDI H' 11M0 iilD-IlP
ir.N^i "b'y^'^ j:iDiip in^h ni3y ^3p^ m^M Diny^iN ,i^3p n^hr
nS . .nNi^?:3 ion nr^u' nmi in?:d ":;yDN '"y iP'i" v; n'^ i:^3pnf
n3irn I'^p tv inii ''-in y;i iin\s -b2 . .irr3w' lUL-ni .i3:n
1 66 RAHHINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
iw* V2)p2 ^^'-12"^^ 'ba 3n3 m^'b p ^n:^•3 '•DyiDDpy .urn rn^ic'
nnon ;*"" "'"aian poy Ti^yn ni^ics-in bv "inn '::n nr nn^oi
'DiSP Dyn i"'ix c-nn n"d '•id ni!5t:nnn >^n pn iv -1013 irrat:^ n"'an
im DL"?3ip3 "inmu "i^'c -ixd isn D':'b^^ pn niua nh 'jix /Dipn
"pn -jnniu u'pnni :^•"^ i^nx •<:d^:» n"nxo m^t:'i '^''n pn n^D n^
Tinn mvc' nr\SD tin*o n^mi c"! "'•t' p"D nco n"3 'nan '-n
.::'"n '■'n ^nrn 'jd nhnnn inD"-: :"n3 )r2^b )b 'nnwn i^hd
/c'"n "^ni "''c n"') irnvnNi ''•'K' n^'^ ij-inx^
o"i:'-iy JS11 /jj:r:) ^^"-''")2) s'pijn snit' '-n n^rn inn i^nD ^d^
o^yn XT p^sT |P^"J' w'NTiDy 'li'C'^ innnna b"m ij^pon n"3^ ^"y
L*'Nn pn N"vcr3 D'-j nyc ''D^ nax jyp .pxn 'nnn^ oyu nd^k-d nt
.D^n pn c'^^jn
.•^^''t ^:jni p^'-i^ "nl^ap nnyn 'mao pjv:) ncro n"D po 3n3n
Letter V.
,"b x?:pn hi-x n"'' pn:i^ n"2
x^2ir:n pnn ^nx "inx^ c^n!? nn^x^ ninn-'i nins'' D'-'-n "'•'•ncn
nnai ■•"n nuxro nnc n-ip\-i '•no^: iniir ny ^"u p"3 txd nninm
.j"x K^y'xDh /"n nan
nvn^ ^nx noxnc> nnsx nnin nanm Tbnp nayn x"3rD nanD
"'n"xoni T"iDn Dy?23 d:i ,^2u r:n"it:n ns ni^ioo ^jna b^n ^rxc'
nspcnn ,nt:3 nr i^ •'nana -ic'X3 y"nxD '•rnn (nvcnp) mcrp onni
p-'yn nnx!? D:r:x .bn in^i^ nnin^ "'j-yn nx-i3 '\n njici'x-)
^n ,i^xn p:na 'n"]]}! ••n^i'ync' no pmn ^inn t^^< P^nyn^ ^nxvo
.inn np
n^tr^nc' nn ymnb ''nx3 npn^i n": xin n-nnn nicy nnxi
"= = ypnxr:cDX2n. "*-* 2"y i"j naiD "•^y.
IT
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 167
.... "inr x"' sn-ivai? D"n irnn^ n"\s nin*s ^^n mny
-i::y-i3 jwS up^w* na\s ybv N::yDN ^"n imton^ ^'in n"i^
25 "inr n"3 "]D "::yDNn
18 ... D^mnr >"n id nny |nn "^w* nc-o irnsi?
2 : 30 -in^ 3nr "s "^yj'h i2"-\ "a. r^:v^ii'^?h ""njsvs* i""! "nnn
II "inr N"^
25 . . "inr n"2 id bi"c 3^^ -[-^"n^ ]'^pn dc6i irs'ii'b i?
5 .... "inr "n nuy ^^:^•n i^'jo d^-'H 'd '0":^
97 : 30 n'o
"~"~ ;"2i ,']i62 nt'C ^5::' n'ou' 'd ir^^at:' jiTJ'nn mnyn n^:;'^
n"'ix r:)"-i p^
I'^D 13n3 'S^ 43 : 36 nCD i:"''D 13n3 ^£^
2 : 6 3X D'} *"3D^
ti'in n""' 'u'j nnx jnD ^N'-n'D
05:34 ID "'k* T.N^ n>t:*j'y-i 35:35 >-imu^ u'-\
79: II
77:5 28 : 45 '::yDx nny nT:>k" nro
nc n^nrn ":jyDX ^apni 2:6: LJ'j'yi "i^'s -["^■o inriD ^sb
T2Nn ^'D N-ii ':ynin"i 1 1 : = . . '"n in-iS* "irmnx^
p'DNJ 1 1 : = ND'':0 Cm-X
26 : 20 J*'' ''2M ''Z)biS
77:5
'pn 3"*^'^ -o"'! n"")"!!? n^En it mi^y ,npnvni n"jn -inxi
pH'T oyi c"rt2h ""n *n3 x^l-'hi;' i'v- nx"!:'J' pv\s* -i-i"nD 'D-iis:r:n
.;rrii ^'i ;« cn'm /^lixcc iv 2n ^^jol'-d "'l- pvpn i;nm vnx nv
x"' iDo i^r '':;ycx .3x "ao '3nD H' TCin^ *^ px onmn -in"i
."bvs unH'^^J c*: rty 33'^ *L"
ifts XD';^ - to Gicsscn.
1 68 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
nS-x i2'c>:-\]: pv ,1^ 'nnriD i^d .m-ioxi "ro "nix n-^inr no
n^DH ^h^ n'y^ .o'j'in jniD: nihys pv ncfo nm^ "•'x-n ,iny?3
.rT'D'^^c' .di:j mcy^ br ••d Tian^ d"j c"dx pp"t nnn^ y■T'xc^•
.Djpnj D^^^in d;\s* puc^'isn it nrici i^xSn pn::' non^Dn "n
vnnxb' oc'xan ^isn .xn'' x^ c"nD ^'n mnc' '•^x jjTnjtr oyriDi
^y njiiD (? nr^x) . . . dH*x 'm vxmm . pcyo 3in lijavc' ^nyoc
]')ipr\ iD'j'n nnx ^y jj-'^'-'lT n"'' nnu^^ "n idd "jjyox oa^xs
n'^ p"nD ojyixs'C'np t:rx -iin ,iniri^o ;nj n"a 310 qv "i"-inD
p2 p-i'n pn inu nrx' c'xi |x:3b v^x an^i .jxan ^'jd 3^^
-nn^x 'b2 n"''x m^ii 'jix p'^r pTZi iv uv^-a dt-ii .pT npin Dcn-n
yon'-x ;x ly L*'xn pxT ^'jd ^'n "pn DU'a Dn\x idc^^xt dj .p^v
••"n.T IX nox D"j'X3 ^^'x ^n .oynx p"! -iyn:ix inn::': notr^
^3yn3X3::''Tip mrn pj ^''''H .it!? ""'nriDn ixa-'i px-12 ix: n:yit: D'Asd
nmh ,nnDn "j^jd x"d pn in^n^ d^jdd cn-'x u'^op ^'jd ^'n "pno
noB' 2": i2'-\')'\ "-"n 0"'' "hd "pn h'^ v:2'D nnx ^^'20 ^'n "pno did
'^•n '•^ m^c'^ hnr:;n p3 ,n""x p'-n jx^b nnM nnxi nn^n pn
nny^ip nrj''''x t:"'o t:£''''-iDD': c: .Tt^iip bxncMn •'K^^ni n:''v^")t3
i^-D "q'\:^ nrvDiD 'vn d:i .paxp ^'•nxv p^") dji .c'''''1i tiiira pi
.P"*? LS0XT3 '':ix jcyn: ncir pio ,p:^•y11 px jt^i^xn n-ixs '•ljij xn
ncHD c'^^n ^''3 n^j ':"ix ."j3 na'' niino p-i ^jn^j iv ^irn nnx c':
\>"pi n3x"jn n-acn-j' jDpn -iddh n^ ^y ""^ nb'n dji .pxniunor
/T^ Dx^nn^D pn niDt: u''j dtii ,nnnD"'pn nx :x"id
-in^x^ ncnnm nyn^n "'r\> nnTiSn pyci qvhd "dx px nr nhr
p"3 nc'o irnx^i vn^ n^hnrin "nvnxi?i •'"n cDnm in:iibi "i!? ""•n^
.|»"3 ^byo "pn B'"nn n*nx i"2 "■'t^• T'D'^^i ^^^ '"'"' "iJ'nvnx "am
'nbp I3n3 ,D"ni3i ^^''t p:io nco -nni)" : ("v D-i"-in "anoi "aco)
""nx "axi nnvj'a"x mny ^xr p^xa ^nanynxa ^"a n^nno ynux^
""XD i?"2nia Dy poyn ^yi /acT^ "i"^ niyD n^^> dx n"a*krr:n n""x
DX nai .i"2JD IX mno in-^a'x b'^ lann n^-ya no idd •'Uixmy n""n
.nr^n nta^yi^n ^y n"i" m-iji-no dscj'd nc'ya
Dn"iD y"^"r2X3 n3"[? x"n obany nca-'ii naix 2"x yD"-ia i"x
n'b mar:n na i?na"r: "pn cninxi inD"a "pn "a?:n naiun D'j'sa n",ix3
.y'^i y'aD""'"nva"r p^r
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 169
2 nicy
ni:''m nam nprnn nnavw-nn nD^n ba n: .jnd Da?;n ncno p'T
ir mnyi n-nnn 5?y inman^ v:3i inc's Dy ^'jd b"-\ "i"in3 "pni)
.Do:;'i? n^sn
na ny p-iwSii jnn orN xriio a"D c^'na 3*'^ -i""inD ^'^pn "nnn
.ns t'": pnx n"-in3 a'tr "oniaron pvpn
.nT3 nvjnn m;6^ii p^nL*^ d'tdi c^'n v^s fin inavj'na sn jyii
Letter VI.
,"b N'opn ^i^N n"^ pji!? n"3
"inn i"x "insi' /'^^n^ in^N^ onn^i 3in3' ,2^■5 n:;:^ ny^ >nn
'f'N "'n in3i ""n ^-lp^^ p"ry )"•<: y''^ i^no "ino "^Dicn -jaini
^^y o'lzbu 'nar '3i3x d: .unry^ nyiy^ ovai u^jy^ p^ci nyac' .ir^ip
D"n vn Dnvo ^y n^inn^ in'2 ny^i nya "n ba i^nyn^ m: d^l'6
nrrnn vDva p ^y ,d'd ^ynro ^y n^nn ^onnvj nv' d^iiji Dostra
nns3 lyT n^ui nxr pn" nm oipo irnyio nnp ]V)i nin irry
lya nnDin ."lasn" D^cn nam -iy*j*n noio .1n"'^:^'' n^i iyi' n!'
'n jn' ixnn nni ("ira) i'J'd 3^ ,Dn\x nyi' nnx nyn ^nyriM injk"
i:prn» pi ^xo-' ix po"" ">d 'n^^a^ ,inanyi "" 'ynsi onnirDn i>33
.ION "pbx noN' p ,i:vroNM
lUDiiD pDSD ^)t CDsn^'MO '"-ij ,-io-in in^yr:^ pnoix o^: fxp n^N
D2i<n: ns d'om i^n3 tii }yn
nr: i:dd inpbc nn2i:i b hn Tnynin -i33 }tn pvN "no y-iiNcn
naic^ NU' xD3n dv nya djcn ,vj'np oipoa nip* n^i n^y^ t6\
sbr no D-ICN3 ^n:rv^ ^lov nnnn? v^y mait: i2n^ ''op 'm
nun n:n3i "1:1 iniK nno "'•'n l-'n '"y "m ''*ioy3 ncy 310
nryo inp^ nrn 1313 niSipn imDi .ini3T3 o'Dcno (?d'3-i)
^n33 nn n33 ioin nn .n:vj' nt 3mx nrj' no ,Dnn'3 'n-nux
D. N
170 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
"nvy pny pv\s "1 nvn^ .xjil" ixj dhin -nyn n^^yii jwxr T^>«
"•321 man D-i,TDX-ipJN3 ny ^^mi ^pnin p nstr^ xn^ ^3V X1^^
HD^yii i^K* n^y^D pjo am pn an pxn ny nro .nitron '•did^j
p^■? "inyn cy . . . dtii pyin Din p^x lyujis ^^""^s^i^^ i^
ui'N n:is* ,i2iiVi^ rp nrs pxr ns -iin p''^^x .n^npn nna
ny ^32 nt^s tr^N invs nih'"^ n^yo no'^yac' iis^^'n pn .I'^^yna
''•'eim^n nx trpn'' "'•pii'si "i:i '*^yT n!? dn j^'' xh n^c'' "-jid
Dinn 2)r\y) ^nj p^^: np^ y':n x"njr p"'' iripro n^"iy\-i nvy nn\n
3n3Ji D31OT ^JS^ anan n'^rh "inD^ ^xnN?::y?D x-ipjc* no cn^x
nyn djdx .:y:y3 n"i-i nuym imips moc^ j*"^ ^npu* laina
"i^ni H"* nx K'''x Dn"> x^ inyi'aDi ,u niny^ b^v xi^c^ XD"ia pin
pny innVkiTii "131 iidxk' nsn::^ vjd "in'':r p^ ixn"'i ix^^ vd ^yi
no n"*x nx-i:i .jyc': !?npn ina^ai inaic^n ^yi (?)ijj:?o "ix:r3
poi ""•t:"in nn-j"^ nsv* "n /nnnst^ non (d^'-dxi) ninoxi
"'n ijxo Di^w"i ""'"n nr "^^1 "'-oxn --Jipa nn'' imp D"'Dn o^'^hn^
pxjn 3-in x"x^3 r\'^^ "pn' ."''o\-i b "ui x"3 Tny> n3 ."'•D^iy
t2"ni3i n"c^n ^ba •'"n irnnsc^D 'n b^b ^'""' p"3 ^'<^ "•^yu "ina
"^•33 'N^y ntra "nan nm "n Diot:^^ "noa oy vn^ ^^mn^ dimi
fl^x nD3 ix::'" "nni ^naian bv nDy^ non dj ^'jd ^"ni !?"-i i^^d^j
.pox "•'oyQ
Letter VII.
"b 2"j2pn mx 2"-] p:)b n"a
'"n mp-'n "jry i"-)3 ;'"3 -1^x0 -nin^D 'bainn pnn "nx 'inx!?
.ohy ny '^bi^ "\n onni
^iT imo "lb n3i::'x-in b inn ^3:ni >nbp "inx vi p lariD
nD:3n po dt^x pj /ovy nx ypsn^ ^^ n niy^ -j^ nvn^ ^3 px
Dv bi /niu pi:ip nx nrt:'3 m::' pnn3 ::'xn pmrroj t:""'ii xr
Tihs"' x^ nrnon 3in b*x \-\piD '"niiiD no -i3n '•^iS i^ini DyionD
^nonsi 'n33i '^hna '''dd3 nonbn 'd 'n3:n?:t^• nixvmn 'd ^mt:y
iMa s^y /,3T ^1X3^ >p^x '"'' : Qm2''3n n)'< b^ n^-^n^b nwbo '"'"•y
."D'D^y3:i' mxB' 33yD
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS I7I
y:ni y:i b^) /;t:6 12': 2': nipa r\ycb £200 p^z'o I'^djit.s' P'd
'-vsnn '"2-1 'Tn:ci anvio '^ •^" ,n3-nN* pn^:)]] naiiyDi nni: ^nyi
1N2 iv p-'N* -in in"w"n^-2 N'-n ^I'^y "'^ncn nan ^::' nivp "n^ion
nnnx njnc2 -i:'\s* mi sr ^tJ^i^^^i '"Ti^ WT xi? tj'n aipo jn^Uw'
. . n'n' "i^cn hdi n''^* liyo'^-ivS'sn n3n:ni hd non^D nh ,d'0"j* -ixq
. . s'pnyDx oy '^b'^ ncno t:i"'n JiTdu' a^iD-'^va nc::' VL"3y cnii py
pcsn^ nvnn ^nxvinni ncirnni n^npn n:njn -irv t^''^'^:' 1x2 p ir:^3
■n?:iN* "2^ ^13^3 xru ix-j" mpx x^ tj'xd csi ^^nn^ ^nnni prrx"*
x^a im nn riD '":vy^ y:"i:n p^y inixai p"ni xit^no ^^ n^-^n
no poya i;n n"3i mno :xisd ansD ••ni'ap /-c' umn nr .p'-na'
mnoi? i^n xi^ir 'njam io:s ^1^ 'inc '"n >nxvD '"mn i^nai
X2n nu'D "-I "pn i"d^ ua'j' 'ni"D p'ry ^nariD j"yi ^nn^-1^11
X3 x^ pnyr 'nyo-j'c' ■•2^5 '\-i •':inD pini pnin^i anpi n^^ro xin-^r^
Dx .Dyt2n '^b ymnb ^c:^'!5 injnD3 ibap"^ '"im nr^-ro "x Die
1^ 'nansi '"Jicnp '"':r3D nn^ my P'DDD irxr ni:3in nr:yro ^^pSti:
nyiTj' nnxD cipD 'h nixing r\2)'\ii:i xax nx v-)2i 'ba inT-c' dx3
^^"x-j' y3VS3 lb "Tixini .njnon mx2nh in2b ''hm mmn bapb
^n'lipi .n\''bD^ \Y^yb "\Z'2 '^n 'nann n-vrrni an^n pini ,TnD
t2ypx£n u'xn ]H2b n]!)y2\:'n nx3 l33'J' i"i "x ovai ^rt:iDj nnvj'nb
.p-ixn p?ii:j 'jix pnjj ;x '-xjvj'o ^dd-j' 3i"l:?d pna ny fX3D iStj'
x:o'D '•^ix nyii'H nx p)mb -b^D 'ai^a 'm?:xi p^b iD^u-in 'oriDm
'bx lariD xn3 nnyi ^n^rj' n^nsb ^mrn xh "iD'xb i^n nnsn-:' xnbo
-jTxb Ti-.'rx /^:xp'D pny ni:3"i -i:-iu*-i^n '"j'lTnn iina n^n^i
nn^k'yi nnyni n:iD: navj-n t:o 'onxiny pa ^xnbo xjo'd 'Sx xd'j
''t; "33^ 'b aiDU' no nib'by lisn: "nS ^lann r^En^ ^^noi nr by
nb |ni3 *::n nrl? nuij ^^y^ dxi ^iicj bv xl"it2 itxi .noi-ih ^^ib
/:ymnbi ina '22 mx nSy2 ''n:y3 biy2S nvj'i
a^'^to Pi'nxn bnxii "1x3 I'X |p b'r n:xbnT2 nn P by .-n'pnn
n:ni;T n"3x b":**? :"-nnio ])n:n era imyn nm '':•:• nr pn
b'r in cy -imb '1:1 '"n ibnan i:dd nvbcn nriD 'b ''n '■■" p-inyo
i»T ny r'pn nrjtD .-1*3-110 nrncn -i'dx j"Se punj '•) \^n:ir] x^n
nmp 'di; 379 T' V'-^'^? ■^"■' 'f^'"" P">3Jb nnb nbnn 'd '^^y .abpn
n'a ''D o'nyn.
N Z
172 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
mnoij DVD inisn Tmnai '••m b"^ bpv h'd vns* "h mix b":rt
TND1 ,\y":b no no n'» by nbz*::> nhys n^^yi in bty ini^nn oipo
i»t:n b"? bpy n"3 vhn p ysob s*3 3"nN'i in'-c^ nxi k'^nh nx ^nyn>
^Dy 3^Dn N^i ,y:n nnb n^fbon ana oy nrncnb vnnbir'i pnx* n'a
no ID lb n^r inio nnsb::' oys ^22 ib n''D3ni "•isia inai "sb
>JD n::'y:i '••jiorb nnp ''•0^3 n3 jpr nn ic'xai 'jto-iint ^nv ina
"•bno ^**p::nD"i ^D3J3 '^^ ib -iNdi Da rut^iono '\n '''D3J"i nina
nB'i<b *ic'j '^1 Nb obiyoi '"nnp '•bao 'naa j'-ixn jn3 '\nB' n^jtj'o
ba in^b inyi by nby ("nvnab -jidv^ fa nti" : nyn\n 1V2 nriDa)
n'Nin nnc'pnn n^-'pi '^"n^os Nine^ nrno3 nns* B'''xb ib tj'k
nnxb DJ1 ,v^n "o^ bs niono -n ib jn'-b 2''ino nmhc^ nrbn K^'-xn oy
li^bnn nr n:j .no ^D b"jn pnv^ n"3 "nan N"ab jn^b a^ino inio
D^icy ni'^s' niy "-n 'nt nr nnxi b"jn ty^xb ib nrx ba dv "iniNo
jn6 nxn xb^' b'an tr"'xn ny 'oiddd b':n pnv' n'a 'nanb '^■^ inioni
'm b'jn pnv'' n'Dtj' "sbi ^nn^j'pnna '••t^'sjx post no b'jn cr^xn ib
n:;'snn n:^•x xc': nbnpn nnxb fian noxa::' loa niT'K' nic'yb nvn
pirn IX 3np Dvc* cpab xnna xms bsa nnyoi .ymxon 3"y .loy
.b'an inryo yvD
:(in'lXO 27132)
ix'''DC' pv^x -n^na lan""!"" DD-ii2on pvpn 2'B'b 2^K'nb 2''*n "amy
'j:ni '^o> t^nin nr ''nb2pK' xnvbyo ^ro bD2 xbioon nna by i'^""
•'b2 trxn ptj'xin ■•27122 "'n2n2t:' no .vbx D^ib:n ba ny 101b::' ^im
2no pi |ony: i>»* o:r-njx cy: orx pm jnio fnx^D''DX-iD
Dyn "lanxo nnx njj iitj'^ xb i:fan bat:' ••nyn'' •■2 .nrb nr wnnun
n2i noi '131 ''""'•aQ bx '"'jd '*o21 ir^vny iv o^v^^^yca p''x pnax
nn "rn2 loyn miobi xtrob ib '\n> xbi n'2 by bino^t:' ''n2t:'n 12
xim |xo by vp'^ "jjyox "•"-la }*"2 -i\so -nmo2 ""mn unn^ ""nxb
DX21 .^lODn in^2 ooip noc'b o-a n3>2byr nyn nrnb bi2> £7 "ido
py: IV fl. 75 •'b^2t:'2 '-::• -nxb ""-^ "pn 2"K'b ^'bDyn "-airny xin p
^OTonyip fl. 66 o^o i2m:]h> "'^ "pn 2"f yr^ xn '3ix /jucn by
"nxb 2"3 fl. 75 xn DX21 .pn^ij^Dx IV "-by nibn id Djyocrayj yon
168 r,//i, ^>f2 ^n"2 p2-iy" ^^y.
iDu 3//y t2"^ rii2>n2 /"n fjn 2"2. '«» o'"" r2 ^btt'o.
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 1 73
IV inmni pn'^rox iv fl. 141 nih'j* -in^a d.tj-j' ^dud p^nsv '^^
^•njnisj s ;Tnc -la^s iv m^n :;':"'j''\s* ^nntoan -ani .|TnpL"py
Brown & CoUinson: DOS'1 B'-iy^p^ND 'C'"'n3 horiN C'NT n^yo
nun-ii pu^wsnj xn pa b'^ "ix: psn :"ni '^^idj n^iy nyn ,nD^^Di>
.pol?Nnj NDsp D^vx D^iy -lyT JN3 :n3D3 p^^^n pasnj pjsn ps
'"Knp:.! rnn^Dsp 'U'n: m:x t'>x n^n: s-no oSy oyn 1:2x0 n:ix
IV Sdb' nvp t:'"^^ n'^ n^x xnan xinn cnn^ trM cnypjxn jn^
.Dxn-iDx-i pvyr
3>^ n'D "pno "ijycx x'-^a Tn ujijis iri'-ac 'nmij nnn: nnyni
''D^ cnin nr ut^x mm £7 idd ijuv^d o"' n"a nt:'x 'd ^y ^"jd
nn'ij 3D"yxi .di^ii pn nodiDDn nn^^ n^oani .dpij nx |xdo
.^"jn \'"ipr\ 3"c6 *n::n3B' no iD^a^ y^v nx-j'
.3"y
^cxn 3py^ n'D '^rvpn ^y n"-i 3px^ n"D "pno '::yDX tiJ^D n:
P"v IV ;x n'''x nnnvj-na t2D"ip3 D^nsvj iisxt ::\yn .£7 po '"smc'ci
jcipi -i^ENT rn:3 ncr ixna u^iT pS* £7 xn y':n -icx n"D lyii dj
poo njnnx nonD ny 3"J o-j-i^n n'-N ^n31c•n3 n'-N \'^bv^ iv
pno ^"jD a-i? n"D p"n^ ^3 '"JDI nsion^ n"Dno mxvinn p^yro
.jP'K' IV ^'^^h .t:d H'ni -ididho jjio^ipi loy 3irn^^ |p pxr
•pi'3 -ixr3 nnyn v^dd '30 odd om^ ijj^id orx lyj^a-j' px"nn
n. 4 : 40 "inr cc'^c nsiDH^ no^c':r "10x^5 '•jod
fl. 75 IX y':n "::yDX 'rj-' ^^a-jo bpnc no iviyn vc^y ooip
.-ic'x n"D Sl** "jjyox ^"hl''^
-iLion -\y^h "inr D'ynix iiy pSixv in tx no T"yi
fl. 40 . . ny3 '^N yni: x^l- '"ion ^yn -ir-j- in^o
"ini n"^ IDO '::yDX ''n tid'j imon^ -i3d noSc 'on
36 :'inT n""! -jd "]^^y o-).T:jyDx i.tx otii -ins o'"i
yh n"3 "pr^ DU'S nou'b 1^ n:c' 'vn ^'x*'3 :in:3 'o>n
or, "inr n"-] V:d
I r nrn cr.iD 'vir x"" onn^jrDX T^v xd^: nmnx h'd^ 'on
irnxh iP'-J' iv "mr n"' '^'3i:'3 ^'jd !-pyr "i mn^ 'on
26 . . . nn' 'inr fo pyj iv "h'yz'^ '^v n^^io
(i. -.'yS n"D n'ion nac na^o nn
174 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
piDD p2*kyn3 nr.s: naic'm nr^n pst'na au-n p^y^ ir^n ncpani
. t2^T3^^^^"i">iN' P3 p3 njHi -i>c"n3 i^s ^^"11 ip-tr "iv p^s
nn'3 \snin nrs h'd ^^""11 d:st (?)''VDy'' . . pi''N i-poyn nnu
::nnya'ty nh i^n ^^nn pi^yr oyn ^'•n pT'n p^t ncK' -jioon
]'i:ibiin in^n n"Dn t2L*'jyp xn in* trp'': "iD^^ii C'Jix Dn'':i ^pn^miN*
n'^i? ^30 n^^ n'3 'pr^D in n''x t3C'i:ip3 "Dr^o mnis* n^nya t"'3
'".nan^::' n^s:i onnxn sin "^ r\LM)2:i . nobzh Ti^i? omaN c'xn
NniB' yn^b s^^nv sn^o Ninni nrD-j^ 'nmon ncyon pinno '»:n* d3?dn
ir\-n pj^D DiT^y 'j:yDx n^^sth is*ti '"^njn ^c^xn bv •'t^'3'N"^
. Dn^nnx
HK'D n'3 "pn nnin pn ^'r }*iiv n-^ n'a "n^ nna N"'"'3-i''n wi^is
.UT'X Dnan imn D"n p^Mi ^p^yoco i\* ci'on r\i'<b p3iv
y:D 3''!' n'3 "pmz nnn p: t:Nn -jij^-'^n xnin^ p ^ii^r '3
IV :Jio''iip nj: on^n p^yro in lyii /inr x'^ i?^3'j'3 p^yro iv i^vx
'3?3 ''3n3 n^i^ n33y-i3 irj''3 nric' prn 'inr x"' nn p^nxv3
.-i3yn r^D3
or Ticip Dicx . mx 3"i DT-uxn nrx ']br\ 3n3 nnx ncx3i
•■^ '^-^1 nn'^r ii'3x nn^D nv xin 3"i i^m 3in3^ nr "':3!' nnx
^b nvrh rin"b] i3"'3x n3r nci ,n!?''^n nnyji n^:ynn nr:nD x:;6in
nj:c icxJti' 1C31 ,pmn ^ii n"n ^y n3^ij'n^ ''nx3 incL":^ nn^
*n^::'y ip'-yh ^bsn vn^:^'y1 in'^^np ijy I'liTi ^n3n3 xtD^y3 msiD^
pK'x-i p-133 "h ■J''' ^m 3"3 '0^3 pDiy nnx'j' ^n^xnc' nnxa ti^k'p
'uio 'n3n c'?3T"ii p"p3 '•'T'D^n oy n^bi pn"'y ncso n 'oron
p:yDi '''b'Ts ^y 'Din ''-j'Pdk' no ^3 ^y '*3ik'> "ir^m Yv^b 'ncnJi
-nxvini .'onx i33n 'n3nni ,^)Tn nr-x i^ p^nyn^ 'n'^i) ,]''ivb
.vnpnym nnx c'ln^n i3'inD
p'3 ^b3yD "pn c'"nn ^nx ^3^:01 n"nxf3 'i^c' m^ox3 xvx nr3i
cn23i c'"3n '^n n^nro 'n n-ip\n ^nD'':'l j*'3 n^r^ n'3 'n3n "js ei'-tr
miB' nr^x it2-j'3H'r '"t; nhj^n ino-j d-i^ii -il"£x '^n ^no-j "jnjn^
.*j'"n vn' cn^r-x '"nhni 1:^1^1X1 ''••j^ nro irnx^ .p'-n:;'
101 y,^ „^ D'uisvj' '"y.
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 1 75
trn msoi UNO "nnot' 2vb iDDyivj* nyb :(n^nrD 'o na^ns)
.TninvS* n^sn ir ninoc' yavja d'\s^ |tni3^u31p iv r^i^sr
'n ^ns^ j'nsi '^n nam n"3 x^vy2L-ys 3": i"ni '^nn ^nn^ ^D'ji?
\n >:c» nnyo irv li'i nn^ man na '';r ^idv ''mb pi»3i '^tr pyro::'
(? tTiSn) cnsn n't anpa i^s in> 'n pnyas xvy^jx ::iy>D p^D c'i^N
N'l C'Nii ''n nuso ^nins^ nnvj'n p\s dtw c't pjyp i'Nf ir^viy
.oxn DDN-13: mya sn "id:in* t^^'"iV
Letter VIII.
.'^ 3'?^pn S'rx '3 p"p p:^^ n'3
.(N"y) I
pnn -nx 'ms ^'i'r^b onm ^^ny civj c^rh nnin -i?:inD isnr^n
n^!?'nr:n mp'n ^no'j injir ny i"-i: ;'"3 n^s?3 Ti"inoD 'laon ':3-in
''X'n n^-iai ''md nrnna oinn^ d: 'ti nrm cn2i '-n nur^ mo
Dr'3 '•'•>^' n-j'o irnsi ""'n jn'sisvi '"n ni!?Snon irnvnN hdio^ pana'
..12 -inn ^y noy
3'v2 -nriD ^y . . . nn^nsn jor -iDin-o .^n3>,:i'n *:y':n nnyn '3 'v
DD-^iDcn "pn mn' ^''-jn y"n\n p-i:3 ■in*:yr:!^ n^iNnr no cnjo
nN Nro iV nx"£w' pvx n-i"n3 pm nv^-i D'n-ii Sm 3n:n
mv^n p-i vSx nnr.-ni nnn ^L" nsnpn nn^'s p'\2'^7^ f\~i2 ,"inm
nT3 nbx imn t)i;3 'nyni /i^*3L"3 nio-j' rmon ^3 H' P nrn33
b'C ''21X njnc'VJ' nnnsr no i^St 'nmn n?:x: v^x dji -ixiaros
pn pn:h /nox nnnpi Dip^-i ^y '^ iv 'iri nx-iM n-iin3 n^npn
Dm'T ''ynn rSmn mnn nyj* -cS ''Dxrrr: 2'2 nc^"' nznau' n?3
176 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
nya '^n na nno nns'a 'n^\n *313k djej' nvn^ ^jid^ 'oicdh noipoa
n-X'-ni? 'bv ^t2iD ^3 ^nc'm n^om 't2v nnna n^cN .dc' ^n-j'io
.jno 'J33 Tim "32^ "Tisyxi pbnpn nprn mni? pDsn ^T ab^
bv n-ivn T"!^' .Dirinn by ixa nan ^3n in^^k' o"-i 'trnv tr"ci
'a^ip *"-i .ncc' nSipn nprn Dni? c^i 'nns m^npa 'ma' '"cj'-irn
-im n)r\^' nana rn ;d^t p xo^i? 'nai Nin n3d onn naatj' nana
n'l .HK'yo inx^ t:": dt^n* D"ay ,ia sin *:''ya D31 pinn^K' mtrs
lax urx .;3?:nn d^: Binyn ':in b")) nana p"t-i "n |nn b'oa?
ynv *D p^N£3 t:'3 i-d b'-ii onn^tr pn iv psido t:-3 '•"ONn niana
ntiij' lonn* vnx'j' jx^tr ;x nyn yn^n nraxn '» .dv nbv no
ciny pB'nnt:' unsai '"ixp ah nipk' ^nsmc'o xjoi-'Q xn px mpio
i>^ii nv30 Dn-'x fx» fyii t^'aoi ^|x D^^sri-D y^b: d::xd ynij lam
K^a^xT uax© DVM nxD nnyja ix3 ni3 ny dtii nixon nana pn
maro nya m:;' n-e^y x^ 'd^p ^^jyn j?a tasc'Da Di^vr^ |x fian
n^npn nprn ^''y -in p"* i^np'^r ny^'a a-ix n"ya a'j '\n *^ nonDa
IX .p-ixii Dr^^Da ^'r t"-i ••d^jo p"' ^np ^^'x ainn ybv^ pa>i^-iy
Tian::' Dit:x dx n^xn 'nann b "inxi /nyn^ xb na^ i^ nxa
nxr '^:y '^^n xi?:^' dji nnv^ nal^'!? na-i ni^'Dn nx"Vi noan '^ab^
ab^ "bv iTj D^r:::'ac' lanx nryx no /'•en niana (?)n-iDK' xiti'b
c*3 mr^x nrx xiio p^x ^tj'yx nnx x^n»i noy '""aDnij 'nyna jna
ncyca pcip "id^'ii ^'nrya D^D\n li^xa n^o pyr a'cyx .pn is nx
xan^ ^'nrya ij^j'^a ptn^ '\"i> nn .d^jb' nca px ^ba na^^nnai
't'l^ban -ID31X IV nr poya njiam nnion "p^na pjynjxsc'mp nro^^a
.n'-aix naiD^ irnya 'n nicrii' a^ncn p )b py^'^Do nnt:^ xam
-a nn'kJ'Exn b^ mtryi? inyno nr nan nnn W la '•^nDaio s'ay
.nait:^ mix "iioai^' nrn nann ^y ion ^yo nixD
ij-iiv!5D 12'' n'a -i:;'x n"a ^y p"^n "pna 'jjyox x"a th dj^iq
tnna naa on^oxn nrx ':jyDx xn jj^-iyD:;' nno^^ nyc'n idd
ny jxa^ nitn^ xbi nxin -\'vb pin jdt inixa ni^n ^an pvpn ;y /bi*
pn^DXp IV p''X na^iT p^h: pn iv 'j^yoxn i-d dxh ^n'-'X d"-^ iiod
.o-j'in pDipa T'sn noa n'-x p^yo iv td 'jix
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 1 77
fl. 25 'inr n'D 'j:yDN*n
ND^3 Qm2N 'n 'n-nx^ t2-in':rDx ybv b^ba mo 'on
II 'inr x'*
16 . . . . 'inr r"o niay |nn nca u'-nx^
II . . . 'mr n"'' ^nny m^-i;'^ 'nnvaa D"n i:nni?
ir\m 'inr '•'C'!?^' ^jd 3''^ n'3 "pn Dtrh iDvy^ n^
30 . n'cniD "innnu ^'ac'a 'inr nt;*Dn i-\n:r] bv nsDin
b"r onD ncTD nah one hctd "nS yDtSsi ntro "Nij
2 . . uQ "3 NT "x3^ p^na pbn 'inr ^^c' nn*
95 "inr n'^k* nr;
nn ''i3'::'n vnnni ^':d ^"2 o't 'pno ana Tiijap nyn:;' nr'^N nr
JO irx vnxi c"-) "pni /i^r^'b nicy^::' n2^:N3 nntoann rn t^n^^ '3
^jn nn d: s'ln Die ^^n ana i'nxD "ii ^iro'b icy^'C' lorni^ -j-n^'n
"pn^ 'ovya ainas *js:r '•^x ana a"DyNi ip apy^ n'a "pr\ oy nan»
-inxh li? yi^i vba xh c'-i\"i n'a iD^a^ ^nanac^ ^"ni? ynv fs p'n
nrn 'rna -n'c'y pi .i^vx nan mx^cb nvn xin p^'-ib ainax:^
ima ni:DD vn^^^-yi p apy^ n'a p'n^ nn^n^ n:;'paai nianxa ^nanai
nix^c^ innuan d"P^ d""i^ ^n-n*.yi .nrn ovna D"ii' 'nana*j^ *ana
.oanaxj^ urn ^^^^;x nai
j2Dn^ n'on noct;' macxno 'n:yt:rixD ana "n^ap naa n''Dn
.nib ''':r:T ir dv ^ai xa x^ pnyi niyia:;' n^^:^• nr
*ajxi .nc'ki'D ann ny^Dio fxa ^an yni3 naa p^na ^poy 'ra
HK'Cj' mix mnci' inro: dio nr:c ain n-'jntr anao pnyn ^n^xi
anan niyracci ^x:-ii^ i^n ytac-jn 'sai n^yn jo inxv inx n^ra'
XD'^D ann anatr no pnyn ^n^xn d: p'r\]}b n^^!' myio (?)v3Dt;'
nr jnja xd^^ "pn ann i^m\i' nnx nc^'-no pnyn dji l*'"cx p"pn ain^
nv ])Z'b xin n-j-nni p^^nni- inn^x nirah ^r^ii n'n nx ^^ph inx^
n'-i" iD-pn maaa I'n yi:;:!? x^l" ncani nxT nana xi^icoi nixo
x:^*iiai ,x2TiLa it;'y ;a xd*^ p''i>') anno nrmni anan myra-j-ra 'sh
n'n be nn;x n^yn ainna isni" '^^x 'mo 'cniEon n'onn nivv c'y
c:ox .;xn-;a )"y unn n^rna ;xnD p''^! annr nr* nox: c:i ^rni
nx'^' 'j'^ynnb *xu'na vj'yo nnyi /aoica pini"^ nnaio xin nya
178 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
n-iiTw" V2vy?:) pio sin nbi^n nnmn nnNi .nioDiiaon ni^npn ""j^n
DS3 ^ncL"?:) riNvb nn^'.ni iDipoa moy^ ^id* '\n ah p^na p'pn
.i^apij ''i' nij '\n' no::' mno pnyn ni^B'b "icdn*
■12D3 D2ns' niDD"' .D^r^tT vx*3 pvw"n:r ^d^'>dn "-nnna-i ncni
ij^JsriDn D3^ns "jj^di n'nxro nnini 'i^c'i ''"m .□'•'•n^ nn^x^ D^pnvn
, Danyn
.s1''e:^ j^':3 ^^nyu "pn
"I'S m^ .p'^nt:' prs*^ lan^ nnn Do^''p t:'Kn nans n^^x nyon
IV n^vyn d^j d': pjnnn '•'n nhriD 'd nbinan '-ip-n ino-'ji'
.naiD HD^nm nn^na dd^is^ ,na^ nn'pD dl"j^ii sn p^n"C
3"y n'2
Dw-a I'j'N* b nx"n nnvj'n ny^ ^nJ2'}2' '^^no ^wS-|•L^•-n pinn Q'^pb
pyc'n 'Oil nn i^nij rb]!' 0^:110 '■•^n^r' ,njni n^sn n'^" njn" ^ntj*''
ns-rn n:::' >nn .li'na -ics Dip\n b^i 1^ '"i^^rij n"ipn* pimr:) ^djn d:
^■•nonD ni3DB^mi '■•jjn:;' nnuoa ^n^ini? xh nnr^ naio!? ir^y r]ii2n
HDnan fi-iDV 'ni '"^ns nsin •'i^'CD it .nni'' ono"' ^inDi 12l*'"io ''nn
n^-'i? innm^ in^n pi?:)n nVi N'n rsj j*£ni ivsns ^hdj '•'oya ei^^'
p'3 SI"::' '<b2]}U) 'ino psjn ::nn N*"N'^n nL"D "pn
.p'^cn 2 "do -i'^'
ni-D '3 "im Dn'^N '''•ii^:ni rn"- •'^mm '■'n onm '■'n :\'-\p'ri in:!!!?
.^"msi 3-1 yc'^i m^c* '•"c
5i^iN .pn-^ "in'N n?3-in inyn i"-i3 3nn n"n* onh yn^n n"yi
N'an!? D^Jiyn::' ni'innn b n-cyc* pdidt:) "•::\xi yn-'vn ^V3 ca^yn
/n -iD^ inhysi ins* n3t:'i bian ^n nsD nniun irnn-^'no
Letter IX.
,'b a'opn ^i^s' 'j p"L''y p^h n'a
.Nmnn ^:di ^Nnann n^d njvi Nnv^yo 're ^2 xmn ^*nt^'
j..,j^ 2"c' 'inx n'n ^xn^nixn ppoyn^ i?:n .snDrn c'-'Sin xm n-i3j^
3n:n 'D"n-:?:?n ]''ipr\) -j'sin fiii^sn 'aipa nnyn innnx tj'N ''33^
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 1 79
nirs nc'wS'm i"^;^ pv^s -n"nj n"•l^'^ pxun ^-nm pan D^■n n^jjni
.D'^nD nsini? d'^sdoh ^^1nD^ ijNno
nrjo TIN bvyc mun ^d ^y ^icji nmn D^::6 mpxi ei^x noa
mur n-iicn b Ti^Nn::' ninnn ins li^in bm /£i:tj' n"n nxTn
PDV^ naiD^ n^nnnn ^n:!T "'y niDT i'j^jnJi ''•u' ^:n ^'3:^Q1 -^ot'a
"iDjrir Ncnj nh' non s*m2rj' .jn'cai n'3 •'"c^na 'jnL:3n:i yiT-n
210 c^'s^ ;n 'n nnx ^hp onn^Ji "23 si^'N "na ps /'nrya "12-in
D^'n^ iniN Dinni:i mn^i? pbr\rh) n'cb inin-i .ni^o 3iu ^3 2''odi
mina anio '■•d^ tiin^ vnvnv nnr:::o nsi^i ,n^^:i nnm n^aiu
.n^yo ■'cc^a aiun ^{<n nox^ p ps* nSnji •i::'"iyi ns-i"")
nonn invy nnx T^^rn r\vy ''zb^' nxD "^ ntj« -lann eii:3i
1313 Ti3-iNm ,D':pr nvy3 pi d'c^^ Tyvn hnid ni^^s n'h tj'k
-131 -131 i"i: ;*"3 I'ND 11,1103 pnn >j3iii i:in' "-nN^ 'im3 hm
|3iD nvii^ NyiN niiwS* m6 in ,js3^i 1x3^ n^y "a |n3i i:d"in ^y
B>13' Nini D-'rja 'JDD |Dpn '•nx^ '''13I1I T3n3 nxrh ^iiiv^3 biu^
^3^ V£;3 Dn3in p^nr^i ''•c qdiidoi "p.i nn^ 2"-^' "vin^ ^nn'B'
in3nNi ini:ni:y3"i piDD ^jn pnyi i:^'3C'3 nior' nnun ^3 ^y nx^»
^xin nyj' i^y 'nyi hv t,is' T3yn^ i3ivi 'm^ n^:;* TinD3 .1311
^'nnom ,.iry.i .131X11 nnrD.n n^in inx ybi^" ab fn nxT b"'3::*3i
i:iy3 i"i?:r 'ni ''iw"2X3 i3in 'm^ dx /l"pi3D3 nmx iioj"' nivr33
P'£i3 li-n pny .1X3 b"i ^'^P ^'^ ^t:' '"^^ "-"'"'' '^"i''^ .i3in^
Dipo ^nxvD x^ .i3r-j' c: ^ixi p-'ia ^3x nni^ pi3 i3r' dx
1D3 pin cn'niX3iy3 Tiyi> ii."X3 ,Dr;^3x biy n'y3^ nio ^^vib
iiyi ^xrnxp X3X1 mix n30 '''ir:ix'j' n"i^i3n ei^X3 ^"'131^ i:3"'i3
"on 'sh ni'pni ir,x n'\x hid inv 3in3^ 1131' '-di lyio^ prn
^1^13^3 'm' dx in't:3n^ "iiivn p irxi ,Dn':n 3"^ '-yivn ''C'JXID
.''n3 ^33 in^.x ii3y^ vyza byy ^.113 Dipo 1^ nixing
r\:z'r\ CH^^ nr3i ,n:y' ici^l- nx '-pba .i:yo ^£3 px nr nSn
'1.1X n:]!^ c'd:3 iTiyro 13 n:^;m xion 313 1310^ vSy 'n ei^pt'*
nn'br p'3 cit' p^r 'mo x"xb 'byo p'n 3^ ^3 inii3i6 ;3ir3n 3V
.x"y' nnoii ;i:i^ p"p id 'in D"Dr3
^3 Dy '":• i'^N" 1113 13-:'^ 'diiedh 113x1 ]''i?r\ i:nni vnxb
l8o RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
ni3r!? ipD^ Nin m p^b^ nnni rana niN |ni3 '•Jjn if'W '"DDinDDn
.t'six nann'' mm nini vniJtt'i vo^i nain^ sh
Dipo3 iiJ^y^ tansni iN3n"'i nnyj ''n''N-i (f)":^ ntj'D 'n nn-riDa)
i^nj ns* inay na niN-in!' ^nn ^:ns -i:i*N2 ohs* .a^ npn n^hnj
nc'y^i nvno ntry Ti^Dni ^n1i5:^•1D n'-^nni nisn d'-T' prn^ nprnn n^i
npmn ansa Di::nh "iqid toy '•ayn pipni? ^jin xb ''JX nrt< /-iq
'pn on mn ••js^ Ticpai ^nj^nn ^sjriNi nnns' "jn p^ /jns^ Tiaio
D'2N 1-IN3 ^-i:;'i3n nyt:' ^T1 mnD mpo vjq^ mp^K'a^ ^V ^omson
D^jiND fi3 ynani? nr niar "Nn^i ^nxr ntj>y^ '»:y»h n^B'yb '®^^n1s''
'fy.'on nny n^nyo na '••aiD '••"n^ nn^N^ '^pnv nNK* oy 'n inariD-B'
^"^, ,.«'^ -,-,p,'3 'irip, 'D-ii3j2n "pn i:nm rns D-yn D'-on inni? •
b oy naTian i^ 'n n-'Lj^i nanni nhn: nano mD3 nanai ')biy
(:N^n pv^nn ninya na^nan)
Herrn Mayer Sallomon
Schiff Jude gegenw, in
Frankfurth am Mayn
Letter X.
."^n'r^pn axa y'on piJi^ n'a
n-j:.!! anjn Domscn pvpni t^snn fji^xn n'n n^ao 'inN^ di^k'
JOT ''^^^ nair:Dn nyntj'a:;' ""ntii^ anp::' n'oi? Tiana nron i"r
n:nnb i:^ -ir::3i ds'i^'dh '•jd^ sa ax 'n 'j nrae' ••in pi DQK'on
mra ^aijs 'iy\nn ^'\yTvo n^i:^ mni ijop-^:' n^i i^m nI? tndi .n'lya
piDii? V)r r"iD'j'y-iD a"^ n'a naajn \''):pr\ -^p'v^ iy\-n Dvoynon^
nn^ia^air no iK'y'tj' nrni^ p:nK^vNmpy-i onb tr^t:' QntJ'n '•nns i?y
irxi hcriN pK ^ijyr pnb ijicriN nv nyi ^h't' ^!■o^ non Hn:^•^^
^r"n "ir:NO Q-ip'-c' ij^dti^' ir\"n /'nrya Niab nanp nyic^n nvptr
Dvn ny ni^n poya ninnj-^ no ^a '^^ no^ni .n^t ^t:a Njn na
162 y'j2 n'a ^!)t'D ""y.
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS l8l
jcrn yapM "''jn ^t^•o^ my ny b':2 in -)n:3 ^jn nx 'n ^nin
'pn TT t2Nn Nr .niDon 3s n't 'n dvu nrnnn tsac'D ona nirynb
''jDirD '\-ii ,nDn Snc-n^ b':n 'nc'ni? u-in^oy-nx eiD'n ^Jn yb '"i
,n-i-iL*' ^w-'-'Dni (? n'v) r"^* isnsai p^:jsp eiNi: ]Miir[ iy\m dhd ^33
B'P'i yi *OD"iyn iy nnnn noiy py^D:yiiSN fisij inxn px
ny jtsca^yr p^jjnp eisij t^rs yn ^"-i 'pr] mvan ^"y .ly-i^i^ya
osn nnno mini? mix nins^ p:3Si pyi?D3yii^N eixn:^ ^jn ^Ypn
nnyi IjK pj"r y^n nnnsn m-nt^ri pryn: inyno nnn d^j "jnt nns
ixn p^n*^ "no p: ,pyj:NP eisn: n-isai chd "vdxd ^d2 D^i'jny
n^DH fo D-iny:2 non |Nto fyn |S3 did^jh ^dvh ny pnisii jmoj
tnn niix Dn333 ccinn oy pdno i^xncyo p^x fsn no n'-i"
iniN iiDc^ ni3^c3 ^:"I5^'N^ c^^irvn nnrno nnx^ pyj ^xnoyo
bti nin xin dj nan!? p^irny y^n ntrn!? x^"'axn n:ix ^n'n"* i?i2b
inx^^xncipyn ^"y i3"nn ni'ya i>r |xr3 oxn y^.n n-j'.n !?vxi ,n'n> i^jdh
t2N.n ^xncyo b^pb "^yn jxc"! ,py3:xp fjxna p onsai y^.n nnTk^D
nanno Tf D'^"*"' ricna i'y unsii o^uo^y D^jyjn nnxo pnyj naitjri
pxnc nx: |x^-xr:msrx f^n ix: ^n poyn Ljnsai dv ^53 pn
v» nnx p2xn iv n'n^ i^Jcno non p^p tipx Dxn Lir^^;': in tDS'j'on
\'""\r\ p ]'Lin\y bti^ |XD ,p3y: ny Dxn n^*y p^x -jxn ^pi'i'^^VTyna
v^y niDT nc!)?o nvp ny c'n ^t2xn pay:: uaco pn Dn^x nyn t^sicn
b'iH Drx fniD iv c'xii |nyr ^xnoyo p\x o^ro |xd ;xp 3'nx ,Drx
'pn ^xu^K' no i'a!' piJ2.n py^jxp eixna jynx:: p''p ]'2iin ^n'T niJOin
y^n cDVw'.n pna^J pnrj ^ina p-'x f\yn Dxn ^nr^.n poya 13d?o y'n
onnxD y^n t^sirn \''in ir\nn ,|nxt3 iv unit ny 1200 CD^^xr naix
'■•ij^n n:ix ,niti'D3 'rn ois-j-h pn!? opcb Dipoo nrnr^a nnx
ana mip cdxs p^x 0^0 nayn p"l"3 :"x "'yi prynj jxaD nixons
]'ri)p ;x3b mnn^ii :"xn dpx 3''l: 'x dv3 ^inn'j'j b':n ]>nnb b':ri
lOT.ni ^pryiu bxnynxD co xn ^yjn cixmn!? 'i^'iny^ 3nD3 nnvj'n oy
poip n'T i^Jcn |x ^xnoyo p'P Dvn ny jyii |yn mxr^!' nvp '^n
3'nxi ,pcip DD":r nc'yc' no ^y naoon n'n^ "ly^.n po nnyn xi /nyii
'2 DV C3xni nnvn ^jeoio nayn 2"o nno paxn pa ^2'Z'nb lann px
jy33x: y^n ^xn: pix!? nnni y':.n yn 'pn ^non:!? iro:; Dn:D x'**
y:n Hv^ii inxi D'rrnni ncn ;n: '.m ^ny:n y^' il"d: bv my L-pai?
1 82 RAHBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
riTn'' r\'C'P22 .^jn D^vj-n pnn^ nrnoi? £)"y ains^ i2:''b''))2 in
-)m> DJ1 iJDvya ansn li? nioD'' n"D ^'i "pn-cf an^n imn ioth^i
'pn ^''DywS'i ^n^n: n:N'nn i^m ^33 -ivp '^^ jdtb' -i*i:'N3i ^d"x3 icy
mpoi? njnr:)^ ;nnN33 dl"ns -iyn u>d :"n my cy 5|D'n ^'^n ^'i
^3"ns loy i3n Dj-i n^jiB'n anan 1^ -iddi ^nnv CTiJn pn-inx* n2iL"n
pT 1^ f\xu' 1^ -ir:xi b":n ddvch pnn >j^y3 nonh ]nb 1n1^5 fnj "ni
nxnc' nntsnn i^'^u^n n''t;'> Nine' pi ^^'jn ^ix-ij^ fi^Ti ijDvya 2^L"n^
b"i2 '\n pnn nr nrDS'n nn ,v^y mar no^h n"T i^nn ^x 21D lan^
n^mni? b"2n b"-\ "?nb Dinm 2ina pja-n pnn jn:i ps* n"3 "n di^
/Np ^Npna y'jn fa n::'Dn ^t? pin dv i:^\-n ^dv '<"i ^y pin dv
pv •'"1 ijy Tnin lyjn ^c pin nv pn
nn
2"V
"n DV n"a
b":2 pi ^pyj D^j ly ;p ion d:ox ,nit:'y^ pnn Tn na c*^ nn
y':n y'l "pn ^jniu n^iys ^sncym no 3"nNi mar nvp 10^^ b^v
anan lom pinN23 oian lyMtr D)p^b ]^^''^^] mpco ^laTi dpn*
Disnn iy:n oy niSncM •'"yi .d^idnm n''3 iroiB'b ^'jn pnno
''''i^T] '^1:2 131 xan^ ]n'u "1 i?N* ^i?Dn^:r inis* immi pdnid::'j icvy
Nini ^T'aiN C'-ni? men imisi? i*dk 13d»o iN''vin^ n"T "i^rDii
irn hr:ns '131 wn nn ^'in ii:no Dip'':r li'^sv::' ^niai icn mm
122:) Si3 ;"S^D ^"y 'TiDy i:)S* v^2V^ ^Dii^r^i jn3^ ^'ji ^'i "pr]
fNiNai ^pyj:Np ?ini: piN D-Dinn 'm" r^yi ^prN^ iv paxo ^Nnr:yo
m pip \V22'\ ^jN3D D^iaDj QnmD nr^x iiyi ,niic' ik'idiii /'-a
l^cn^ n"\s tiohr Dili la^ im^rrn i:;mi j-rs^ iv penn ^xiti'i
3"y Q-cnih nniD^ nmon!? "n i-'i d'd!'d 3^1 .p^r idid n"ii
Drx imro a": inii pv^ ^'n pryii: !?yi2 s'ay td pnxn pj poxon
^53 nmiu' srs: mp^D ^^3 a": nyj* ^'m nyc* ^^n ^'•atj'n r\2U ^^n^
,ii''3ix Qiini? niOD i^ivni? nmo^ ijnya iij^rK^ "1^ iJip nipi mvcn
l^ontD iDni |n n'C'p22 t33"i3 p>x £2111 irxni^yo trxi nyii? nxn
njnr:^ pn fp^c' Dn^x p^i^n 1x3 ''i^xpn ''^t pi ^in^on^ Ti^ao n"T
'mi dxi ^it nj^iD^ nioSy iirm xh (?i^*2mc*) v^antj' D^pob u
inn n"\s ly ]p ^nxT nrpa^ i^cn 3^ mun^ jn'^^-m n"3 "x pxi
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 1 83
b'in nnT^n dji inita t3^3 isp n^r^ pjyp inyo pn T^^-^i's' nriD!?
^^^:^ ^n ir^vyn nn^ .pit: u^i nnv d": py::xp ^ini; tsnsni D^bn
^DiD-j ]""'? D?^s m2^»3 n^vj'si D'lnrvn 'n*^ nx'^r ^x in n"-)'-
jND K'XT L3rs ip>ym jny-j*: b":^ ^xncyo ^"y no p-i ^na mno
u-u-'iij n^'nnn pxn n't pan b":n nnnc^n onnsin D^cinnn
TN* ,pryii3 ^^;■^?^ ivnt y] a"3 ^'n "pno pn iv ^"y pn pinn^
^znsn "i^x b")) P"i ,pnc'3 D": >'3 r\v'^ "d^ n^'yo ^i;jNj "w'nt 'Dvn
pn DQcrcn jDT \snn^ anp Tir^on yn•L^•a pxn p'Tco ncn Y'ro
K'Ni njsnm ,p^N',i p?N^ HDnrDD n^mnn d^j n"3D nsn xt p-i"'ii
noiy nmn no ^y v^x nin^^ Tin-i^in i^^ prx iny ^^n i"n
ms^x "nncx dx nny?:i :n"L'ai n"a "n nxo nyit:*^^ irn^D^'i
CXI niSi3i ni:xn "d ni^'am n-nn ^lo^ni "'^ 'M^i' niyrni mmon
p-'x i"n ^'J'x-i bv nbv^ x-nco naxnj nr poya D"cnn nrx nr i"'x
"yc^z'^m nvp icrn '\ic' it yu-c oiaii ^nnx yno t:nyL": nii?K'-inn
nsrx na /s'xni ^i^n jiyn n';^^ni /-lyn inyt:-: i"n ni^"i:nnn k'xt
^•"•11 taiM") /c'33 2ynn ^3ix ^di '•rye ny:r mn3 lyc*^^:'^ jvi: niomi?
n'^in bc' pcD ^y 3"j Din!? '•nxn nyna yr:c'D Tnn d^dt ^\x
'2xn xnio xD'j in^xh b')^ p^rxjyjo nixv'nn n^n '"oys^ njix
Dnii: pa n"a ^"n -i2X p: "'■^rnxvin 3jn"'t;'Xjy?o ''"y i"n ni^'cnnno
-13X ^nxn ,tny'.": nit'c-inn ]'"p xro^j x!:dd mna ^"nry3 pn 'nyna
^B^ pn::'^ wn Yvd ^an^n ^nxn ^x ,i:'m n^yrri? ny i^y mxvinn
pa-j'n^ T,x3'j'Di pnim n xm msvin """xr: n^ynnx ::'"2!? nxn^n
ny nc'2X priv nn-in i^yi .p-aoo D3''j mrj nccm cymx xt pr^T
t2*D nainrj' nixvin xn pi pyiij n xrj D'-ymx nnyii Ds^i'Dn fcr
n'3 -\'^b mxvin pt::^•:1r njix ,n:ncn^ dl-xd nyi u^d pnnxD pL"oip
]^:iii'o IV y':3 nnyo d:i pnn ic: nnx ^'ii dtiTl^'di nnnyS -inion
in:;^ ptiD uxn fxo 1x11 /syno:::' d^std pdc^jit -nix ^^22: j'-^do
-I21D' o ir:',x' x^ D-iDtr ^'wnS ,pr:yj '"re '••D'-^piai O'v^i^-ci nn-iu'n
X'Vinb nMD3 Tn my jni pn -ioj onip [n ^cn^j njxn xn r^ix niyr:n x^ii
niyo X'yin^ pryvij n"D3?o xi"xd^ '•axn t^'^* '-^12 '''"^ '^yi ,"inv3
c*3^"ir pn'ojyry-ia n^: n'^yo on-ii "-d^dd .c^j'^ ^^yi pn'j'n ^^ |n*iji
'*' mxriH 3:n'"J'X:yD = management of expenses.
'" Xj'3 = guinea.
184 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
i^jycr no pn^jrox iv r^y ^s*t pay:
.N^'y 2 f\i
'S3 n'in b^ D^C'^ ^3"iN*B' '13 .NJ'; D'yniKn fjy inv n"is\'inn
iDino I'n ni'H^ in 'D'3o nosji ni^'o^ rnr I'n '^na i6'\ /nnoan
loan nnN n"ix ^530 n^s to 'Tiyn ^n D^t^^ xh n'D3n^ hjon
^"33 Q''3y n''N n"30 t3 m^K'iji prxi? payj k^jjio'iipi pncyn nniu^
^cj* ^3n ID vb]3 b":2 dpx '^n n'j^'o ttn '^n n''3i n"N^3 "'Jd ab
n'l' i^ono y'nB'n n"o naio^ nipj nK^N3 dn pn'ONiD iv niN^mn
t3*c'Np ^IP'C' IX nano^ pin vynvo '"y yon'x 'Njnn poipa non ^"33
y-i y:D ^30 i'xnc" ^53 N3ni? i?NT n'aK'n ^non3i vbx Tnn niNvin 3":
i?£L2D imo nr3 poya Tf /r3Jy"i3 ix p'dj 't^ o'j 3": 'niNi pn i^vo
napo n"3pn psi ^pmyiu I'f or-N n-otrn p "i3ti'n nann nox ^pn
DJOK nyc ''no n3cn 1:^ b" n33E^ ^"J3 dimi '^^nxj nn'B> -132^
"-i^n pN ^N">J^< N"iy:f dis^ "rh 'n'lipi ^nano ^is'om nyrni nnnon
imx "n inn'B' ^D'3n3 n3n33 d"ds p""]} b":^ inaiK'n 3310-iNiny
laian ntr'ycj' n^nj nivon 'bv X33i T"niy3 131^ 1^ |n'i /31001 lam
T*iNni?i ^Ti33i nciyn lanon n^o'i uai? nn'njn i^iooni ml'iniyna
p"3 f['^ pbi 'mo nn"^3 '^3yo "pn nn n^sn 1^3 niLin vniJB'i I'o'
.x"y' n:'-om pn:6 P'Van a'ao nn"^r
Letter XL
."b n'opn 3S3 y"on ]^'^:^b n"3
in:iT Dy fna )'"3 D"-nnio p'nn N^aion 'jain 'nx "inxi? 'li'K'
,fii >y'c's'Di •>"n n3r'-i nnni ''n mp'n 'no'j
£20 iDo n"-i "pn ^y n''ii r'n "pno 'jjyDxn oy non n''3o ■I3n3
nb'^ yba e^'in '"n p''n^ '3n3 punn ^12 'nni?j^ njii33 ijora 'n^3p
^3 nx nxin "prya nnx d:b' 'n3 pcj'Ni ,3"o3 'y"-\b nin'x 'i>3 mix
165 3'/y p"^ j^^p ^22.
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 185
"prh T-i?h D'^nsn nan nnvp2 N/r:n'j^ '12 rrrj* ^nr^n pDyn nmpn
pny p ^31 in^Ji n^cN :^'\^• Nin nsnin "a^ •'3 prs^ Jpya:^' 70
n::T nvx^o^ rnnn dp^: in-j' ^yn IiT-d ch^d^ 3"Dyx ^fn riMi^ ^n^
yv H2r6 ^Nr n'^t-n '■"anon vnis'vin ^y pDin^ni D^3'j"nj2n onmn
piin p irx nr3 n^!? az^ ^d noxn ^3 ,n^wS3 niJVDJD p-r ^^\*»
p-i p\s* -IS '^poy pp pj^n t^y -ox .^s'Tki'^D K'sa nbvn ars* -iius>
'i>y nn n::'d Nt^'i' ^nn^ Tiidk' ^'i "pn^ p dj ^nnnDc* v^3 i:-iD3i
nyn^ nnsi ^nns* N-^'in D"':2n "'jb' nv^^'a^i poD ^y Dini? om^' •'rL^•D
n^K ;yn .i^^n psn inN^'p sjaxp -iyn njix D^■ln2 'I'^iVi pa t^' 'y^^
/*iyii pjnmsD iv x""'3sn m id inii \in Tin^c' p^N phr "-Dyn
nimo nx'i:' na^o p^'-iK' n:3ni< ni^:D n^^n pno "'t:yn nij n^ij*
/oyn D^^naj ivxn yD Dorn nxs pa N"n \'<''p i? yn^ niy^n
/"n ni^C'innD B^sjn njsn d^id ^y nSyni '"-a N^rr-s* inha nr poyai
s"3y Qvn ny ^s-i;n Niyi* nisi? ^'jn ■'"i p"n^ Tiana tj^N3 >*
nann id:vj' :"n:^'ai n"a "n pvn 'm^ dni ,min ny:;' ""^nr^ i^trn
*iy3 31D b mere :n"c'ai n"2 "n^ mpj D^njai pxn ix o^crij
t'P2D na bunti pjai p-v ncnj^ nDT3 mncai bN-i::'> b lyni Diann
foi?T "mo x"Nb ^^3yto "pn inrntoi? pioi tr"in Tnx ,^nic' (nsi)
.N"y^ nrnr^ni pi:i^ p"pD njin d"do n'n^r p"3 e]^*i:'
'V c"-i p^j "j^D pi ^'n irmnar-D '•jn ^d^ dhj '""nxyn-ns*
.opTj '^n mpM "ino"; ^n^j)
The address outside is as follows :
A Monsieur
Mgnsieur Isaac Michel Spayer
trcs Renommc I'anqr !
h L. Schvalbach.
■""' The customary greetings.
D. O
1 86 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Letter XII.
.p:iN = :;'^s'Dh vn> on^i mpM ■^nc: inair oy ^'i3
nvn^ 'n^niN^ ^^^n fnr;:> ^'^nc' dni ^n^np ^j'^n n"-i p ^3n^
S1D131 ^nn'i^r ijcn ncc*: nor^ iijd^^ ""jn^DS mnytr ^^i^n ^3 iiy^j
0123 nnt:c^3 mar^ ^n'c'y i"j s-i:n* Niy^ dis^ rr'jynn n•k^61^ nj^
^i? mr^y "rmij-n ^os '•jn^Nnc' ''•/pi '"iNnn ''•^ndi no-i2 nmk'
fli3i y^n lariDnu' n"i bv y^^^b ^cvy nx Tipmi ^'"'V'^^^PJ^ ^'niyn
.liN^fon pmn
nn ,vbv n^-c-ni? nan mc' innan ^nxvo xi? t<r:!?yn ^/^o n^ nf'in
^n^^ync '••c-'in^n '•'nryn Disnn ni^yn^ rns^ dxi mn^ dx ^3n^Nt>c'
y^ ns '-es b)fhzib im nonNn xihk' no Tinit^'n nxn ••'\nTy3
ni!ryni? nm: Tiyn px nix-pn irx nx /^jiltn"! "in^ir in d'^di nm!?
i^N nr d: wn^ d'j li-is* dx n"En d-^j's Tin Ni.nir no 'lasi oisnn
ij^N'^r ''D NiT^j' nnna::' nci ,p3n^ ipbn Ni"N3i' |n3 Dtrn ^a ;b m
inub nnxc'i nty mc^ dxi /'•b '^rot:' ""DP lan no ^nn K'a^n'i pan
,MZ)ivb nam nxn onx px dji /"-anx 'nnna p''y'' "•» '"'Jii' nxo
"IX ''•ic ninn"" oisni? unrkT nmp VniyoK' nvn'^K' 'd paji Mxn ^nynh
u^^y ncna' pn nro lovy p^d'' ir:vy3 xini '••j^sid onoii' nc'i'B'
,Di£n^ Dn''j^yn nxTc^ no Dip^ ^jn n:r^cy ix '^jb' B"y"i '''mi^ni
'xmn o 3^'y Dt:'^ nar^tr pinn nr |3ix s"yi .Diann nar xi? nxB'ni
nna^ xh 0^1:^6 iniiia::' "d Djr:x ,nnx nan "x n^y pn nxK'^ ab
oyo IX nnnn ncx^ dx '"b naa^x xi' '••hnja nc' li? nvni' nDinrrn
'jx inp nan '^dx nnij •'jx "xmia ,njiiaa Dyo aiD .vsn nyioK'
/'niya nmn ^^j* nnr:xi' niv^pa t<:nb yjiJC' no p .nson by ania
nsDa r"y n^nto "-a c'nn ^nn '"-sx n"D:a nnx ix '\':ip ijis^JS jn
n'a 'n n'j'y nn-B' noi 'n >3Eii? x^n"- '■^x naoa anajtt' nnxi>i 'nnn
'nnxB' ^ja s'ay "-nynb inv D-annb djox ^nro mar ^i? xn^K' jn'tj'ai
xb '^cya anc' nano nx^nn inr "xnnai pmp?a nna'' '""ait^'n 'nci!?
maab nr y';D irx ^ia dj e]x ^naca x'a ni ici-yc* 'nob ixvr3>
1C6. 3//y ,-i"a pbin '■"•y.
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 187
n^nji nnina 'n '\::n'c* ^ci ^^33 t:yio b^^a nna**^ "•si? nroncn
,Nin D*^ hnji lup'J' ''t2''{b) rvjo v^i'iTHD htd nicy^ inns* ni:»""i
nD IN .i^Q3 ncncn nn^n b in "3 mNi '••p^s* "-rya 3id nih
'\T t2yn DN1 .r^nn fin 1m:^•yi? ^li"" n»non nna^ :;':;"in •\:'<iiiy
irn) m:»pa ^nyT inr 'di nniDn "n iiv^pn d^^-s in min ijtr nnr^Nb
.iicj ^>T Nti'nQ
niNii? TJ'DJ npB>n'>r n^N-itr nvn^ N»^yn ^^^m D'a nNn 3jni
3'j NJ:nDo /^N D^'noijiyo p\n nYna 'iiacn 'pn b\^ nnao npnyn
nnn nay yut' b'on 'pnS TianaB' no npnyn niNn^ i^ xn''^ Nn'»
j-ncj m^nnc'n -jn^k't miN i^y .jn3 pty i^ynn ^b' '•'DDnDaNn 3n3
njno nain Ninc^ y^n pnryn -jd b bp^ n'n^ nsiv niD^cn nvna
Tyi3 pyo-L^' 'n 'pm n^yin n^^ nra nanc'a '••DD^ip ncni ^y^n
'nnans v«;'yi b'jn 'pn i^nino^ nina^ '"DDnDiDNn 'pn^ yv pNno
.pnyn anan nn Nv»n "ik'nd nuo^ nana ^jni
c'pnci :r"nn ynN '•^cci n'lxD 'i^iri ''^n pn 'vna ^hn pN r"n
n:i^ p"pQ 'in d'dd nn'^r p'a fj-tj' joi'T 'ino N^N^a ^i^ayu 'pn inaiD
-iinan n'3 d"imi , . . , '"^ n'''i vn" nnp\n irn^nx^ n'> n:nron"i
.:^'"^ n:^'?o li'-nxi -bnaN '3
.pnyn
-inn i^nnt'i "T-ajn 'o-iison 'pn 'mo nN-ip^ 'i^i:^^ Nvr ^jn dj
^'n nD tnip ^np ^^an i>y n^n nsv^ ^ovy ^y n^ 1'^'^ }*Tn n'lna
nn^ry tj-n '"^^d^.n '"^^yi niin noib noa non ^^ano N^ivn d-iei
nai' iniDj ^n3T ^"y nor b^r*^ 3n"c'3i n"3 'n^ ni^n'-oi '•"hn
DN1 ^y:3 '"DDnnsNn '-rvpn nc'pa ^m niN naiu^ ni:ry^ ys-it:'"'^
;dp Nin myn py iryn-j' i:yT' li'-yyn nn: ina isna N^n pDyn-j.'
nr^i no n'l^ ni3^c3 n:ic*Nn '•'at^'vn ^vn '•'nryn 1^ ^'i^' dl'"i n^ "'cy
'3n nnN nyrn lo^y n:ip c-n nam pn: 3^ 133^5 ■niyi' >nyn
"1CJ '\T DN nv-i3n JD1 '''ot^•n |d ^d^:;' 31U n3C' ^'y ^n:^ nvD^y
3in3^ ^:vy-i by nby 1331 "''nTy3 nhn:n n^ by nxin nivo
iV nN'''£U' p:;'N -n'n3 n'lD 'oiiDon "pn 3"t;'i "in?3 . . . . b
"pn '.nbyo nu3 p3 raico ^y^'CN invj-ybi niNi^b loy nanp ^nyit:'
''j::'3 n^N "'-i3n n^c-i v^n hnt ^n^'^bo v:l"3 s^n"- Nine '':''3i '"'c
n3-) n"i^73i nbN3 'n3n3 *3 *3 xmn d:?:n '3*n3 'do ninbn u6n
o 2
1 88 RABRINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
n^■?^D unD3 nna n^n v"n '•'L'' "pn in^yo ni^Dti' 'dtidoi yn^ 1T3
^3i3N Dai .WDub I'linb ppin::*Dn iinDn mi? d^n l?t:' inn23 nnisn
'iHD p33^3K' nnx pjc'1 |*nn '^sinn •'jmn ^nni n"K c'"'! n"j
vn^ yno n:;*D nns' d'-ti iri'ip pycD i^yn -ik'ni i""i3 ^'3 n-so
nnnwS' ma^ niDib nbiy niD'-^n ^h^1 331D1 ,"it:y na yavoi on-'pD
''ba 2Mif .i? D^b^b hxt;-6 vapya i^ni nra nnN ^^un c: .Dii^K^n
ti^nnn Via in^D D^^t:''- n^ ps-'^Do '•ry ntj'Na n'2D3 djcs* li? n'-c^'Ni
n^DJ3 i^Ni /nc'pn^ "leo >a3 s-ki-^ ab^ .-idid t:nc^ iniND '•mtD^' '•3
nvn^ '•iNnnD i""i3 |is<an nnn i"?3 n"n rns* ''^n )r\'\2'''^'' '••D^ys'i inyn
n"N-i ^l^•o '•ry '-3 .mcnN p n^ nma p wx!? ^3^x1 ,imN '•3cina
'n i3n3 .13 nyi .it nm?:! ••'nTyn i^n V^: in^y»t^ -iik'^m n''3ini
n^Dnn pyn h'^jcd D'3y nvni? nc'y^ nmn3 \stiui /'•anianro nvn^
^3 nx vnynin'j^ nns'i ^pyn |d n^ynr.:' "i"^33 ab) n't^'a^ lovy ^jy
b':3 '^mni ■'Dy pnnc^ 111:3 D3ni paj ps* p^i ai^n -im^ ^bo nxr
no r'n ^^3 u^n xrn tx-^t-i ^•'Dnn i"-i: nc"i,n ini?yo D"'^^:'^ nI'K'
xh nroxa Tk^•N 'nnnn |n jn^ niy -i*3rn^ n^ •'3 on •'Dvy^ yaiac
vniVDi viips -iii:e'^ njcx n^i titn xb ""JN nhy ''o^ b myi .d''jc*j
3'^"^ n "'^3 ny n3n3 1^ p^s'' onnn ^y '•a^y nc'ni ^D^tJ' 3^3 jniK'yi'
iD''j n'3 D^y: ^30 ^x nox'' p d^ixi ^m nja"* ly innc ^y t^pt^'n
.Nn"''^tj' p'3 ei'c '•^3yu 'iHD pxan nnn i'd nx'/3 hcd "pn n"31
D^"^it:n 3'tyi -d''j^ i'n3i "•'nn nnn!? dji 'i^ti' 'ti n''J3nn •'nD''a injir^
1nt^'^•^1 1^ di^:;6 nncx 3''::'n xvn qx 'ti no'-yan Tijir b":D '•'nna
■'3 nn i^nxi vn'' ■'^mn 'Tivns*^ b':n '••nxh '^n Dnah 'ti nninx
/>::• >i3-iax '3 ;nnn 3"ir Disni 'i^t:' on^ tj'x ^531 ''•c' hcj'jd
t;'r:c r\Tb mpiD3 '3iny ^'i pjiv z'b i"nn3 "x^ ana pjy^ px
;nnn^ n^'^^n id'vJ' C31 3"n i3inn mioc' "rcxa ,pfx^ iv p^yuca s'ca
♦d's p^nxv Dnyii Dcxp or ^1x1 o''2 ''vn ^nj3 "-^ayD "nn'3 "nan
. JX3 ••n^ap 133 1X3
Henn Meyer Sallomon Schiff Jud. gag. in Frankfurth am Mayn.
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS I 89
Letter XIII.
Dixny-'DU' «iDV 'i ':rh ei'^'J' '•byu 'n ':n mas*
HD^-w'TD DVD n^^^D mio iniD3 ^Di n^ Q2n ^minn ^^nn 1133
m-pra mis!? nirri^yn s^vin^ .nnini njin ncN minn nniND
b^i nsiny nnna n^^n vt-d^d!? nnonb nTJ- n-i3Di n''n^r:N*
nb'n bv mn n^cyn^ n-i::'r:m ru'n )b a'mNcn n-in n'n .n-nr:r"i
HDD 1^ nDDC ny nr's minu ^n nsTn ir^y "imnbi nia 'n mvci
ni3D nncw an bnpn ini^nn '-nD);n psan n'v ''^ mxEn i'PD ^:y
-)\s> ivb v'j fjDV n'lD n-T-Dyr^n 'nnvD p"pn d'ii n'^s ^na- ann
.i"n' min Nvn fvva •'3 ny
in^yr:rD :;'pn^ ]bn ny ^nsn ,inninh id^ di^c' nc-m -inx
taioni ncn nv dv ^nin^n ^y mpiL*'n nns* ncs mix ^y '-'a ]\ii:r\
D^JL" nc'cn Tiyb nr ncnanx* '^^no^iyn 'bi'b r.C'N 'n\nu* 2'b nn
'3X IK .nr^n r^yii^i ina u'iS NCjn^ nnvi nnyi nroin i:n n^aa
n^y^c nny ni' pNi ^b'^n nc's npina na nnrn^ m^ ^y Tiaay
n'ycc' pNjn in^yo n> na^m m^3 :^'* d:cn*i .n'j'ijnj 'n-JDat:'
in^yo nvni' nr ^y K^':rh n^nn^ ^Dy b ^n^ >* .ncijn: VJ23tr
un nnoiD rn> ^d ny .pti-nan b i^y^ti' inx ny >• i"-i: y.^in
nny3 p n^ pn-no Nini:' nn::::' Dvp . . . dn '•3 nr pt< r\'cb^2
nyn ^'m 'hpn cni .d^:::'D nins nnyac' nm psi Nn^msn
DVwD CN ''h^' nc'Nn '23 iNi3?3 DyuH iPN "ly n-c'DHi na . . . .
^x3D;"'r:"i Npn 'eij N^^^ Dic'ro dn ••ib^ Ni*3yT Nn^o Nim
any ^it:* n^ nrn "'n^3 Dn3n psi "inx ps* pi-n": ]':iib oar^s
Da eiN p nvn3i .3';p ''D y"N3 -in"i3?23 nL—ian: 'n^jD3i:' '''i'']}J2n
(Tnn^) ^3"iN n33\s ;'c"n*:n bv 3n33 nnny "i:n^-j' nny •'Jt'-' nS ■\t"J'
ab ex .□3n3 'do x^i Ditdo ir^vs np^ym D3n3 ■''sy pxir'an
n-ir:N:n n3DD nr nai .?'" ''d y"N3 in-n irsi i:nvo nn-ro n'y3
nH -ny "ix-j'D Dan ^xtiui pw*n'a "'T'y3 3'xc'ro ^nnv^ n'y3 il^pnc
x"n ri:^:r,3 'hntj' ni-x 'xvj^a Tnn^ ia^ px i:xi ^D3n3 'so 'ano
Dny ni? w"-^' ix pan ^iia mT'3 t;":^• x^ dx ncnan.T* mr:'xi ninm
IQO RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Tan n" ncnm n'a nr'yo nT-n tr^B' is* n-jnan: on-'janr' 'n"'yi:B'
,NDi3 03^ n'3 nc'yD pn ni:;'D N"im y'^v vim >3i?i "n ''d a''n ib
n-j-y'^ni ^cvp yi)! pNi tsn I'l^ t^d niD^CM >'3n '3 a'jp '"d y"B'2"i
nny n!? ps::* n-iosjn nL"N3 n:ni ,y'vi crp . . . . a'*- pj-'yo 'd n'a
'n3 n^ pN"ic"'in n-Tin^ ^31n n^ .nt'-iin: nn^jDac' nn^yon
nr^^nn Dnocn (d^c-'jn) |N3a •'NniiaB' nvnh ,n''2 nK^yo
(iN'vo^c) ny can D"'D' n-i"iD''X3 nicxjn ncsn nioyni o-^i n"2 n^
iniDb nnv"i n-it:N:n nc'Nm n"2n "'T' nro^nn n''3''K' D^:^•:N . . .
v< nr^n mnon ''^N^c•^■l .... T\\y:b . . ni^'nsn bi):b) '-nic"-:
biHD"'::' njnjn ^nvy D'y ."iid"'N3 N'con pxit^'^jn n^nj n^ cn nni'
.'•i' icNM ""nv y^n PN1C''': ninn^ nnp "inr -ipn
nvn!? .nivo -ima f-\: pNjn 'a nnon^ n^ino •'Dvy ^ns^'D my
■]ir:D py^^^cr: n>^ "in '-^jna n:5rn cii "':y "n tr^x Ni*n3 na
n-i3in ''':c ht-'n nny nrn n»i nc'x dlj> nc'j ib'k oDCJip-iyn^
ih -iB'N 153 ni5 n^:ni .m^nniD 'nhr ix nam nno^ irT-n ns* 2iTy^
'nn^D ''3n3 nii^c^^ ('•'^Dn) -133 nt:Njn :^•^x^1 nr^n mnc^ mm
nr^n n^noi? innx ivnn |yj:^ mam nv^'p incx 2^ ^y "imi D':)^
n^aa N\n nya nbyi nr:B'n nii'Nn .yioc'o '•'jtn hddini niNi:)o nmi
nnN nirnriK' nmx ^113^ bi: nI? "ic'N31 .i^^-in n^xo n'lr:^ n"iQ "pn
"•D^ t2-i23i ^n^ya T'O na ijapi? nnina^ bi: '•^in D\n nmob nbv2
p3 .jNai? inns* nirn^D D:n ^3p^ nnv n^f•'D^ hk'dj nbv2 nm
no ''•rki'n -ly: c*^n ni.ii nipr N'-ntj' nni'fii "3 t2:n nbp3 nnins^ ^int
"^^^•N nr^n n3nK:)3 n^^'s* n^3 ''\y^ n^yai ^nmo^ji njuy dk' n3C'^ n^
"'n::'p3 3"y i3n> nnn nsTn n^c-»3t:ni i3n "ic3 13-1 n3 ni^C3Dn
-1331 .L3jn bipb rab ^y n3nS n^ N-ipi? i"n: pxjn in^yi:^ nni^'^
n'b^^f nv^'vb jn id''3o i^y^K' nisvin ^3 nbr^b ^jn ni?y3 icvy nvinn
DH^yj' i?yi nbipci ir:ipc3 )b]}'^ nix^iinnD ti^t D^t'^ jni n3^in^
miJsyN* TnccTD ijy ""^ni p'^-y "•': pxjn 'd in3it^Ti nc^kNC' loix
■i^y m^"' -irx i>33 niE'y^ ^^ nnoy on^ys v-i3n >^n* ni33 rsvTiNi
n3n^ '•'mn bi n3nx '•by i^jn in3n3 d^jc'i-ii inn33 |r:s*:n *i"n non
. . , . pn HT'p n:Ni ninnc'N pns '••dn muyi minn bv nnun
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS I9I
pn:b ncnn n'cp '^d x'n Vyr^b nniw-n ^nsvo mjsn nib -ins*
n-i'nn^ 'jdd pirn ni? nr b ny .anrn ^so jnny n^nn^ nvni pn
^s^jD \b ij« ^3 /li'yoi' ipDD ab n'vj^ ^ya ^3 ''3nDn 'd?d nny Q"y
anan 'so 'n ny dx '3 ii^ ps* n't pi^3 t:-i22i .Tnn^ dc' 'nnx
«1DV 'i.-iD NmvD p'pi naN nnn^ .vby n^nn^ D^iya nyn ps:r no
Letter XIV. .
.p"zh D"bpn Dac^- j'3 p:\b n'a
nnTi ,n^yD n^yrD "n mpin^ ^nhnji mina . . . 'nu2 ^ixc's
DDniDon Si:n psM 3-in 3'' 'ins n'n nbnbi Dtr^ Dn'?:^n3 i^nj
n^hncn p"pn d"-ii n'as '': biNC 'inn nu3 n'na >'ny ''2 n%2
nya ,n3n b'^ "lun ir:'2 pdd3 p20 myno nnnN d^d' nin
rw^'ViD •'"v ""ivy-i ^y n^yc' no I'l: ps':n n'na ''Js^ nivnb ^mniynj
inmoD nvp ni:^^ (?Tt2') X3i n^^c' ^'y dj nn^on n^b sae'
^Kini nu'yc^i n^brh nDi3 nym min nyn inyn 'i^yo ':3'C'nh
nan y"^vi 'd nix ::'''y ^yan n^^c^^ ns'j'nnn noin nyac' n^mn
nt t:j yyt:' eia^ni :n'"'DD n"D^ ^i^yo n'dp '•'D y''i;'n noi^an c':n
nnniDi ':dd n^nijo Nnn 'idi in^o nm^*j' n^n in marjn 'nt'N i*3
icn-i'D N^N a'^KT nij^p n^^y^ xin nm^c' "'•a 3"y x^"D3 .onx bi?
c]3'n*j' nna t« 2'x ^ync 12: n^ n^hn^ ^:^'x^ n-^iy::^ r^ain n^^ir
tr'Di .pV ini'Q D'yx 'idi '3t:o nc'iuD xnn nnbv n^^ D:n y^yt:'
y"eQ 'nsvro x^ nbp n^^ca '*Knao lax px-^' nniD ^'nn nat' c^'jn
xho {y'jn nnain dxi = u'dd na '^jn x'oin pi x'cp ''•d >'a ^c
p3 .n^p pnpT xin dc* mt:n x^anij' nbp n^^::' nDi3 ^'an x'3n
pbi nbp n^b' xin y"cn noiaa '^sm c*"33 xH nna nann ^nyn^
n'^U' "'v ^n:b D^jnij i3x pxn po pD':n mD^ D^annxn inio^cc'n
'X'jn xiDun ncx'h c'"jn noiiD 3inD^ nvn Dxn y: jd'di nbzp
nc'nn D'o^pon mna nny \:" dx p"i:' *'y cnj^ "iid*x pxn \V2
^Dx^ant:' D':nnxni v"v 3'3 p"d x'r:p '^02 T"Dni n"3n r'cai '':'nn
^m^t^' n'3 c": b:r nxcnn nou 3inD^ nvn dx ^nyn ^y rhv d:?-x
1^ nD-.o-w-Di 'ny ':d3 in^x naootra n'^u-^ nrox^ 3*3 ^ynn inv 'i3i
192 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
•nD3 VJD^ 3"in3U' 1C3 -nDDH :)r[:b "ir'^n nnx nm^ ^^s .djh
m:d nj?L"3 'm nm^c* nn nnmn |niN icin ^yan pNL*' mvp3 ptD''3
lycc N*^::' no romni pnniD nN:;'-inn nyn n-ivvD^ jiai irx ^"^n
'■•innNi '^jvj'xn ^•'pmam fva nn xT-sp pNT "loi!? nt^'SN "in byao
1X^31 Tsn p-i nnn^nn n"'3Tn n^ /'•i nv nvsi '•'du ir'^n d:
D3 ^^yan ii^n'* nv^:]'i tnh onnmn it^th n^ ^nnriDJ nsB'inn
B'jy naiDHK' ii-'arn sh uitr^ ninv "isd nnn n'jc' d^pdidh n^arn
psT N^N ^n-i^or^i MJJD nyc'n jn-'^iina i^ynn -ir:iNC' ^nm aim!? t">^'
^DNVo HTo n^nji ^^yan nan ^y f)''DVi mc' i6 "iDiontt* nn xn^sp
D^^Di TiiNa B'''y pj''D D'nno i?y p)brh V^ p"d n"cp ''•d anr niaa
nin ntitJ'a irv?^::' 103 ••23 inaT p-ion >i nN*t:nn2 d"o '•ni") ini
JN3 j"ni /nan •'nr C':'x nc abi cyuo d"u nmnx pncxn
Tii'n pc*^ b i3n3"'t:» ir^D x^x 12: ^''n> x^c p:y2 )rbu i6 ^xnin
b E'n"'Da -i"'3TD ni^?:n pxK' n"::':^ ^c' ns^ ^533 ina nx'J^nn^
r"D b"2V '131 p^1D^■l ^3 31713'' nsiDnc' ir:D x^x '''3''''^'n niJit'^n
n^''nn3i' \xnii3i ^nnn-j' "1x^^-3 nxc^in pn T"Dn n3n^ nn ^{^"y
DX ^3X ^nx'L:nn3 3in3!? Jin^n jicb nn'^Doi ii:d nyc^s ^y3n ncx'
n?:i^ nii'DX nxtrnn nom Vt^ay ''jni:iK' pr^3 k>»jo ^y3n nr^x x^
n^^B' in::'ytr3 ^y3m jinjn "-23 nx::'-inn nou 3in3^ p^i3^ 3s"yxn
3in3> -iDion::^ -jdid nuic'^n b T3rD irxc ''s"yx M'b ujn noioi
-1313 i:-iD3i ''spj n^ pnyi ^T'on c"03i n"ca 103 ''•jinjn p"'iQ\n i^a
IX ^d:x'' xh n^n"- xi? ""sx n'^b^ nic^y^ ir:3 13 ^i^n nin>^::'n "iip'-yc'
'•'S3 noiN^ in-i bv^ri ntrsx im^c' n-o bipb n^'b^ n^i'xn nitry^
ni)i3n -1X33 C'"yi i^b ^"vo x"r:p '•'D y"5^3 nr:x3i nn-DDi mjo nyt:'3
'■'11B' nTDOi ""urD ny:^'3 ^yan nan nDi:i nxiinnn nou Y:p ''dd
P'c: ''Iidj:) b^^ 'nh c:^:x nn-jpa pu^:n nnD3 pi pynji nsDin '•^3
nxc'nn hdui nnvpa pc: nnoa Dn'':^^ xin-^r id3 'nnoo nr:n
.n3n3 113: nrn^ ir nno^ nx3 nxt^ c'":n nDiJ3 ncipo nvp3 '''3ni3
n-ivp3 n:n -ino n^xn-^ oiiinn nso ^3'^^ 'lon^i miy!? ''nx3 33x1
ei3m omp 3"d nix '•jb' can inDa -i3':n pnoni d"d3 Vkj'''nn x^
'"SX '^n'h'y n'^t' ix nni^c' ix nnx n^Nvrrnc nipo ^331 ion 'i3i
nrci .i:pn3 pi^!:n n"D mx3 d^j-i .djix x^3 '"dxi ''mb^^f nxo ny
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS I93
13-iv b ipinoi '•ivo irN-j' im^ ^ovy d^jdh^ n^c nN'j'.n hv Tiirpn
cnj^ nv-n D^-^ n3noi5 i^n nnx rma anpoi \N:n by ua |n^b
'3 mvpa pD-j -noai pj'-y B'B'n nvp '^^::' "•2''yN* 'N:n •'"y incx
N'b "sjn ''"y -jnib tr^ pry irw'n t:"'i nno ^nb n'^^'^\ irs dn::^
'^Njnn pjy3 niynn '•nil N'''J*jn noin nnno nrb ppnrni? TT'^n
''D n"d-i n"jm '^D'J'DD x"3 nvj'y ••n-'^'-i ab) ^n-iil-dd nitc' pn
P"p2 pjnw ^n^Nnt:' ir:2i m:3-iyi ni^sc'D ''"y rD"cj' on d"d n"Dp
nv'3 nynb nnis "Z'^:) /oy d-'^dh nniDD p"pn nann dji m'sa
^rya nion 121 ninab Ti^sn nan ■'Idi N"y"' "d rhnp nou' pjniJ
n'D ''D ^iK' j"d2"i n"b-ii a"'^-i'''D i":Dn ^xjn by d: •'jna ti'-n-ic'
'm lu^: nr nn nosi;' -inx nriD ibinn n'n '"-d ••c^'-bc' :"d31 ^'o
b:: "in^jni D'aonn by nn i^ddc' '^aiu y'bn :^•"y •'Njnn idn'-i d^^d^
N'at^'-ini n"3N-in ncn ahn 2"pD n'b '^d3 •^'''an N'-an-c^ D^:nnN*n
nr cyDoi ^syvD saan r"2 ^iid D'^nni :;'"y n'c-ini muni pni
riwX ^nyjo dvdi bit:^2b n:n3 nirrm -non pp)^^ i^nd' n n^'Vijt
no-in nn'DODi '••znaD rby '"'cn '\T' bi nnu' "jnoaini b'j3 ^r^^jy
mo-j'o by nicys /i^nsi njnj ^xxi ^i:sin by "im "-b 2''^'< nNu'jm
baa njcxj umx n'an .hjd'" ^bs tj'n ban nn "l^"^r nvnb .n^ina
"pn njiyi ny
Letter XV.
.a"y
.c'cs n"aN:nb 'b D'bpn -ns I'v n'a
can 5)1^1 DVJ'bc n^b ly^jn-j' b":n n"-)o nnn nan ••by '"any
amN'.:' ibm ina n'j'"" Nn^nixbi ib in jm ibibv:i ijvj'b nnn nxvra
.pyob n:i::' "jxi .pl:3 nno "ania '"^vj'Nn.n nan (?nL"E:b) pnsb
inyn by nbytr no "a .-nyn n:in xb pnyj' a^nx n?:Nn a"2yN
Nb D'V n'C'voi boa "xjnn pvV nst;' po noib n:irsn napcna nbin:n
nvj'L"n niy uc" n-j'w'h n^'o imaaai rawa Nin-j' nabo 'lai a'a n^Dpn
nj.nai nnxo p'^n^p nbap ns pi int:'nj n^rno pa xin cn nun
d";:' Dio bxva'j' ppnn xnb '"b vana a'^^na p^yn nnxu' nr:i .man
194 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
jni ix^ noiN DN n'tro .c^p ncyni ^D3 "nmn nvd:"i Dsnj ans*
mn^N^ '"EN onip ^N3n ^nv^ N*n a'Nt'D ."jnn in^3 d^^doi ixh
3'nN:;' \sjnn m-cs* -ins n^ onip nt^'yon ncs dxt oyun ntj'yon
nt^D IDS' N^'' I'a^ :"2 '•N^na iJ^vtsB' id3 ncynn nTr:N^ ^oaci
'Vi 3'3i runcn boin nay dn rn^t:^ 'nt n^ 3"Nn nay dx i:n
-I33B' p-s 3"n* n6 '"D "'nn nx^^ri n''aN-im pni -idinh "sa 'Dini
"i'3i :'33 \sjnn D'nx -ion" dn "-jno no ^N3nn mip n-k:'y»n ncN
n-^'y?::n m'^cs* ^nn^ ha^ i:''x fiid ^id n^^yo^ Dnip WJna ij^no
"•jno N^ nTi? t2:n nj'-n:^ mip nnosn nnmn btr ^''yN n^'^nnat:'
n'3 nnB' nni .in^^ii^ys Nin n^^yon ht'cni naoi ij'jn '"poish
n:o ^yi pro >'nnD foi^ nr "N^n ^y nn^n 'n jpn^ nvn pxan
■>0N -133 n'db' p''3 n3n-in inyn eiiD^ Tni" n^j lyjo^c j'd3K'
nz'yr^b onip ''N3n3 -i"3i 3"3 \x3n m''rDN3 D'nx pp-ri i^ ps ni-'yon
D"3'3nn inr:N3 yc'ynt'n^ x^s* .13^13 insp^ ''nx3 n^ ^:ni ^"^021
w-n!? i^n -133 ^y3n ^xjn ^y dj n'yi niDXt:' '•o^ 'mn-ii tixd^ ''i'y
nMpr\ nn33C' '"oyDno nD3 noix ":n ^ns 'i3i?3 ncN "i3m ddx
'1VD 1r^?t^' n3n^ ppnrni? "-ovy^ n-iDy ^lox xi' n^^ nT3 my Nnn::'3b
Nin-ism n"iD':i'D3 3n3 t'U^3 d31 .n''3ni "rin-iD r\:i*]}r:) ti^xi x^i
N^ ini irj'y^ n3n3 d^k' u^k* ""jsi "x^n by d: dik' pjnu px
I3vy n3T by jn^:;' lom |n ib nnb no^nnn ''-•t nnTian pyci nn
by '■'3D"' 'ni .ncin immb "3b n-cn "3103 inirD3i nonn inyni
nn n3nx mm3y3 -iic'pn 'n3 nD"'nnn imin3 irpbn nnb un-
'?^
nb::*bt' poir^^n nn3iDnb .pin '\t obiyb .p^jb nioon -nx3
''D DD-iiDDn bn;n pxjn 3nn ''3nni n>T '•3inx ni33 n'n fonvn
.i"-|j bixtr -n"-iinr3 '3 d"-ii n"3x n"nD n'y
mro 1DD3 "nxvr^c' mix ''n''3 xbon: nro'-nnni n3"n3n nnx
"iJCD nnx -i3n iy:''3K' ni3"iini bisbcn b3 ni:r^x nisbno i"d3 ibob
D'bn:n nynb pii3b i:''3r:r 3n"ti'3i n"3mb nxnin "'nn:i ,-nyj xb
nK'3 i"Dp '"D y"nx pbn 3py'' ni3i^ n"vj'3 "-b px "-nxvoi 'ibtn
nrycb y"'-i3nb nvn xb d"23 n"3x 'mc b"vi ;*"3 "bna: "mo |ix:n
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 1 95
D3K' "Njn ^jy Dja
XVI.
.-lybns 'ddh npya nn:s ht^n pn nvo: ncx "am fic6 "icdh nye*
x"d'^c* 1'"^ ei'ir 'h2vt2 'iHD i^HH n"n!'3 n*;:»D HN'i^Di }'nsn 'n^
io''-ii n'^N "lEnn a-in n''^^ T'K' is^n nr :(nTD nor:b) p^Di q'd
nvi2 'pn 133 aniDH dnj ."i"-i3 r"3 ei'C' ^byD "mo n^ns ^"ny "'3
nrn nson pnyn^ ^•naTtt' D^»n-i i6^ i?D n^s "n Tiix wx'"
no ^^c'o "ciJ *iiy ^'orh nyn ^^ nn^i t:3t:' n"3 210 '33 no^h
naiNB' mn nnnon man minn ni3T 'b mar w Tminn ^n:;nn:r
.pja-n ^3r,ni p:3-i nn im^ na-ja ns cmc^i n-'-p^
I'i? p"^ DV3 n"y3 DIET n^^ is-anh ip^nyn^ n''^ n3 iddh nr
ni3n nninn niDT ^^ n: -inr ^pi^N "n x:i p''s,b B"pn n^r ^n"ob
DncD iNci nrn ison id^^ nDTNC nn -ibd "lanj^n i^yn man ^nnx
.irxn -ics' p ICK '131 ^nna hni ^jni ^a D>'ip>i min^ ^j3 h:h
(tnn x^'DJ D^cn d^dt nr^s* nnxi)
.'3nT pc^' :3'nL"3i n'a ^'nrya
mct:'c^ .nnn ni^n i?y ainrx Tni^-on n'^N ni^yst' n>:;'nn
,n''D3 ^nmu n''\2']r] ba '^n^ N^t^' .n-iixr:n nvv^ ^j^hni .nnn^
.nibDn lb .n-ny: nr:Nn
.tl^ij' p"3 "-byL: "pn in
Letter XVII.
/byo '-1 ':n^ p^nn ''y;:"''-i 'jno nnas ^nt:'
I. N'y
/li^Dyin 'b n'cpn ]i?:n Ti "2 'r n'yn
b'''y ei^'L" pnr:i p>do p:nD "in na-iDi r'na hl'T^^ ^'"inn ^s
nm "imo .2': p"33l in: "-i3 Npr:iy^ n^n: pn n^3 3s .ini:yi
,„ jj;;j,-i>>j2 p"p-^ 2nn b"} lyb'iN Vn^d: 'i "'y 3nr: m ^N^J3
196 RABBINATj: OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
naiD ^Dy naioa nvmn 'd?oi in n^a 2x ]r\: "i nun ^^nnn:r '''::n
IDS nvp pipn^ c"* 1:22^5:' '^jH '''en 'nj3 'inriDD 'iiNah Nm
.I'p nioa^ ij^vo N^ni 'pciy^ n^njn m^na '••^n Nin 'j^m dicd
pn"- ""C'l 'di:^ bs "■'^.D"n3^ p>c"'''m '.n"bp n'33 .k"i nmn^
'••cp p3-i ^n''3C'i 'nTn» 'cn •'an n""- m: pnr:Ni D"y nix»b
'\i6^^ ''zn nai ^1nr3 pnn :r"^p iD"3a na^s /TinyDC' mnt:i
pnosna vxin ^rm nm n^nnnn ^"^n ana dc' nne' .riianj "^nb
i3yn> N^ nhx ij:d^ '•'xna inona '■'h::' nn ^ay Nina p-isn 'vnina
N^n "in\* Nin nny!5 '131 'mina 'nr^sna anar' nra '•'jr-i '•yn no
pair ''c^y •'ha in^i n"aN noi^b NrD^::'a /n^'a;:' i^Nntya •'^n nain
'ni'o ^iha ND^'a w^'i 'vt-c^ ^ax pns* Dipr:^ '•'nt nvp ■j'''nD:>*''N
Nin Nm n'-ia •''■n '•'^y norr'si .0"^ p"aa nnc* yi3 '•':d NapiD
j'-aiD [('•'N-i^ nns* 'ipoD n^im niN dik' N'^an x^ ■•'d d:i) 'iai
2"'^* D'n ;nvtJ'y lyo^ nnci' mina pDiy ,|na^na □•'T'cn Dn^ro^n^
'^jnj licio '^K'lni nvy ""pai ?]''-inn ;n:vi nna •'anxra hi^n ;iwn a-in
^|n^N lano \~im y^oa i^p n!?iy ny T'n"' Yi: "i"asi ro"! .|nix^i
.fnixn^ na?3 DJiatD by jrvi nbmi'' u^jo'-ai vra>a
njTii'yn nmn m^" ''byao •'T' ':':^'^ "il"n 'va orn naaa no
my Tinoc'i '■'D^y ••-in •'baxi V^* rinbt:' ^nisia abn nnoc'a ^nvba
''pino ''Da pxDY ninb np*^Di rh)i ''b'l 'n''"'iiNa vs '•-iDNca
i^'i^y n'^-nosi '•'jioa njv^rNi n^"* nn (n) 3n: ina 'an '^Nvvn
^b *:ipn nia-'na ^ns nDi::;i -laai n"a hnj nynb Tijua ''a -ivyn
i^y Tnn:i pcxi nosa noiy ncD •'-inB' 'vr\b "inv lan nwsnn m't^'
("n piDsa) nosn ni::^yb ^nik'^' ••n ^n ncD iami -idnjc' •'JtJ' hdd
nc'Ni '"'piDaa p^yonb a^on ban nbiyi 'iai vn nc's d^'C'jn '\T'1 aTiai
■•D .iDNV^i inanna nai^m 'r:ya ■''-ij fjnnn iisjn a''^' nbya a^K'n
nnvD D"it:3ipa manxa ^nana-c' no ba riN pTiynb (ha*) baix w^^ jn*
by nry^ noa N"trinD c'oa dj 'a 'npn dj n-iso'i ns-i in .nrb
D'anN □•'-lanni .D^maio aya'C T" •'na\*n 'iai '"-aTa '^Tc♦ n'lay
'iai non minn ]^:]}2 id l*'"di (a) .nnb poy nya d:^ni ''•ac^DJi
Dyon px ncrsN 'n^nixn n'a nyv n'obn '•'''i:c 'ipibnca ''bni
167a py^t2 p-, y^,2b n"-i.
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS I97
SIX xin "'^^3::' nm 'ni n"n nyv dil'td n^s* 'Vo by non minny'
JJ3-1 ^y p'hn' :i"y nin:ca /snirsx xinr' nry^x '-n n^;p 'pirn -d
JD 'niD^> N^vr:nb in^yo 'lyn ntrs nnnai ^nsn^n^ •'^"bn '•dv "m
'"313: 'lien 2713:^' j'cn nv'^2 ir:yu '^m 'iidnc' n'3V irvron 'iinn
nvpi) "1:1 "i^irivS nx n^^n no by oybib ixbon ncxr nco tdi a'na
nivD y3:^• bb::2 nr nnn 'r^oi "JD^m nr by y'n n^^nn" n'nn '-i"pn -ya
n'2vn x"n nr xb ,xin j''d yi" xb "3 inx-'pn inbyo nxin n^n onbtr
'naiy^i .ns'T o'33 >3na -ix3n33i v::*yD ba by vcmi xnpD '••nx
ba by v?:n-n "an i2yr:b xyix nnix ixb /r 'laiaa "ib p "'m
:r T'ym nbnj "ijir by oyo in"b nivm] 'i3i oa ainai a^na VL"yo
'nxT 'njDi '"iDi ['131 D3 n^nan pT xbx "an 'n"b rn"? 'naoa pi
a"nai aau' yia xan a"na uinx by xa n'oi .n"p n-^ noxn p"b
12"d Tt pba 'Da picaa 'xnn nn::' "ba "Jip"na "nanai 'iai onn
yiapb i::*pa D'nni n-ir:xn xin bxir"b naiaa 'ia aac ynan nxi"
d: .bba cybab p^y aac' yna inb pxi ."a" niaia 'n"xna f "p 'sa
.[l"nxnb Dipn ixa pxi .piD ^"-lV nr by 'caa ^'i^'ia
n" by nra '"aoni vjnp nam "aa by "naiy tj'x D"-ia-in in" byi
x"ni 'yovj' |jixi nxn ]']} va"ya |n "lan ixvo'c* by pn ba bya 'n'c^y
."nb"nn
icyiD::' yn ba '"by nmn niaao b"vxn nu'x '"b"n mm it nnyi
xbx nnt: xb a'na mu-^* no ba -i^:xn xau '"aoax pnna "b "b "icix
ncn fjioabi 'n"aa-iD nbyn /n '"nan '"aioa itnp "nana (a) ."b"a-j'a
"•j'sa x"anb "na nci .n" ixvro n^aa in 'oin 1X"an•L^• ia""n 'in by
"lan nx D'"pb vaob aiy" "bix "nicx xu'ian noin Di^b nia moa
ana'j' "'rncx a"rnb pi xbx 'oian '""pb n'-nn xa xbi" n""n 'in
by a'y n3"DD pyo "c: orxn 'a"CD '"ona xbi '"aca '"aiyo pc* n'n
TE-j* "-in*^* pincb nnann "'::-n xoyo "xnra xbi a"w'?:a n'-nn xa nr
nL"p" TJ'X nanni (n) .yni^'D Dt:»x Dic'ra na"f:D pipn "ir^ib baia
ca "nan latsx" /iai '"aca "yab xbn n'n 'oina ."o nby Dw' laco
a'c inbyo x"an tj-ni nbyn tj'x ibbn 'cm "-iia"n "ar* n'j-p "in "n"nb
.a'^n "T p"a nnby xbi noana labsbci /'na pxan
193 RAnniNATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
.n'y I fjn
'^nnn nyj'on '':zb tj\s p^oi d"3i d'cth jvh ^y ^nana -i33i
: r'' eiT miona ps ^n*^ u^'ini 3"-in '"sni riT-r^'on hjk'd^ xn^s pi
fjy ''•JVD v:^y "n-i nnx ^nino:r yavi^a "c'dj nya::' s'ay ^nxc3 x^j
'"'K'lp by 2in3b iB'np ynr ^icn my (n) .ninips ^3 isy wd ^p^as
pi '131 .Ty pu^j 'in B^'csy Vip in3 pxi :n'v 'thid fo-^ b)p
ni?nn 'd3 n'-sh •hbn 'in |oi 'i3i pnv n'^ n'n .Y'-p ni?:3n 'in3
not? N^N nine nnv inx pn^n pinb b)y 'voyci) ^."113 nmn
*V!2n j'ys* D''n3r3 N3n 13^ n''-^j T'y^ '3'x p-inb inv nny pn^ncr
inr p3: 3"3 ^n^k'j n-y^ n3''x ^nj ^3i!'o '••bm n'n n'-yty ^3''n pnni?
pb''^'» K'''t:' 'ipD3 b^^nb ''n-iDN ^jsi /'-i3 "ann 3":^ inbyo nan ej-iin
m6 ^ni .dk' 3n3'^ 'inn s'y ron bip pxjn bi:> w-i^n3 noib n-i3nDT
nT-no px .n'''p nir33^3 'in cr'r:DyT 13!' n^j njm ^tsb^ nc'po -sn
'131 {^'inb tj'^t^' ii''3 ^cj '•N ''•JK'n Dvn-ns B'"?3r3 k^^ ''n-i '"dn n3-nK
3'ni '131 ''n3n nD33 ^:c'd x"'iyc' ^xm 'i^j-d -ir:ib inb xno ^6'^ nn
.T'y pn-j 'mo n: .'in i3n3t' '--^Jt^ N^fn^n inb t"d-i bipn ni^str
D'B'n pTnB* "ircyn djc> N3\n ir3 '•'jid ^3n3 ^nyai nnxm '••n-i px
nnx mpD3 :'n3 pnnb T">^"i ^'^^I'T ''iio nn 'nox rx 3idi miiD xin
nnpni ron hpn n^by pK' |nj 3'x5ra .''3n X3n '•oj '••b i^b'o ^sb^n
xun3 ""ibn xin:r i<'^: n^yc' i3n3n x^cp xn b'nn i>")3n nb^nns nxvb
^r^'on '-to:x dj rcn bipn nr:n nin iid\t byi '131 Dhyi? xi3* ab xok'i
nji3J mo i?3 .oi'iyb X3^ xbt:' ntrssi npinn -j-n ij"'sni x"'B'j n^yt'
.n-bjnn n^yci iK'nn3 tj'nin n^o b^m xinn -13*13 pinb ^n nsnyi
fn n"n oti' tinaona n"n bc' "x 'vb sjDir^ nc'np3 -iirncn ivbn) (1)
n"i xiHK' ^'•3C'3i x''' nn D''ttQ3 "n '131 niB'y "•nij'y K^nn "'Qdio
mc'n tyxn ""DDin i:^\n nnc^y ''sdio ^:^• idxi b-iyh noii33 ^'^3
nc'y nnx D-i2Dro nbiyi nnx n^yi^'i n''K03 "r nnx b^x nnx ns 'sib'
B'^^^t^' n"n :n n"-i "y Db"l:^^ 1^31 n:j n"*i d'j's 'in in^3in nroi
DnnpD Dn'-ytt' ''•b'^c 'lyntr t^m 'nsoinn Dti'3 'inn ^'''n '131
D3 ^D'-ncn w^b^ b")i'^ r\-\^ ••^3 '•jip^ns ^n3r3 '131 n^B' ^33 f'x-iB"
'131 cn^yt:' i"> "nsoinn cb'3 '131 inr\x n"n .t"d nv''3 'in ^'"d
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 199
n'-ia nnN 'niDsn ovn "a jna n:icc'i noca "r nrj-n 'B'ln n'^i*
y^n nsaDin N^n ni3\i3 ^nsns) d^jdh oni? ^^32 nns mvya cx"!
^:l"di "i"pn ni'-pD n^sc i^b'Ti^ [nvn i^bn inNi (on^n '•n::' bbn nnx
n-i3im N3Mn noio nio^b nr n^jj ds dji .p23 3"nn D"y 3dm
"in^' ''Ntnin p3 p^n^ C' "d^n /an Nsn oa '•jk'o 'ipoa a'na pni?
^2N s"::'j n'yc' '3'Nn '^aion n^nna n^n ^ju'd n^ 'iicna '•'qn
B^ n!?s nmipn b ^jnp N^no Nin n-iaioi 'cs n"'y2 ^s b^ wpooi'
/n^^D "13T 'y3 'Ni >n^*o nap: ••yn \x D''C^tJ's Npm in:in '':np ni^aipn
DmcNn ^3 nisnuvnai n'^: "i^yc 3"nn ^b' Nvn-ri^ ^^a v"ns* aic
N^ D-13 /»"in ^ip bv2 |iNjn pio'^nn xv^ nci 'Tiamtri n^yc^ irr'^n
py in^b Ti-icK njK'D^ -no b>^ niTn n^^nna "jsi' "ipnc' no nnas*
"n njB>t2 TiN^roi (t) .tdt hpn no^i c^-'d ^y "lum nun ^33 -avy
nb^h D'o^ 'JB'^ D'bwn ty'a^ '0 nnx nvb n'n nVn 3n3 ni3-i3n
D'^N^n n:ii33 psjn ::^^ 'i^^^n 3"y in^^or tin't v-13 nrn nnx
f"3n pi3D ^■^1 D^D"' 'y^ ihn '•in n^"-^ nniSK' nnx n^^h d^d^ '•jy^i'
T3rn^ ab "2 on ,nivn ny n^n ^i3n^ x^t^ nm in^^:DT yiHi snn
3''yx NM '''D\n 'y^ p3 n^^bn '3 '-ynv n"3B' 'ipia^n^ i^'-sx nnK'
npmn nayi n"pn n3ii3T
.x"y "3 SIT
.n"D3
n^'no3 d"d pi3n3 nr^ dx dj in^o ,Dvn -vn ny x^x i^3x^ x^tr
n"! :t"3 V.3T3 'Din nn3 133 nntj' noxn n:: 3n3 vnnavy "11330
nivn ny 'pmn ''C3n i:i'y x^ "x n^>h '"C ^rj6 pbx:^ p^mn^
'nsii'3 '"loj lynr my (n) .'i3i n?:nn ny^p::' 'm' ^nra xin -i3'n
-jno^'x 'xj:Sn n3::' '^no x'-d b'^n 'rcrip ^y 3't:'n^ pv"i pyn^ pnv
^nov'x^ 3tt'''*^ y:nn 3"::' no 3n3 T"y"i ''i3"i n3C3 '^ox 3npn
f'os my Dy 3-ipi mn^Ji utr^an ^^33 irxc' nnan ^-^ il"x-i ^'3^*3
-in3 'X"ii n'D3 nT3 {:'"d v:q^ pn^ x: '\t' :n"3 '"'n3T3 '""l'-i
inn nrn^ y^jn 3"d n's n»?:n3 nxuT:3 0CDn3 irx n^on be iL-xnt:'
'CI .n"3 -i'r:2 -iix'3 -in'3i 'nan nx'jo pi .x"?^ -1^33 -ixi3r:n "sh
nnx ex n"bi r,\:']} a-iv: nnxr Dipt: ^3 b"-) nraxni "an xnp 3'n3
200 RAHBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
nvkj'y^ nmnn iti^ abi 2'cr\ >t^•"^^D3 ^"v'] ddid on'':::' ''•<pb b'iy
'nt:*ni L""y^ nn^nn ^D-nn nc'yn iD^^i? -ic^SwS dn* "iid^x "]-n nivro
D-^pi' na c'xin nx n: o^iran^ c"* nnt^a T-on nhy •'xni nnyroi
pa^yon '•'^*^' bv pa nnn nij''r:3 pDiy Nine' pr bn :3"bp nacn
''QN "inn K'-T'S 133!:' f]sn n^ '"-cDnb '^yn?^ n^i p^^yo ]2'h^ pai
N^s* .rnin -inat:' /ys* n-'ono n^c^'sn^ \sb'-ib' b^''^^ a^yo lyst^ no^
yuD^ na »'o "inn irs d^D ^'dt 2"n '•"i fjc*' 133 •'"ib '"'Dx
ninn^ N^B' 'D^yn -ini nn"'/D3 niyn in^y ir\"n 'jT'niNi niD^x
n"D TiDna \sn3) D^bin p D1t^•DiJ ij'-nnD Nint^ nycj^a aba K'xnn
^'nx n"am hd^c^i c'i^s n*^ nne' ne' nn 1^2 nx l^^b'dd 'ni^ (3''d
p33yo p-'NB' pv^v ^y ''•DN pDiy Nine' pr ^53 n^^m id3 ni::^ -inio
t3^::'3r:K' n3tr nmn iD-'Csnc' I'r^n pip3 n:i3: m» ^3 nnyoi b^3
n-n3 yon i^nnn ■i3''sh D'N-in nn^^rD3 -iid^n ni^ in ^3"'^ 1^13 ns*
^N 3'ni '131 tnip3 n^D3:i naron j'y nn^yc'!? nnpn nnt^^'^i ^^^ni
p-ip iniN ^L^• nuD'sn ^32^ p^3i -iiyn ny n)bd> na "'3 p:yn nii^'ss*
'tin pS ."n^niNnD 3"3 isiy j2"':^'2''K'3 3"n ni^ nnn irx ^dsj^^
DitJ'o na c^'j' a"yN niiy oy ^DajB* pip nn^^iD n-nni? nnpm "np
Da s'n nntj' 'nn I'^tr DB'Dnn np-yc' n'-cn ^:r ie'N-i3 3'n::'d ,ni3"'y
3n3B' "'JB'n Tinn ^3 inyT Dan ^pDxnsi Dcsnn n:r ^xii iK'x-ia
ny^3D "3 yT ^3n 13 nnio la-ix '131 '"'^ann nT^3 •''nnD Dti'3 ^nn
nn-^D ntyo^ Nnp t"i^^*'^<t 2n3tj' "'aii-n i-ina '31L5 psps^ ^^ ns'T
"•asjD ni3"'y 113x^3 th^ 'mnm nroi^ n"no Diiyi obix^ ivi dj<
'''^3iN t<"3 ns-tT PNC nD -iiyn nx iji3N^ nvni inyn n^n3t:' nr nia
('•3n -iDib px i?o 'Dny3 '■'Dsn .na T-rai ''•aioro ^y^ ''n3n3 -1331)
;\2 pN nn^y Dan 'n''"'op!? lamn 3"n niyn nx ^13x^5 n)i)i dn im
d'd niyn ns biN Nine' fin !?"nx 3"yN p^3iN3 ni3^y pN nne'
pD-ti'SD t2"'K'Dn!? i\n Dnn '■•am 3"nD N'-ane' '''Nnn Da /nyn n^on
-i-ac^n n^D^jnn '\sn pN .nn^nmy dni dhin ''^31n d^in^ i^n
m pNT Nc^a abi '""ico^ "inu^'^Ni n'^^N Sn3 Dnm noi^ ic'dn
y'cn nano nvp o'bi /^ na pcNnn -]-n p!?i ni>na^ nnB'c^ ^bn
b':T] 'nno 3^rnc-' pc'Nin '•'n 3n3C' "r pn pn^on "no n"d3 lovyn
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 20I
.i-nniDi rn:Nn ':nx ns "nans "d ^nnna rha b^ jn .nn poynDi
p Npin nvrh inv n^cn pnpn mco niya inbiD^ nnpn in^^*'i<
nK'aD my i-in ^ay i5B> c^^-n .3"jp p!?inn idnt sijiy^i inat:'
nw 11 npD ic'sn n:i::'x-i n::r bi -loii^a /njtr p ir\n b^d
np'D l*in ^jyn cni ^t:' niym >jnpT n:tJ'D nnis ^s^i n:;'33 ik'n-id
L""-i Dic'D :"nip DL'n '^jion ''xn^ Srs p:yh nN^Diui? cod h^^dx
iD-ni Ti KinK' "JDD '131 f^i3 n"n .i"d o-nosa "'t:'-! a'^i k'''^
by ^B' C'x-in niyn-:' '01 xn n"! .n'a D^nosa 'in 3"3i .ibx^
"iB'3 nyD li? B"* inn
.a'y "a cin
.n"D3
mat' p by ^B' rxnn iiy xm pbixa nn^y pxn x^b^ pmni
pi) Srai nxoin pjy^ ntj'aa my ^jnh "o^^p nbix^ xcno
'"•anon 'd'd xjn muy ^-3 n i^\nir ix ono nayroi niyn t2''B'QnL"3
iiyn 'iB'Di nimp nxc'3 jnni? msin na^ (nB'33 my np''o x^t
.ni3nxn ^nxm xhb nnt'a ibex n>-ipn T^-itsv^x pipn eiu b ^yn
pY^x 'mo bn:n anno ^n^x-^o tj'x ^y b'"o nn ^nymn (d)
n'-ii :"-] no^t:6 i^'vT ^idv iiidt pxjn >ninx ^3 jnn 'na ^^ed
nn^^rD n^ '^n \21pT] nn^^o ni^^on mnp^ i?3x n"-! .x"l nimr:>3
yVmn s'di .x'" nv^n nDici3 nn-y nvj^) X3'^ niya dj nn /b'^
'^no n'E3 '"Jixina poa n'ao-in dj x"jo3i 'j '••yo o'vn ''D n"x
innv'wST "a^b '-^'p ^'x ^^v nn^^D ^n^ in^on x'" pn naro mo^x
'■•pciEn o-ni 'viiD noD -11x^22 v^x ^natrni .n3t:*3 '"dx anpn
. '''-\2'ir[ 'n^n n^x ^y onujip n"D3 'mn^i pbix3 nu^y px \':]}2
nibxo 'Sid t'd^ mjon ann t:'"D ^y 'nana nn^y ]':]}r\ imai (')
L""L- nsi:i bo iibn na in^ca in^aci u-ai c'"j:i ^nTa pi nniDx
'•~\2 mia'y na noai iiyn ma-y "aa i:'"dd irai b" niy'L"^ y^o
niy'B' xinc nxn: 'iai ma^y ij'\t nn^^cn onno p-D^^ 'iai bno "ii^\t
''am p":)?] "nan nna!' ^nx^ r^'nSn d: ^''y bo iibn na iia^y
n-xa^nD )bbr\ nvs-a:.-! b n:,m .c'"y> c'nn nan x'an d"d '"d n'-'a
mxD^ mem ,bc iibn na noai myn ma^y *a: L-'"r:r: nnx pjjoa
D. r
202 RA15RINATE OF THK GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
HD mny '•no ^^12:2) :3'dp phn3i .I'o '■'nos^ 'nnb nian: nnc*
^N^ /o pn nsv^iun mnx 'rno n"33 D'20-in d'^i p^^o 'n -j^m
i53:^ D"'i3n "t Ti-np D''::'n '^'\7]V nins 'onj cn^ 'mc idi^ -ic'sk
jnc' '■'PDisn ^D2 -iN3n: n^L'-npn 'n *;n bm muyh ^'j^i n^nnh
'"no n"M biib p:yro i^^i n^rn ^33 D"3oin s'^i p^''o nynns*
'n^ rh'12: pT p"i) '2 pn n^an '^no n"D3 n^nn^ pjy n''- pn'm^n
t:D'w"o py ^y3 nnso n^-noai Q"a?2-ina narj rnx!>'D ab na ny
HNT N^c no ^y Vyn ni3-i3 'irno i"d '"i^d "jax fv:;:r : a'^p p^Jina
nS'nn3 -i3ra:n nnai nms* a"Dp '••d n"N yVn nbMn 1^33 pi . yT-i
^ni3-i3 '^no I'd d'^d-i nSan "isn p^v 'i3i ''•^iva d^d ps* dn* jo^d
■•'33 p-yon '3-nNi 'n^Ni 'n^^n no ^y Tiin-^f nn^^D ^nB'p3 v^x dj
n3T N^:^' y''v nnyoi ,p:y ^d3 i^nro D'3D-im nvci nxi'' j'op '^d
m*p n:ni 'i3"i n3y:r n'n . n': m: •'L"''-i3 iiy TipnpTi (o'noin
mix 1^ i':n tj-s* jsiso n'aNj'pin 3nn n''3 iyc"«;'j i^^n nin''Dn»
pN D^iN ,p3yn noin -si' aic"' 'mnn ynij inaitrnn 3roi 'jd^d ma
"bv^ no3 lunnna pn3 nyi .i'd ''•nosn iDvy3 ''"c^i ij'"d2^ p^'sdd
>m3nK' piiync na^r] --11303 -jxi /mDTl^' ^jn .13-1 n-cni ponn
Tny3 1*03 "TiD-ixn 13 -n:nn^ nipo -^ in-n t^'n inyn ^y *i"d3
inN ^3p^ cipD |S3 PN1 ^^"13 |^*N*o D^Dynonn Q>S3y nD33 ^33
ab ri bi vs3 1^ n-ino idjcdk' nhnan n- 'zain (x-) .(T■^^<)
'riDDinn 3"y n'q i"?3 -ndt p''^:3 3n3"^ no 'Dani> N-3ni '-i? d-:n
py X3 in- imn:rx -axi p-m n-nn vtj\s'i ini3 ns- ^^"m ip-nyne'
Dm3''3 'did b'^ n6n p3y3 ntrpiD n^iDC' x-nn 'riDDinn bv uvy
n''D3 -mn-B' nxDDin xan3 nam .n'ani pp-n 'j-nvi d--i13''3 niu-yi
mrsyx ny3i "i- nwb^ a'y pi3^ nvpD3 tinvdi -nnjn ninsDinn ^y
-b r^a-^n my (3-) .ntoi: no-in inyn ]yn b)ii bip ihp nyoK'xi
'13 vnna n^i 3'''d h'd -jc ■i'j'yjD3 D'-inn 3n3ir xnx 3-in ims''p3
"I'j- tj'cin3 |'3D"in '•'D3 nix-ii' in^yo 3n3i p-ao \sr:o -nyn- x^
-mo- ■TL^•x TXD 'rrj-on p-^j3 -jd^ n3in3 i3i (P'-nix^) '-ix li^'n
'3-in3 nry^ 'b '^■^1 -""ini Di^paix 'inn -poy p-oyn^ xo-nn -j-d
bv 'niDi 'ipioy criD^ i-cn ^nb 11333 tj'x |'3Dnn -113-n 'ip»
'»:n nn- n3n::r3 'j-i^ xvi-n ni't:' nn-n n-oyn^ ''■iry3 '-n 'ni x'nn
-i3iy pxn xvn '33 |'3mn s'y no 'nyni" nx-^an n3n3 (3-) .x'ni
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 203
'"PD-.a-o nnx in-iDT ab nt2b^ ,-iunn ^'nn spin xi'x isa' N*^n
}'3j:-im nnN p^SDO nr ps-^ i'va ''':^'^3 iq p-m pna^ nms:^
laa pT ;d -i3^i ^n-j-yobi na^Jni? i:^\ii 'm "-^ nxT '^:^'h2 Dp3
n'ns e-'-ino fnn nv pi :s^do n'as n'nno j'nn oy nmna ^n^si'D
IN ^s^^iJ pn D'^'-a irvo n'^t noo ^3i p^n n^'i 'C'"r2i< p"?!
.x'y 3 rin
.n"D3
u'd '-d '3v D3nn l'-'d "nan^i ,nn:Nn p sin '^ri no^^ pT-ni
^t' n"33 p:>"':yD n^ prj* 'i nyn nioxno :s-i2o y-ino '"irip ^y
fo pTK'D PN1 nn m:s* nnn ^m ^;''^ ps:n v^y ansi trV n^yr:)
1:^•n^D2 n'ao-in ana n^:^' mjx naio nr ps'j^' nn^ nh ^r\']:iin
n'3pn-^ n*:^ nyio-j'n '20 ^nrD nx*t:n eiiD3 pmnjon r'aa nrj'oij
nr "lan D^i'nnt;' ii?^n D'aoin nan ^'"nn nsn dn •'^isi '121 c':y' n!>
N^N on 3n3 N^ /no^ nyracn >dd in^^y 3n3:^ ni3^n 'poz ^3 id3
i:x r^^noi nin:Nn p d3 nns nix '-ds nim^ 13^ n^*^n ^"{62 d:
'DD^n m:ND p-s^^ moipo nc33i nL"piD '^n^ n^:;' nr:>Nn ^y nnnoyn^
'"Ki iNom '131 ND3 n'n ::"b r"y 'in ^"0 diss njno nnxi
'"D 3"n 3py DM-y '31^^13 :;'"d3 c: '310 nj-ism .jcn ni^'j^co
□Ni n'n n*D m3n3n n'a b"^ o'-inn ^jpr mn 'nso ^'"^3 C3i d'cp
'n-ix3-j' no ^3D n:»'pco nvp'-ss duiis!? '!? n-j'sx \si '131 innD3n
3n3 ubi \n-ir:N* j'jnn 3"-^' y'n hnj ^:;' v-i3n nS^ji ^nr pjy3 n"D3
niD3n"j'3 pn 1-13^ ^3^ N^3 -i3iy )yii'c* "iN^n nn'3y ]^:]}b sha i'3n-in
3.T13X '"-) nyn i3i |'3r:nn pc'!' niycro pi X3'x ^xni n'j'y px D^^■?
n3'iy 13 P31 13 p3n ovj'o ':n^ ''poian norn x^ on^i cnacn
pxn nr ix^ ^y npi^ 'f^H'i) nr -ii3y3 iuv::L"n □'3?2-in D3 'Ssi nc'y3
ycpi? -1*3 3n3•k^' ni:nnxn nn3n3 {i") .('onn di3^ :'3 ni-yo 13
nD3 n:*j'723 -i"L"i ':nn ^'xv 'xni nnc' n-iry3 n3'::" p3y3 ^on ^y
D'3D?D |r:r 'nx pxi ,310 o 13 nox: vsni .in^yo D-i3ir-' ir:3 ''-i3n
no iDx!? '^y pxi i3mi> pn: '-j' ':-in3 p33i D^rn 'in3n nvn ^ny3
3'r nVyo '3D n^nx p3i /:'y 13x3 no for nx^; -ry nix D3 .t^-''^^
p 2
204 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
nn nr ns^ni j'nSn ^3 m*p DVjjDUDn ^jiK'bi ^ana vjd^ anr *Jj"nn
2-iyni DDtrn inmo!? n'c' p-iy> v^ai' ""n^jr ni^ns pn vsna "-jni id-i3
nna n^n^ jiNjna pi'nya '••yB'"' "pn pnyi nna' a-ipi csji 3^ ^33
.'330 j'n3 'tit ^"b> n">i vins nnc^oi i1?jt ^J31k> ^3^ n)bm
J3-inn DN 33yD n^trn .x'^ p3-iyn '•'3103 ^niK^nnno nvp '^I'wh
PNT phn pN3 y^T no^ n:n .dv3 m''^' sin dv3 mD3 no 'i3i
D3 '''\r]^ »'-n n^y |:3"i 13"'^q^n hd^ "tisnt i'in''3 inv nicnoi? ti>P^n
n'l .n'^p o'33 'in icpn 113 nvv31 N:r'pn» si^^d^ i:nvd 33yD3
'3iD^ n3iK'N-i nDpK'n3i ^N3n ni3^^K' i^ pN onm oviTni '131 in^Ni
y^P*T no^ 3'n"i iid^: ij^mt '131 -i"'L"n n'n 'in tj^'csy n»i^ >n*vn
31C' '1-3 m-'K'n '"D^n 'nc'ni rh^bz '••sn '''3Dn Nnpo .n"'' nniDn3
p3ny3 jDp^ y^pi no "s^ p^sdd i^n m na d:on 33yDT -loi^ px
3'xi DV3 '''3Djd:j'3 ''•SSI nn^-^:' ''•jiyo d^n y"D3 '•'N3n '^3dj*i .3''
3'xi ,n3in oy '''N3n ''•3033 ir\n d""i nr:Npn iid^jh 33ycn -i^K'n
ny ly mu^ "nNT'i .n»wn |din n"D3 ''n3n3i '''n3n^ '"•ij'ip mn
.n3T N3
:rp '■'n3r '"jid r:D^ yvn^ ^csj ^3n nyvo N\ni t^nnx nxr my
no pNOD n"'inK'^D xcon pc nb3J^ no '131 N*3-n ''op^ xnx
'131 n''r33 3^n bin nrny33 inxoio in-ki'm psoddk' pnod D^^iitr^
!?3^ nK'y {? '-iin3) -ini303 bb^ nodd u'-x 3^n nnt' n3l^'^3 p ir:3i
PN1 /ir^ib Nin iinDi N3m p''jiD3i .:"i '"nos '''xn3i n3x^D
cnti-yi nxD n3Din3 vj-y in'i vo^ tix' ''""i '^ '^ D3n!? p^^nso
-1D1N N^o ni3n3 311 nin^vn yac'i :;nipn nnnu bv pb)22
. . . m:3
Letter XVIII.
."'"-ij pn:ib i''3N' p"3 D'-inc 'Dni2r:n pxjn 3"in 2"'^ nu3^ •
/i^Dyn3 'b t'fopn mx "j 'n 'v n"D3
PK'!?] Niinji Nr:;i3 ''-nDiNT w-i3nc id"-ii n''3N 3nn 1133 ba
in3x 'm 'nQitr '■in3 '33 'n?;N-i3 '131 Nrvi3 n"n Y' 'i3in33 ^"cn
.n: "333 nn-j' ^nxo '^D^yj i^^n 'n3n '131 pnv 'm 'nsi:r pyo
n"n .n"'"nn:D3 ^'w-i pr^ njm ij^3n 3pyn 'navj' py» n^n* an^b
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 205
'Din^x ;jnv '-n na^ni ppyn 'nsiK' pyo ^n ^njpn "121 'rvn
'••ro nn.TT 'pan '^^m '131:132 Nam ^''cm djcn ^didih niyo3
nsanj .n"£) D'am x^n an'b z'li 12b ah njni pnn cnsr^nD
'■•^'D nnn-r 'ps^^ ^"va pnv 'm 'nsi::' nvnp abi "'dv^ 'nrh
D':s>b a'ns* pny:i nv ^y ni ana "n nv^^m N"n NrcnoDn N^Jih
ariD'j' ^'i"-i3 pDoniD n"! nicy inix3 nra -loii? n-iano m'pa a"nDi
I'na 1DNT Ninn "3 pDonin n"n *"cnn my dshj a'nsi ^B^nsn^x iS^
cnsriN N^i 3n3 n^^nnon n^s nn ^'k'-i nm h^jn b dni 'o^
■"12 iinai /:j'-i2n''s* x^n xna '"di .n"^ '-nnjoa 3": r'^ai)
iTT nc^i nox^ nnx nnnn 'nnn ^:l^ ini .c^nis x^ '3 T3Tn nun
L"M ni3'n "t"i3 nom pnn3 icxj n3 dxi ^mti'DU'D nipoann
3"xT n3i-ix phvr2 irx nn dj ix '131 -i"33 ':noxn xmh ^3 '^l'-isd
en •]n3 '"i' xn": x^ noh c-isn\x x^ n^^nno "'i^n 3n3 nr^b
x-ipr:'3 'pn x-inn niins pDiy 'onison bM:r\ ])iiir] 3-in 2"^ ["-kheid
0*3^-^ 3n3K' no '3^ .n"p ''nDD3] '"-^ip i'C' f33 xir:j3i n:eo3i
''XT no inDiJ3 '\n xh 'n^3 bv 'i3i \xc'd "-13 dhjo "i n"!
^3nDa x^T n'n 'did n3nD px '131 ''b np 'xr:x /"':id3 D•l^• 13^32^
^3x '131 •':pxni n"i .n"r:p n3C' 'Din3i i3^32^c' xdi:3 n3n3 'i3i
JD1 a": ein T"y '"c^ncn p^v 'i3i '-c'lnp ^c* p3r: yDC'^2n3 inio y3D0
n3n iniD n-iix3^ n^y jnxni .n"p '^nos 'vinb '^n xsny onpicn
c'cD^ D-13 (x:n^ :^'x-l^ 3'3i) -iniD (y3Dr2) 'd i?cn in"'3im n3::'i 'oin
x^ nnn .13 nixi^ ^^n xinu' -i3i3n ivTm j'n n"n ": T''y3 'Din
nr3 p'y^ C"i pnic "o ^cn n^o n3iD x^ 3i"' ^Z'"v' nxisn •]>'::'
.": r''y3 'oin r'cs^ dj ,y"yi 3"cp ''d ^iid n"' 3"-j'3i ''33 x:n^
x^x "i'"j' x^ p3 n^D3 pip'^h t^ nvp th^ ^t^'^ nn^by i^no 'oin
\t 'bixi /'rnp ij-J* p3 3n3 nmo '-n n'n : n"T p"pn '"L'n3i /'3-ix
'1D331 TH' pc6 P3J ^y ''H'l n'L"np ^c V33 r"y3i "''nDD3 ''-jn 'dij
't yvn 'Hipni 'dv '13 onio '-n '"x (P'ot'dd didt ^je^l**) p"dt
'iB"ty'3 jpT D3 ■iin3 '''•^:xi "x no'w'o vd nrDX3 [•'xr^'D "-13 dhjo
N3*^' niy .in:iDX3 '^n^ pn:»' .inSyob -i3t;' i;"i inSin 'n'on ^npn
}oix n-^yo VT '^yao .imry^ pnv nmr: X3' ny n^D nv3 .miiijc
C'-jnn3 x^ioo D.T-)3y ':c'o (. . ? .oina ^^'lu) npnrxn X3n nr-iEo
ny XIVO Dipc emn-x x^ vi;'3y ny 'vn3i D^yvj-yw'^ 'b 'm .ted 1313
2o6 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
nz^'," n^yao miob nn n^'p n-j's* nny nan mvo nm^ ppPTJ'vn
n-i:N3 i"-!: j"ix;n 3-in ^''-c' nuo n^yo nNn'* ~i-'N'3 cn^ ""^nro n:D^N
iy onann in\s* c]-i:3^ nr:)C* -ni:non nso nry^^N n^a^ Dxn p)2irt
r\bv^2 'vns^'DDN nnnns 'i rh)v^n "pr\ li^n^an t- '^T^ ^vom ncD"
^ya nc pnx 'jikti inD^i ^nr^n c-sn ins* vn^i:j'D ^'y iinb it
n1s^■53^ 'isnnn n!?njn n^ 'snn itj'K bv 'nsa nnyi /"iivoi? nirin
*n^NL^ ^y in^yo j'-^ni:' nci ^n'^cn 'on n^sca 'rriNn n''D ^33
"*'n^n 'titid ''?:n 'n*^m nn ''"b:iv nan ,n?2ND ne'yi ybn pjyn
vn ">?JND ^:^•y^ ]*^n p^-^nso ''X a'sy nnB> 'di^d '••^ jt'NT a'yx
1D3 •'"in ntryi ^t^ ic'itqi onn '■'bn:n ^d^j ^jd s'xi ^dd 'n^: f\)D^v^
HB'yi I'^n lyo'j'M idicd ^na^ ^ao •'bye Dit^^sn no ^3 xi^n .in
-lyji nrn nrs nana] 1D"lC^•DD 'nnyD:^' \2bb "-aiuyn '^ni siiu^yn v'n
ab irs ynx njo na Tnn^ ^nanu pao nh^nn pjy ^y w^p ]'iv^r2
1^:0 'iD'n hv2 nan p^nyni? p^on n:i'x hnd 'naia 'rpinoi .y^
px:n 2"-c^ nynh ^naon ^ya^ *n:iiD'«:' -p^n bv 'xmn ^nnji ,n^l^'^<nD
p^inn -'t^-i nmn p^' pnv mrrisD i-yn ntrx "i"yi nac:^ noN tni:n
''•^''^'yD -no^n nam [\r\b nn^'x nrm ^^dd 3id b^ d^s^d o^nai .r
^nbiix nriM x^ x\-i 'iJi nnm ^b'\p ['aoinj ^"r^i .a'' n^'-jr:!
3": icxn xrw'^^ opji nt'"'3sn::' "irrx ^Nior nn't:' •TiN''a inv 'iiNDh
'Dn:n •'ij-'c* im '•'t^naDi trorD n^"'3xnc' lyccn h^^dnhk' pnv 'ii m
nx^ana ^nan^i /nnm 'btp 'd~\: x^m nnm ^^n^ xn-'X pSnm
'i3i n^*:m p"a ni'jn^ b'nn br\p inyn nnyn anaK' xnx panyat:'
"irc'^ oyD -nnji nnm "^np nb^:on xn pjicr^' en '131 phm p'aa
n"n xam ^:j'-i '"ani p!:ina '\sn id3 nnm ••i^riD on:^ x"xn dddij
•"TTm '•^np 'onjn a'yx x?:d nan n^3ix nriM x^ xm Tm m ^i?n3
nyT^] xin D\y jDpi ^n: niD r,D inyn nam ^xon bv Pjniy ^:''''ni
^^jun iDJD^-co xn:; ''iibn D'-a^c 'n» n"an D"aDnn nyn^ n^iy ••'en
boxb Xji -XYv^ nmc 'ir^ix yaco p'^xca '"^axn yric'Dn 'iai ci"i3yn
n"w'i (?)'"b pnnxi 'an ;"3r:nn L""cn •'n'-rnn •'hp '-ax imn ^^cr
xcD nm nn-n irvo ab 'nr:J3i^• ^ai? on-^y nt:n pp?:;yn pxjn ann
rrn n-j-xn nicix yrj-n n-nrn niu b '\x^d n-nm xnpD x!:x
x^x n"n '01 )"' p^im '■'jioa •'"en n:n ^i^j^np nan pin 3"y i"3!2nn
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 207
aba niiJZM2 N:on-i inb n'^r xh ^pbniy yatj'a i:^^m |N2d nns!?
nr^ HiSc^ main 3"y ':i t^'^^* ^^tr nx ni^sNi tddid ^^t' nyca
p nns' q: Dn> -imo Noi'n "t iin X3\*n ^::':n n*^ Mi2^ '"•-iiDNn
ij^K* 63wS*B' ly nrn -innn n:ni ^nra v-)3t r-nn f'aD-in t^'o^i
nn ^phn 'dco s-'a 'ion nsn: pi ,vj'33w* yrc3 pi nH d.ttix
'nc' i::'33'k:' 'n liji'C':^ nn^-c bb'ci 'ncx ""in 'ojno mann nb'h
na n!:'3Ni n^n^nD ^":r-i 'naos /an 'can^ '"'^jo yn^i? nai .D^iy^
'Dn i;nip ^sipo □: n:ni ^^brn nyja n^n nK* x^n T'3''1n* ^^t:'
(pcDy y3C'2 -iD'^a) n^x civryn nyo pn qtid t"u piDD3 't d'ddic'
Tcnn N^n ivdu'd ^nct:': b^ n^nn Ni? n^n: n^ |ni3 tp^n "n irs*
N^n Nnn pn n^yo^ cninan nipinin nioN ~is-' ^3rD pr:cy "n dj
TT1N i'^K' nx nbxi ,133 ""r^ry nxc ba bx p^^'i b 'mn
mcix "13 c: -inin nir:ix -ix'J'3 D''ni3 b'^ i'i't^' X3vn '•K'^xi' Tnnc>
nir:ixn b^ bv 'xp n'"* "d d-^:' 3'n3n T'3''ix ^^i;* nx nbxi 3'xi
cnnn o :'"' piDi)3 3"n3n xnx njt'X '1 rr:-i fjiD Dip^n dj ,D^iy3
3"y 3in b D'x^D D'n3i ^n i? micx inr3 xnn ^3' Donnn
nicix -IXC 1D3 xin^ nir:ix "r i^b: nnyro ^^trn pjyb nnyo nicx
"ipD bx ."pn ^^c nyL*'3 ij-^m t^i^* ^^^r nx nbxi in3 3''n3n
nyn3 ir33*k:' nnx^ fix -innn3 nxc-n x"n 310 b nw^ro D'n3i
nx^cni n3n-in inyn^ nT3 poo >n^\-i dxi .f'^cnn 3n3C' n:ic'xnn
n3i *n3'j"i b'nn n'3 3n3 p:yn ciid3 ''::r\n •'3^3n id Ton:r nj:3
pxi uip^*3 X3in n^cEic "d nscD D^nip^ D.v-i3nt;' ^'l—ii □'301.1
ncn iL"Ni /'^ro 13 xn3 "n^nz' nn'j Tin '\t pi"3y y-\iir\b 'jivi
ynT3 nv i^y 'n^pn -i33D njn .i tin 'om nL*'"iD3 ^on i^y n'3
'n'-x pi nmo nc-is }'3r:-i3 'n^x p:;' ^^3 3id i^3 '-x^o '^,21
D-C'^ TJ"v *,n-iin L}Ci"D ""nrib ~i3rir:n 1133!^ o niM3 .r'- p^in3
-]-n cnsxi D':ip^n ni'x c: nioipo nxirrn b m^v ^y p^va d*x"ii3
no 's^L" ym n'l .'^ ^1 :'' rm '''3-in 1113 nonro nnx niij
pn 'r;:3 v:: 'r,\x om nv ^3 '"jn^: -ii3'vi if^on 'ok'-nn ;3nr:xn
xh 'n:D3 x^ iDipo ^nyi' x^ nyc 'S^ "'n3n3 'i3i p-nnjDi 3'd
i6 : "3 t''y3i .x'" .'n r]'-]! '^:id3 cj ^^n D't:'3 'i?:ipo -ixt:'3
x^ nr nx my ,iem^ nvp 'n"yo'J'r:n r!3-nxi nr^ niy?:L"o 'n'xi
2o8 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
ns"i3i n"n .n': ^i n'l trm '"pnv nmn n^non pxjn tr"o nnDX
Fl^y n'DT yr^B'o pcnpn '':iDn ''prison icpm 'di ^an Nnn
j'ln 3n3:^• no b ns ini ab^' m^n ,j*:yn eiiD ny t^•> '131
^K^'y' 'Din iv-i^nc noi ivn^ni n "'np (3"r Diai n'ti 5)"^) ptJ'n^^
:a'^ pinT-p 'dd^ niTna ^'r ytrin^ ■•^s "iDon pwn dj nra ^{^2:1
'"^•-inr^i '131 '"^D xj^in id ]'::'prD ^ny»c'i 'i3i ''p^n '-i nox nc' n'n
iniJDp3 ytD:^•c nro n:n /i3i on yc::'D n^ Nnio^m x3K'"'i' in-'o '131
no3i 13 noy n::\s 'ipD3 -iN3n3 nr bn ^nj ntry:t:'3 T'ynb ^n
v^y ^nycc' '3si 'nN3 '■'otn:i pn3 iN3n2 nr b^^i^ nn^n nin i3in3E'
nuDcn p3 iviQD oy ds^n 3"in ns 2"y3 cjit^'B' vninsK' "idn^
vtrn^ns o'nnic3 nai j'-in3 ^3nDn n^k> ''•r^no nnv vby ir
::'"d3 n^?2m xn^^a my -low ^'r ^"s pwn 11333 n3i noi pK'n^p^
ny ynT3 3n3 'n3nn ^1n31 '■'y::''i '■'prn p3y3 /•• f\i ni3-i3 m3''n3
bv b)i: c'n^n ^n3n3 /^i^yisn pis 'n*Nn3 nsriKi n^in >in xS ^prn
'S3 nvn ^fnoy 2^ 16) n^^yiD norn nix*p33 'iqd.-i Sij inix
xS '131 v^'ba xnxn ly x^x >3n xn^^ :r"P "njD3 dj) .tq '^^yisn
lyn n3io '-jid "nc' }nix3 D't^•^ xnnc' '••x-ii .'^prno -i3i Di:r 13:2
'3"'^ 3'nx ''nc '''prn 3"xi nin 3'nx ^3x nsnxi nbm ^in x^ yE"'^x
V"i3-i X3in -isi'x 'ipD ^33 ''nD:;'-ii x"-n ^p-is nDij3 n:ni on id^o^
Tiapn nc'x '^jip^n nD3 dji 'loipo nxncn b dj '•'Jib>x"i31 'Din3
'VD ^3::^ nsio d':^ '"'t^•c^ piD3 ''jd db' xinn cnnpn 1203 n''D3
jpiriD 311^'' •'n3n3 n-ni rhni 'nin^ ^^d '^prn x3k' ny '131 xi33K'
n3ni ^m3TB' 'v:id ^nK^3 f^n 'idj ^311 '^'-n '••p^x n3n i^jxi i^xt
'13131 ''':iD3 n"D3 pjn 31^^^ dj .nt^ nr nnniD dj'-x x"-n piD
byo j^ni -lub ibn DyD3i inxn^ 'ipo fX3 pxi ."^Tni ''•ye'^ p:y3
.pjy^ |':yo ''3''"'K' it^^^on '3"'{ro3 ''•jp: n'm p:yno pin ^nx2f^ -non
J3 3'n' ID -niynn ik'x moo 'd3 |'3C!-in n3n nuiK^xin bv '31^x1
^3'D ''Ta''n3 'n^byn nt^x nx "n^c VJ2^ iisc'x (P^'^jn 3-in 3'") 'jjn
^n3n3i ^iB'n^D3 i'30-in n3n idid hd^^ •'nDt^ 3nn ^yi 'o'nn
nny oiMinB' pn3 pi j'3cnn 3n3:r nr y^^n ]'<:]: ')in3 niuo 1103
vn 3iyi pn''D ncn^o '2 ixunnm q^d^ ny3tj' n:nD^ pino i:n cnxi
^Dx ini'D^ triTD T"i^ '"11X3^ '131 113^3 mnin nxDiui ^xic^' b
•j'lip h3xi; y'x inD^ svc* 131l:v^ ab ii3i'3 mnin nxoio^j' dib'd
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 209
n^^yh aba ('-imn n*^ ^v) n-imn |xd nyi j'hdi B'lpo^ DU^h
xi^tj' nnnrn nv i^y ^ine^n^ 'onvc' nnn bx nxcion nmp
Tivin HD^n .hn^d: nnr nba^ Dipra ■l^<an"'^ nriNoiDa '•^^''itnb'''
n'L"N-io nn^ njin n^h ^nxin mnoi hnidid *:n ^d nyD arh I'irh
\2k^d:^ Dpin:r ova nnvDO nns^*^ n-'JC' m::'3 |d^: {ynin tJ'Nnn riNia
10D Hf 12^01 'Dini ^''B'la y^'y /d pu^j '••Nna nvc'is njicc' |nisa
.n:^ 'd eiiD^ nrn 'vn ny i^i^n ''"rn ^53 '"ynv vn tibii^ 'i^n: it
vn ab -lanm n::y 'd jnix bn .I'p /333 D'3t^n^ nyn^ti' \n3
nvp .;Dvy^ nsnc' nn^sna ''•0:2: vn::^ nn^a 2Na 'on n^n n^no
:^•'r:s^ djdk imnui no nxr:it: ^:n |n^ 'mn^ hk'io "jnvin nH y-*
Dv b22 D^no VHB' D'lJ'iDO tTH 'i3i i^Dt' Dv .Y't : '^ n^jyn 'Din
pn^ nnyoi ^Diipo ibSn 0":^ on^ min "•Nnn '^mpr: nxc': ,ti'"y^
n^jn^ nn^ -]-ivin n^ pn^D 'on^on la b^i'^i) Nin --^n 'DCipn -idi^
wai ny^^ pn n^jn^ hi^IpI pno noni^m pn ^cynv i3dc' nnm
NB'Dai yjoa ^3N bnN3 D^NrDUO Drx "na: nnpn .N"r3 'ican
N^i K'co irM L'"'K 1JC0 nps: N^J pno 'cn^r^a a^nai N-ipi '"•nodo
Drx 'n^n ^2) ^nik'''0 nnx i^^ds bi^pa
'vj'o ^'n ::^'-i nyni? ij'\m d^ncot onb n^jn^ Tivin ^^a pxrruo
x^c* nnx "iDii? "lyu^ x^:;* '"can nynbi '^xcdd xc'Dm yana s'ayi
xviT-n^ y ■• pi ^ c'""iD D^xcoD nn ^t:p''X
*xm 'am '-inon i^'-xin x"n n'cx .^xic'^d nn bt^p^a xo^n x?Dp
nicna nxr:iD pson mm Diom ^op-'xn inixn ixcdj x^
pna njni ^mnu 'on^-i d^xcdt nn^ n^jn^
n"D3 ^mn' nrn ;cTn 0:2^ p^^ nnir: nx ^nxn nsj no nxoin
nx ^nj "-iDy ''•ijoni n^nx nmcn
^nxiin XD3 ^y ''acTn^ nxiin ^xi^d '«jni ^dc' n^: nonr ^nxi?
mv pn^ pn^ /n^nm nsn nx3 tmn^ nn^
^n^'nt' niya d-xq nm nr "3 i^nnx x^ inyn nm n^^rn^c) 'r:''cn
Tivni -inr 'd nnc anya ^"-ij hdi n'nx ]M<:r\ a-in nvnon m
-113T
a^bn IX v^n "r:^ b^ ix ^3V3 nnx dud ir^n x:oni nn^n
2IO RAHBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
. 2 niDy
•navj' ^33D n:::' b:ib Nintr jnar pjy i3"'vron ''•^ nh^ji ^dv ^23
nc^ N^noN jn"-^ en ^nat:'n man n3 iin ••jni ,nynn pnar a^nai
nT3T 10D niT-^T "isL'ai innpi? mryn ddid^ 'nvn iiar '22 'pn
i6i -I'SB' nc^D^ XD^K D>-i3i iNB'ai N^N '•^H pn3y N^ a'nai ono-
iiDr ''•nj n-Tisn p^roy mon djcn ,njtj' b^ i^pM nnvD i:ot yapj
pni:N : 'n^ niD-i33i . n::^^! ab 'ui n^jnn 'mi 'iji ^^ ncry ntrx nx
3^0 nc3 ^nnD:rj ir^Nr^:* c'ln nc'y Wii^ ny n^n jo n^nc'D n?on px
N^ mcN n-iinm nnatr ^b^ n3^ n:L"n ni^3n nvoj '''t^'-l ''•a Vi
,n:t:'i nrc b^i pT^ic i^S nn^K' ^b^ pjyn N^n^ n^u' noi^D n^L'-n
n!?yD?3 •'^ Nain-iT njop xpns iinn (nr oyo nniCD (?) T'^Np '""^ 'nini
y"ii ^""1 (xn)ji^2 oVn ^n''"'Dn 'd f\i n'l 'dc2 "i^yn '•"-i: nV
'131 n-ynw'n p"d3 n^ny njtro N^nn n^i 'n^nao K^nnn (x)"ip3
'131 '121 ^s^^^ n'ni njt^'o n\-ii N'-jm i:xvd D"ca 'Tys 'ann ncNni
nnx Dys o Tax ncx □'•nnr /tr pipD ni\sa •'j'jnn aV n'3 TiNni
niND ntr^ti'D inv vsvoi ^bi:^ D'cn pjcn ^y '-t^' '•'^3t>'?rn •'n in2
.•l^^^iJ pi '""^m b')ii pm 'ipD3 'n-jni? n^ ''nnk"c^ niciipro '-c'vini
nn3i iTjn^ 'oin 'n"'^y ncy ic's* 'loipD b ^n^bn m:^• ^b '•ripTiai
/d-: "in\s^ unatr 'ip?:n pi .njD'c3 n^Jt:*: xh ^^sin ''•:m ^m
^nanai pin panv 'i3i 'i'p'E^JD px n'no /d pdT'pa "Din ^"^ d^ini
-i^nn^ ^^yv x^i yju u-x it pay ij^ di3 .nnnann piD |n^^ n'oa
xnvy '1 "i3nn x^ n:K'D3 nntr xn^na 'xni x\-tK' .d n'-in nx''bn
nrD^ ^t^•p 3"ni c'ln 3'j ::''r23i y"i o'l^o rr'rj'n x"'n 'n-nn xi^x ^b
n't .n'p nnc' 'Din ^'izii p^j im nr pxi r]:ii;yj:n ^^inx^ D'::'n patr
pD"-:! pi : n"i n'nn p^n novy 'c:n c: 'nan •^x•t^'n a'ai '•'jnni
"•nnns -i2nn mr'-ai 'n^iao 3^nit:i. '""jno pitr d'd : n''' n"3i : i"t
nijsn 5^102 nn3J nra i^-Dn : ^"on nnyn) nicpnb nvi ab r\y^>K:m
"•xnp xni xna^n cm D't^^n ncpc "y <^i p"m 'oan " o- (: li^xn onmn
'01 niit'P'i^ nvi x^ njt^con y"-io niu'pn^ invin od K'"y in:'j
p'cn '"'31D3T p'D it;i^ pn'' nnyr:i '131 n3y3 njni ny i'"'y^ 'j3i
'n''i2 'n rii3rD3i 'u n'-i3 □: "jD'-sb 'n'-nnn ^"iinx^ apM n-i3in
-iTDK' p''3 xn"-i33 n'n 3'o m: 'Din tr'03i '"'jno p^3l*'1 'n^nan
nic'pn^ n^-i x^ n:c'tDr:T ■'.('n3n nxc3 3'n3 my 3'3i "3.-1 X3n D':;'n
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 211
n3*j's nij^jsi' n^vpai cnnan nip "anv n'sxi nm NnD^\"n ^^ Tsirn
biZ'pv '-n xni?o ^53 ^-\n\:'' nvp pim Q>i:n'ni) ^''-ini 'Din c*'d3 s'hm d'-i
: ": p'o 'in c'cd n-r^'j'^ pjy in:n n'c*N-n nn::^ pjy pN ns* Nin ^rn
."1^:33 pi vj*n'D3 Da'r:-ini '■••j-idd nsc' s'^i 'i3i -idn^ nan nnc' n"i
n-j'pcn >'3*L^'n '^n^ ('i3i y^v in^n isi:^ p:y i:^n dn i:^vd 'loipro no3i
y'-i nc"c''''A 'i3i ins pN -ir:is Na^py 'i n'n '"-inrDT 'n*nan -^inN^
K-'-ini 'Din '"u'lpn nci^ px i^''^ n^^no I'p pjm ^dt n'j Tna
d''1 3'nvi n3•>^• ^i^^d^ bu a'n^i 'idi sn^Sn >:ni -i^s"j' ins 3"n
I'wsni /^>:•^ pNT sono n*2in^ y'li? ^n s'syi) niy^toj "iB'yn 'nDi^no
'naisn nrw"c!? mD c^ nirnn n:n) (pm nci^ -in:a inyn bv rh]} \
: "n' n'-in x^^an^ t:'^ id c:'"i1 "ins* b^pb Dip» pN jn31 n'D2 'mo
i;vy py 2"3nn 3"c' n'^ nj jn"- ^n'jyna n^ny n:cn n-'hi id ncxn
pjy3 "01 nc'p '':ipn '"sh 'm irDi: "^n n'nD :"^ nmna 'Dina
'nn;n id -d miayn 3ni 'm V^k-n ii"bp '"-d n"N y"vL"n "nnjn
'^yo D'i?p 'd3 c: o mm jns* 3:ni ."m '\*k' nr n^; b m^rai
nv ^y "n^ns "jincn 'n n^s id"13 nyn i:)yc' nnx inncn c'"^ "i
L"N"nna pi .mi D^iy^ Tii^cn "n inn cyn uyt' ipn ^^'T
d: nyn\n nby nm nu rvN cni .pa^ ^y hd 'n^s* t"2 niDi^
"iin^vn hyi D'cc' nas^D pno ^/"ann Dij:yn '-i3j^ D'cynb t,n"i*
inn^^*n2 cj' ici^tr nya Tnyrs inniD^ nt;'ipr:n n"C'' nan d-^dn p3i
./"vr ijr:n n^n^ pN^nn p^-ya '"'yc-^ 'pn
-13D ''cnzujD ]Zibn I'b 'ia G-n^yn '"ino "pn 'jann N'nD anao '•23
3'l" nonn nu3^ pr: nns T'cn nn^NC' nsD '3 ni^c nivo d^'P
n'3 nniL"r:m n^iycn 'i2r:n "pn 2't;'!? T^'C^n ^rj-n nNi ''nj '1Q0 pwn
NV1D '"•^p"! innoan nirrt" irii^r tj'-in ''::n nn d: n:;'s* I'n: 3"q S'i'
31D ^Di Di^:^' 31 '-m '"•::' '"ibn b oy ^^nnn "ir^irrn 3'tr 133!? irctj'
'i^:r nco 'n3 \^b] n^o '^Dir:n n^no D-r:tr Nn^ 'inn mn-'i'
pi.-iD in^Ni:* n"yi n'r:n3 'zn'o ip^n imy cl" tj'n inninn 'nnoc
'nmo an ^h^ n'^si v:l"^ ^nc' nr nr:h nr 3n 1^ c" N^n
':DrD 'nairnn 't ^y 3in 'td^ -hsa i^anS dipt^ nnj '-3nr:n
ncj'N Di":> *£3 inS.-n nv:n '3 nicxj 133^ td;" d^.ni .ni23n •
.:"rn 'zl- iSix ':rvj' i-D^ '^bc b^n nra Sni vnnan
nan nvj,-: -i'3y njvjNiD DnriNjn pMnr;^ n:nnN nu'L*": pv:i)
212 RABBINATE OF TIIF. GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
y,r\r2 nioD^ nai /aio^ hdc* 'mi 'airyn "ion ba i^c»o pn nn^:D3
'Tip ir\T lino ^u' ic'iT'Dir nvnv I'M ••ndiq^ N^no ,nD^n nan
/?::'nD^) pns^ nivo nma nt'noti' iniDiT id Tinnc' pn^n ^n^n
'iDi ''DiJ 'Dn n"! :n*d pan^y 'did tr'Dsi' Vnua nd3 ^jd^ nrvws*
'Din "jn e'"y p)brh 'nin'' 'm ^no^s i3"'vd 'rr-nnm irnju'roa 'in
niyn-iT 'Dim 'lai -i»n n'n :"t pc^i 'Dim x'-n n^i n"n :'t3 n^^n
'••{rp i^^n Dnnm a"y pan n"n . n"s p^in 'Dim ya'^r: n"! : n'D
'n^D in N^n 'i3i jNDn 'a^^N 'nin^ 'n nij^jo K'n D'c'n ins '•no
'n^na n^^n ma^n i2>n 'm ppna '••jrnK' |»t3 ^hd^n* 'nin^ '-i ijont
.prj' nncy nr laao i'd3 TiDiNn ir pjyai Nin phn i^dk' d'ni
.iB'ip pyoa n3y> no nyrot^'x
-iciND 'n^3 nr^n nnnnn n^ ana '••cya^ dn y\iiin n^D> nsr^
lorm '■'j^t^'^ a'n^ ny:ra nij""^ pi^-'xa ana: i^iaa lan nvn (itj-VD)
,nniayn ^yi nninn ^y ^nnin^ ''n?Dp ,nn-iD DSNa ^us
XIX.
Documents from the Beth-Din of London.
I. nny n-'^:
pnnx p"^ >^a ny nmi djst ^J^^5 )T:zb xa »idv na Nnr 'i
na nanyo ni^inan nx 3jn '•jh^nj p-'x d-'o pyna ::npj2 i2]in noz b\^
nn t33xrj N^asn unh uix jhidj jn ::n jyn T'x dxh *i:ix ^t^•Ja
N'^axT p^r nny x^^iii* njix ^n-i::'^i hc'd ma ir nyat^a ''b ncnipo ns*
.nnnas na □1^:^•1 a^i? na in 'a pyiu
fjDV na xnv lyn t^asr njix c^^x D^p^'b ^•k^'D na nanyo nhnan
na HIV 'a tn Dnynj crrj nx3 i^ix uxn njix pyj cp-j nn\s* uxn
. Diu nn''x iv trxiiuy fjor
nbapai b)i: Dvxai "■•'■' yv''^xa y"na )y:zb rv:^ i^b na nn 'a
urx ^jn nanyD nanyo e'xn xni |nyn ^axn -j^x jic'bn nra nnn
iX tojxnaj xnT- Dart mn pn px ^idv na xnv oyn iv |cip ^nnx
nanyD oxn .pn K'npo ^ni xn ny :^'x^ dpx pns iv a^-ix nanyD
"'•' uiy x'j':i Ti'' xb Dxa nny nn-.na n"n.
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 213
fN ns-iyjJD ::'Nn csn n:\s p;N: iy urN ,^nNo N^m "dv" Dasr:
m3 n nyaon "h ntnipo nx nn djx?: t2sn ijin |nit23 njsn i^s*
-i"'D pNH ei^m tiiynj n:is |nyn :;'^^n i^n nsn csn i^N-lL^"1 hl-'d
.n^^ -in nn lyn nm 3"y ta:Nj pyiiN xn tar^s* .wntj ait: ^m
nbpm ^n: cvsai yv'^sa y'nn ir^D^ Tyn nmaN nn di^c '2
-nn pn pN eioi^ i^ Nnv xiv pop pi^nx pa i\y po'^n nra onn
pa poip I'N N^ii ,-nna p^r d'd n^axa |is oni'i ]'Q)'-\ -1^0 dnh
3'nN pyiu NT 2'b -13 "in d:i n:>pDn vns ny ejov na Nnv dps*
-|*x wsn xn uNn Dsn inyra i^d xn nmi proip simin na-iyo tDPs*
P'i?aia u^y tu psr ^ir b'P^: n^t< k'nt py: cjd nypn p''o -in^s* Ijnt
xnv IV py: n:s*n i.tn nm Dxn pyj a'n p^o -i'x T>< ^sn ^oTn
^xi Nnv c'^N tD03yn:ip ::"n xn a^x t:3N-ie: -i-'X axn tn n^ix y^n .
TD ^S3 D-I'11 'Cay P^D DISS nXD NV 133X13 X'"! OXH pn C'lpO xn"
n3ix |niD3 n3xn -in'^x jx njix ioi33 ^b-133^2 jyn xnr oxn xr \'^)p
I'D pxn ^xiw'^1 nc'o ma ir nyaoa 'b nempo nx nn 1:3x13 Dxn
Di^f nyn nan a'y |33X3 pyiix xn dpx aio ^ro fr'3ixii3 1x3 ^^^x
.nn-iax na
nnyn i3bpi liyo'^ b':n b .p'ni 'na jnit:3 n:xn -i"'x fx niix
'ino x'xb ^^ayo "pn '^ n^o'apn ]C': fi 'n 'v li^min pn 'sa
n3nani p^i^ P'P ^^ "in d'dd x'^^tr .p'^ ^'^ P^f
.pn31^ p"pT |DX31 C'D'C' ^V SjDV HL^'O |Opn DX31
.ei'^P nC'O 'pn DX31
.a"y
nn-iyo 'o n^inan ncyrra nL"o -la iSr^^x 'a 13^32!? xa ait;*
pL'6n nia mn nbpai hn3 Dvxai yv'^xa y"na na
y3n nn-iyo orx iryn3 nx crs SniL" xn mip o'" 3xd pvy^ )yn
-1^0 -ID n3-)yD Ljxn (Pi'h'-n) 3:i^a"ii p )-im pD nn px pryii3
]^''P -iy en eiDV p xnv cyn iv pxr ^n nr^yo nn'-x en 03xr3
xr ',^'11 XM ;y"ii 03x13 n-x iv t-x axn cxn in^x "iv inyo TiJpa
12VH xnv -ID u-ixii: -i:"ix j;3N3 I'x pa /n-: ;3y303X on^x i^x b^ii
px pcip "I'D IV -iy D)\v 3"nx t:3sr3 12'' l2^: cxn "i3ix 'i'D)? iy
ojxt: "px asn ^t:ry"i"i3 cnpc -in-'X axn I'x D3xr3 Dxn n3ix "i*u lyn
L3sr3 osn n;^x p-:n: mx n^iyc iy ljsh t:*: -j-in a^iS -px
214 KAHBINATF. OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
ONiT'^'b.o'": D-Dub oryiij ^'npo d^j tt tj< ^xn ^'^^''^lyn p^o nbvo
va tr^j'^x Nv -nis oy -imyii n'-^iiv nh pa xv lyniN oy djsu x-t
3'y .ijn IV ]'-:)^: tuid xn nt Dsn 3"nx pjxr: n^t Dsn k^^'oj
.nr n'^jjD -i3T:n dv ir^s^ T'ynK' nt:'^ nn i^d-^n '3 nyn nan
p:i^ P"pD 'in d"3d n"d^^c' «i'''l:' jo^i "mo a'abi "bivD "pn
.N^y nrnroni
,\)l:^b P'pi pa:) tJ'DU' ^rr ^ov ntro jupn ds:i
.si''<P ncj'D ppn dk:i
XX.
Document 2 : nny n^^J
nnyn d:i om^n xoDip^ insi s*riin s*nna xj^n ^3 xniri amron
nayn n'n dtiT nvatr ir:sa lox ^'r ^ibn o-'^n -a iiyDC '3C ijyocri
p3 njxn Nn ix '•bna^"'© p-x jnvjj ly Dxn c^'o ^ci' mc'otrn pn^ ^1DD
'3 y:n pni dv3"' 1^233 nnox ^nij^^j' '3 n3 x^nj''0 nSn3n
nasn -in^N jn n:ix poiaj naa^D i.tn dxh ^'r ^i^n D^'-n 3"3 pyoB'
NT ^^ ni^'TipD nx ''in aaxra -i,tx iv uxn n3is* •"^nars p^N jnitja
.3py> 13 eiDV '31 pnx 13 ff^n '3 pyiia n^^3 nt urn
Dsn pnx -13 D^''n en ^an x^a^o '01 b':in pycK' '3 ncx 3'>t:'
b":n N^nro n^in3n^ pxr ^xr iy tj'xn uaxra -1x2 ^m \)vr2^ |x
.n^"in3n^ B'3hr oaxra ixa Dxn pyDc> njix
aaxb D^'v lyyy 02"ip ny Dxn "buy^ ^1 b':n pynti* '3 ni^x ca
.ia^''x pn nnxTi n^ix
Din {j':iy3i y"v^x K'aiys y"n3 M'zzh T-yn ^'r pnx 12 □"^n '3
3'nxi niyicK' n:xn n^^^x ^an dv3 nna 3xn ])v^\iy c6x ^nyi3tn
nn abi:'^ n^in3n^ Dxn Daxra pync^ x''ii Dnyna ny joxn ^an |or3
(?pnx) 'nsx 13 D*"'n 3np ]'"t oxn nxr ny3La3 'b nc^nipo nx
"ly c'xii oaxra ti'inax "ly axn 03y"i to'^a j^-j-axr xn j^axia Dn\s
'«'» My dear. '«'■''' Last night.
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 215
13 "ly :ri c"^ii ly u'^H'ii '^"ijrs p\x jnyra ^r pns nn n^'n uxn
js s^nro usn -"^-urD ir^hT .D3S?:3 nss nt psD nD''!:'ny pyr:^
ps ^Hars n N-n jnyn d^3 "ins* usn "ly .i^ian: n:rs nn\s*
pyri'L^• c't ;nyra d'-j dnh -iy jxn dt\s p»ip njxn nn^x |x fiyi2-c
y"n3 i:^:d^ zpv i3 f^DV '3 T'yn nvi^' jhilsj i:Nn nn^x jx c'ahr
pyD*L^' x'11 /jxn |nyn ny 'cba nyin-j'i nnn c'Jiym yi'^^x :r:iy3
wxn Dxn i;ix n:xn nn^x b':r\ x^nrD |x jnioj "-^-urs p^x Dxn
nn niiiin nvp 0'J':it i:ix ny3D3 "b n-jnipo nx nn djxtj x"3
ny uxn |JwST t2-j'-n:x St djxt: 'nsx n"2 D^^n i^^p p'-T d.tx dxh
^x-iu*'i iTj'D mD IT nyaua ^^ nL""npD nx nn pxT onyn: -n^i
D^anp HT ny ht n^n ^'t apy in fjDV nyni S't pnx ni D^'^n ivn
.nx 1VD ^Jtj'a "re
C':iy3 y'nn ir:D^ n"'ym p'j Din: n'a pidv '3 ir:s^ X3 Da
pyc:r ix-,1 ^pyn: mn Dyn px ny ti'i /lyinti'i onn L-iiyni yi"^^x
x^nm fx oxn y^v^y^' x^n pyn ny nxn San laa innsn x^i^di
nz^)n o^o nt^'mpD nx nn djxt: ijix "^jnars p\s* jnit:a nars nn^x
mn Dyn T'ix b':n Din: 3'a sidv ny orx ,x^nm iv x''"'^ xn nn
D:xTa ^x':x ixa pycu^ x^',1 onyn: ny t:xn 'synu xn fi^ix ;a:xa
f]cv upx D'nx .ksT^n ^•L^•D mD it nynun '^ ni:nipr:) nx ''in
x''ii pyna x^u xt cina na
.3"y
uxn xn t'WD'C bi:' iD*a pnx na ^^nca '3 iv oxn uaxTa xbnro
nn siDV 'd t2xn axD pnox jyn "'••'c^pxr'o p-x nx: ui^x L-y UDxna
nnrj'a n'byo . . . punxii nTn xi^nm pa onyna on-iMi D>,na
D'ncx n3 c^n t"' nni"6 ]"o pni .c'uriuo onsx na"'n n^yc-n
nn^n n"b nnvj-ni /'nn |ny:a n'^ ,"invj'^ n"^ nniL" pni .n"3
XD"p pni ipn?:a n''y"w"n"i n'roL- nn'n n'^ nnvj-m ,pnca n^cnin
P"d^ n'bpn n-j-n n"i "x dv "1^:23 n-j-ya ht tinni ht n"^yr3 nn^an
x'^'^j* )''3 fi'u" fcS 'mo x"x^3 '^nyo "pn Dinnn bv iax3 "^xnh
.x'y* nanr:ni pai^ p''pQ 'in d'dd
.oxDw'nn^no nx'-ct:' jcna^^ niy^x
.pna6 p''pn p:xai tr'Oi" Sv ^dv nL"D
**"' A joke.
2l6 RABHINATF OF THE GRF.AT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
XXI.
Document 3.
"13 HD^c 'o NJDip^ NnNi Nrin snna N3n "2 sn^n nnioa
mc ntj'NH noyon mn B>3iy3 yv'^N3 y"na i^jd^ i^yni '•i^n pny
njnon D^nDnyi pN -ly ci ^pnv^ 's p yuj '3 dk'k nmas* na
tD^HNnj yD""!-! ^s'Tonx Dxn lans DiTx py: 'jix d^hnii np^dn''
p^x *iy t^'N^ pyj i^jyp lyn iv n^r ny nxn siid^ p»p nn p^D
"ly lyii n^Doin c^int x-n 'jix .n^xna -n:y^in p>x Drx *nin'
-n^^p x^-'iiv D-o x^ns p^x ]i:'\b px Dxn ':ix .jryiij DK'jn p^x
pn ':ix .p:x3 «i'tr p'-x ^i^x ny dt'^x pyiu ^^'•11 -iyii ny 'jix
R^ix pnxii ^!?in ny orx ^3 nnx^ myn ftp?, pyiij nrx j?:x3
pnxt3-": ny Dr'»x ei'-^:^ nyn ?inx ':ix jn^j □"•"'nx p^yn t3xn c)^-^ p^x
yonn i?xn^mx ps '^^.i j^-)^^^^' nyn trxn tr^ijir k'^ii ny ir\m
D.n^x ':ix . '"^^ B'nDDx x"'niv 1x3 d^o poipa on'-x iv dpx (? ybnn)
pxnjn 'jix Dno orx myn p: nni3 ^c'n^n p^x idk'^>ii djxw
pn nT^^p pn jnyn ti^ ^'"^ "i^i l^'^ f^^'-"' ">y 'Ji^< ^ni333 pnxn
lajxra cn^x ^jn c^ny xn x^ii ny LDJxr i^ix . pnxii tsanp nxQ
'jix pnxii pxnj2 ny nyii yjxn^x onn px loin ^d^ ij^ni pxn
y^n ^3 pr^x py^3 n^-^jx px fLjnxn c'xn i^:^' p^x finx pnxDtra
'n '3 Dv p:i^ ns .^jn n^n pnii^ n3 no^e' '3 n'3 ij'':d3 n-yn
e'DD n'n^r p'3 fi^b> p^t 'mo x"xb ^byu "pn "b a"cpn ^i^x
x> .njnoni pji^ p'psi 'in
JXnSD D^1B>D 'inD3 \1]}^i:f "pn
/'o::r2 nannron nnnnx "pn
.nn'^r nrri?x nn'inon 3py'' "p:]
)D'}b b':n no^B' '3 nnx nyc^ nr 3n3C' 3n3 u^js^ miD d:
noK' innx:D* onsn 3ini cn^ ^an nn^» 3": ymn dk'i ininxi
B'» nn n^DDi3 b'TH i'K' i:nn '^^K' 3n3 D^r pn .^an ny cjino
noxB' -si' nyoK' nny man nyc^a u'-jsi' njox ntrx3 niyun ni^n^
my ,n'- nijxir y'nxDn 3py"' nu' n'iK'a p-yi Kn*n bvx nni*'o '\nc'
'"'■ Steward. i«»^ Officers.
HEBREW LETTERS AND DOCUMENTS 21 7
b':n nn-'D o"; ^cx^ anrij' nayn r\:^ np^^a^o ^^lND ariD i^ja^ mic
niK'^ HOC' |NDn n'j'N i^ c-k' ei'^oini ^jn piso onm ana a'a
nsp nc-ipD no'nnni jsdd^d onnnx an^n b]} Dinm ^onc^r f'ys3""iii
^C3'3i n'a p"d r''' '"D y"nND ^"23 p"'yi ^i-nao nvp a'a i6 in
pn |n:i .ovp v"n* p:y mprom n'd p"d dc> o"nn n*^3dk' n"Vw"3i
by niY^'n ''nc nynv anirn ^:j' idx "irjsbc nvp nvpn is^n i:'J2id
anna 'naricn inns'j'o^ ion pab ij'ac onann nr nhn nana
'Jibs p 'iibs "1313 nb canaai nnya-j-* djhi anian Nin:y □'•n-'aiD
bsi-DiN bvN I'inxa 'vnt'i iDin' nci *.d-^' larjcr p^a /Jiba Dipoo
Dnann ba .jxao xinci nonbo b'^:* nrsD by jxao ibnc'i yu^n
y"n{<Da apy aK' n"i::'a p^yi i"i"'y D:^•1 vax en "idd* i»3 nrDn rhan
nnra nny "•rk^ Q"ya ij^jab n-'yn xb a'ayxu' d:dn ns'i /'nr '^d
p-i -iK'31 s"ya n-yoa "irs 'xmi anan "tt^iy irfn ins* nya pi Nini
nns ny nuopan n"o cj^yo ?""• '••d b'jn y"c'a xn^N naai nrs nnya
-("•Dm HDDpa 'in jn3d ins^bm -loibi :^•pyn^b il"2ni ,|on: i:'x
n"Y^>2 p^yi bpnb t*' n'r:na on n?:xn *ix ,n'ana o-^ -l3w:^♦ npya
*ba "I'ab Na lun nx bpnb B^n nit-x nv dji *iv '-d apy^ ac'
'-anan pn pn:a jxai p"cp p"d Dl^' c"an nj ^^''^a nii'ar] inx^antr
injtt' np^yni ^noir bba nir:x xb o^anan xa nyi nc'xnb 'n"^u'o '\t
no nryi nrson by nbnc D"yxn njijyb nn'':m nnan npD xb pi
'mi |X3o in3^bn nyu'a niox ncxn dji mn'' bbaa '^n ]">-[]} ni^T^
noxa ii:'X3i "in"i*3C' b3pb in:;'xb nxcini n3 |m: '\-i nj-'son by naa
nrson by ibn pax^nbi ,moixn pa ypnti'nb 'm xb inyni nbap
'cyt3 pbn bao ^bb3 nuup ;x3 px xvo: vjai irrj'xb -lunb '"n inyni
irjsb pvx ;a yu: 'a nti'x nriMt' b'jn omax na nnu* n-j'xn nxi*^
imino i:xTi niy:c'D lib'v^ 'm p^av^m na: bab xao^nnb -in\-ia
x'xba -bayo "pn "b :"opn bibx V'l p-i:ib ns oninn n'a nixbD3
.xV n:noni p:ib p"pD "in d"do nn'br }''3 ci^c* p:br 'ino
.JXiDO obit:'© 'inoa pyr:^ "pn
/"•DJJO maon omax "pn
.nn'br nry^bx -n'lnoa apy* "pn
D. y
\1 "
APPENDIX VI
Translation of Letters I-IX.
Letter I. Fol. i a.
London, 21 Adar, ^^^^6 (1776).
Peace to my brother the Dayyan, &c., R. Meir, and to
his wife and daughter. Amen !
In order to keep the promise I made you in my letter
of eight days ago, namely, that I should answer you at
length with reference to that^**^^ (certain) Rabbinate, al-
though your words are very veiled I gather that you have
recommendations to that place from important people.
You have not told me who they are, but I suppose you
would not make so much of it without reason. For, indeed,
in Hamburg there are many scholars to be found who are
fit for that high position, and the Copenhagen congregation
always gravitates towards Hamburg. Nevertheless, you are
right. ' Do not despise anything ' as our sages say,^''^ and
especially if you have anything to rely upon to build (your
hopes) on that ground. I have therefore considered how
I, likewise, could be of help to you in the matter, but see,
I have only found one man here who has a direct corre-
spondent to Ch. {= Copenhagen), and that is a certain rich
169 f Tj,e words added in brackets, are supplemented by me, where
literal translation of the Hebrew text would be difficult to understand
otherwise.
"« Mishna Abot IV, 3.
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-IX 219
man, the Parnas of the Hamburg Synagogue here. This
is the very man who in those days brought the Rabbi of
the Hamburg Synagogue here,^"^ and he is still attached
to him like a brother. I dare not disclose to this man
even as much as a hair's breadth, for the family of H. Z.
(Haham Zevi) will soon find one of their relations whom
they will want to recommend there, and I must keep the
whole matter secret. Here it is like in the land of the
South,^"^ and nobody knows unto this day, except for those
to whom I had communicated it as a great secret, that the
Rabbinate of Ch. is vacant. However, I could not leave
it at that and do nothing for you ; and I have on Friday
last written by post to R. Meir Hanover a letter, a copy of
which you will find on the attached page. There lives
here also a certain R. Moses Walich, who has written to
his vvife's stepmother, the widow of the late R. David
Hanover, who is a native of Copenhagen. Also R. Zalman
I lanovcr, the son-in-law of my cousin R. G. (Gershon ?)
Kief (Cleve), whose first wife was her sister, (and consc-
qucntl}') likewise a native of Ch. — he, R. Zalman, will
surely stand by you (help you) if your brother-in-law
R. M.(cir) Klcf will ask him. Influential Hamburg people
could, I think, do much, as Hamburg is like a suburb of
Copenhagen. Probably you will get best help through
people who have correspondents from there to here. As
far as I personally am concerned I have nobody to whom
I could write direct, unless I do it through those rich mm
whom I have already mentioned, and to inform these, I
"' Was responsible for liis cltvfion. Hitinbuig Sjnagoguc - ilambro
Syn.
'■" In Palestine tlicy called larolf countries the ' land of the South ' ;
cf. Isa. 30. 6 and 7; Dan. cliap. 11, where Kgypl is termed ' the south';
it also means ' a dry land'; cp. raliii. H. i<'iiiur.ili 16a.
<> 2
220 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
fear, would even be harmful, instead of helping the matter.
Others would not move (do anything) because it does not
concern me personally. After consultation with my cousin
the Parnas Aaron Goldschmid, he agreed [to my suggestion]
and is writing by to-day's post to his sister's son Jacob,
son of Mendele Kik in Hamburg. He (Goldschmid) tells
me that this nephew of his is under obligations to him,
being his correspondent unto this day, and in former times
had great benefits from him. R. Aaron told me I should
make a concept of what he should write, and he will copy
it word for word. And so I did, and a copy of it is
annexed to this letter. R. Aaron tells me furthermore
that his nephew is a great merchant, and quite certain
to have correspondents in Copenhagen. You need not
think that the words of R. A. will only be listened to like
* wise words of a poor man '.^"^^ I wish that we both, you
and I, had as much as he has, we would not be obliged
to be Rabbis at all. As a matter of fact he is in the same
honourable position as before. This is all I could think
of doing on your behalf, and God must help. Still you
have acted properly in writing to me. In these matters
it is, as I had occasion to experience in the days when
I endeavoured to obtain the Rabbinate here, as the saying
goes, * A small stone is also necessary to build a wall ' ;
the chief thing, however, is the foundation on which the
wall is built. Your suggestion that I should write to the
[fol. I b] congregation direct, you cannot have meant
seriously, and does not appeal to me. A few years ago
there was a single young man from Ch. here, belonging to
one of the rich families, and he came several times to my
house. I thought (now) to renew an old acquaintance,
"' Cp, Eccles 9. 9.
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-IX 221
as probably by now he would be married, and intended
writing him whether he could do me a favour in this
matter. In the course of the letter I might have mentioned
that it is not usual to write to the whole congregation, but
he was at liberty to show my letter to the congregation.
I would have had an opportunity in any case to praise you
at length before the community. However, after making
inquiries among the members of my congregation from the
people where he used to live while staying here, I heard
that all his people had died after having lost their fortune,
and they are now forgotten. So this plan has also fallen
to the ground. In Amsterdam I am a stranger as far as
letters go, just as regards Hamburg and Ch., and as for
writing through an intermediary I have already said above
that it would be more harmful than useful, so there is
nothing more to add about what I have done. God, the
Merciful, may grant us well being, and with all good wishes
I conclude. Peace and life may you have from God ac-
cording to the wish of your brother, Tebele C'z ^''* Schiff.
My son the Bahur (single man) Mose the Priest sends
you his regards, he also has done something in the matter
by copying the enclosed letters. Your sister-in-law, the
virgin Mindic, also sends greetings, and wouUl also like to
help for good (= to achieve a good result in the matter).
To our venerable father you may tell of the prospect
if you think it advisable to tell him of this letter.
"« C'z - j'"3, a Cuhaiiitc.
222 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Letter II. Fol. a a.
Copy (of the letter sent) to Rabbi M. Hanover.
17 Adar, 5536.
Ever since I came to this country I have been contem-
plating how I could return to you, my dear relative, the
good services you have done me by your recommendation
at the time I endeavoured to obtain the Rabbinate here
(in London), but I never found occasion for a revanche.
I wish I would find some means (to show you my thanks)
in whatever way it may be.
I have now, however, occasion to ask you for another
favour, similar to the one mentioned. I have heard
the Rabbinate of Copenhagen is vacant, and my brother,
the efficient Dayyan R. Meir Schiff of Frankfort, aspires
to that position. As to his being worthy of the position,
although I, as his brother, am disqualified to bear witness,
it is beyond question, any one can tell you that he has
acquired fame as a sound scholar in the religious codes
and casuistics. I know that you, my friend, have great
influence in the said community, your words are of weight
with the honoured men of that town, and I ask you
therefore, if I have found favour in your eyes and the idea
itself also appeals to you, that you may kindly recommend
my brother. Apart from the certainty that you will earn
reward for it from Heaven and thanks from the people,
you will also oblige me personally.
Although I cannot excuse myself sufficiently for troubling
you with this, it seems to me a sign, as you my friend with
God's help have been of great assistance to me in the
appointment as Rabbi here, and through that my brother
was elected in my place as Dayyan in Frankfort — perchance
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-IX 223
it is the will of the Almighty that you should be His
messenger in this affair likewise, to help him (my brother)
obtain the safe harbour of that Rabbinate. I will not
trouble you any further, but in conclusion ask you not to
refuse to comply with my request, but to use your great
influence (as far as you can). I shall in return be always
ready to do you any service if occasion arises, and, as
I have already said, I am already in your debt for the great
service you have done to me personally, and with all my
power I shall try to serve you to your best interest.
Letter III.
Copy of the letter of the Parnas Aaron Goldschmidt to
his sister's son, the honoured R. Jacob Kik in Hamburg.
21 Adar, 55^6. London.
... I have also a favour to ask of you, my dear nephew.
I have heard, namely, that the community of Copenhagen
intends to elect a Rabbi. There is in Frankfort a Rabbi,
the Dayyan R. Meir Schiff, brother of the Rabbi of our
congregation, my cousin Rabbi Tcvele Schiff. That Rabbi
is looking out for such a post, and has already many
recommendations from influential people. He is indeed
worthy of the position as he is a great Talmudic scholar,
at home in th.it \ast literature and of great intellect, and
has also other great qualities. Although he has not been
a (Chief) Rabbi hitherto, he is Dayyan in Frankfurt, and
many congregations have elected Dayyanim of Frankfort
as their Rabbis, as we did here, for our Rabbi, my cousin
R. Tcvclc, was likewise only Dayyan in I'Vankfort, and
still we have, thank God — as is known far and wide — done
well in sclcctint; him, may fiod prolong his days! To tell
224 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
you the truth, in those days everything was done through
(by) me, because I had received a recommendation from our
late uncle R. Johanan and, thank God, I succeeded, as it is
known here in the whole community that practically J alone
was instrumental in carrying through his election.
I should now like to do a similar service to his brother,
my cousin the Dayyan R. Meir C'z, in helping him to
obtain the Rabbinate in the said community. I have,
however, no correspondent at present in that city, but you,
my dear nephew, have very likely many good friends in
Ch., and I would like you to do the same that I have done
and take an interest in the matter by sending recommenda-
tions there. I can assure you that, if good results are
achieved, you will only derive great honour from it, and
I shall be very much obliged to you. Naturally my cousin,
our revered Rabbi, will also be glad and ready to serve
you in return for this favour ; please do therefore your
utmost, dear nephew, by direct recommendations to Ch.
as well as through those of your friends. You will give
me great pleasure and I shall be pleased to do the same
for you.
Letter IV. Fol. i a.
London. Friday, New Moon of Ijjar, 5540.
Peace to my brother the eminent Dayyan Rabbi Meir
C'z and to his wife, my dear sister-in-law, and to all who
belong to them !
Your letter of Nisan the 8th duly received, and on the
next page I have answered you in the halakic matter. It
was not my intention to criticize you, but only to show
you that I have perused your words from beginning to
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-IX 225
end, and derived great pleasure from it on the last festival
in seeing proofs of your clear mind and deep thoughts.
To tell you the truth, in short notes like these we can
continue to write to one another, but in more extensive
and deeper subjects I am like ' in the land of the south '."^
I have no colleagues nor pupils to study with, and even no
one to whom I can talk on these matters when you write
me anything, and cannot go into it as thoroughly as
I ought to. Sometimes it occurs the other way, that I
enlarge at length upon a nice ' Derush ' (homiletic explana-
tion) or a halakic point, and then I find it difficult to copy
it all. I have found nobody to help me even in this
respect. If therefore you or I will find some time or other
a new point of interest (in our studies) we shall not deny
ourselves the pleasure of communicating it to one another
in brevity, and for the present we shall not discontinue to
deal from time to time with the matter of the Gabbaim,^'^^
and settle this by frequent correspondence. VVc must not
put it off and say, ' I shall learn when I have the time ',
although wc find that even our Amoraim said ' We beg
of you not to come to us at a certain time ',^" and although
there is a difference between their case and ours, still there
is a slight resemblance.
Now to answer your letter point by point. Our account
is settled. I was surprised that you made an alteration
'''* Cp. Temurah 16 a and note 172.
'" Referring to R. Mcir Schiff's dispute with Moir Rotliscliild. See
above, aiul Ai)pcndix VII.
'^' Cp. licrakot 35b. Raba said to the oilier scholars, 'Do not apjxar
before me in the days of Nisan and Tishrl, so that you may not be occupied
with your search for a living during the whole year'. K. Icvclc asks his
brother to settle his dispute as soon as possible, in order not to have to
trouble about it later, and compares it to Ibis Talmudic saying.
226 RAHBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
in my order and gave 18 )*"3 ( = Groschen) to my brother-
in-law Hayyim and deducted them from the amount
I sent for the widow. If even what a poor man left
over belongs to the same poor man and must be given
to him, the more so he ought not to be deprived of that
which has specially been sent to him, and by right you
ought to refund the money from your own. I have,
however, pity on you, and herewith order you to give
18 Groschen to the widow. Apart from the 18 Gr. you
have already given to my brother-in-law on my account,
please give him fl. 5 from me, and thus you will have laid
out fl. 6. 13. The cheque from Vienna will probably have
reached you by now. As regards the Rabbi of the
Hamburger (congregation), all is at an end. From hour
to hour he begged the community to allow him to remain ;
nevertheless they insist upon what they decided, to give
him ^5° yearly for life. He is leaving next week, and
your astonishment still holds good, why I should have
to do everything without being paid for it, apart from
presents (niJriD) on Purim and Rosh-Hashana from those
who were in the habit of remembering me on those occa-
sions (I have no income from the Hambro Synagogue).
As to weddings, it is now usual with them, in accordance
with an order from their Board of Management, that the
parents of the bridal couple have the choice, and can take
either me or their Hazan. As the Hazanim — wrongly —
flatter their congregants, I did not, during the whole of
last year, perform more than one wedding ceremony, and
that was on the occasion of the marriage of the daughter
of R. Leb Tosca (xprvj), who is a friend and like a brother
to me. a learned, respected, and very rich man, inquire
about him of R. Moses Munk. This R. I.cb and manv
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-IX 227
Others of the respected men (of the Hambro Synagogue)
think that in time the right to perform wedding ceremonies
will fall exclusively to me, but at present it is still far from
that. It may be that in time some newcomers will also
send me presents at the periods mentioned (namely D"'"ilD
and n""i), but a separate salary from that congregation is
not to be expected. It might be that my community will
ask the Hamburger congregation for a contribution towards
the salary they give me, namely, the ;^20o a year, and
according to my opinion they will be able to tear out of
them £^0, of which not one penny will go into my
pocket, but even with that I am satisfied because, as I have
already written you, the salary of ;^20o I have from the
congregation is insecure, and at every meeting of the
Kalial they spoke about reducing the salary of the Rav
and of other officials of the congregation, on account of
the increase in the expenses and reduction of the income.
In short, were I to write you many sheets full, you would
still not understand the way of this town. You imagine
London is a Kehilla (community). No! Far from it!
Justly you write, there arc many things that are difficult
for you to understand (find answers for), &c. I have
understood your hint, and could explain all in a very
simple manner to any one who knows the way of this
town and about mc (the nature of m.y position), but it is
impossible to do it in writing. I swear (assure you on
oath), So may I see plenty of joy, that I long to sec
you in joy and iiappiness here at niy house, to speak
to )(ni personally and tell }'ou all that is in my heart.
I (lid not unintentionally write you to ask Moses Munk
about K. I.cb (Toskaj. I have spoken ;il kn-th with
him on the last 'S'finitf^r of this mailer, when the said
228 RAHBINATK OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
(R. Lcb) was at my house, and I did so in the presence
of my son, the Bahur R. Moses |*"3, who is, like me,
anxious to achieve this,^"* but he refused point blank
(utterly refused), and the refusal of an old and wise man
like him means building up, not destruction (= is meant
well). I will, D.V., explain to you another time the parts
of builder and housebreaker that were played between us,
and enough of this for the present. I have spoken with
the young man Moses b. Leb Zunz, and he told me he
could not imagine that his stepmother and her children,
his brothers, were not satisfied with the contribution he
is sending them with the help of his brother in America.
They probably have received what he sent them for the
last Passover. Nevertheless, if his brother who is studying
in Pressburg has any particular ^'^^ request to make of his
brothers he should write at length and enclose it with
your letter. The young man Moses will then pay me the
amount (he intends sending to his brother) when the letter
is delivered to his hand. I could, if I knew what the
request is, recommend the (fulfilment of) same, please God.
With reference to what you wrote about business for
my son Moses j^''^, that he should become commissioimaire
(agent) for the great merchants (famous rich men) the
brothers, sons of R. M. S. (Michael Speyer?) and their
partner, I have made it my business to make inquiries in
the matter, especially as you often wrote that I easily refuse
all such proposals. I spoke of it to R. Jacob Rotterdam,
who does a lot of commission business to your place, and
especially for the well-known partners R. Leb Haas and
'■'^ Obviously the election of R. Meir as Rabbi to tlic Hainbio Synagogue
was in contemplation.
'" Written "INS^'tD'l'^E-
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-IX 229
R. J. Schuster, and \vc came to the conclusion that it
would be worth while to be an agent for East Indian
goods, but not for woollen merchandise. He does, it is true,
do business even in these for the firm of the sons of R. Leb
Hanau and his brother-in-law, but it does not pay,
because most of the goods which the merchants from there
(Frankfort) buy, they order direct by letter from the
manufacturers in this country. What a contmissioniiaire
sometimes sends there, he must have credit for (here)
because all the goods are sold on terms of credit for six
months or more ; besides, there is the trouble of transit
m
from the country to here and from here (London) to there
(Frankfort), and nothing to be profited by it except the
commission he gets from there. What you write about
understanding (the business) is folly. The samples are
sent from the country, the goods are ordered and they
are sent according to the samples — some one has told you
there a foolish thing that sometimes one might buy from
a swindler! That might happen once in seventy years.
If that occurs it can only be sold to some one who does
business with Amsterdam, where he can find buyers for
good and bad goods, but one could not send faulty goods
to an established business man there (Frankfort). For this
reason only some one who is used to exporting goods,
woollen or East Indian, could become a commission-agent
for woollen merchandise manufactured in England, he
must be well known here as commissionnairc, like the saitl
R. J(acob) or other people who arc used to it.
Page I b.
If the young man Siisskind, son of Jacob Schloss, has
already left, do not frighten his family. If, however, he
230 RABBINATE OF Till': GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
is still llicrc, tell him that Leb Binga (Bingen) wishes to
be remembered to him, and would like to add to the letter
which he has by now received from him— dated here on
the eve of the last days of Passover (20 Nisan) — that since
a few days it is spoken of again that Parliament will put
pressure (on Jewish travellers?) like last year, and he has
the choice whether he will come here or not. In any case
if he does make up his mind to come, he should see to
it that in the passport he obtains from the government
authorities there, should be said more than is usually said
in a health-pass (certificate), and, if possible, should be
added that he is a Schutz-Jude from there who travels
thither as a merchant to buy goods. Please do not fail
to let him have this message in full if he is still there, but
if he has already left, your silence will be better than words,
and God may bless his journey.
If he does intend to come here or has already left,
I expect to receive the mantle through him, and if not
(send it) without delay according to the order in my last
letter.
I am waiting to receive on behalf of some one here
from the Rabbi of the Province of Wiirzburg the sum of
two hundred gulden or somewhat less, a legacy left to him.
I have already sent to the Rabbi the receipt and letter of
indemnity attested by me, and have at the same time
ordered that the money should be sent to you for me, and
that your acceptance of the same shall be regarded as if
it were already received by me, if you give a receipt for
the amount handed over'to you, D.V. I herewith ask you
that if such amount be offered to you, to accept it on my
behalf and to give a receipt, and afterwards send it to
mc by assignment without a moment's delay, the full
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I -IX 23 1
amount — do not deduct the account which wc have with
one another. Send me a separate letter expressly in this
matter. I shall get the postage refunded here.
Apart from this I will only repeat what I have already
said, that you should try to settle the matter with the
Gabbaim without hesitation, as well as the letting of the
house, so that I should get it off my mind, and that you
should be sure of what you get as reward for your trouble.
Otherwise there is no more (news), only life and peace
(may be granted to you) from the Lord and (wishes for
the same) from me your brother who greets you and desires
your welfare. Tebele }*"3 Schiff.
My son the Bahur Moses )*"3 sends his regards, he was
very pleased with the few lines in your letter which you
addressed to him particularly. Your sister-in-law, the
maiden Mindel, likewise sends her regards. Greetings to
our brother Moses, to our sisters and their children. Ac-
cording to your letter I note the childish remark (an'ny
NpirT = children's talk, cf. Sukkah, 56 b) of your daughter
Resche. When I send her something with M. Siisskind
on his return, she will then have reason to say what she
said. I'^or the present I cannot think of what it should
be (that I send her). The letter from R. Moses Munk,
of last I'urim, I received with thanks and send him regards.
Letter V.
London, 14 I'^lul, ,'''),",4i.
He who gives life to the living may write and .seal (in
the book of life) for life my beloved brother the Dayyaii
(&c.) Rabbi Meir the Priest and his wife the lady Mathe
and their daughter Rcschc. 'i'o all who belong to them
Peace I
232 RARRINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Your letter of the 21st of last month has reached
mc and I will begin with words of the Torah (and tell
you) that you are right. I am not well versed in the laws
of finance. Here the Tur Hoshen Mishpat and nearly
also the Yoreh Deah and Orah Hayyim ^^" are negligible.
Most of the questions refer to the Eben Haezer,^*^ as
I wrote you long ago. At the first glance it would have
seemed to me that you are right in every way. On going
further into the matter I found other points, and have
written you on the other page what occurred to my mind,
please read it.
After Torah follows charity. I ask you to send on my
account without delay :
To our uncle Rabbi Z. S. in Fucrth . . 11 : 00
Ten to your mother-in-law, a cheque for your-
self sent by Bearer . . . . . 25 : 00
To our brother Moses give in my name
eighteen florins . . . . . . 1 8 : 00
To the wife of the late Moses Trumm and the
wife of Moses Platen, who wrote to me
through the young man Z. Oppenheim — to
the former one R. Thaler and the latter one
florin, together . . . . . . 2 : 30
To Giessen for the order of R. Abraham ben J.
I sent to you eleven florins . . . . 1 1 : 00
For yourself and for R. Leb the Levite . • 25 : 00
To my brother-in-law Hayyim the Levite send
on my account five florins ....
Total
180 Parts of the four Tuiim, a ritual Code by Jacob ben Assher dealing
with civil, dietary laws, and rules of prayer and festivals respectively.
"' The part of the Tur dealing witli laws of marriage, divorce, &c.
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-IX 233
From last year the account between us stands (as
follows) :
From the bill of Moses Bloch and from
M. Oppenhcimer according to your letter of
the 19th of Tammuz . . . . .43:36
From Jehiel Cohen after deducting nctto
eleven New Thaler for your trouble . . 35-35
79:11
Out of this you have paid for me
Assignment (cheque) to I. Altert (?) 28 : 45
In accordance with your letter of
lyyar the 27th to our sister Esther 11 : 00
On Sivan the 19th to the order of
Abraham of Giessen . . . 1 1 : 00
To the Gabbayim (Managers of Poor-
box) 26:20 77:5
2:6
Out of the 97 :30 is to be deducted according to your
letter of the 36th day of Omer 2:6; remains owing to my
brother fl. 95 : 24, and you will find enclosed an assignment,
please let me know how much you obtain for it so that we
can note one against the other.
After charity comes Divine Service, which means
prayers and good wishes of David to our relative Isaac
Spcicr, who celebrated the marriage of his daughter,
(congratulations) to him and to his brother and son-in-
law in my name. I have nothing further to add to my
letter of the 22nd of Ab. Mis assignment of eleven
shillings has not been presented to me yet.
Referring to your reproaches about Rotterdam, I have
already written you that I have not seen any earnest
(endeavour) on your part. Proof of it is that )'ou have
I). K
234 RARP.INATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
not achieved any results there. Secondly, were it not
for the unfortunate occurrence with the Rabbi of \:>"r2ti
(Amsterdam), I wTOte you already who can stand up
against them. Thirdly, on account of the war between
Holland and this country, the post does not come in
regularly. I had just heard that the Rabbi L. of C'"n
(Halberstadt ?) was not coming, when soon afterwards, by
the next post, I heard that they had elected the Rabbi
of Emden. They surely had an intention with this hurry,
but enough of these excuses.
I enclose assignment of eight pounds twelve shillings on
a certain Yomtof, son of Nathan of Livorno. This (man)
is a correspondent of Rabbi Leb the Levite (?"iO) from
here. He sent him a letter, saying he would be there at
the fair, so please inquire, he will easily be found and pay
without delay. You may also tell him in the name of the
said R. Leb that he wrote him there (to Frankfort) under
his address. Being a correspondent of R. Leb the Levite
you could invite him to your house out of respect, and
speak (to him) well of R. Leb. One of the sons of
R. Yomtof will also be there at the fair, and after the fair
proceed to here, please send me (with him) half a dozen
white cotton caps. Not striped with several colours but
simply white ones. Also half a dozen handkerchiefs which
keep good colour in washing. They must be washed and
hemmed there. Do not look for cheap ones but for good
quality, but not much white (in them) on account of the
snuff-tobacco. Send me also the small book with the
memorial sermon of the Rabbi of Prague about the Empress,
he will not refuse to bring them here to me.
Apart from this I have no news to-day, and as I began
(so I will close), may you be written and sealed (in the
: TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-IX 235
book of life) for ever for life, you, your wife and daughter,
our sister, our brother Moses ;'"d (the priest), and the
sons of our sisters, also your brothers-in-law. These are
the words of your brother who sends greetings, (the
small) Tevele the priest. From me and my son Moses
to R. Moses Munk greetings and New Year wishes.
I received his letter ; the lottery begins on Nov. 15,
Falk can insure for him and I will be the supervisor for
it (= take care of his interest) if he will send me the
money in time. With regard to Gumpil May's affair
I expect from you (to hear) what has been done in the
Din (religious case) of his wife by the Rabbi or by the
Beth-Din, also whether there was a decision on the part
of the Government (Law-court) in the matter.
(Handwriting of Mindel Sinzheim) :
I send many greetings and wish the dear family likewise
a happy New Year according to their own wishes. From
mc, your sister-in-law and sister Mindel, daughter of the
late Zalman Sinzheim the Levite.
Page 2 of the letter.
(Postscript by R. Tevele.)
With regard to the white caps, these and the hand-
kerciiicfs must be washed there on account of the duty
payable here. Also do not forget in your answer words
of thanks for Rabbi L. (Leb) the Levite and his wife and
sons, a.ssuring thcin of your best wishes. Lcb, son of
R. S. (Samuel), Prc-sburger of Vienna, has become engaged
to the daughter (A my relative R. Aaron L"*; (Goldschmid)
from here. (Here one written line has been made unread-
able by pcnslrokes.) If you, in your answer to mc will
l< 2
236 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
send him greetings and Masoltovv (congratulations) you
may do so.
Letter VI.
London, 14 Elul, 5541.
He, who lives for ever and remains for eternity, He
may write and seal for ever for life my dear uncle the
efficient Rabbi Meir *,'"2 and his wife and daughter, Amen.
May to all who belong to him be Peace !
The days of reckoning and payment have come, when
we pay with our lips instead of with offerings, raise our
voice to God that He may answer us on the day of grace
and help us on the day of salvation, and I offer my prayers
to God for him (you) and his house that He may impress
on their heads the sign of life and bring to light their
righteousness, lead them on paths of (life's) waters, and
we may see in her beauty Zion the town of our testimony,
the splendid place where wolf and lamb will graze together
and not do evil any more, where they will welcome the
reprimander in the gate and the speaker of truth and
abhor the rebuke of the foolish man, and the one and only
Shepherd will guard them, a righteous heart and new
spirit will the Almighty give to all who revolted against
Him, sinned and forsook Him, so that they will not err any
more either to right or left, but He will make us firm and
strengthen us, so may it be God's will, Amen.
I cannot refrain from informing you of the great honour
we had in these days . . . (follows a private family incident).
What happened with R. Lsaac the Hazan I have
already written you at length, that they have taken his
crown from him and he may not stand any more in his
holy place. Now, however, that the Atonement day is
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-IX 237
coming, many stand up to say a good word for him to
bring him back to his old position, saying the wrong
he did was done on account of a man ("n) Hayyim, who
led him astray, and thus many plead in his favour. And
as is usually the way in the Kchillot (= congregations)
they took to the old doings (= ways) of their fathers, and
what the one likes the other dislikes, this one says this,
the other something else, and some say neither this nor
that. As it is R. Isaac is still in prison and cannot move
about like a free man, because he was made bankrupt, and
according to the law of the land must have the majority
of his creditors (namely, to consent to his liberation) whom
he will scarcely bring under one hat (to agree to that).
It is not an honour fur the congregation, but outcasts
like these are not to be found in any other town —
and it is all in vain. It is only that leaven in the dough
which hinders everything, it is that man who always
creates strife and cannot sleep if he has not done some
harm. liut God helps the persecuted, and the advice was
given by tlic congregation, that R. Isaac should take a
large sheet and write what is called a Memorial, and bring
this document as soon as possible to the judges. In this
memorial they wrote that the congregation has reserved
his position for him, and that he was really being i)unished
on account of K. II. Now the time was pressing, he
cannot help himself, and without him (the judge) nobody
can raise hand or foot, and by his word only they can come
and go, therefore he implores him that llic mouth thai lias
imprisoned may liberate again, &c. So fai-, his answer
is still expected, and on liis answer and ui ilom ihe loiu-
innnity relies. Wc shall .'^ee what he will answer, please
Goil.
238 RABRINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
I will now close with what I began. God may send
help to the righteous and be a shield for those who walk
in purity. May He raise our lot and may life and peace
come to you from God the living Master of the worlds.
So will pray for ever your nephew Moses, son of the great
Gaon R. Tevele Schifif. To all our family greetings and
New Year wishes, especially to my aunts and their children,
may God guard them, also my uncle Moses. I also send
regards to your brothers-in-law L. and I. the Levites, may
they likewise be blessed by God thousand times, Amen.
Letter VII (p. 1 a).
London, 22 Adar, 5542.
To my brother the Dayyan R. Meir, &c.
I have duly received your letter of Adar 6, and I have
to repeat what I have already said : Leave off with this 1
It is impossible for me to help you, I have enough to do
to keep myself. My income at present has diminished so
far, that with difficulty only can I make both ends meet,
and it is getting less every day. Were it not for the little
(income) I receive in interest from Government Loan
I could not exist, as the expenses increase on account of
the war, the taxes are great and heavy, and for other
causes. My salary of ;^200 is not being paid me punctually,
and every moment I have to expect that it will be reduced.
It is not, as you seem to think, that I am not on good
terms with them, on the contrary, I have many of the
leaders as my friends, who appreciate me and are anxious
for my welfare. The gist of the matter is, and I am
surprised at you, how do you imagine to be able to
understand a place which neither you nor your forefathers
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-IX 239
knew. As little as anybody in another land understands
this war, the ways of the Parliament and the powers of the
king here — even what the papers will write there now
about peace with America — as little will any one under-
stand the ways of the Kehilla and anything about my
income and expenditure. Who likes may believe it, and
he who does not may forbear, and if there still remains
some apprehension in your heart, which I hope will not
be the case, I tell you : Far be it from you to sin in this
way, and enough of this.
In the matter which concerns myself I must write you
something remarkable. About a month ago I received
a letter from the Rabbi of Prague and his Beth-Din
concerning some business (religious matter), and among
the (signatures of) the Dayyanim I found the signature
of R. Levi Fanto, and gathered therefrom that he had
not gone to Wiirzburg, and I wrote on the 17th of Shebat
to the Parnas Moses Rofe, an acquaintance and relative
of mine, who, however, had become (a little) estranged
from nic. The chief point of my letter was a request
to let mc know, as none of the three Rabbis elected
by his congregation had gone there, whether the reason
for this was that the income from the Rabbinate had
become worse of late than it used to be in former
years. I also wrote him that if he would IcU me all the
circumstances I would write him at length and draw his
attention to some one who was willing to accept the
Rabbinate, and whose .-ipi)ointinent would bring honour
to his congregation. I made an allusion to m)'self, and
the contents as well as the form of the letter were written
in very pleasing style and language, and I hopi:d to receive
a favourable rcpl>'. ( U^ the Sunda)', the 2^)tli of Sheb.it,
240 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
however, came the news that the packet-boat which left
here with the mail of the 17th of Shebat had been attacked
and captured by the enemy, and the letters were thrown
into the sea. I then said to myself — without intention of
losing an opportunity — that it may be a sign (from God)
that the letter was lost, and did not write again, but now
when your letter came, in which, among other news, you
wrote that the Rabbinate of VVurzburg was still vacant,
I said again that it might be a sign in the opposite
direction, and I expect from you a full answer (to let me
know) what you think and your advice without keeping
back anything. With Almighty rests the knowledge of
what is good for me and my son, for body and soul,
everything else is only the commentary, go and study
(think it over). If you approve of the idea I herewith give
you permission to do with God's help the work of man,
according to your power, and let me know.
I can easily answer your inquiry about the late David
Fridland. Many years ago, when the Gaon Rabbi G(ershon)
Chief Rabbi of Moravia,^^^ may his memory be a blessing,
was still alive, I received a letter of recommendation from
him, asking me to speak to the said David about the
wife and children of his late brother Jeckl. I then wrote
to the country place where this David lived, and he did
according to my wish and sent, through me, an amount
of money to Nikolsburg, and from that time dates my
knowledge of the man and his lot. Some time afterwards
arrived here the son of his brother Jcckl, whose name was
Isaac. I sent him with a letter of recommendation to his
uncle, but he did not help him much, according to what
'"^ R. Gerson Pulitz, Chief Rabbi of Moravia, 1753-72. Sec Kaufmann,
Gedenkbuc/i, p. 379, and the Htcraturc given there in note 1.
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-IX 241
he told me, but every time he assured him that after his
death he would leave him an amount according to the law
of heritage of the Torah. As David grew old and was
nearly eighty, he became blind, his property was neglected
and partly lost, and what remained was in very bad state
(PKnt2-i ^D323), like abandoned property,^^^ which nobody
looks after, as he was here in a strange land without friends,
and had never been married (added in the margin 'and
was afraid he might be thrown on public charity'). He
decided to give all he had to a rich ^** (n^DX) man in the
country, and made an agreement in the Law Court with
this man that he should undertake to give him all he wants
(= keep him) as long as he lives, and after his death he
should give a certain sum to his nephew, the said Isaac.
In exchange for this undertaking he ceded all he had to
that man, and lived afterwards for a few years. On his
death the said Isaac had disputes with the man who
declined to give him what he had undertaken to pay him
in the said agreement, but as Isaac wanted to get married
— as indeed he did marry soon after he received the
money — he came to an understanding with him (and ac-
cepted a lesser amount). This is how it all happened, and
since then it is like a stone thrown into a well to expect
for any one of the relations any help from that legacy.
(Added later, and addressed to Isaac S[icyer) : I still
owe an answer to my cousin the famous Y)ip, our friend
R. Isaac Spcyer, to his letter full of valuable information,
which I received about a month ago, and I send greetings
to him and all his people. What I nuntioncd in my first
letter that he will do it with<iut commission is not to be
understood otherwise than (that I e\[)cctcd this) from our
"*•' tjtc Arakin 23 a. "♦ Verbally ' valued ', viz. lo be 1 itli.
242 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
friendship for one another, because I know that he will use
all his power to do either of us a good service, it is like,
as in water, face answering face.^^^ While I write it occurs
to me (to mention) that he surely will not mind the trouble
and inconvenience connected with it that I am sending
to-day to my brother, our friend R. Meir C'z, a cheque
of ^7 on a certain man, who, however, might not be there
at the next fair. I therefore request my dear cousin to
give to my brother on my account fl. 75, and, as you have
already given me credit for fl. 66, to assign the whole
amount to me, and if you should have to pay to my
brother the said fl. 75 to draw a cheque on me for both
together of fl. 141, and to excuse the trouble I have given.
I promised to write some news (?Ni"iyiiN:s . . , .), and will
mention that yesterday a great firm of bankers, namely
Brown and Collinson, have gone bankrupt, and the public,
Jews and non-Jews, have had great confidence in them.
They had tens of thousands (of pounds) in hand, because,
as is the custom here, they held cash deposits from the
public, and now people are very anxious lest other cashiers,
Avho are called bankers here (other firms will be involved),
and it is feared that one friend will have another. For the
present it is quiet, and it may be advisable to put on
Rotterdam (lottery ?).^^^
To return again to our account. Enclosed is an assign-
ment from R. Leb the Levite on Asher b. Yomtof of
Livorno for the sum of jCy ; the latter left here about
a month ago, and promised to be there at the fair, never-
theless, see what I wrote to my cousin (Isaac Spcyer).
^*^ Cp. Prov. 27. 19.
'*^ This part of the letter is intended for Isaac Spe3'er ; what follows is
again addressed to his brotiier R. Meir.
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-IX 243
P. I b.
Follows also an assignment from R. Jacob Rotterdam
on the firm Jacob Hommel and partners for £'] ; let me
know in your answer how much you received for it, also
if the said R. Asher should pay you the ^7, how much
you received for that. In your answer tell me also exactly
all your expenses for the Sefer Torah to the last penny,
how much you paid to the Sofer (scribe), and how much
to the corrector, so that I can tell R. Leb the Levitc and
settle with him ; send me therefore the receipts from the
Sofer and corrector.
The account between us is, according to my letter of
20lh of Kislev, as follows :
Remained in your hand after paj-ing the Sofer
thirty florins . . . . . . fl. 4:40
To this add the proceeds of the two assignments,
or else the fl. 75 you will receive for
the cheque on R. Asher. On the other
hand I have to pay you a further forty
florins for the Sofer apart from corrector's
fee . . . . . . . . fl. 40 : 00
You have already paid to your niotiier-in-law,
my sistcr-in-Iaw, a cheque of fl. \\, and on
Adar j 9 I will assign for her fl. 25 (together) fl. 36 : 00
Payment to you as usual every half year for
yourself and R. Leb V'jD . . . . (1. 25 : GO
Ditto to R. Abraham Gissa (Gies.sen) drawn on
you to-day . . . . . . fl. 1 1 :oo
Ditto to send to our uncle R. Zckl 7'JD on my
account fl. 11, and give to our brother
Moses {\i)\w uie fl. \') (together) . . fl. 26 : co
This makes, apart from the corrector's fee, a
total sum of fl. i^iS
244 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Please look into this account carefully and answer me
punctually with a detailed account, as you know I am a
great lover of orderliness. Concerning the sending of the
Sefer Torah, R. Leb ?"iO tells me that, as he is very busy,
he will entrust with it R. Asher when, as is probable, "he
will be there at the fair, and so it does not concern us any
more. You may keep the Sofer Torah with you until you
receive further order from me or from R. Leb to R. Asher.
That Abraham Emmerich has gone bankrupt seems to
me like a firebrand in a cedar.
I am, however, not familiar with the circumstances of
the merchants there, and only in one case I require to
know the standard of the people, and that is with reference
to the eminent people on whom I send you cheques here-
with, namely, their fathers.^^'
Enclosed is a letter for the wife of the late R. Leb
Zunz from her stepson R. Moses, which is to be delivered
into her own hand because there is a bill of exchange in
the letter.
Zanvil b. Judah of Leinich (Leineck?) has had a letter
now from R. Leb the Levite that he should call on you
for fl. II. When he calls pay him and obtain a receipt.
These eleven florins are already accounted for between us
in my letter of 2cth Kislev.
This letter is dated 22 Adar, but I have written it a day
earlier, as on the 22nd is the anniversary of the death of
our late father, and I shall be weak on account of the fast
and the sleepless night, and while I mention our father
of blessed memory I am answering your words of Torah
on the annexed page, which may be for the benefit of his
soul. As I say there, I have only briefly answered your
'*' This reference is not quite clear.
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-L\ 245
question, and as chief subject I have treated my own ques-
tion, seeing that you are engaged in the study of Tractate
Baba Batra. I have, thank God, collected good notes on
this tractate at various times (chiefly) when I taught in
Worms, namely, answers to all questions which Tosafot
ask on Rashi's commentary, and also on every other
subject (in that tractate). I intended copying for you
some of these novellae, but they are for the most part
lengthy, and so I have only selected one and copied it.
With this I will conclude. Peace be with you from
Almighty according to the wish of your brother Tevele
C'z Schifif. My son Moses and your sister-in-law Mindele
send greetings, in particular to your wife, my sister-in-law,
majbe your sister-in-law Mindele will add a few lines
herself. Greetings to our brother Moses and our sisters
and their families.
(In Mindcl Sinzheim's hand) : Dear beloved sister, I was
very, very pleased to hear that you are again in good
health, may Almighty God grant it to continue thus, until
a great age. This is the prayer of your sister Mindcl,
daughter of the late R. Solomon Sinzheim the Lcvite,
To my brother in-law likewise, and especially to my
niece Res'che, to my brother Simon, and naturally also to
brother Joseph, greetings. I assure you all that no one
is more anxious for the welfare of the family than I,
although I can at present only express it in words. May
God help me to be able to prove it soon personally there
(in Frankfcjrl). This is an answer to sister Mate's latest
letter.
246 RABinNATE [OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Letter VIII.
London, 20 Elul, 5582.
(Page I a).
He who forms the destiny of man h'ke clay may write
into the book of life for life my dear brother the Dayyan
Meir, &c., his wife and daughter, &c.
Last Tuesday your answer reached me — the date is
missing — to my letter of the 1 2th Ab, and referring to what
you mention therein of your own affairs, and that our
cousin the charitable R. Isaac Speyer had done your wish,
I enclose on the other side a letter of thanks to him for
all the trouble he has taken in my interest. My opinion
about the matter itself I will tell you here, and my words
are addressed also to him. You wrote that the aspect of
the congregation is changed, and I am sorry for the place
and the graves of my Fathers. As to our own affair, you
write that many members of the congregation have left and
taken up their abode in some neighbouring place. Maybe
I should have done the same had I lived there at present,
nevertheless, evil times are bound to be over some time,
and so I feel it my duty to see that our right in the
community should not be interrupted for the generations
to 'come. I will now refer to your words one after the
other : you write that the children (heirs) of R. M.
Scheyer have all signed already — it is necessary to inquire
after those who live in other congregations but have the
right of domicile there. R. J. Kulpa, you wrote, ha?
already signed, that is well. That Lima b. Zalman Haas
will naturally sign seems to me likewise very probable ;
in any case it is not too late. R. D(avid) Kassel, the
son-in-law of the wife of R. Z. K., you say, will not and
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-IX 247
must not sign ; in course of time, however, there is no
doubt that he will sign. (This remark) does not please me,
because who knows what happens in the meantime. As
to that well-known cruel man (who suggests) that his
brothers should sign a pre-dated bill in favour of the
joint firm — falsehood will not prevail, especially as his
inclination is too strong, as is well known his way is to
begin strife. The more likely is he to do so, if one were
to prove to him his dishonest words, then he would at once
start a law-suit in his anger. You never mentioned Henle
Kulpa. I believe he was also a debtor at the time when
the community allowed you (j'our debt) on account of your
right (of residence) in the community, (and) the debt of
my late brother-in-law, R. Z(alman), was paid off, or, I am
not sure, on your own account alone. After all, although
your words are full of sagacity and piety, the Mizwah
would be great (if a result were achieved), and it were
better to keep quiet so that this poor woman should not
be wronged as lime goes on. What shall I further question
you, our Father in Heaven has decreed that I should have
a different opinion to yours in this, and as ihc proverb
says, ' fear cannot be talked away '. In spite of this we
have in these days come nearer to one another in thought
and deeds than (we were) for many years. Let this be
now a rule between us, please God, to lia\x' in future
frequent correspondence in the roles of huihkr and house-
breaker ( = discussion /'/T? and contra) in this matter, and 'he
who wants to purify hinjsclf receives help fioin Heaven'.
May God help us for good, I am sure tiiat you will not
neglect this and do all you can, as I am most anxious to
settle the matter favourably.
l.Cncioscd is an assignment from K. l,(el)) K. . . to Ashef
248 RAHBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
b. Yomtof of Livorno of seven pounds sterling; it is dated
already from July because that gentleman left town at the
time and will not return before close to the festivals, and
he left the assignment with me to collect the amount.
Please let me know how much you received for it.
Out of this I have assigned to your mother-in-law
in the name of the bearer of assignment on
ID Elul fl. 35
17 Elul, drawn upon you to the order of Abraham
Giessa . . . . . . . . fl. 11
To our brother Moses give in my name . . . fl. 16
To our uncle R. Z. S. in Furth send in my name . fl. 1 1
For yourself and for R. Leb the Levite thirty florins,
which includes an addition of five florins for
your trouble in connexion with the Sefer Torah fl. 30
For the wife of Moses Platz and the wife of Moses
Trumm and the daughter of Moses Trumm
together, equally divided between them, for
each 2 Gr fl. 2
Total fl. 9.5
A few weeks ago I received a letter from R. M(odl?)
b. S. the Levite, and in the postscript his uncle Hirsch
Haas assured me that he will stand by you, and it need
not be mentioned that R. M. himself and his brother will
also stand by you. R. Modi wrote to me that he, as well
as his uncle, will speak to R. Jacob Kann, but nevertheless
he advised me in his letter that I should personally write
to R. J(acob) K(ann) as he might hear that I wrote to
his brother-in-law Hirsch and not to him, and might be
ofl'ended. After I have written to R. J. he will support
me by speaking to him. I have done so to-day, and
written at length and with special emphasis my request
to R. Jacob Kann, and have enclosed it with the letter
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-IX 249
which I sent to R. M. to-day, and reminded him to fulfil
his promise. Kindly note this.
As to the Sefer Torah, I have receiv^ed a letter from
Romburg of Ostend that he handed it over to the shipper
three weeks ago ; it has not arrived yet, but is due any
day now.
With reference to the happenings in Berlin, all about
the Rabbi's departure from there is known here, and I have
seen a copy of the letter which he left before he journeyed
from there with instructions to open it six days after he
left the town. According to what I hear he is now in
Vienna, and from the letter it appears that his intention
is to emigrate to the Holy Land. I have also seen the
copy of a letter from the Rabbi of Lissa to the Rabbi
of Amsterdam, as well as the copy of a sermon delivered
by the Rabbi of Lissa in this matter, where he condemns
R. H. Wesel (Wessely), and the letter which he printed.
The sermon is in very pure language, full of pious and
wise words, careful not to offend the majesty of the
Emperor. From the letter and sermon I gather that they
did the same in Poscn, and in Wilna they burnt K. II.
Wesel's letter outside the town by order of the famous
Gaon Elijah.^**"' Mention is also made there that the Rabbi
of Prague at first preached against it at Prague, now, how-
"^' Cp. Giidcmann in Monatsschn/t, iB'jo, pp. 479-80, and Wcsscly's
own letter in Kcicnt Iltmcd, vol. I, pp. 5-6 and KoIu'z-al-Jad, vol. X, p. 75.
Wcsscly himself mentions in Kerent Ilcincd ilic Kabbi of I'osen, 'son-in-law
of the Rabbi of Prague', the Rabbi of Lissa, and Rabbi Elij.ih Hasid of
Wilna, as having issued a Hcrcm against him. The Ralibi of Lissa was
R. David Tevclc Horochow, a native of Brody, about whom cp. Lcwin,
(iesch. d.Judrn in Lhsa, pp. 195 and aoo. The Rabbi of Poscn w;is R. Joseph,
known as 'Ilazaddik' ben Pinclias, son in-law of R. Ezckicl Landau.
Cp. Perlcs : Gcscli. d. Judtn in Poseti, Moiiatssclnifl, J 865, p. a6i. Rubbi
Elijah of Wilna is generally known as ' The Gaon ol Wilna '.
1;. S
250 RARRINATF. OF THE GREAT SYNAGOCIIE, LONDON
ever, he is obliged to remain quiet in public, and is working
quietly to arouse Rabbis of other famous congregations.
After all this it is easily understood that the Berlin Rabbi
could not remain in his congregation, and was obliged to
leave. If it were possible to send a copy of the declaration
issued there I should be pleased to receive it. I will now
close in the way I started this letter, may He who dwells
in Heaven write you in the book of the righteous for ever
for life, may life and peace be with you from Almighty
according to the wish and prayer of your brother Tcvele
C'z Schiff.
As you wrote I should not let anybody write on my
letters, I have not allowed your sister-in-law, the maiden
Mindel, to write ; she wishes you all a happy New Year.
Page I b.
(Moses Schiff to R. Meir Schiff.)
Fulfilling the yearly custom at a time when every man
.in Israel raises his voice praying that happiness may be
his lot in the New Year, I send you and all yours greetings
from the distance. May the coming year be a happy one
in peaceful enjoyment of happy dwellings, may your days
be as numerous as the sand on the seashore. This is my
piiestly wish which God may fulfil, adding to it a thousand
times more, your nephew who is always ready to serve
you, Moses, son of the great Rabbi Tevele C'z of Frankfurt-
on-Main. To your wife and daughter, to my aunts and
their families, and to uncle Moses greetings and good
wishes.
In that certain matter my father, the Rabbi, has written
you his opinion, and I have no doubt that you will do
all you can to bring it to the desired successful issue, and
your reward from Heaven will surely not fail to come.
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-IX 2^1
Letter IX (p. 3).
London, Friday, 30 EIuI, 5542.
New Year's greetings, &c., ... to my dear relative . . .
R. Isaac, his wife and children, may they all be blessed by
God who will confirm the priestly blessing !
How can I thank you sufficiently for all the kindness
you have shown to me and to my son during this year.
From the worthy has come good, namely, a good beginning
in the business, and I have no other power but my words
(no other way of thanking you), and I raise my voice to
God : Oh, give good reward to that good man, give him
name and fame and inscribe him to happy and joyful life,
may he rejoice in the welfare of his offspring for many
years in Torah and fear of God, in riches and greatness.
This may be the will of God in Heaven.
Forgive me that I have not followed your advice,
although it was not like that of a man young in years, but
like the advice of an elder. I have written on this matter
at ]en;4lh to-day to my brother our friend R. Meir C'z,
point Un point, and it will suffice for both sides (= is meant
for you also). It is not right to refuse to listen to a great
man like you, and for this reason I have written (what
I want to say to you) to my brother, who is a few years
younger than I am, and he will explain matters to you
in pleasing manner, why it is that I refuse to listen to
)ou although you have taken such great trouble in our
interest, I rely upon your friendship and meekness that
>()U will not, even ftjr a single hour, take it amiss, and put
aside the true love which we have for one another. On
the contrary, I rcl}' upon it that you will be able to settle
252 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
the matter with God's help for our benefit. With reference
to the legacy of the children of the late R. Leb Kief here,
it is still in abeyance whether they will win the case
relating to the estate of their grandfather, and even if
they do win it, I cannot see a way of obtaining anything
for the debtor of their father, as I think that the law of
the civil court is the same as our law, and a thousand
difficulties are placed in the way of one who makes a claim
in his grandfather's right. But time will bring the result,
and I will write you further after I have made inquiries
from people who are familiar with the civil law. I need
not assure you that I will do all in my power to advise
you in this, and shall not hesitate to serve you with all
my might. Apart from this I have no news. May God
bless you with peace and look down at you on the coming
New Year day in mercy and kindness. This is the prayer
of your cousin who is always ready to serve you, Tevele,
son of the late R. Zalman Schiff of Frankfort, Rabbi in
London and the Province.
To your brother and son-in-law E. Z. and all who
dwell with him I send greetings, may he too be remem-
bered (by God) for good and his years continue, his honour
and greatness increase.
(In Moses Schiff 's hand) : Youths ought to be hidden
and not stand before the great and wise men, but you. Sir,
have shown to your servant your greatness in assisting the
weak. May my prayer be my thanks and bear result, for
my pen is not able to write down the immense gratitude
I feel for you. I beg of you that if occasion presents
itself to remember me again (to put business in my way),
and may God Almighty inscribe you into the book of the
righteous for a long and happy life. This is the wish of
TRANSLATION OF LETTERS I-IX 253
your servant always at your command, Moses, son of the
sreat Rabbi Tevele C'z Schiff of Frankfort-on-Main. To
your brother and son-in-Iavv, the learned R. E. Z , greetings
and best wishes for the New Year.
(Address on the outside of the sheet) :
Herrn Mayer Sallomon
Schiff Jude gegenw. in
Frankfurt am Mayn.
APPENDIX VII
Extract from Minutes of the Beth Din of Frankfort
relating to the sale of Rabbi Tevele's house 'Zum Griincn
Schild '.
MS. Adler, No. 935, page 187 a.
n"3 \''in -i3DK^ ib"^ ^jna dw nn >vn m-io p nmoiD n"y
-i^NO n^j p i:^:d^ yan bo 'ba)) -ir^ n"3 pnn n"ni r^i rro -i>no
*inxi ins ^3 ni3nN3 i:^ja^ pyoi -iidj^ ijiD"" '\-ii ptJ'N-i -iidid
N^'-'K' ic'an c'-p^ D"'DnDi:ipa novy lonn ^'j-n cnnvnc^ ic'Nai
n^ino i^jn k'"") n^xo n"3K^ -i:j'd mina lix^'ci on^ lippnw i:nxD
mii:!^ d"i li'in nytiTin |0"i d"i tj'nn ntron b".n nrb n"3i' |n^^
x:;^ d"-i trnn nynnx "i^ jr.v i"ij pj-k^ i^xd ^n pnn i'>2 \'">i]}
^:xi TO jnj'i =) :j'd"-ii ^jxi »":-! "b i"opn v^jd^ pr n'r ijdxd
Page 198 b.
yam •'"n: ^"3 fi"'C txd n"j ]''''ir[ •'mnn n"n ij-'jd^ xa:y n"y
D'n ^rDio X lb nbi:"iy W n^^ct^-n n^xo n"3 ni"n n"n p
ex 1^ chc^h n'i'\'\'y a^cn n^TD-n i^xd n"3i 1^:^ rr-a ''vn n''"'3p»
SALE OF *ZUM GRUNEN SCHILD ' 255
,-i3n Di::' niy ucn ynn^ N^n 1^:^• poi^::Ti2 nvno ^i^l" -fso n'b
nvn WN'J' p-i v!?y niy^^n my ii> tr^c' T"y n-c'ri ci^c' n\so i^''^"!
r'y Tcni nin :;'"i tnd n"Di /i'-j* 3"n pyn^an inab ny nny yvn^
WN 2if 1^?:^ poi^L"na pny nvno irs* b":n T\^iy -j*nd ^"D:^• nnxo
a^cn my ^o"-i :;'nn pN pi )'ro pN ^'^n 3"n ^mn i^ n^:r^ nvn
"vn pi^n ^y nhy:;' )*yv njnp ^on inis'C' iii'Na d^c n^an p pyv
ima L"n'D3 -lara i"i: )*"d fi^B' ij^yu n"it:3 aini? T'^ '''itr n^a
'^":opn ^w'n ny Dk"b b":r] ^'>^ tno n"3 a-'inct' i^r n"n nc'yD
lyita y:n ei':;' yari n"2b y'^^y "^^L" mnsn n'2 ^irn p^n bi ,^y"3n
ny Di?L*6 y'jn «)>:;' n^so n"D n^ino nj Dity ^'in e'"n i-no n"3
nvn p2 ,^":n jcr ny nn'sn )b *j"'C' TJ-s'a ^'yan T"r:pn nc'n
3"n pyn^sn jd nSa yy^ nrnp "dt niDjij ^'jn :r"i n-iNo n"3
pyTsn nn^nnnti' viaia "•'n^ i^ a"::',! ^:"n ^"i^' tsd n"3i ^^'jn
n"-i' n-iTJ'n^ pi ^'jn w'""i tnd n"3^ D^trb "inx irx d"d v^y "\t
'cno ni3j^ ^D' i:'N pi -inoyusyr rmn ny ch'cb jcr i^ b*^ pnyi
I'rv n:np 'm i3ci nayt;* iT^a 3in Nine' ip'didx "idk-i 3"n pyns
c' E^"-! -1^x0 n"Dt;' D-1211 -i3r:y::syr L*nn iy n^3 my pvnn^ ^3vcy
n:np 'cn ^y u pvnn^ ^avu' 3"n nroiyu nNcr my D::r^ vby
non nr ^id nr Dimn"i:y^2 mixo icvynn ^j"n "vn n:ni ^^'jn p3''\*
i*xr^ n"3 ^mnn .m"m
Page 1 99 a.
n3i»:n n"p3 D'C'n -iNno3 b":r\ e'"-i n\xn n"3 rnxunnn k
n''n3 D'oncoip ^ipina b":r] onnvn Dr:vy vrnn-j* nnxi .ly^s^
i:nvt2i ,Dn^ i:ppnn rnxro xv iw'x ^d d"'^"'^ DMDro p D3p3i
ei3'n y:n ^-r n-xo n"3^ D^t:'^ y':n L""n mxo n'b n"i"n n^nrrc'
-23 poi!?t;'nn ''.-i-j' i^jd!? Dn-or ivnnn::' -d3 ^'^n 3"n n:5T nv:!
rz'\"L i~i"in n"n nr:yD3 ni ^:z2 x^c* nr ■iny"'p^>!3 'nnio ':c no-c
3"n p'j'^ ^jy pDi^L"n jcixn y':n t'"-i mxo n"3i -ix"dl" p>»-x n"3
^"m r\>^ Txo n"3^ :;"i" no n':n':i ,u"n nn imx j*:v3 px V'^n
"inx^ ny ir:D^ y'i'n^ n^-n -.rxi ,y':n 'j*"-! tx?: n"3 \^2 yun^ my
256 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
aip'1 "With ^na ynni? b'^y^ loy pin::' ijnvo j?"::) 3''n iiyT-sn
ni3jij nvnc' no nonr:i .i^jd^c D'-onsoip eipinn on^ya nnn pnn
inixt:' 13NVO ^y'on 3"n py-i>2n p j'yv i:)i\> v^i k^"-i i^no n"3
"ijayu ni"o3 3in!? T''"K' ''hb' n*3 ^ifn p^n ^y nbiye' j'j>>f n^np ^dt
"vn inix px ,nyD ^'n 3"n pyn^s ^di» iniDJ^ ^d" i^n /"i: ^'^i^
n B'^ ^"jn ei^K' n^NO n'b^ T'^B' 'nB* n"'^ ^vn p^n p py^*njnp "-rDn
ny nn 'nti y':n 3"n py'T'sn p iniD3^ b"jn k^"-i -i^no n"3 n>3
^y Nin 3vnn dn ^'^n D^Disoip «ipinn on^rn nnn nx pin aip-ty
"i^ND n'b pnn n"n
Page 199 b.
n"y
"V liDNO Ni"- I'V ti'"-i n^NO n"3 n''^ bv ix ^'j^ n"j )'"d ej'^t:^
.(?;^•"D-l1) ^d"ii ^jxi D"n "b V'ropn p*D nin "3
Page 202 b.
n"a
nrn -layn ]vd 2")d i"a n"DD »"n n"a i:nxo x^."' nna::' nnx
nxt^-ln3 xjyn d^^q n"^ r\bnpn pxj ^jninn n"n 'mvn ):':^b ixai
n's ni"n n"n jd yini i"-i3 fT'C' n^xo n"^ pnn •'j-iinn noyoni
fl"'^' "1^X0 n"3 pnn p nn '•vn m-DCK' nnx |yiDi n^''K'D''n -i"'x»
'on B'-'^K' poi^c'nnc' nr fsix ^y "\n ^'^n n^'-CD^n txo n"D^
3np jro-iyu n^-iDcy ""on pci^cnn p id31 na^nn m^oD n:: ni'Do
"inr n^'y nnx x -irhp i^x ^an "\t 'nni^n ''>c'!-t:^ "|Jt^•n p
b"2n c.'"-i -1^x0 n"3 npi^ni "^sn ip^Di^x noK'ai p:p -itsc'a -ixno3i
^c n'^c' y':D xjyn Dnjya n"^ >mnnb iddi irjp nx D^^p x!?
C'nn px Dn?o ni:^nn m^DO *i:j 3X3 fx K^^K'n ^m ^'jn i^icn
"inr n"i px poi^::'nn ana 3"n n:^Diyo n^io::^ pj^o px Dnoi d"-i
"^31133 pyiv 'm y'jn b'"d n"3^ ^'jn unjyn n"^ mx^an icxdi dis
pyn^2n^ yT "\n xb:y 3"t 3^::'ni b":r\ pDi!:::'nn nx npi^n nrc' ^x^^
n^B' -1^x0 n"D pnn T::>n nr ^yi "inr x"'- x rb-^p px nvn^ n-iDin
jyi ni^n: n^iy xinK' r"y pyvx nno nr^i ^ap^ nvn nytr ^d^ ^"jn
'b |n3 -^^ti pr:i^B>nn pai php ;^3 tyiEnn '\n x^ nysn inixa o
SALE OF 'ZUM GRUNEN SCHILD ' 257
nny is Nrm wn ^js^ loy it^ nv> ab hnd^ >ifn Tiy^ pn
3x: IX pDi^::'nni p^-ipn pn t'-^c' cnsnn b"jn {j'-i"» n^j npiSn
pN m^Dyn-c' i^ ;n:c' ^"n 'J^o-iyo nonr^i "inr nTt^y iiyi? nhyj:'
tr"! D"-inD }D fi^a* TNO n"D yan y^D
Page 203 a.
^iriOT^ ic'3Ni iTn i3^xy' no n: iT'n p^ny ^yc""^ D"n inis'ir ^"^n
(!) DJ-c'^a 'n^r:.-! jdt iniNo nnns D"n i^ airiD-' niy n^ nnn is-'an!?
n^ nnn DrN'.:' n'n inis* ^^3:;oi "inr icy ins n p^ip ps* d^j'^J'^
1^ ab"^ -133::' pL"iXn D"n mis ^''3t:'3 oni ^Dni3^^^ ^t^•D^< Ti^n "nti
Tw'N3 nxob n:;*^-:^ b":ri s;^^ n"-in3 yan pro pN b'':^ &'-[ rD"-in3
ei'-t:' Dn'n^ pnn jyiDi 3"3 nK'iy jtd pm -i3>i'-jp pa c-nsnn nys::'
"inr ncy nnx n nrij-ip px nnn^^'a K'lT'sa nina la mtrroK' b"3n
lb nibynb -jnv vs* yb^? nhr nnns ynooa npibn ib q^^b' dn na
nsob ": "j'>{<bn nbiy v::'Dyi y^DO iniNi irbip pac* "'yL:*^xbn b^
pro px nynx x-i'L2X3 lybip px ix li? obcb npiSn a'-inr:) pn
/yjD^ n3"ir:n n"p3 '^H^2}22 Dn^ni:yD2 (i)T'->xni nxrob "j "-ibya
TXD n"a n'n '•xn: n"in n!^yf:3i nxnnn to txo n"3 ^mnn n"m
"mr Tj'y nnx x pi^ip px 'uina dx xin 'nmon ttiit n^cn c'"-!
cnn IX -ly^-ip D^cb pbiD^ vx xudxj px lynx a^nr px 3in3 xbi
D^u'b in^' irx p3 o"-i L'nnn -inv did nys xin yyo n:ix D"n
':2c nr^ip px xpn '^n> no'^n jijiid::' Dxni D''n niJt;'h yi"xb )b
nu'cn DHD p3p noi^ ^1n3 mnab ib '\n "inr x"'' x nocn airiD nr:)
1:: nxr:^ ": i:''i'ipn nya nbytr no jyiu niyi nr^ip D^w'r:m nix?:)
p-uc' n"-i^ mncn nixnv '•23 3"n pr^ibc-nn nvnb n^vt;' ^32d )*:m3
pDii^L-nb 13 r\vnb i-iivn po "\n xb y:? nyL-3 oyc inix3i ^ddmi
ir^np px xpin "'n' -men pL"bc' n^^^ poy nron pnona pi 3"n
3X3 |x nbp3 b":n rj'c' D"nnD y"x nv-inn -1331" nnx ro"D
bi3* px p3 pro ncHD ib;r xn^Dp "m pn u"-i c-in pr:MbL"n3
Txo n":;i d""i irnno "inv 3iu xin pjioc ic'X3 ni^^np 3ic' yunb
pyiEnu- no-e ip^niDX p'^6 by v:vy ioid-j* 3^-j*ni nrn b":n ei^i;'
"" Agio - V'-J'X.
258 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Page 203 b.
133 "ini n""- n iDs*3t^ nm nnx "ima s-h p^np px nvni^ t"»^
nciy vpnpn locn p-j'^ niyn-cnDi ib^ "'•n^ y:;*i<^ n^ynt;' hdb' |yio
*it:L"n nia^nnn "dd y-iDrij N^tr pr ^3 Nop s'-io nprna p^ny
n"p3 niDnsn nsncs DnTinvjTim 'nTii:yo2 b":n nmvn iDnsni
y"N y'jn Dmvn ir^nnu' -un-a-ir D'tDnsnp ^sd n^m u^jd^ n:icn
cpb ii^'tpnb ^vni n"T mTk:-^ >vn d"-i nixo ^jk' id DJp2i n"n3
lirjyi 3"'D^^ pnn 'iipipii:^ nnsi on^ lippnn "i^nso nv-c' n"Dsn
nT-Dy^ ijy nr'y3:^' fv* ni?npn '':rDN: n-'n*:-' pjpn -iDL*'n pc6a ("ijyyi)
n'i?rn nx irj'-nu' nnsi ip-rnss nurni p:p iDL-n pK'^n qji ^jn
^■'6n ]'':]:2 c""it: "['yao n-i^n "inxi? dji ^'jh ^'jd N:yn unaya n"3
mnanc' ^jn^;d y':n ^53 nnx 3"n pr^3 3''n -di^^jti imi my3t:rD
3"n "yo-iyu |niN n'irh n'ii~\ ds* l?":!n t:^"-i nwn n"3 n"in n^3 "'•n^
m'?Dyn^*i nniy^'b nii-i sh did ""inr i"i oyn si^in D3it:'^3i D3n33
my D^t'!? y'jn B'"-! rD"-in3 3''inD ns "inr x"'' n 'I'b'^p px pyTan
m^3D "DT ^D ^3 i5y ytrs^ niy''3n n?:nr3 ^'^n pi'"^' rD"nn3 ]''''\nb
n"l N p^D K'jnN"'Vu:"i23ip px n''i?xDD3^n nry n^'on id b":^ b":n
jn D^'c' -i33tJ' noD ;n ^'jn fj^e' D"nn3 myon ynsn: nr3i dis i"nT
b":r[ t:'"-) rD-i"n3 nvT dn3i pny n^c^ v^ytr fin3 '•yrs-iyu riDno
jcTo D^cnn 6 inM f\''\^ tt-i"n3 pnn 'i"'3c 3^3 TDiyu |niN nirc*^
nir^ 3^inD irs mn i"nr n- « ]'b-\p px D^JicNnn p:rb d^b'^ ]':pry
^•'3B'3 d:i HD^nn nnDo 1:: 3X3 fx poi^^Tin ^y p-i yc'^x^n
"ic'sx "XB' 3"n mix i?y dji pro px yns n33B' nnx 3"n p?:ik'n
b":n B'"n rD"-in3 D^c'"' jnix mjc*^ n3 n^ nnn ix^3nb ^"^^ D"-in3^
nT3D "Di b bv d"i iK'y n^'cn idd "j-iy 'sh i^x b p w^br\
.b":n
Page 204 a.
(x'y n"-i ein)
-IX130 "i33c^ I'rv imp 'r2T nrDHO ^"jn omvn isnsn niy
py-1^20 ni3:^ nvn b":n c"-i tD"-in3C ^'^31 i:nxD -133 xv'B' n"DD3
n^np "Di D^i"^ y':n si^tj' -i\xo n"3 bv ^uict:* no 3"n ■•rD-iyo
'\:)'^p '•r^n "snixB' "irx3 y'y3n "b r"cpn n"-i ny nb* n^in p prv
*"-i: p"3 fi^B> -byD n"ij:3 3-in^ -j^^b' '^nt' n^3 'i-n n"y nhyt' prv
SALE OF 'ZUM GRUNEN SCHILD ' 259
nrn ty nh^'b y':n c"-) tso n"D moDU' n"2 n::'yoa c'n^aa idtj
^y ^"-1: nnn mpca ^'jn ei^c' n^NO n"D ^y Nin avnni "^ f^pn
tr"-i n^xD n"3 lyiD b":r[ ^"^ »->"n3^ T'*^ ''^ti' nnnsn n^2 ^i*n pi^n
Tj'xa y'yan "^t"):pn n:^'n ny D^K'b ^'^ D-i"nD a^ino nr d:c' b":n
b'ii^ T^* "i'><^ J^'^i b":r^ fDT ny i^:^ n^a ^'^m nn^an pny i^ i:'^t:'
I'-ij mn vns^ t^-j' ''hb' n^3 "vno j'^^v n:np '•on pbn nnn» rcn
3-in rns Tinoc^ nro Npn 1:^^^ i^^r^rn ch\:^b n^-no Ninu' sin ^":n
'31 P|'B' t"-i n''3 \"3"'TnD ci^33'k^'n '>3^inDB' no pN idoo nb^'b I'l:
v'ps -isriB' no d"d "inr le'y d^jk' "iiyo *vnn d^c^ b^r xnv
n"3 T3 B'-'tr -it3c*n ^d31 nn^tj' ^3^3 v"p3 3n3X" n"DD nnv ^53^
irNC' i)":.! ti-'on ;yici '-im ch^b 7]}2n '^tipd ^'':n {r"-i n^NO
yi3n^ nu loc-n 'h B'^tr tr"n »"nn"3B' p"i nno ynn^ niy 3>in?3
'DT p^n ^yi 3-in i'E' p^!»*i:np ^»n "^b^-n^ on^b ^tiiDB* no nno
?j''-in3 3'B''n ^"-ij ei-B' ivxD n"3^ T>^f '\iB' nn ^^-nn p p*^*n:np
>» ^y N^Ji 1^ ^*t^^ ^o yp-ipn cjia i^y Nin p^^-nanp ^ot 3vnntr ei^B'
c^B^^ D'b3n D^^ino nhy ^ni nn "'2S "'nt xni niTsn 1^ tr^K'
v'p D^B'? n3^inD px "n -iro n-nn3 n-nc' ni:D^Nn dji v'p
mion n"p3 ini3i:3 nr3 d: D.Tnijyo3 isn^ni
Page 204 b.
3''y -i"-! ni
bv Dn^ry ^":n 'mvn 1:]!^ ^'^n i;"p ^dt |"'jy3C -il*'n31 ij''J2^
iJNvroi Dni? ):ppi]: i:r,ND xv^b' "iti'Dn *D3 n^^pb) Dr\'y2 -wi'-h n"3n
3'ino i"-!: 3-inb t"^ "''''^' ri'^ '^'n'^ |*rvnjnp p^nB' "i3T nL"Q3
3vnn 'Q3 ^y"3n "i?j"r:pn n"-i ny n^B^ ^"3 ei^B* txd n"3 pnn
^mr:^' no b":!"! si'b' ic^r "i "'pnnDD ynn^ vXim on^c b'33 isr^n
ynn^ b^vs n3 y':n noL-n 1^ |n^ b":r[ c"n txd n"3i Dr\^bv
nronci ^'^n iDU'n eiD^n 1^ Trnn!? 3MnD pyTDn inx^B' i2ix3i dhd
n"y i:svo y':n e]^L" txo n"3 pnn^ -p"::' "mb' nu "'^•n ^'"p ^dt
prvn:np vzn "]d?o nr-^B' '3f ob^ b":r\ ct'B' D"-in3B' n^n nc'D
i?":n c'"-! I'X'D n"3 bv^ b"v^r^ "b j"r:pn n"i ny nT3D "vo n^iyn
^JNi D"n "i? i"Dpn Dmo d"i "t "v^ i^x i:nx?D x^- nnx \:'->bv
.(?B'"D-n) ^'D-ii
26o RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
APPENDIX VIII
Elegy on the death of R. David Tcvele Schiff, by
Isaac and Zahnan Keyzer of London. (Leaflet printed
on one side only. Size 26 x 23 cm. In the possession of
Mr. Sigm. Seeligmann in Amsterdam, who kindly copied
it for me.)
"iK'y p .D'3"i:;*nn nnina ^mnn .D'-^naro .O'lnnan nx '•Nn nnx
/B'23 Ti'' -nx ■'J3 .D^a^ann wm^n .mvD!? mcy c*^k^ pi .njL"D^
D^^nn .D"'N-i'i n'^'b^ "•'i^js' nx nn:b .nn>nnivrD3 nn^yt:' .id
Sn^n pDn in po .□.t:''ji:i nm nT3N* .nnTin^ax ^y □"•n^sDci
'nDDi p!? ."iji ppr '3 DJ1 13-n '•d i^y ly:^ ni:n .u^ '•i' idk
nr^n mnn iu3^ .Qnvo*j' pior^ mi' i'y nvni? .anmn n^x
.'^n^S:^ nr^p ni^S 'n jn p:**^^ n"an ansD pnyn
n''-iinD nSnnh Dcj'i' ^1)^2 DD-ii2?rn hi:n px:n pnNn mo ^y
TI33 inm:D ;nDn nn
*Tiy piay^ x^ 3x"ik'"'3 n^o nn no .Dnnon m: -i3iy "-jn hp
in^c'oo nnn my ij^c'' n^ .1^3•>^• nnn nxTm nanxn nyncn ijs*v
iiy Drn:^ n^ .Dyn n?o N^n ."n n^-in D\xvro nim:D >d ""^y
'i:p Ty -Iw':d .nanx inn'' .1:2 3mx 3X3 .npnvi dsc'd nniixa
n:i::' .d^w"^ 3io nonai oscon did^i nn^mmy nxn .n'\JD^
.;ox;_yn .D^xon
n3 XVD^ TJ'X T'y K'^n :^^31x^7;:3 3ix3D t^M !|X1]X^ nnx
.133^ .TV^^'S ^^ .T'"i3"j' noix no ^x ?m3x tj'x □3n3 c^x
en D'vj' Dbi3 viryoi ino3n nt'x u'n m3X'^' .i^nxL^n noi .n^
?ioyi imy nniD^
HEBREW ELEGY 26 1
Nin .D'TDni? nnij:n o "ib bv ^ni^yna /nt:n3 "avj* nns D:r:N'
nsT ab n}2'c^ .n-n* ns:^ n ncs obiyn "n nn my .■'nn:Nn m^pT
proi .irniwSDCD i:*j:nr nr .^^:"i nnr:c'a n^n^ nv:^ ,nvc'i 3Viy Dcn
pnv' p"n :D*'nni men nu ics* "n^ ti3:i .lyK's:
i"^'^ nrp nrb n"D p
-iT'P nr^^ '-I p p7T n"an anao pnyn
.nu3 "inmjo
nn3:ni Twr^ '\'-i)'\2 pn^'i hn:n oa-i no "d .^xni^n:! nu3 n?^
ny-i3 i^D^i nmcn n-a^in on D^yin nyn on^ px irs inv3 .loya
non D-yin dqic^'i t^ Dr6 pN ncN oy p .nrn^ non pj-id .xo^*m
niD i>y N^ bx .nvyno ^:n nsr by .xnbi nxvb D'^ynv "nbn ima
.310 iboc' 'f-iN ba wan xn inoc^j bin .no idi: pt ^3 .pn^n
nb)]}2 'n irm my o .}*CNn:i prnn: p by .inpnY ns bs^ dc'I
.nrp fobr p"pT .imy nyai i^nya mu pbo' d::' ncx .snn
N-ipD 2t:*n n?::b .D^^ax nry^bx ^nx ':2 .DD^ab ivoni iprn
D3'nibN'j'0D DD b:i2 D^riN' i^a^ "n nr ni^rm .ddmo^ ^3 nio:i nijro
DDt: n"3 DTnot'DiS na ir"'p Dm3N p'n D3in mbNCc^i
.P'sb pNl pin pn
Translation.
On seeing these writings of the two worthy youths, the
one ten, the other thirteen years of age, sons of my beloved
brother — what they wrote as consolation for their brethren
who mourn their loss, the loss of the multitude (caused) by
the death of their leader, the High I'riest David their
Kabbi, my heart spoke to me; Train up the youth in the
way he should go and even when he is old he will not
depart from it (I'rov. 22. 6), I have had, therefore, these
word.'; printed, so th.it the)' may be inscribed on the tables
262 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
of their hearts and in honour of the above-named pleasing
youths.
Copy of the writing of the youth Isaac, son of Lazar
Keyzer :
London, Tuesday, 24th Kislev, 5552.
On the death of the great Rabbi, famous in his genera-
tion, R. David the Priest, may he rest in peace.
A sound of crying is heard, bitter waih'ng.
David, King of Israel, is dead, his flock will no more
be led by him, who tended them with love and piety, no
more will they be under his rule on the quiet waters where
they found the blessings of God. Their Shepherd is dead.
He will not lead them any more on the paths of right and
charity. As a father loves his son, his beloved, so he loved
them ; as the eagle watches his nest, so he guarded them.
He saw their failings and reproached them in justice and
kindness. He was averse to sinners, (and still) he was
their true friend.
Woe to thee, London ! Is there a pain like thine ?
Is there a town in which is to be found a wise like the one
thou didst lose ? To what shall I compare thy hurt, what
was thy sin that such has befallen thee? What was thy
transgression that thou didst lose a man whose wisdom
and deeds were all devoted solely to the welfare of his
congregation of his people ?
However, on consideration I find consolation (in the
thought) that to the righteous death is the real Good. For
David yet lives in the world where he will live for ever,
where he will not see cither violence or sin and sorrow,
for ever will he live in joy! This may console us in our
pain, in the sorrow of our soul, and let us bless the Almighty
in whose hand is death and life.
Isaac, son of Lazar Keyzer.
HEBREW ELEGY 263
Copy of the writing of Zalman, son of R. Lazar Keyzer.
Tuesday, 24th Kislev, 5552.
On the death of the great Rabbi, famous in his genera-
tion, R. David the Priest, &c.
Glory has left Israel, as their great Rabbi, the righteous
of his generation, the elect one of his people — is dead.
Like sheep without a shepherd, which wander in the desert
and perish of hunger and thirst, a prey to the beasts — so
is a people without a leader and judge erring on the way
(of life) not knowing where to come and where to go. For
this I mourn, but not for the death of the righteous man,
as only his body is dead, but his soul has arrived in a land
where everything is good, there he will reap the fruit of his
piety. Let us be strong and brave therefore— our Rabbi
yet lives in the Eternal world (coming world), there he
will be a good intercessor for us and for his community.
Zalman Keyzer.
Be strong and of good courage you sons of my brother
Lleazar, your father, learn well Torah, Mishna, and Talmud
all your lives. Then God will bless you in everything
according to your own wishes and the wish of your uncle,
Abraham Keyzer.
Amsterdam, 22 Tcbcth, 5552.
264 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
APPENDIX IX
MS. Adlcr 235i.
Recto, pp. 1-60. Account of a firm of polishers, Abraham
Michel and L. I. Abrahams. The items are written in
a clear, careful hand, and show the cost of materials,
labour, and ' profifet '. The yearly account for 1 803 closes
on p. 60 with a profit of £509 12s. io\d., of which L. A.'s
share is £169 17^. J^d.
The pages verso were used by R. Solomon Hirschel
as book of records for authorizations he gave to Shohetim.
Page 1, verso, contains the undertaking which every appli-
cant had to sign before being authorized by the Rabbi.
It reads :
I. rhip )b ^^ yi3p umc' t-'^K' Dipm v^nz'n i6^ n^ nvpn Tin^
-iiDN^K' pr ^31 "'ovy^ i^-'DN nV inji^ p"pi n"aK "jhd
I'b f\2 nypn "Tinj b"^n ^3 bv s'pin nNisi^ x"3 dj^»
pnx -i"-iinr:3 N"xb ^i^•D 'ixj n> |n:i^ p"p na p"Di'
Moses Aaron ^rxn
Aw/ (?/ Shochctim auiJiorized.
Page I b.
2. Zevi Hirsch b. Solomon of Simiatel (signed 'Mr. Hart
Bideficld '). i Heshv. 5583. Bidefield.
3. Moses b. Benjamin. 17 Heshv. 5583.
4. Nahman b. Z. the Levite (S. Newman, Leeds). 34 Sivan,
5583. Leeds.
MS. ABLER 2261 265
5. Jonah b. Menahem,^'^^ called Jonas Levy. 15 Shebat,
5583. Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.
6. Solomon Israel Hornstein (' Mr. H. Solomon Horinstein
in Plymouth ' signed in English). 25 Sivan, ^S^3-
Plymouth.
7. Simon b. Jehiel Sofer (Engl, signature:) ^^^"^ Simion
Jonas. 21 Tammuz, 5583.
Page 2 a.
8. Hayyim b. Rabbi Isachar. i Ab, 5583.
9. A Shohet in Chatham (letter to the same for not
obeying the rules) dated : 17 Ab, 5583.
Page 3 a.
10. Michael Zalman Pollack. 26 Ab, 5583. Plymouth.
11. Judah Leb. b. Mordecai. 5 Elul, 55^'^- Norwich
12. Falk Neumegen. 28 Kislev, 5584. Highgate.
Page 3 b.
13. Abraham b. Shcrage Feivish of Semija (N"''»DyD).
22 Kislev, 5584. Leeds.
14. Abraham b. Moses Ncugass. 9 Tcbet, 5584.
j^. Michael Elijah b. A. of Rawitsch. 11 Sivan, 5584.
16. Samuel b. Michael. 4 Tammuz, 5584.
Page 4 a.
J 7. Zccv Wolf b. M. 8 Tammuz, 5584.
18. Joseph Benjamin P^ishmongcr, High .St., Worcester.
•"' July. .10^4 A. M. Worcester (luigl.).
'"• Tilt entry reads : I Jonas Levy from Exeter, Devonshire, livinp; at
Cincinnati, State of Ohio United Stales of Aint-rica, acknowlciif;e liial I iiave
given my hand to the rules mentioned on the otiier side. 3Bpn DPUD ]2 HJI*
D2'J ID. 'Jonas Levy, Dirrect for Phillip Symonds Cincinnati, State of
Ohio, United States of America.'
'"•* The English signatures will in the following be marked by (Engl.).
D T
266 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
19. Zevi Hirsch b. Rabbi David of Bialistock. 17 Tanimuz,
5584-
Page 4 b.
,20. Eliezer ("ipo .... 3 2\"^ ?). i Ab, 5584.
21. Nathan b. Mcir.^^o First day of Sclihot, 5584. Bedford.
Page 5 a.
22. Judah Leb. b. K. (^'^1 ?"JD2'b n-n.T). 15 Kislev, 5585.
23. Moses b. Zevi Hirsch. 23 Tebet, 5585. Yarmouth.
24. Jacob Koppel b. D. K. (Engl. ' Jacob Koppel Hyman ').
35th day of Omer. Cheltenham.
Page 5 b.
25. Moses b. Leb Deutz (Moses Levy) of Frankfort on
Main. 37th day of Omer, 5585. Dover.
26. Jehiel Michael b. Abraham. 7 Heshvan, 5586.
27. Jacob Kish"^ (v^p 3nn ipv). 7 Heshvan, 5586. Not-
tingham.
28. Benjamin b. Menahem. 13 Kislev, 5586. Brighton.
29. M. Michael (Engl.). Glasgow.
Page 6 a.
30. Simon b. Ber ^"3 (Engl. 'Simon Campl.'). 12 Teb.
55^6.
31. Jonathan b. Rabbi Isachar. 11 Shebat, 5586.^^'-
32. Joseph Abraham b. A. 21 Adar I, 5586. Bristol.
33. Joseph Goldman. Dartmouth.
190 »i gave my hand in SJD nVpH to the Revd. Dr. Herschell, that
I will abide with above mentioned Obligation to keep to his orders. Should
I hereafter infringe on them I shall consider myself PIDD to our Religious
orders.' Sighned by me this day,
"' Added : ' b":D Vi^ "13 TIT DnS)^ Nottingham.'
MS. ADLER 2261 267
34. Alexander b. Nathan (English : Alexander Jacobs).
29 March, 5586 (1826).
^j. Michael Mordecai b. Nissan. 14 Tammuz, 5586.
^6. Eliezer Lezer b. Mordecai of Lissa. 14 Tammuz, 5586.
^j. Abraham b. Joseph. 10 Ab, 5586.
38. Salomon Zalman b. A(kiba?) from Saniekova (Carni-
kow?) yiisp'JXtt'D v"l3 p^T n?:^Ey (Engl. Solomon
Sternburgh Glasgow). 16 Ab, 5586. Glasgow.
Page 7 a.
39. Eisik (of) Tlirkheim. 15 Ab, 5586.
40. L. A. Samson (Engl.). 15 Ab, 5586.
41. Zevi Hirsch b. Solomon Heilprin. 27 Ab, 5586.
42. Israel Elijah b. Dov Ber of ''ViiX2"'3y-i3 . 5 Heshv. 5587.
43. Meir Jacob b. Benjamin Benas (:^••':•'''3). 10 Kisl. 5587.
44. Meir b. Rabbi Isaac Statthagen. 28 Elul, 5587.
Page 7 b.
45. Simon b. Rabbi Jacob Lcb. 2 Heshv. 5588.^^^
Page 8 a.
46. Michael Levi b. R. S. Sofcr of Carnikau. 24 Heshv.
47. Judah Leb. b. Isahar Levi. 13 Kisl. 5.^88.
48. ' nephew of Simon, he forgot to sign' (R. Solomon's
hand).
49. Mr. W.Abrahams, 'von Deemens(!) Land '.'^* (No date.)
'" Authorized as "lp30 porclicr ; in the Rabbi's handwriting is added
^o'j'o xini nam nrnn 1^ f^i i:pt rh': vh b":n pvoir '-i ;nDr^.
'•• Mis declaration reads: ' I have given mj' h.ind to the Rcvd. Snionion
Ilirsehcie to abide by certain rules vvliich he laid down to me as I am tu kill
'1 2
268 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
50. Alexander b. EHezcr. Hanuccah, 5588. Exeter.
51. Benjamin b. Rabbi Leb of Hungary. 14 Elul, 5588.
52. Jehiel b. R. Nathan. 24 Elul, 5588.
^^. Meir b. Samuel, ist day of Holhamoed Succoth, 5589.
54. Arjch b. Jacob (signs as follows : ' pn in Jamicar '
[Jamaica]). 5 Jan. 5589.
Page 9 a.
^^, Abraham b. David Berliner.
^6. Gabriel b. — 47th day of Omer, 5589. Portsmouth.
57. Jacob b. Meir. 14 Sivan, 5589.
58. Meir b. Rabbi Judah l^bu^w* (?). npy p"D'y, 5589.
Swansea.
Page 9 b.
59. Zeev Wolf b. Rabbi B. of Biale. 20 Heshvan, 5590.
60. Meir Solomon Zalman b. Aryeh Leb of Wladova.
20 Kislev. 5590.
61. Meyer Lyon of nDDy{i'D"'D (Engl.). Chichester.
62. Moses b. Jonah, son-in-law to Mr. Simon. 19 Omer,
5590 (Engl.).
Page 10 a.
6^. Abraham b. Isaac Levi (' the particulars concerning
Gloster I and my father abide by. A. Levy.')
19 Omer 5590 (Engl.). Gloucester.
64. Isaac b. Jacob Wolf. 13 Sivan, 5590.
65. Michael Levi b. M. 13 Ab, 5590.
66. Jacob of Copenhagen (n'pD n'oa apy). 5 Tishri, 5591.
poultry.' Van Diemen's Land was the name of the Australian Island
Tasmania before the year 1856.
MS. ADLER 2261 269
Page 10 b.
d']. Moses b. Hayyim Sachs (Engl. ' Moritz Sachs Dnitr
nymujypn 'j. 6 Shevat, 5591. Canterbury.
68. Abraham b. Rabbi Moses Isaac, Rabbi of Samlin
(p^csr p"n n3"N pn:;' nc'o nfo mnn omax p^n, A.
Rozenbaum). 14 Omer, 5591.
69. Jacob b. Meir (Engl.: I. Isaac x\::l'''^-:h t:mc'). 20
Omer, 5591. Brighton.
70. Isaac b. Samuel. 34 Omer. . . . (Engl.)
Page I r a.
71. Moses b. Joel (n?Diy!' (!)d\s3-in). 40 Omer, 5591.
Edinburgh.
72. Michael Elijah b. J. of Ravvitsch. 42 Omer, 5591.
73. Nathan b. Gcdaljah.
74. Koppcl b. Rabbi Perez Levi. 2 Tarn.
75. Simon b. Jacob ben S. ben A. of Wreschcn. 5 Tarn.
5591-
76. Israel Elijah b. Rabbi Uov Ber. Dms 'T, 5591.
77. l':phraim Arjch b. Meir Moses (Engl. : ' l<:i)hraiin Moses
in Scarb--" for my uncle Jacobs'). 23 ]':iul, 5,'-,9i.
Scarborough.
Page I I b.
78. Nahmaii b. Kabbi Sinilia ^TpDO.
79. Zalman Rosenthal. 10 I leshvan, .'5.'592.
80. Aaron b. A. (I'.ngl. : ' Aron Abrahams '). i3licshvan,
5;";92. Yarmouth.
81. J(jscph b. Asher (Engl.). 22 April, 5593.
270 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Page 12 a.
82. Solomon Platura (1"^'^ n-j'30 nYino p xniUN^D n^b^).
20 Ab, 5593. Leeds (' with Mr. Davis').
83. Judah b. Joseph Levy (Engl. : Israel Joseph). 20 Aug.
5593-
84. Lewis Levy. 13 Elul, 5593. Bedford.
Page 12 b.
85. Judah Leb. b. M. Leb. NT1 's 'l, 5594.
86. Hirsch b. Abraham Zevi of Gallin. 8 Adar II, 5594.
87. Moses Landau of Krakau (added pnno nxn x''i*in^ D31.
Engl. : Moses Lando-Kentcrbury). 3 Sivan. 5594.
Canterbury.
88. Alex"" Cohen. 5 Aug. 5594 (Engl.).
Page 13 a.
89. Eliezer b. Sam. Cohen.
90. Israel Joseph (Minz?),
91. A. ben Zeev (in R. Solomon Hirschell's hand : (Hebr.)
of Bialistock, called also Elijah Schneider). 21 Elul,
5594-
92. Judah Leb of Witas in Moldavia (note: 'He has been
in America'). 4 Heshvan, 5595.
93. Baruch b. Rabbi Abraham. 7 Heshvan, 5595.
Page 1 3 b.
94. Leb b. Simon the Levite (Engl. : Lewis Simon), i Dec,
5595-
95. Menahem b. Hanok. 26 Shebat, 5595.
96. Jesaiah Zeev of Pitschow. 9 Nisan, 5595.
iMS. ADLER 2261 271
Page 14 a.
97. Solomon Zalmaii b. Eliezcr Scliotlcnder, Dayyan in
Wreschen.
98. Nathan b. Rabbi Gerson. 23 Shebat, 5596.
99. Zalman Rosental. 3 Adar, 5596.
ICO. Judah b. Jacob, i Ijjar, 5596.
loi. Nisan b. Michael Abraham of Breslau. 4 Ijjar, 5596.
Page 14 b.
102. Benjamin Berlin. 14 Tammuz, 5596.
103. Lcb Wolf b. Rabbi Juda Sternberg. ist day of
Holhamoed Succot, 5597.
104. Petahjah b. Isachar Bcr, istday of Holhamoed Succot,
5597-
105. Shmerl b. Rabbi Abraham Katzenellenbogen. aj
Heshvan, 5597.
106. Michael Simon Nuernberg. 10 Adar I, 5597.
Page 15 a.
107. Mordecai b. Rabbi Moses Zevi. 10 Ijjar, 5597.
ioH. Jesajah Zeev of Pintschow. 1 Tammuz, 5597.
109. Joseph b. R. . . . 20 Elul, 5597.
no. Moses b. Zevi Hirsch Lissenhcim of Schocnlankc.
9 Tammuz, 5598.
111. Joseph Caro. lo^lul, 5598.
Page I 5 b.
112. Abraham Sisman (Lipnum ?j b. Joseph Eppelman.
4 Kislev, 5599.
113. Jacob Lcb b. Rabbi Mose (in Rabbi Sol. II. 's hand:
'he went to Greenwich'). 1 Nisan, 5599.
114. Moses b. Joel. 9 Tammuz, 5599.
272 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
115. Juda Leb b. Nissan (nephew of R. Jacob of Sunder-
land) (R. Sol. H.'s hand : * The address of R. Jacob
is : Mr. Jacob Joseph, High St., Sunderland ').
23 Heshvan, 5600.
116. Nathan b. Joseph the Cohanite, Blitz (he is Shohet to
Mr. Mayer). 4 Ijjar, 5600.
Page 16 a.
117. Aryeh Zeev b. Rabbi Juda Sternberg. 10 Sivan,
5600.
118. Moses Judah b. Rabbi Noah, nbi:' 'a ":, 5600.
119. Joshua Ezekiel Levi. 4 Tammuz, 5600.
120. Nathan Cohn. 21 Tammuz, 5600.
Page 16 b.
121. Joseph Caro. 3 Ab. Newcastle.
122. Shmerl b. Rabbi Abraham Katzenellenbogen.
123. Jehiel b. Rabbi Nathan.
124. Judah Leb b. . . . Fraenkel. 11 Elul, 5600.
125. Samuel b. Hayyim, Hazan in Manchester. 11 Elul,
5600.
126. Michael Zevi b. Simon (Engl.: M- H. Simonson).
25 Shevat, 5601.
127. Moses b. Meir C'z. 5 Tammuz, 5601.
Page 1 7 a.
128. Simha b. D. Caro of Posen. 29 Tammuz, 5601.
129. Dov Ber b. Isaac. 25 Ab, 5601.
130. David b. S. M. the Levite of Kalish. 19 Shebat, 5602
131. Isaac Jacob b. Rabbi A. the Cohanite (added : nh^ D3
D-ii£Dpx3 Dinc^). 13 Adar, 5602.
MS. ADLER 2261 273
Page 1 7 b.
132. Mose Kosk (possibly Falk), 24th of Omer, 5602.
133. Raphael b. Rabbi Issachar Ber. 18 Ab, 5602.
134. Mose Rabbinowitch the Cohen. 26 Ab, 5602.
135. Michael Simon b. M. Niirnberg. 17 Elul.
Page 18 a.
136. Shemarjah David Randel (?). 4th day of Selihot, 5603.
137. Joseph b. B. of F. . .8 (Freistadt?). 17 Elul, 5603.
138. Eliezcr b. R. Simon. 24 Elul, 5603.
139. Abraham b. Rabbi Zeril. Day after Succot, 5605.
140. Issachar b. Eliczer. 23 Heshvan, 5605.
141. Jacob Isaac the Cohanite. 20 Shevat, 5605.
J 42. Edward Himes. 17 March, 5605.^^^
143. Michael Zevi b. Rabbi S. 48 Omer, 5605. Hazan
in Manchester.
144. Zevi Hirsch b. Rabbi Isaac of Sklow. 11 Ab, 5605.
14 J. liaruch b. Rabbi Abraham. 11 Ab, 5605. Sliohet
of the New Synagogue in Manchester.
Page 24 a.
146. Wolf b . , . 31st day of Omer, 5587.
J47. Jo.scph Kalish, beadle of the Synagogue in Alio Street
(un'jD N'^ixn). 12 Sivan, 5587.
"* * I hereby certify that I liave this day received the sanction of the
Iht/i Din for to slay cattle for Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid individually only,
and should my engagement with the same cease this permission will be
discontinued by them, for whirli I declare hereby my solemn religious
obligation. Also to adhere to tlir rules of a LDHIB', viz. not to shave nor
to drink Wine from the D*13 unless for illness, and as soon as the Beth Din
orders me not to kill I must lay down my knife, for vvliirli I hereby give my
liand !|2 nV*pn. sign< d by myself. Edward Himes.'
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS
Additional Notes to Part I.
Page I (/(2^., N. S., IX, p. 103).
The first Rabbi of the Ashkenazim in London, R. Judah Leb
b. Efraim Anshel, was known by the name of Hamburger. His
signature to the approbation he gave for the edition of Pirke
de Rabbi Eliezer, Amsterdam, 1708, i2mo, is as follows: NTin^
inSia ann n:^ n"-iy Ns"n3 nh-'k^o Nni'D ij^ n^c^ "ni Nai^n^
P"d^ "ij1 iDHl- This edition was arranged by R. Moseh Gomes
Mesquita, who later became Haham in London, where he died
on May 8, 1751 (cp. Gaster, History of Bevis Marks, p. 130).
Rabbi Judah Leb was already in 1700 in Rotterdam, and not
as stated by me (p. i) in 1705. He signs an approbation to the
Menorath Hamaor, ed. Amsterdam, 1700, 8vo, on the 30th of
Shebat of that year. I am indebted to my friend Mr. Sigm.
Seeligmann for calling my attention to this, as well as for the
following: In the 'Kabronim Regel', a manuscript in the
possession of the Amsterdam community, containing records of
burials, the following two entries are to be found : "n"n"iO 3"in
p"i?a ^"3^< 'mk' "imnon ^'vr V^'za. nr'x onss n"iD2 yh ntiiT
*i"jDS |ND pn ''HI nyn-is^in bv S"n "ins* n"'' "lap: n"-i. Rabbi
Judah Leb died, according to this, on 14 Adar, 1720. Isaac,
son of R. Judah Leb, died in Amsterdam, 3rd Nisan, 17 14.
The entry referring to him reads : -|"-iinD a"in p \>V^^ pnV n"o3
"11:2: Dn-ivDwS-i n"3x Nn nmp?D "'n*ir -innr:n ^'vr yh Nnin*
nyaiN^iD ^y n'yn p^j "n inin?o Dvn inpji p-] "j ^'^2. Cp.
also E. Italic, Geschiedenis d. Isr. Gem. te jRolterdam (1907),
pp. 36-7.
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS 275
Rabbi Aryeh Leb b. Saul of Atnsterda?n.
Page 3 {JQR., IX, p. 105).
The Beth-Hamidrash (London), MS. No. 24, contains Responsa
and Talmudic novellae by R. Aryeh Leb, father of Rabbi Zevi
Hirschel Lewin. Among his correspondents we find the names :
Rabbi Herz Pintschow (pp. 2 a, 37 a, 38 a), R. Isaac Levi of Apta
(p. 37 a), the Beth-Din of Venice (pp. 41 a-48 a), the communities
of Briesen (xD-iab ^r\l^T\ Ttr'S nr, p. 49 a), of Strassburg in East
Prussia, and Koziv in Poland (p. 23 a). R. Zevi Hirsch asks his
father why at Habdalah Service at the conclusion of Sabbath the
blessing of D'D'J'a ^ro N"in is said when smelling the scent-box
filled with spice and cinnamon, while n"'r:cn ivy N113 would be
the proper form (p. 33 b, middle). The Responsum dealing with
the question from the Beth-Din of Koziv (p. 23 a) mentioned
above, quotes verbatim a document nny n'"'^: by that Beth-Din
relating to the death of a certain Jacob Cohen, whose body was
found torn to pieces and brought to Abraham Hajjim, the over-
seer of the Hevrah-Kadisha (Holy-Society, i. e. Burial-Society)
of Strassburg. The signatories to the document are :
Jckutiel Zalman Epstein was for some time Dayan in Lcmberg,
and as this document is dated n^"T\ Dmo "i"T (24 Ab 488=1728),
he probably went to Koziv for the purpose of presiding at the
lieth-Din, as at that time he was acting as Dayan in Lcmberg ;
cp. Buber, 05^ T':n, p. 124. Important is also the Responsum to
Venice. The community of Rovigo had lost their Rabbi, and
a certain young scholar, engaged to the daughter of Rabbi
Pacifico, a member of the Rabbinate of Venice, tried to usurp
the position as Ral)bi of Rovigo with the connivance of his
prospective father-in-law, I ml to the dis[)Icasiirc of the greater
part of the community of Rovigo itself, 'llic rarnassim : Joseph
ben Mose, Ezekiel Aaron Lu/atto, Jeremiah Michael b, Samuel
Solomon Concili address a letter to the Rabbinate of Venice,
276 RARRINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
which, in turn, forwards a copy of the same as supplement to
their letter to Rabbi Aryeh Leb of Amsterdam. Both letters
are copied in toto. The Venice Rabbis sign as follows :
(1744) p"d^ n^D "j Dn^ix ipy^ nn ^rT\\
n"n^T njx"'^JNn3in inn no33 nob::' ^3S (i)
an^D n"n^r n\s)D nn"niD3 in^r hd^c' Ty^'n (2)
n"n^r jn^n n'L;'o n"-ini»Dn nn d^d: (3)
n"n^r Dx^^^b i?NiJDy N"xb 3py> n^yvn (4)
T'y^ I'ln NV '•iSi '•n 2py ni"rD3 mn
.Dinnn ^y n3 n^ 3"y
The same names, with addition of Isaac b. Asher Pacifico,
Solomon b. Moses Halevi Minzi, and Solomon b. David Altaras,
are to be found in another document of the Venice Beth- Din in
MS. Beth-Hamidrash, No. 26, fol. 141 b. Omitted is there only
Jacob Belilias {j^. (Compare also approbations from Venice
Rabbinate to rr\\Tb :''D n"l1DD, Firenze, 1750, and mvo miyo 'd,
Venice, 1791.) To conclude w'e reproduce the text and transla-
tion of a fragment of a most pathetic letter of Rabbi Aryeh Leb
to some eminent Rabbi, possibly his father or his father-in-law,
the Haham Zevi. Where the letter was written is difficult, if not
impossible, to ascertain : it seems likely that he wrote it even
before he was Rabbi of Reisha (Rzezow). The fragment was
found by me between the pages of Beth-Ham. MS. No. 26.
x"y
Ds xin ^^ ^3 nny yh nx \r\i^ ""3 ny^ '':nx tiDV
iiryi X3 r\'^''z''\'r\ !"'2x ■'nx pT-^M TO!:iT\ a^ nn^^ '2 loyi vn^x
D^nn D'o^ na ■'nnc'^ X3 njn ^Ji'sj ^^cina nvni' ^>i^r\ ^x icmn
N^3 no^n x^3 nnin xb na^ 2-c>v ^3i:x ^3 )*2n onn '•i' px nt^-N
mm ho3 Dn3 :^"' ■'3 r\ir\)ii. h^ nmo^n miyo n^na x^3 nniu
na "'^lu'-m mn ^xn did "'n''*;:'y nii'x ■'tryo c'lanx ••3 'nnyn n^sm
jn D^22^ nn\T it^'xro ni^yo n".ry ""K^dj mn^ ^3 ^"na Tivp
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS 277
n"y
ccnai nrzm ■nayij/jy^D"'! ^Jvyi nnt:'' nrvn 'nt* not ns piK'i
21 HNT" ny fi'^DV V3C' ^y n^o^i Hr '':nN ')b'^"\ yzn '•aa^ tj'n'3
i^iny ^Niu^ trnp riNi 'n ns lyr" n^ia lynr y"in lynn b'^ii nincK'
.2^^ 'nx nny^in m^nyn
Translation.
Recto.
. . . may you my master continue (to be kind to me) when
you have proved the heart of your servant and found it sound
and in harmony with God and His people. My words flow from
the depths of my heart. Oh ! Father, Father, do help and assist
me in your kindness this time to uplift my soul. See, I have now
lived here for a long time days in which I have no pleasure, for
I live here alone, without Torah and wisdom, without happiness
and blessing, full of (mental) sufferings caused by being obliged
to neglect the study of the Torah, prayer and worship. When
I look back upon the work I did before I came here and compare
it with my idleness here, I am sick of life, for my soul has been
dragged down ten degrees in comparison to what I was before —
be it as far as Torah and wisdom ....
Verso.
May He, who dwells in Eternity, be my Help, purify my
thoughts and assist me to serve Him in truth and piety according
to the wishes of my heart. May Peace be with You, my Master,
may your days be prolonged and may you yet see many joyful
days, have pleasure from your children and grandchildren, they
all shall ' know the I>ord and praise the Holy One of Israel '.
This is the prayer of your worm (= humble servant).
Arych Leb.
278 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Rabbi Zevi Hirsch in London.
To page 5 UQ.R-. IX, p. 109).
The negotiations with R. Zevi Hirsch must have lasted some
time before his arrival in London. Leb Norden, a learned man
of great influence in the community, writes to the Rabbi's brother,
R. Saul of Amsterdam, complaining why his brother refused to
come in the previous year. ' Had he not pushed us away with
both hands last year he would, by now, be peacefully settled here
and would have saved me also a lot of trouble during this year.
AVe are now awaiting your answer so as to send the Rabbinical
letter (contract of appointment) and hasten his coming here.'
This letter — which is copied in the MS. Beth-Hamidrash, London,
No. 26, fol. 162 B, and the Hebrew text of which we print here-
after— reveals also the reasons for R. Zevi Hirsch's refusal to
accept the London post. ' If the Ashkenazi Shohetim slaughter
also for the use of the Sephardim they must observe the laws and
customs of Shehita of both sides, whichever are the strictest,'
said the Rabbi. R. Leb Norden argues against this point from
the Talmudical standpoint. He was a sound Hebrew scholar,
who, born in Amsterdam, came with his father Zalman to London,
but still kept in touch with continental scholars. Jacob Emden
on his visit to London became very friendly with him, and
several letters of Norden and Responsa by Jacob Emden to him
are printed in the latter's work ^'ay n?''KL**. In his autobiography
Emden relates that Leb and his brother Reuben, the sons of
Zalman Norden, dealt in gold and precious stones ("ISD n^'JO,
p. 94), that Leb sent him goods for sale to Altona, and by the
profits derived therefrom Emden was able to keep his family for
some years until they became estranged (see ibid., pp. 146, 164,
181). It is not unlikely that Leb Norden's friendship with Emden
at the time induced him to further the appointment of a member
of Haham Zevi's family as Rabbi of the Ashkenazim in London.
It appears that, owing to the Shehita dispute in the Sephardi com-
munity, which had lasted for some four or five years previous to
R.Zevi Hirsch's arrival in London, many of the Sephardim preferred
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS^ 279
to eat meat killed by Ashkenazi Shohetim. The Shehita dispute
in question has been dealt with in my booklet 'Jacob Kimchi
and Shalom Buzaglo ', but for the easier understanding of Norden's
letter I will only mention that R. Hajjim Albahali, a Sephardi
Shohet, accused the other Shohetim of transgressing the rules
of Bedikah (examination of inner parts of the animal, especially
the lungs). He was supported by a scholar named Jacob
Kimchi, who wrote a book nnitrni n^NL", in which he pleads
Albahali's cause. Azulai in his lately published itinerary (see
later) indicates that they had quite a large following in the
Sephardi community. R. Zevi Hirsch was probably aware of
the state of affairs among the Sephardim and stipulated that the
Ashkenazi Shohetim, if they kill also for the Sephardi community,
must observe their rules where these are stricter, and he did this
in order to prevent further strife. Norden's letter to R. Saul
of Amsterdam seems to have had effect, and R. Zevi Hirsch
Lewin came to London. The Shehita dispute lasted for a little
while longer, but died down eventually, R. Hirschel being
prevented by his Parnassim to take any part in the matter.
Azulai mentions it in his itinerary 2)12 hyJD, which was partly
published in Livorno in 1789, and has lately been reprinted in
more extensive form by the Mekize Nirdamim Society. He was
in London in the year 1755, a year before R. Zevi Hirsch
Lcwin's arrival in London, and his notes throw light on the
communal conditions of the Sephardim. Although he does not
mention anything about the Ashkenazi community, I think the
passage of sufficient interest for London Jewry, and give the
translation of his notes after R. Leb Norden's letter.
Letter of K. Leb A'orden, of London, to Chief Rabbi Saul b. Aryeh
Leb of Amsterdam.
MS. IJcth-lIamidr. No. 26, fol. 162 h (middle).
':n ^vxh in:i^D i'-ij inni: yh "10 x^'^ts ^:3-in nnso pnvn
on' 'nr3 ijnix nmir hh mnn "tj'n* )•"' T\r\ -imi^ y:i:n
nmu r n:-j' ':oo y:iD ''m nni:D3 ''n nnj n-iayn nrj* nu^ ;nvoi
28o RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Nio o'nx I'JN pN:n nnnS ,nmo^ jn^^ inx'-a -ino^ ni^nin
3inD^ "b 'm 133 n»x3i inntini? vh^ 3"in3^ nvp Tnvp D3nnNT
Dn-i2D ^jsi? 3"j D"'n3'^N* ^Qmi:' ''•Dmtr nsc' i3n33 nji:' ""jsi? fy
c"iNn ns* p^'3XD pN ^3 .D^n-iDDn nnoin on^ijy bp^ 3'j p3nv
rnxDiom nnnuni 'nvn pnji ^"r hdn^j' nc)!? pnn ,i^ "iioxn i3i
^i? c:'^ . i^N^ i^N lymnc' ^jqd i^no i!?n lyjtDJ n^k' n''3i ^^"3 p3ty
'n•'x■l'u^' na ••33 '3 .ny^n '•jymn^ n"3yDD L"p3b rhr^ 'n^on T"y my
'•'rJ3'L;'x i^ND i^N iyjo3 N^c' iDDD px D^JK' Dno'iTrDNS pjm:
isn ^3'y nn3i pxic^j ^k' Dmiyo bv^ Dn^33 Ijisn^ htd ht 'nnsoi
phpcn?3 n: (dv ^533 'nncDn n"'3 bv 'nnnoti' '•'n35j'N ^'•jy ^^'31)
i:^::' npn^,* ^t?* nsip noan "jsd 'm x^ ds* .oniDDi '•'n3ti's ^cj*
nniD DIN 'NT N^T pan n^cr DipD3 njipi -]^in nnx ^3 '\n nn^tri
nr p33yDi pni» npnv noan '"Jso vcay pn nio^s* ^jni oyDD m^3
n3n3 r\T^ b^ D^Jipn nn on D''::3::'Nnu' ir» nprn nnv .tnii . nr f>y
Dn3ni D''n3Dn(?o) D^yo '':3 bi D''^:nni '••ij'x-in nn-iDDnD 3ivp
-lt^'DX1 "'JDT3 :n3Dn ''n pi) nn!^:?' pi'iprD3 -1303 irxK' no bi (OiK'ni
'""cyD ^»vy3 --^Ni i^N 'nsno '''!?3isn '\'^'''}i on '''rJ3trNn ^3 (niy pny
SN'' nt^D ^i*N p"::'^ b"ip^ iroic' 'ijp^ nn"!?? ijdx 'h nni?'^ -iqdo ps
'^unVki'ij' "b n3D '''D^y^si 'nisDo ^":n b inp^JC 2s*p nx^ bxi
'msDH nnnns '^ij3D's n^ D"'n3't:'Nn nnDin3 d^jhij dj'-x 'mao
Die's sivDvoi na nvi3 m-iDK^oss 12^5 'nik' ^'"id in 3"i dicj' 'nt n^i
iyni3x D'':r^y "n^oni '•Jiw '••ni nr ijy iid^n mnj
fol. 163 a
n'ni *'^j"'''y3 \yt2'\'\ rTnay ji? 3\n> jno nn'^r p"iN3 -i:;»n '"^^'np
-im Nin-^ '':dd nn'-ryo nr n3T zb)3'i^ :h hv m^yn^ in -ijdi!?
Dn3T n3-in nr:x3 b*^-^ ^D"yNi i33 n:^:' "pro nnv :n3 n^snij didid
••63 bm nnniD'D ^in^ n"iD\n^ pi ^on!? 'inwi ii^ oniDx nxD
PwS-^ n"yb:B> csi n^o^ nr •'r::;y!? Tiv-in 133^' noN3i n'3yo '':d^
3^n IN Dn3nn ix-j-i nnvn pnj3 Ij't noN^i' no^ pen i^^n crnsi
prnriN xb |n3 !>3n niid-'N prnnx db' o o'-jn ''J3 ^b^ Dn3n
' x'y N"yp N-in3 n33.
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS 281
pn-ino ^:k 3''y 'di n'2-\ *3 "n Donni 'm nxiina 13^ D:n ^a ^r
yjo^ N^tt' CP3N1 p3J ijy inyT nx 3-ir*^ Si^ n"3yr;i .nro ind
Follows i?.":.! pwn *nN naitiTi.
^. y. Z). Azu/ai's description of his journey to London in 1755
in 31D i^jyo ed. Mekize Nirdaniim {proof).
(5515 = i755)» Ijj'^^ 12, Wednesday niON 's in the evening
at sunset we arrived in the great town of London and I had
trouble until the evening of Thursday to find lodgings in the
house of a Sephardi, whose name is Si(gnor) Aaron Cohen.
Although the place was very small (crammed), but, being a clean
dwelling, honourable people, and as it had also been the abode
of former messengers (from Palestine), I agreed to stay there.
Concerning my mission great \vonders happened to me. While
I was still [on my way here] three of the leading men sent word
to me that I should not come into this town as I would not
achieve anything, especially as the messengers from Safed had
forestalled me, and even they came twice and had to leave
empty-handed. I, however, answered that it was my duty to
go (to London), and I cannot absolve myself from the same.
I rely upon the Lord that He will do what He finds best. And
when I came to the leaders (of the congregation) they had left
the town to enjoy the gardens (= for holidays) and there was
hardly any one (of note) left. I took upon myself to wait
patiently, for there is no better physician than 'Time', and far
be it from me (=1 took care not) to mention anything of my
mission until I had acquired some friends and got information
as to how I should approach these leaders. For, these mighty
men, their hearts are double-faced, their thoughts are not in
accordance with their aj)pearance. And also among the Hahamini
(learned men) of the town I .saw disunion, they speak with abuse
of one another, scorch one another with the heat of their words,
^ U
282 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
and the one would like to swallow the other alive. It is a great
shame (that this should be so) in the eyes of the congregants,
and woe to eyes that have to look at such disgrace of the Torah
and learned men. I looked at my letters of authority as messenger
and found only one and no more, addressed to ' the Haham '.
I asked where the Rosh-Beth-Din or Dayan lived, and they
answered and said : There is no such great man here, we have
no Haham. I said to myself, if that be so and I have no other
letters to great and learned men with me, I might be injuring
my cause more or less by delivering the one letter to either one
or the other of the learned men. I shall keep it, and indeed
it was a good thought given me by God, as this certain
Haham (namely Isaac Nieto) had made enemies of the Dayanim
and the leaders of his congregation, and Praise be unto the
Lord who has not forsaken me in his mercy and helped me
to find favour in the eyes of a few friends. First of all will
I mention (among them) the learned Rabbi Isaac del Vali and
Si{gnor) Pinehas Gomes Serra. There was also the great
scholar Rabbi Jacob Kimhi, son of R. Samuel Kimhi of
Constantinople, and the learned R. Hajjim Albahali, and I
made friends with them. They all said that, with regard to my
mission^ it would be necessary to call the ' great Mahamad ', and
it was usual to convene this meeting at the beginning of the
winter. Already (the previous messenger) R. Massuad Bonan
was obliged to wait here many months until the time of such
meeting, ' and we do not know what to do, but if you will listen
to our advice, go and see Si(gnor) Joseph Salvador, one of the
Parnassim, who has gone to one of the watering-places, who
is of a clear mind (a clever man), and what he says that is
generally done, for he is a powerful man. When this Joseph
returns home, if you will, with God's Help, find favour in his
eyes, he will not rest until he carries your matter through
successfully. When Si(gnor) Joseph Salvador came home I went
to see him and noticed that he was of a clear mind and pure
without any bad (qualities), and I pleaded my cause and the
object of my mission in nice language and with sound arguments.
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS 283
He answered me, ' You know that in this land nothing is done
except with the consent of the majority, it might, however, be
to your advantage if you were to see Signer Franco and Signor
Mendez, they may be of assistance to you,' and then I left him.
This man is very rich and influential ; he arranged a meeting
of the Elders, which I attended. The other Parnassim wanted
to get rid of me without giving anything, but he waived to me
with his hand, as if to say that I should not worry, he being
on my side. I left the meeting, but he persisted and did not
budge until he succeeded to arrange that an extraordinary general
meeting should be called, and the end of it was, that everything
went well and was decided favourably at the general meeting.
Afterwards, through the intervention of Signor Francos, it was,
with the Help of God, decided that Signor Pinehas Gomes-Serra
and Signor Joseph b. Abraham Francos should make a collection
among the Yehidim. After this was done came a letter from the
English Ambassador at Constantinople recommending me to
Signor Francos. Had this letter arrived earlier it would have
made a great difference to my cause, but, even so, it was a great
honour to me in the eyes of the Yehidim (members). Among
the friends I made in London I will mention the Hazan David
Castro, who has a great influence in the community, may God
pay him for his kindness to me. He took me in London to a
great building called the Tower (^iiu). There I saw lions and
an eagle 100 years old, an Indian cat as big as a dog, another
cat which was some cross-breed of a strange animal, also various
other beasts which had to be chained down by iron chains.
I also saw there a hall which must have been, perhaps, 50 yards
long or more, divided into different compartments hung all
round with fire-tubes (rifles) and all sorts of weapons beautifully
arranged as if it were one wall and doors opening out of it.
Similarly there were on all the sides (of the hall) and even from
the roof, hanging down thousands and tens of thousands of
different weapons beautifully arranged according to class, art,
and height. I saw, further, statues of all the I'^nglish kings made
of iron, on iron horses, and looking at ihcin ihey seem to you
U I
284 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
really alive. There are also armours in the greatest variety, all
in proper order, various kinds of guns and cannons captured from
their enemies during the whole time that England exists. Vessels
of all kinds and shapes, some transparent, some especially high
(are also there), and in one room there is a small partition of
iron bars inside of which we were shown the Royal crown and
jewels sparkling in different magnificent colours, the golden cup
out of which the King is anointed, and other royal treasures of
precious stones. All these has seen my eye, wondering and
joyful in the thought that if He gives such rewards to non-Jews,
how much greater will be the glory of His People in times to
come, when the remnants of Israel will see the Messiah of God
shining forth and giving light like the light of the Sun, crowned
with the most holy seven crowns. In London I preached on
Sabbath . . .
' Tammuz 28. Monday of the week * Debarim ' (first portion
of Deuteronomy) we left London and arrived at Dover, a non-
Jewish town (= where no Jews live), on Tuesday after midnight.
' Tammuz 29. Tuesday of ' Debarim ' we left Dover by boat
and arrived at Calais, a non-Jewish town in the kingdom of
France, on the same day towards evening and I remained there,
at Calais, for several days until the post-chaise left for Paris.' . . .
To/QJ?., IX, I and 2, p. 117, note 11.
Azulai in 31D biV^t ed. Livorno, p. i6b, relates that he told
the people of Amsterdam :
iVDpn ab D^jijyni DN^n>oipi> no^ aybv "ijn jothk' nDNn ":>)
' If you will say that the times are hard, why do you not say
so where comedies and pleasures are in question.'
Responsa of Rabbi Zevi Hirsch Lewin.
The Beth-Hamidrash in London has three manuscripts con-
taining Responsa and Talmudic Notes by R. Zevi Hirsch. Owing
to circumstances over which I had no control I was not able
to go through these volumes before the first part of this work
vyas printed. The manuscripts are Nos. 24, 25, and 26 according
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS 285
to the numbers in Neubauer's Catalogue of the Hebrew Afa?iu-
scripts in the Jews' College, London, Oxford, 1886.
MS. No. 24 contains for the most part Responsa and Notes
by R. Zevi Hirsch's father, R. Aryeh Leb of Amsterdam. On
the fly-leaf is the title :
niD^n 'B'n^ni ninVki'ni r\'b^^ "idd
The first note by R. Zevi Hirsch is on p. 22 b, middle,
.y'jn h"\ ps: \vn 'nx p \>V'\^ t^'■l^^ "nv p*n lox
Page 33 b. The question mentioned above in additional
notes to R. Aryeh Leb relating to the blessing of D>^DC^•3 :
.... vb phn t'N-in ^'\n D^oc'a
(Follows R. Aryeh Leb's answer.)
Page 49 a and b have two responsa by R. Z. H. addressed to
.... l"nx^ "'h^ and signed C>Tn '3:; p^n, &c.
Page 64 a. Responsum to Rabbi Reuben of Warburg.
n"3N y'vT pisn n"iD :"nixr:n a-in nmcn ^y ^nacn nt^'N nr
ycN-i nu'D nn"niD DD^iDon mnb ^'i ann ivj-^ nn nuiyii p"p"i
The Responsum is signed on page 66 a :
^naniK' hd i"yi . n"v p"n p"d^ nD"pn fo^: t"3 t:N0i"-i3Sn
.um D'.pcn nin-i 3n3C> n"Dn ^'r t;'"nnD ni"3 n"N y'c' fV^n
Page 77 a. Responsa by R. Solomon Ilirschcl (son cjf
R. Z. H.)
.p's^ n"Dpn h^N V'l jinsNn p"n mn nnirn "nipnyn
Page 78 a: *i''Dpn ^^^N i"i ,n:io^k 'pi :"n nnn nuvj-n
signed on p. 78 b.
jKn^i^ pp"Lin W'\ cn\n *3V ;n"3 nr^^-j- p",-i nsrj ikd ^nDn
286 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Page 91a. Signature of R. Z. Hirsch :
.p"£h r3"pn S^x n"-i ouc^nn^n cn^^ ^nv p"n
MS. No. 25 contains mostly short notes by R. Zevi Hirsch,
mostly marked p12P, in some places p^y? p"lDI^. There are
also several loose slips in the book marked similarly. One of
these reads: maiy JOTHI ninu nnDK^n^^ >sh, ' Forgetfulness
increases as the time passes '. There are only three Responsa
in this manuscript, one to R. Mordecai Banet of Nikolsburg, the
other to his uncle R. Jacob Emden, and one to R. Juda Leb
of Posen, Rabbi in Wusterhausen.
Page 85 a.
nip'^SD nrs* ^y nuc'^p^JD Dyjxn n"in ^:2-in^ ^nac'nc' nr
,r\2 nnxi na nnx 1^ ipsnojc'
Page 125 a.
D2nr3 n": yiv n"nD psjn mn n"D 10 N^'-yi' n^sxo it n^Nty
.nV P'JxmiD i"-iJ N2TV 'i"no ^mnn n"n p^is n:"'i»o "n
Page 127a.
. . . :"n3"in Ya nniL"n i^ xn
.1:3 nnm ^^ b-"- ly ip^nynb '•nM:;i
Page 134 a.
.priDD B'n\n n"io3 n'-i' xnin^ i"d n^no jr^in-mcixii p"pD n^xK'
The most important is MS. No. 26, consisting of 164 pages.
There are likewise notes marked |113P, but the chief contents are
Responsa by R. Zevi Hirsch.
Page 5 a.
linmo ni-^n -n''X-i nit:' t^'iao mc'a p>y ••^a ^nnnn ^:"n b
. . . x^ 'd3 b"? i^D^ n3t:7: ^yn mn nana D>Sb
Page 9 a (middle) apparently vi'ritten in Berlin.
i^yc -1^x0 n"io3 ^:;"'Q iok' '^n nyj jx3^ X3 d^:::' "r -i3y^ nr
. . . 1X3^ nx-^:") T.CDn (?)pim. In the same Responsum he
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS 287
mentions that at one time in the year 1741 he lost all his
possessions by fire while living in Zlatova. n:t^ IND "lC^•N nvn21
N^ "iiDN'^r p"p nani'n 'jd^ 'm il"n ^^d 'p: ^nsv' nayn N"pn
nn ^nir^n n"ya 'npm "a rhv "i^-en py nono ^dd -^ inko
D':nnx d'pdisi nnioi Q"ar:"ii D":^• nsDa nny nyi rxo '•JDhN
1N-IN1 S13 ni'^'n xv: nn ns^i n''^^ nao *nx px li^x nhn
^y n:pn mc'y^ L•'t^•^D '3^ '\ni ^onsD pnn Tino mina D^poiyn
. . . N:n
Page 1 8 a. Responsum to Rabbi Abraham Levi of (Briesen ?),
with reference to a dispute this Rabbi had with his congregation
on account of a divorce case which the Rabbi had declared
illegal, but the woman's friends had obtained a decision from the
Rabbi of Hanover allowing her to re-marry. R Zevi refers to
letters written in this matter by his brother R. Saul of Amsterdam
and by the Rabbi of Cassel. The Responsum was obviously
written in Berlin when R. Zevi was already old and feeble. The
letter begins: Dyn Nt'O Nlt^O "TIX^J D3CNn Dl^t^Tl N130 TIT nnx
NC'N 'D niiD^J 'bv vn njnci nrno -i^yi n^y ^"K^n 'b"ii? X'n nrn
nKTi TxcD d:^x Dn D3 *ry nisi n33 n^ ^3 n: pnno ;'-in^ ^i3dni
^n^is" sb innin nanxi inans i?ni3^ c"d •'Indi-i nm nb'C'" nbvn'
liiNa Dvn ^nnnD n:ni o^iyn mcy m^c*m hdnh jyr^^ n: yijr:)^
01^C'3 niriD^ inv n"2yo n^r^Nn ^DC^. \\'ith real tact R. Zevi
admonishes R. Abraham to take the first step in restoring order
and peace in his congregation, while in a letter which he sends
to the congregation (pages iSb-iga) he warns the leaders to
take care not to hurt the honour of their Rabbi and thus bring
disgrace to the Representative of the Torah in their midst. He
says: nit'yS niKi^ minn iud^ o^rh n^nn ^1:10 oybv ^^^ nnyi
. . . m^CM p)]nb 1L"ENT no ^d
Page 20 b. Responsum concerning a young widow {npjno
1T3n) in which is menti<;ned a decision by R. Joseph Steinhart
of I'Jirth. He signs: 'CniS nDVTD *1V bo TlDV^I inUH D1X3
.p'tb Q'-\pr\ nny: V'c "2 pbia p"p n^ Dninn D":r
288 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Page 35 a. Questions, unfortunately with neither signature
nor date, by a Sephardi Rabbi, probably the Haham in London,
who excuses himself not having answered R. Zevi Hirsch's letter
at once, but he had sent an acknowledgment personally through
his brother Jacob. Follows a Responsum, closing with the words :
'•tt'^i'B'n pDisni |N3n n^:3in o^hijn nmso ^jk' b]} "imn n:D ••nni
Page 40 a (middle) we find notes to Azulai's Dvnjn D*C* :
"jw'n Disnn dn "2 nw '<:^b pN ip^nyon myn) :n"y n'j sit
"JD-'D .3"y x"j ^12 f?rh ni<2r{ mynn Nvnn d::'i n'jpn iJiiifj
na-n ^i^n i*s'd iran . (mhiy 'Nvn ^3k^2 mji'-iN* n^jcj'n ^^•^{^^^
>'nT nix ^""1 T'o^n Snc' nn^ isid31 n"Dpnn d^d^x "t nJK' vms
nil hnj mx '•'n n'cpnn n^ca -123 ^'jn o-^'sn '•s^ nnjj' n"n nn
ynr -iin '•'-ii /'n '^oa 3n3t:> nr pjy ^[?"r I'^sn iji^' ijdt Tinn xin
vnm nca ijco pTiyni j"3Nnn ij-^** na: b"! '•'nNin n^ci^n ''•hk' yiT"
IN ba^^iy nn nnDtJ' iran I'r^bn dji pN:n nio v^y ansi 11203
vntr yiT" nncc' i^-ani '^nNT^ vnmc'na 3n3 ^'j^^ni p3n T>D^n
•'K'Ej'n fj^N n!?nn3 '"n ynr nisc' 3n3 invy Nini ^:^•D^^ pi^n nnN
.(N"y Yb ^1 tJ''.!) 1'^ in ts"'' '^d py
Sn ni:c'n ^y3 n"3N-in 'n '•'D n\s3 (3"y "a f\i \y"n) "1 fin
(x"y T"y :^'"n) "y pjn jr:p^n ^jx ncni /i3i j^i'nnn ntro ir3n T'Dijn
n'Djn n-'D^n '\n-«i' np> n3 3py'' ij''3n nv^i?n '\n "-'cm 3n3 "n nix
nnync' 3n3 (3"y n"d ^1 ^"n) i"d e^n ': '--d pj niN3i
40 b
""131 nt:3 N'3r3 n"3Nini ]^^nn n-cfr^ ij''3n in'^ro^n vn n'r:: ij"'3ni
n"£i «in3 3n3 ii2vy Nini mNr:n i:y3 ntryc ni:c'n3 nsnroi ^"tj'n
n33B' ^"K'n N''3D iij'nnn n::'D ij^3n ^c' in^o^n "^nti' n"3N 3nnir
'd3 ^*r '■'nnr iy3n'kr yin^ dj n^.No pinn nn vro'3 vnu'^n 1Dt^'Dn3
vni3^n it2*j'£nj n"3Nnn ••0^3 3"y n33 3"ni ,n"n n3n n''3o nison
ni"'Nn3 n'3in cnnp "nu' 3nD (3''y i"y 5]n) 3"y "d tin3 D•t^' dji
n"3Nnni;' n^'SN T^ ^"ni D3"onn nnip d-jk' nxs^ 3inp '^n ^'cj^n'^r
n":y^ nr ,D"3Dnn ^y ni:D'n nt'y ^'^nn /''3nn un biy in3n '^n
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS 289
D'lnc Nin Ds c'N-in ^*^ im pjya do nisa ana niy . onm anny
D^a-i D^D^ ni v^y ^nji^'n -i3d Dmas ynr 'is^ti ^y rci-m ina i3
mo pi-n ana a'" '-d a"^ ^i?a t^•^-l^ 'icna nvNin ^y 5]di3 niyi
mn cn^Eja p ^'t tno N2a-ii xno ^n^N-ii iy 'iai b"] D"-in
en Dtr N^an-j' no byc^ pHnt ni>'N nia^ni? nv:io^^o nmc^na nxnni
.n''a ''D ^"''v ^"f ina na 0"-^ nano
Nine' D^\nijy "kTijoo nrx Ynno^ irai nio naic'n "^ '^d ocn
niajono o'-ino Nina^ yiT-i i^'r Dijiy niD^ pNjn na ac^B' no-'Dnn
niJ'Dst' D'ysi a'a n'-ino Dt^ mnm npotiu niapi n:^' Dsnrk:'
iD::n Dnn o^on "n hnj my '\n naatj' ^"i b^'nih n^rx i^n nr pNty
'm 'r ''D fop ^'aip ^na na n'-ino "aa-'ina i^'oa hk-'o na ib'n "n
nin:m ir D::^' noxa nx"i3 pi fp '^oa qk' a": Nin KinK' nNi:i
/U^D n^o^n i^NC nN-i:B' i^ p^ne' niaan |o ann nr ^y sin ^jo^^o
*iiy iNiao pi ^n^ na n'nno Nin jniajuno D"nnDn nnaio n'o
.majono D"nno biy n^o^n na^nt' pp i^ar-na
Page 42 a. Responsum to a question of TJOyc, dated London,
Sunday, 26th of Heshvan, 5524 = 1763.
Idid. Introduction to his notes, in which he explains that
it is necessary for a Rabbi to make notes on every question that
occurs to him in daily life, so that the Ame-Ha'arez should not
consider him ignorant on account of his hesitating with a reply.
Page 57 b. Letter to R. Judah Leb, Rabbi of Halbcrstadt,
concerning a case of in^an npro.
Page 61 b. Question by the Ral)bi of Schwerin, signed on
p. 64 a, as follows : n:u nau ^'n pnyv.:r p"p nc cninni anian
. . jn3i^D D^TD ^;•n^■^ ^av p"d^ fripn onro V'ny a^no ^hca
(Rabbi Zevi Hirsch Mirels of London, who was Rabbi of Schwerin
from 1770 till 1790, was the son of R. Aaron Mirels of London,
of whom, however, we have no trace in London records so far.
R. Aaron was son of R. Mcshulam Zalman Mirels of ILimburg,
father-in-law of Haham Zevi (cp. Year- Book, ,iati'sn, vdl. 2, ji. 2 1 1 ).
Rabbi Zevi Hirsch Lcwin calls him ' my cousin ' (a"t:') on p. 64 b
of our manuscript {f\). JE , vol. VIII, p. 608; Brann in Guttmann-
290 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
Festschrift, p. 246, and the literature given there). Mirels was
before his election in Schvverin Rabbi in Wreschen (Posen.
Cp. Roest Catalogue, pp. 25, 139, 203, 335).
Page 65 b. Letter on the same question from Elia of Posen,
Rabbi in Lanzburg (Landsberg), who addresses R, Zevi Hirsch
as his teacher.
Page 67 b. Responsum of R. Z. H. to the above letters
dated Berlin, 14th of Shevat of the same year. Page 67 has also
a short index for pp. 1-42.
Page 68 a. To a certain R. Israel, in which he complains
that owing to overwork and failing health he had no time to go
into the question put before him as deeply as he should have
liked to : >ivS"iD '^'^^ ^Ji^JT' N^ y"^ f]"ijn niD^i jDm nnToi .
Page 70 b. Answer to a question by one of his sons (probably
R. Saul) : "'j :^D1J3n '■^■iiC^n ^11 >J2^ p niC'.
Page 7 1 b deals with a case of marriage in London.
Page 73 a likewise discusses a similar question which came
before him while ofificiating in London.
Page 75 a. Question by R. Juda Leb Eger (of Halberstadt)
to R. Z. H. in Berlin to which the latter's response on p. 76 a.
Page 77 b. Answer to his son.
Pages 78-82. Notes on various subjects.
Page 83 a. Question addressed to him in London concerning
the custom of baking tarts and omelettes on Passover in pewter
dishes, which were in use all the year round. Date 1758.
p-L35j'Di pD"isDn pcisc* '':m3 p"sf' ^"npn nos it mnoa n^XB'
I-L^-iNon pKnytt' ir-'m r^i'z^n mo^ ^3 'nn ''bixc' ^^na b^ nnypn
imn nDN3 nc'i nsixn h^ -njn^ jnix p-'j^roi nnypn ^"lna p^db'di
PLixir '•^Dn imn ioib' ik \yy:? ayro p^*t^'r^t^• "lann yiT-i mypn
pv3n pov^.T2r^ m-ip >^3n ^3 "in pnoi ••i'^n ^in^ dixd "ix T'D^'dh
c;"- DN ;:a^b tj'sx \xi i^nn ^c' i^>"t nnypc' Tcxai "cin^
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS 29I
.... n"d-i3 n'> fi^yo
Page 84 a cited a Responsum by his brother-in-law Rabbi
Saul Halevy of the Hague — and page 84 b, a Responsum by his
brother R. Saul of Amsterdam [Yzn ]Mi:r\ 'D^J l"y a-'i^'nc* no
"<": DTiD-iTCN p"pf I'nx ns:n ^nx T"y "b a^rnt:' no ;,3xn p'pn).
Page 85 a. Another letter by R. Saul Halevy followed by
Talmudic notes until page 92, middle, where we find a decision
about raisin-wine, whether it can be used like ordinary wine and
the same blessing said before partaking of it.
D^:'y^ n{<-i:n ana ^nyn n^ua -\22^ nvn cy d^pio^v p^n p^3
nx-ij'j'D') vijy pspD^ pNC'i linjo ijy nann n'jnb mD-u'ca 'a inna ^3
nV p"?"^ n"3Nn ij'D^j DJi ':nnxb min n^ ^"r px:n ij:pr nr^
n33U' ^"r pN:n irax nx n Tyo:;' x^x my xh nnx p^joa xnrn:
. an'aa v^y pn^ mioi nxiina ncy ^''syxi xj^^y ^xna d"3 1^ 'm
.inL"y 133 -lt^•x nx i?r^n nnx X3' n^i
Page 93 a. Rabbi Hirschel declares that if a Sefer Torah
falls down only the one who dropped it has to fast, but not all
onlookers, as is the custom in many congregations : he had found
no foundation for this custom in the codes.
^b nx"i: n^cyj* mm -idd '-xnt's ni:ynnb n^iyn linr' no
mix^ nx 'D nvp iDD "i:xvo i6 jxa lyi nr jnjob ^^3 pD px-j*
. . . . 'n p'd n"D ''D x'ca l'-'cdi n-r:) rhzr^
Pages Ii7b-i25a. I^etters from and to his brother R. Saul
and his brother-in-law, the Rabbi of the Hague.
Page 128. Letter from Rabbi Mcir Posner of S. (a congrega-
tion in Poland).
niSip 'li'JX nsim nynyn pnx nxnp: ^haj^ i^^on n:nr:3 njn
, . . (Dw' .Tj*y:n nr3j p:y3) . . D'cnni |xn-iD ^iicx^t vr3 ni3ir:Dn
. . . L" p"p3 njinn -i:r"iD -i"XO p"n i;n"n "inr:i j"x n3n
Page 140 a. Letter from a Rabbi Sanisf)n h. Zelkc in I5r . . .
concerning a certain ilenlc I'cicrsdurf of London, who liouylit
292 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
in 1738 a gold watch from Gerson Goldsticker of Br . . (the
writer's congregation) and gave him a bill for the same. Rabbi
Samson now asks the Rabbi of London to help the said Gerson,
who is now an old man, to obtain payment of the said bill.
Answer of R. Z. H. on same page, which is followed by another
letter of Rabbi Samson on p. 141 b.
Pages i42a-i44b. Letters from and to Rabbi Juda Leb
Eger of Halberstadt.
Page 148 b. Letter from Munster b. Nahum, the Levite, to
his teacher, R. Zevi Hirsch, his son Rabbi Saul, and son-in-law
R. Meir.
Page 150 a (middle). Question from Rabbi Isachar Ber b.
Herz of Dessau to R. Z. H.
Page i5r'a. Letter from R. Z, H. to his relative R. Meir
(Posner), and the important Responsa of Rabbi Saul of Amsterdam
and Rabbi Zevi Hirsch, while Rabbi of London, with reference
to the fish called * turbot ', whether it may be eaten by Jews.
R. Zevi decides in the affirmative, and bases his decision upon
documents by the Beth-Din of Venice. The Responsa are too
lengthy for publication in this place ; the Venice documents read
as follows. (It appears that in Amsterdam the fish was regarded
as niDx; p. 151a we read: ijn:B> "du nn"Nipjn nn nan bv
r\i2^D^ cc^D niDipDH i^Nn mD'"S' u).
Page 155 a.
ninyn n-- nnajD
"icvy Nini onnu ojv^'^a Nnp:n nn i:''xn ixn nn"'^'^^ n^"nn rutrn
^b^ coys "1300 i3^3Ki "iD^vn iniona ^aon mp: unrnDa ncrx
ni^fnw '"D liynt' pix v^^b dji b^ yin'-D li^vx nnio xin -^^ai
n'"" '3 DV Dvn imN d^^sin sy"'' NJ''D30trjip3 unsai p 0: nnrnn
3py^ .t:"D n^yo ovb'^bi ipv '131 '•op ib'U* i6 i^a piJ'nnD trnn^
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS 293
nN^^k*'rTi3c» n^^^an n^'-^'n ^jai Dinnn bv D^xan i:n3K Dn''yo
r'y^a ^aon Nipjn nn '-bis ^sic'^ *:3 oy njn nsn Tya ^:) N"y*
miDon ^JDtD onnsD nicipoa D>yit:3 micDo ^trxn los pn D-s-ian
i^B* D''E^•pB'pn iB'jo D^^ p ini^ya nrn nn-k^' DnTiUNO onn K'^k'
HN^^'^ni HD ):r)U iJDnn nosn n^^xibi nra nynyo ^'"'S pxi d^c3
.P'd!? bsj T^N nnn hx i^n^r nJB'ai -non jvd i"o vi dv ovn
"i^n ^n3 y^in'' -i3"3 "-n npy^ p^o ^6ri nc^c n3"a nD^tr
^i>3 mno :ib n'li^'i'ipn irnui nn-nnx nusa onn prmo invni
.^^3 piDpD Die*
3"T jnan ne'e mni'DDn nn d^d3
Interesting is that, following upon this decision of their Rabbi
that ' turbot ' is a kasher fish, some members of the congregation
applied his permission not only to turbot but also to eels.
Page 156 a. We find a letter from R. Juda of Halberstadt
asking R. Zevi Hirsch whether it was really true that he allowed
the eating of eels, and if so would he kindly let him know upon
what paragraph of the codes he had based this decision. The
Rabbi naturally explained that turbots are not eels. R. Juda
writes :
\D'h'Z'2 c'mb ni:-:^ n^n >nx3 '1n-i3 'nn px •>:']} iixc n:n
-irx nn "i ]'"ipr] nmn pim no m^y^ n3 -il"x -imn my nion
D^iniJ VpT tj'x 'x n '': ^xcn To '•ninn \"^p7\ i^nnb rh\y D'co
D'Enif bti^-) "-\ i:nn^ nn^c n^r: ny ^xni;'^ nivisn ^33 -iid\x n
(p^xx x-ipjn nn) iniD xintr D^i'b in^m :n inix -ln^■l noin
^ixiD nrn lann p^yi '^x noin inmcri 3in3't:^ n!-nxi
Y2 'L"X"^^ n-iuyi 113 nt'yx Txi vbv IOD t^'x XTnm n3 ymn^
.t3xt:r-i3^xnD min^ "pn n^cn inniD^ im-.:'^ pion fti
The response to this letter extends from 156 b to 158!), on
which page we TukI a question by one of the Rabbi's sons and
294 RABBINATE OF THE GREAT SYNAGOGUE, LONDON
answer to the same (referring to pickled nuts). This is followed
on p. 162 b by the letter of R. Leb Norden to Rabbi Saul,
printed above, pp. 279-81, which is the end of the manuscript.
To the list of works by R. Z. H. are to be added : Notes to
Mishna, edited by Rabbi Michelsohn, under the title 31 N3V
(Piotrkow, 1907), and in the book NTiiT 7)p by Juda of Glogau
(Furth, 1775), a pupil of R. Zevi Hirschel, several expositions
on Talmudic passages are printed (pp. 19 a, 40 a, 42 a).
Prof. M. Brann has called my attention to an approbation
by R. Z. H. to the book D?iy 11D"» by Isaac Israeli, Berlin, 1777
(cp. p. 57). According to Prof. Simonsen R. Zevi Hirsch had
a fourth daughter Zipporah Frade, married to Meyer Israel Meyer
of the family ' Hausen ' in Altona. Three daughters of this
couple were married in Copenhagen, one of these, Dina Henriquesj
was Prof. Simonsen's great-aunt (cp. Tidsskrift f. Jedisk Lit. og
Hist., I, p. 181). The conundrum as to how R. Zevi Hirsch
went to Piemonte (cp. p. 45 [380]) is solved by the same scholar,
who referred me to the book 3T Nav already mentioned, where
it is made clear that we have to read Pyrmont 1J10T2, a small
watering-place in Germany.
Page 76 {/QR., X, 447), note 65. Mr. S, Seeligmann of
Amsterdam called my attention to Abraham Nancy's book npy
n21"in, London, 1785, 8vo., mentioned by Schechter, Studies in
Judaism, I, p. 377, and by me in /USE., trans., VII, p. 288.
Abr. Nancy also wrote a dedication-poem 'Lofzang ' (Cat. Almanzi,
No. 4552) while he was (for sixteen years) tutor in the house of
Tobias Boas at the Hague, who was a great admirer of the Bal-
Shem Samuel Falk. He is called there Abraham Solomon
Nazig (cp. S. Seeligmann, Hei geestelijk leven . . . te 's Gravenhage,
1914, p 12; also Steinschneider, 'JiiJische Arzte' in Z/HB.,
vol. XVII, pp. 68-98; Zeitlin, Bibl. Hebr. Fost-Mendelssohniafta^
s.v. Nantisch, p. 249).
Page 80 (451). The house 'Zum Griinen Schild' occurs
already in a list of houses of the years 1535-40 in J. Kracauer's
Geschichte der Judengasse Frankfurt a/M., p. 453 (S. Seeligm.).
ADDITIONAL NOTES AND CORRECTIONS 295
Page 82 (453). About Isaac Sinzheim, his son Zalman and
the family generally cp. now Wachstein, Inschriften des alien
Judenfriedhofes in Wien (1917), vol. II, pp. 397-400. (S. Seeligm.).
Page 135 (506). The full title of Peppercorn's book is : The
Laws of the Hebreivs relating to the Poor atid Sira7igers, written
in Hehreiv in the 12th Century by the celebrated Rabbi M. Mai-
monides, London, Pelham Richardsons, 23 Cornhill, 1838. My
copy formerly belonged to a Mr. William Simpson and has his
book-plate. He may be identical with the Mr. Simpson men-
tioned on this page.
Page 148 (519). About Solomon Bennett cp. now S. Kirch-
stein's y«v//i-r/!^ Graphiker, Berlin, 191 8, pp. 15-27; also Zeitlin,
Bibl. Hebr. Post-Menaels., pp. 26-7 ; Graber, nnSDn nviS n^a, I,
p. 28.
Corrections.
Page 5, line 2 from bottom : for 551 read 511.
Page 8, 1. I : for ' about y/<';/^ ' read 'about May\
Page 48, line 6 : fur ' whose ivife was R. l-rankel's first wife '
read ' whose daughter was Rabbi Frankel's first wife '.
Page 152 (X, p. 523), line 4: for 1827 read 1832.
INDEX
A.
Aaron Lissa, R. (Lisser^, Dayyan in
London, 8, ii8, 220.
Abele, R., of London, 80.
Aberle. R., of Hamburg, Parnass of
the Ashkenazim in London, 2.
Abraham, Rabbi of Emden, 20.
— Rabbi of Halberstadt, 34.
— R., of Nansy, v. Nancy ,Nazig\
Abrahams, Israel, Dr., 46, 47, 55.
Adier, Rabbi Ber, 82.
Adler, E. N., 2, 78, 137.
— H., Chief Rabbi, 42, 82.
— R. Gabriel, Rabbi of Meiringen,
no.
— Manuscri
pts
(of E. N. Adler)
used :
935 •
104, 254-9.
950 .
89 91.
1160 .
a, 82.
1248 .
2, ID.
2241
76.
2257 •
117, 118.
2261 .
116, 264-73.
aa86 .
2. 5, 7, 61-71, no.
2241
98.
4095 •
88. 95.
4160 .
123 7.
— Mordecai
b.'
R. Her, Chief Rabbi
of Hanover, 1 10.
— R. Nathan, the Cabbalist, 84, 91,
105.
— Dr. Nathan Marcus, Chief Rabbi
of London, 8, :io, 116, 118,
Akiba, Rabbi 1 I'anaite^, 29.
Albahali, Hajjim, 28a.
Altona, 75.
Alexander, Levi, 144.
Alexandria, 151.
America, 7, 95, 116, 124.
AriKJici/cd London Jews, la.
Apia, R. Isaac Levi of, 275.
Aristotle, 9.
Arnold, Solomon, founder of Beth
Ilamidrash Library, 156.
Articles, the 13 articles of Creed,
24.
Arych Lebb. David Tcvcle Berliner,
S8.
Aryeh Leb b. David Levi, Day3'an in
London. 118, 120.
b. Saul, Chief Rabbi of
Amsterdam, 2, 3, 4, 6, 59. 60,
70. 275-7. 285.
b. Saul b. Zevi Hirsch, Chief
Rabbi of Silesia, 48-50.
Asher b. Jehiel i::'"Nin\ 44.
Asher, Rev., Hazan of Great Syna-
gogue, 155.
Auerbach : Gcsch. d. Juden in Halber-
stadt. 20, 34.
Axe laid to the Root, pamphlet by L.
Alexander. 144.
Ayerst. W., Jews of the Nineteenth
Century^ 143.
Azriel b. David Levi, Dayyan in
London, r 18, 120.
Azulai, H. J. D., Bibliographer, 45,
91, 279, 281-4; notes to A.'s
'"'h^3^ DL", 288-9.
B.
Bahja ibn Pekuda. 24.
Bancth, R. Mordecai, Chief Rabbi
of Moravia, 44, 286.
Barbeck, Gcsch. d. Jiidcn in Niiin-
licn; mid Fiiith, 8. 21.
Barbi, R. Mcir, Rabbi of Halber-
stadt and Pressburg, 30, 32.
Harukh b. Elkana. 20.
Hass, Sabbatai, .'Si/tf Jcsliciiint, 55.
B.-dford, 118.
Beharier, Isaac, 55.
Bella, d. of R. Zevi Hirsch Lewin,
wife of Mordecai Tiktin, 58.
Beirut, 151.
B<Minet, Solomon, engraver, 144 H.
Berlin, ;<, 28, 36.
Berlin, R. David FrUnkel Rabbi in,
20.
— R. Zevi Hirsch in, 36 If.
— R. Isaiah Pick-Berlin, 86.
Berliner, Prof. A., 87.
Bernfcld, S., 40.
lirsaniin Hash, Rcsponsa, 44 11.
Beth Din, 116, 118, 122, 375.
Beth Haniidrasli, 16, 17, 18, 36.
X
298
INDEX
Beth-Hamidrash in London, Mul-
berry St., 55, 156.
Bible-translation by Mendelssohn,
37. 39- 56, 113-
Birmingham, 123, 136.
Bleicherode, 33.
Blood-libel, 128.
Boas, Simon, of the Hague, 93.
— Tobias, 294.
Bonan, R. Massuad, Messenger from
Jerusalem, 282.
Bordeaux, 141.
Boskowitz, 105.
Boysen, F. E., 38.
Brann, Prof. M., 45, 48, 87, 289,
294.
Braunschweig, R. Sender of, 32.
Breinle Sinzheim, wife of R. Tevele
Schiff, 82.
Breslau, 117.
Bressler, R. Uri Phoebusch (Hart),
2.
Briesen, 275, 287.
Brighton, 136.
Bristol, 136.
Brody (Galicia), 154.
Brown & Collinson, London bankers,
104, 242.
Biichler, Prof. A., 28.
Buzaglo, Shalom, 84, 100.
Calais, 284.
Canterbury, 118, 136.
Card-playing, 13.
Carmoly, Dr. E. , 35.
Caro, R. Joseph, author of Shulhan
Arukh, 44.
Cassel, David b. Z. of Frankfurt-a.-
M., 105.
Castro, de, David, Hazan, 283.
Charleston, South Carolina, 133
Chatham, 136.
Cheltenham, 118.
Chess, conundrum on chess, 61,
64-5-
— translation of same, 68-70.
Chichester, 118.
Christian festivals, 12.
Christmas puddings, 12, 15.
Cincinnati, Ohio, 116.
Circumcision, 128.
Civil cases, 122.
Clef, G., 219.
— M., 219.
Cleve, Get of, 83.
Coffee-houses, 13, 18.
Cohen, R. Raphael of Hamburg,
41-3-
— Jacob Hajjim b. Joshua, 57.
— Salom J. (Elements of Faith), 143.
Cologne, 122.
Communal organization, 16, 94.
Conversions to Judaism, 119.
Copenhagen, 80, 103, 105, 218, 219,
222.
Cracow, 152.
D.
Damascus, Blood-libel, 128.
David Tevele Cohen, Parnass in
Glogau, father-in-law of R. Zevi
Hirsch Lewin, 5.
David Tevele Schiff, v. Schiff.
David Tevele b. Zevi Hirsch (called
Berliner), 58.
Dayyanim in London, 94, 118.
D'Azevedo, Haham Mose Hacohen,
84, 99.
Del Vali, Rabbi Isaac, 282.
Dembitzer, R. Chajim N., Rosh Beth
Din in Cracow, iSV rb'h'Z,
3, 60.
Dessau, R. Isachar Ber b. Herz of,
292.
Deutsch, Prof Gotthard, 78.
Devonshire St. Almshouses, 121.
Dihre Shalom by Herz Wessely,
39. 50, 249.
Dietz. Stanimbuch der Frankfurter
Juden, 91, 104, 105, no.
Dinah, d. of R. Aryeh Leb, wife of
Isaac Halevy, Chief Rabbi of
the Hague, 60.
Divorce cases, 119.
Documents, 85, 86, 275.
— Hebrew letters and, 157-217.
Dover, 1 17, 284.
Dublin, 120.
Dubno (Poland), 5, 6.
Duke of Newcastle, 7.
Duke of Sussex, 127.
Dukes Leopold, 47, 136.
Duke's Place Synagogue, v. Syna-
gogues in London.
Duschinsky, C, Toledoth Jacob, 57.
E.
Edelsheim, Herz of, 93.
Edinburgh, 136.
Eger, R. Akiba of Pressburg, 20.
— R. Akiba, Chief Rabbi of Posen,
123, 141, 153.
INDEX
299
Eger, R. Juda Leb, Rabbi in Halber-
stadt, 32, 289, 290, 292-3.
— R. Solomon. 153.
— R. Zabcl. 58.
Elburg (Holland), 120.
EJiah, R. Mizrahi, Rcsf>ovsa, 57.
— of Posen, Rabbi in Landsberg,
290
Elias, Hazan of Great Synagogue,
137-
Elijah, R., Gaon of Wilna, 51. 249.
Emden, R. Abraham of, 20.
— R. Jacob, 4, 5, 6, 34, 55, 74 8,
286.
— R. Jacob's mpnxnn, 4-
nr:N rwc', 4, s-
3py'3 nny. 6.
12D rh'^O, 4, 6o, 74-6.
fiT n^'NC, 278.
— R. Meshullam Zalman b. Jacob,
Rabbi of the Hambro-Si'na-
gogue, 75-8, 84, 93, 95, 106.
Emmerich, Abraham of Frankfurt,
104.
Eulenburg, R. Jacob, 60.
Eybcnschiitz, R. Jonathan, 4, 6, 33,
34, 76, 81.
Falk, R. Jacob of Frankfurt-a -M.,
81.
Falk, Samuel (Bal-Shem of London),
76, 93. 97. 104. 294.
Fanto, R. Levi, Dayyan in Prague,
107-8, 239.
t"cstivals, lack of observance of, 13.
Four-Lands Synods, 58.
Fracnkcl, David, Rabbi in Berlin,
20.
— Elijah b. Nafiali Hirsch, Parnass
in Halberstadt, 28.
— R Joseph Jonas, Chief Rabbi in
lircslau, 48.
Francos, Joseph b. Abraham, 283.
Frankcl, Ludwig August, hisclniftett
drs alt. jiid. I'ricdiwfcs in ll'ii-ii,
82.
Frankfurt am-Main, 3, 50, 79, 80,
103, 117, 223, 254.
Franklin, Abraham, 123.
— Arthur, 77.
— Benjamin Wolf, 77, 123.
— Dr. Isaac, of Manrhcstcr, 123.
Franklin /■'aitii/y, Rcrords o/, 77,
Fricdlandcr, David, 41,
Friesenhausen, R. David b. Meir,
57-
Fiinn, S. J., Kirjah Ne'tnannh, 46.
G.
Gaster, M., History of the Ancient
Synagogue, Bcvis Marks, 8,
274.
Geiger, Abraham, Zeitschrift, 38,
Gentiles, 15, 18, 19.
Germany, 25.
Giessen, Abraham of, 143, 233, 243,
248.
Ginzburg, R. Her, son-in-law of R.
Zevi Hirsch, 56.
Glasgow, 136.
Gleim (poet\ 38.
Glogan, 3, 5, 6, 59.
Gnesen i, Posen), 121.
Golde, wife of R. Zevi Hirsch Lewin,
5, 57-
Goldenberg, Ber, 18.
Goldschmid, Aaron, 74, 93, 106, 116,
220, 223, 235.
— Abraham, 149.
— Asher, 149.
— Benjamin, 149.
— Sir Isaac Lyon, 1 18.
Gomes-Serra Pinehas, 282, 283.
firaetz, Heinrich, 45,
Great Synagogue, v. Sj'nagogues.
Greenwich, 118.
Grunwald, M., 93, 106.
Guildford, 118.
Gumbinnen, Jonah Reich of, 150.
H.
Haas, Hirsch, of Frankfurta.-M.,
105.
— Leb, of Frankfurt-a -M., 105.
— Lima b. Zalman, 105, 246.
n.'ibclalah service, 16, 275, 285.
Hague, The, 120.
Haliam Zevi Ashkenazi, 5, 40, 60,
106. 276, 278.
H.'ill)erstadt, 28, 32, 113, 289.
— Samuel, 29.
Halevy, R. .Saul, Chief R.abbi of
The Hague, 60. 291.
Halfan, R. liendit b. Leb, of Anibter-
dam, 87.
Ilnmaggid, 23, 55.
Ilauiln-u .Synagogue, 7/. Synagogues.
ll.iiiihurg, 75, 154, 218.
1 ianicasscph, 44, 4^
X I
300
INDEX
Hanau, R. Isaac of. 20.
Hanoch, R. Zundel. of Jerusalem,
Dayyan in London, 118.
Hanover. R. David, 107.
— R. Mcir, 106, 219, 222.
Hanuccah, Song for, 61.
Hart, R. Uri Phoebusch, 2.
— Moses, founder of the Great
Synagogue, 98.
Haskarah (^memorial-prayer), 11.
Havvkes, Rev. Henry, 155.
Hayyim b. Jona Sabi, 45.
Hayyim (in London), 102, 237.
llebra Kadisha, 275.
iiebr. Bibliographic by M. Stein-
schneider, 62, 91, 92.
Hebrew Letters and Documents to
and by R. Tevele SchiiT, Ap-
pendix V, 157-217 ; translation
I-IX, Appendix VI, 217-53.
Heidenheim, Wolf, Ma/jzor, 114.
Heine, Solomon, 136.
Heitzfeld (Heidingsfeld), R. Leb of,
20.
Helman, R. Samuel, of Mannheim,
34-
Henriquez, H. S. Q., 93, 119.
Herem (excommunication), 42, 142,
143-
Heschele, R. of Cracow, 3, 4, 59.
Hildesheim, 20.
Hillel (Tanaite), 18.
Hirschell, R. Solomon, 56, 57, 112.
Election in London, 114.
Letters of, 123 ff.
Polemics with non-Jews, 129.
Controversies, 149 AT.
Family, 150.
Funeral, 155.
Estate, 156.
Responsa, 285.
Children :
Ephraim, 150, 152.
Fegele, 153-4-
David Tevele, 150. 153.
Saul, 150, 152.
Shendei, 153.
Zevi Hirsch, 150, 152.
Holland, 103, 117, 120, 234.
Holleschau, Moses, 91.
Hommel, Jacob & Co., of Frank-
furt, 104, 243.
Horowitz, Dr. 'itl. , Frankfurter Grab-
schriften, 21, 79, 92, 104, 105 ;
Frankfurter Rabbinen, I-IV, 29,
79, 88, 92, 104, no.
— R. Phinchas, of Frankfurt-a.-M.,
48.
Hungary, 117.
I.
Ipswich, 136.
Isaac, Nathan b. David Tevele b. R.
Zevi Hirsch, 58.
— R. di Molina, 44.
— Rabbi of Hanau, 20.
Isachar Berisch, Rabbi of Hanover,
32.
Isaiah, Rabbi Pick, v. Pick.
Italic, E., Gcschiedenis d. Isr. Gem.
te Rotterdam, 274.
Italy, 103.
Itzig, Daniel, of Berlin, 41.
J-
Jacob b. Eliezer, Dayyan in London,
94.
— Emden, v. Emden.
— Rabbi, b. R. Hirsch Pintschow
of Greditz (Graetz), 20.
— Kimchi, 7, 279.
— of Lublin, father of R. Heschele
Cracow, 60.
— Norden, v. Norden.
— Moses b. Saul, 30, 57.
— Rabbi-Weil of Regensburg, 3.
Jaffe, Isaac, son of Daniel, friend of
Mendelssohn, 41.
Jamaica, 117, 134.
Jehuda Hanassi, Rabbi, 19.
Jekutiel-Zalman Epstein, Dayyan in
Lemberg, 275.
Jersey, 137.
Jeschurun (Kobak's), 55.
Jewish Quarterly Revieiv, 114, 151.
— Chronicle, 148.
— Historical Exhibition Papers, 42.
Jezer Hara, 52, 53.
Johanan, uncle of Aaron Gold-
schmid, 74.
Joseph II, Emperor of Austria, 39, 40.
— Hazaddik, b. Phinehas, Rabbi of
Posen, 249.
— Lazarus =' Laze of Hamburg',
75-7-
— Samuel, 149.
Josephs, Michael = Meyer Joseph -
Meyer KOnigsberg, 46, 73.
— Semel, 50.
Juda Leb b. Aaron Moses, Dayyan
in London; 119.
Rabbi., b. R. Efraim Anshel,
Rabbi in London, i, 274.
K.
Kacmpf, Dr., Rabbi of Prague, 20.
Kahira (Kara), Simon, 57.
Kann, Jacob, 105, 248.
INDEX
301
Kann. Modi, 105, 248.
Kauimann, Prof. David, 48. 92, 100,
104.
— R, Moses Jekutiel, 60.
Keyzer, Abraliam, 112, 261, 263.
— Amshel, 149.
— Isaac, 112, 260-3.
— Lazar, 112, 149, 260-3.
— Solomon, 112, 260-3.
Kiddush CCn^p), 134.
Kik, Jacob b. Mendele of Hamburg,
106, 220, 223.
Kimhi, Jacob. 7, 279.
Kingston, Jamaica. 134.
Kirchstein, S., Jild. Gmpliikcr, 295.
Koenigsberg, Rebecca, wife of R.
Solomon Hirschell, 113, 150.
Kohut, A. (Ariik\ 57.
Krauss, S.. Talmudische Archaeo-
logie. 28.
Kroclimal, R. Mendel, Chief Rabbi
of Moravia. 59.
Kulpa. J., of Frankfurt-a -M., 105,
246.
— Henle, of Frankfurt-a. -M., 247.
L.
Landau, R. Ezekiel of Prague, 40,
43, sr, 87. 249.
— his rabbinical letter, 36.
Landsberg, R. Wolf, 44.
Landshut, Tolcdoth Aiishc Shcni, 5,
6, 23. 30, 35, 43.
Lawrence, Mr., of Kingston, Jamaica,
134-
La7e Levi of Hamburg = Lazarus
Joseph, 75-7.
Lembcrg, 3. 141, 154, 275.
Lchmann. litiircnd of Hanover. 93.
— Cosman h. ILrz, 93.
Lehren, Akiba, 132.
— Hirsch, 132.
LeslioH Zaliab by R. Tcvclc Schiff,
109-10.
Loiters, opening of, on Sabbath, 14.
Levi, R. Lcmmil of (ilogau, 6.
— Judah, 34.
— David, linguist, 98.
Levy. Benjamin, 98, 99.
— Elias,98.
— Judith, 98, 99.
— Mathias, 148.
Lewin, L., Grsi/i. d. fiid< n in /.issa,
I. S3- 349-
Libi-rmann, li. F.lit/.cr, Dayyan in
London, 31, 94.
Lissa, R. David Horochow, Ral-bi
i", 5'. 249-
Lissa, R Aaron, Davvan in London,
8, 118.
Lisser, R. Eliezer b. Uri, 119.
Liverpool, 136.
Livorno, 234, 242.
Loewenstein, Dr. Leop., 35, 79, 87.
London Jews, 94, 97
— communal organization, 95.
— business connexions, 103.
— anglicized names, 121.
Luria, R. Solomon. 3.
Lwow, R. Moses ( = Lemberger),
Rabbi in Nikolsburg, 19.
Lyon Hart. 7>. Zevi Hirsch Lewin.
Lyons, Warden in Kingston, 134.
M.
Maas, R. Nathan, Rosh-Beth-Din of
Frankfurt-a. -M., 83, 87, 92.
Maimonidcs, 24.
— 's Guide of the Pirplexed, 23, 56.
100.
Manchester, 136.
Mannheim, 33.
Manuscripts, v. Adier. E N.
— Beth-Hamidrasli, Nos. 24, 25, 26,
pp. 275-95.
Marks, David, Rabbi of Bordeaux,
141.
Marriage, Jewish Law of, 96.
trick, 97. 122.
Mate Sinzheim, wife of R. Meir
Schiff. 82.
May, Gumpil. 225.
Mcasphim. 25.
Mebo HatalntiiJ (Samuel Hanagid's
introduction to the Talmud), 25.
Meir, R. Cohen of Hanover, 20.
— R. of Padua. 3.
Meiscls, Rev. I. S., Paper on Jews in
Porlsiiioutli. II.
Meldola, R. David b. Raphael, 56,
142.
— Rai)bi Raphael b. David, Ilaliam,
146.
Memor-books, 10 1.
— • Hook of IVoi Ills, III.
Memorials (Ilaskaraii of —
Isaac Michael Speyer, 90.
Frad(]<' Speyer, go i.
R. Kalonymiis Kahnan Poscn, 9a.
Brcink- Schid; 82.
R. Jcvclc Scliiir, III.
Mendclssdhn, Moses, 20, 37, 113.
Bible translation, 37, 39, 56,
Mcshullam Zaiman J'lmdeu, R., v:
Enid'jii.
302
INDEX
Mesquita, Haham Mose Gomez, 274.
Michelsohn. 5, 21, 31, 35, 53, 116,
152, 394.
Minutes of the Frankfurt Beth Din,
extracts from, 254-9.
Mirels, R. Zevi Hiisch, of London,
Rabbi in Schwerin, 289.
Mirjam, wife of R. Aryeh Leb of
Amsterdam, 4.
Missionaries, 129-32.
Mixed marriages, 13.
Mizpeh Jckuliel, 41, 42, 43, 45.
Mizvot (commandments), 24, 25.
Moller, R. Abraham, of Bamberg, 20.
Montefiore, Sir Moses, 133, 136.
Moses, A. L., 121.
— R. of Zolkiew, son-in-law of
R. Aryeh Leb of Amsterdam,
60.
— Hart, founder of Great Syna-
gogue, 98.
Muday, Mr., of the Portuguese
Medrash, 146.
Munk, Moses, of Frankfurt-a.-M., 104,
226, 235.
Munster, b. Nahum, pupil of R. Zevi
Hirsch Lewin, 292.
Myers, Naphtali Hart. 88.
— Moses, Rabbi of Hambro Syna-
gogue, 114.
N.
Naitscha, d. of R. Aryeh Leb of
Amsterdam, wife of Moses of
Zolkiew. 60.
Nancy (Nazig), R. Abraham, Dayyan
in London, 76, 94, 294..
Neubauer, Ad., 38.
— Catalogue of MSS. of Beth Ilami-
drash, 55, 156, 285.
Neumegen (Holland), 117.
Newcastle, 137.
New York, 120, ^33.
Nieto, Haham Isaax:, 8.
Nikolsburg, 240.
Norden, Leb, 55, 278 8r.
— Jacob, Parnass in London, 112.
— Reuben, 278.
— Zalman, 278.
Norwich, 118.
Nunis-Vais, R. of Livorno, 88.
Niirnberg, 117.
O.
Obadiah b. R. Baruh (pseud.), 41.
Official functions, 97.
Oppcnhcimcr, R. David, 48.
Or Enayim, by S. Pericl, 48.
Or Hayashar, 31.
Orders of Service :
For Consecration of New Syna-
gogue, 1838, 35; 1847, 55;
1855, 55-
Great Synagogue, 1767,
87-8, 98; 1790, 98.
Portland St., 1855, 55.
For Fast Day 13th December,
1776, 78.
Funeral of R. Solomon Hirschel,
155-
Orient Litcraturblattj 44, 47, 71,
Ostend, 249.
Oxford, 117.
P.
Palestine, position of Jews in, 132.
— Collection for poor in, 133.
Paris, 141.
— Synhedrion of, 1807, 49.
Passover, Song for, 65, 66, 70, 71.
— Laws of, 29a.
Passports, Law regulating, 103.
Pavly, Carl Anton von, 49.
Pelham, Henry, Prime Minister, 7.
Peppercorn, W., Laws of the Hebrews
relating to the Poor and Stranger,
135. 295-
Perles, J. , Gesch. d. Juden in Posen,
Philosophy, religious, 23.
Picciotto, J., Sketches of Anglo- Jewish
History, g8, iii, 113, 127, 137,
142.
Pick, R. Isaiah ( = R. Jeshaja Berlin),
8, 86, 87.
Piemonte (Pyrmont), 45, 294.
Pintschow, R. Herz, 55, 62, 275.
Platz, widow of Moses, 104, 232,
248.
Plymouth, 117, 137.
Polak, R. Isaac Elias, Hazan of Great
Synagogue, 88, 102, 236, 237.
— R. Nahum Joseph, 88.
Poland, 6, 124, 141, 152.
Popers, R Jacob Cohen, of Frank-
furt-a.-M., 29, 81.
Portsea, 137, 138.
Portsmouth, 10, 11, 21, 136.
Posen, R. Kalonymus Kalman b.
Kalman, 92.
• — R. Elia of, pupil of R. Zevi Hirsch
Lewin, 290.
Posen, 51, 117.
Post Office, Letter to, by R. Sol.
Hirschcll, 124-6.
INDEX
303
Powell, Colonel. 134.
Prague. 20, 51, 107, 108. 239.
Prayers, Reading of ' Tal ', * Geshem '
and ' Neilah', 36.
Prenzlau, 113.
Present Reit^n of Duke's Place Syna-
gogue displayed, pamphlet by
Solomon Bennet, 144 ff.
Pressburg, R. Akiba Eger of, 20.
— Rabbi Meir Barbi of, 30. 32.
— R. Leb, V. de Symons, L.
— Samuel, 92, 235.
Pulitz, R. Gorshon. Chief Rabbi of
Moravia, 108, 240.
R.
Rabbinate of Venice, 275, 276.
Rabbinic Law, 94.
Ramsgate, 150.
Rapaport, S. L., Chief Rabbi of
Prague, 46.
Raphael, Rev. Dr., 136.
Rapp, R. Moses, Dayyan in Frank-
furt-a.-M., 21.
Ravensberg, near Halberstadt, 30.
Rawa, R. Michael of, son-in law of
R. Sol. Hirschcll, 153.
Rawitsch, 1 13.
Rcadinj^ of the Law, 36.
Rcadmission of Jews in England, i.
Reform S^'nagogue, 142.
Reiscl, d. of R. Zevi Hirsch Lewin,
57-
Reisha fRzczsow, Galicia"), 3, 276.
Rintel, Mayer Coiicn (Shohct\ 145.
Ritunlgfsctze der Jnden, by R. Zevi
Hirsch, 38.
Romburg, 249.
Rosenbaum, Rev. M., 144.
Rothschild, Meir, 91, 225. 254-9.
— Messrs., 133.
— Nathan Mayer, 116.
Rotterdam, Rabbinate of, i, 107,
23.3. 234-
— Jaiob, o( London, 103, 228, 243.
Kovig<., 275.
Russia, 124.
Salibatai Zevi, 4.
S.ibbalh Ohscrvancr, 14.
Salary of R. Zevi Hirsch, 29. 36.
R. Tcvcic SchifT, 95, 237, 238.
Salvador. Joseph, 282.
Samiirl Hanagid, Mcho Iliitalittud,
25-
Samuel, Dr., Mohcl in London,
120.
Sarah, wife of R. Isaac Halevy of
Lemberg, 60.
— d. of R. Zevi Hirsch, 30, 57.
Satanow, Isaac, Hebrew writer, 56,
57-
Saul, R., ben R. Aryeh Leb, Chief
Rabbi of Amsterdam, 5, 30,
44-8, 86, 88, 107, 112, 154,
278-81, 287.
— of Cracow, 2, 4.
— b. R. Zevi Hirsch, Rabbi in
Frankfurt-a.-O., 4; hiswill,7i-2;
tombstone inscription. 73, 114.
Saul, R., Halevy of the Hague, 60,
291.
Scarborough, 118.
Scheyer, M., of Frankfurt-a.-M.,
105.
Schiflf, Breinle, wife of R. Tevele
S., 82, 109.
— R. David Tevele, 2, 29, 50, 51,
74, 92, 113, 222, 223.
Sermons, 83; correspondence,
85 ff. ; personal characteristics,
89, 100 ; literary activity, 109-
10 ; tombstone inscription and
memorials, iii, 260-3.
— Jacob H., 79.
— Mate Sinzheim, wife of R. Meir
Schiflf of Frankfurt, 82.
R. Meir of Fulda (Maharam
SchiH), 79, 87.
— R. Meir, Dayyan in Frankfurt-
a.-M., 50, 74, 80, 92, 93, 95, 158,
162-78, 184, 188, 218-53.
— Mindel, d. of Solomon Sinzheim,
wife of Moses b. R. Tevele S.,
82, 103, 109, 235, 245.
— Moses b. R. Tcvcic, 83, loa, 103,
109.
— Moses Meyer, 79.
— Resche, daughter of R. Meir
SchifT, 231.
— R. Solomon, 79.
•Schloss, Siisskind b. Jacob, 229.
.SchOnlanke, 1 17.
Schudt, Jiidische Ahrktturdigkriteii,
80.
Schuster, J., of Frankfurt-a.-M., 104.
Seder I hidorolli, 26.
. Sceligmann. Sigm., 112, 260, 274,
294, 295.
Scfcr Torah, fast when fallen down,
291.
Sender, R., of Braunschweig, 32.
S<-pharili community, 1, 23, 142.
— Description by Azulai, 281 3.
304
INDEX
Scpltat Enieih, v. Emden.
Sermons, b^' R. Zevi Hirsch, ii fT.
Shadkanut, 93.
Shehita, 17.
Shohet, Shohctiin. 17, 116, 278.
— List of, in MS. Adler 2261,
264-73.
Shtadlan, 91, 93.
Shulhan Aruch, 94. 96.
Simon b, Meshullam, Dayyan in
London, 94.
Simonsen, Prof., 294.
Simpson, Mr., 134.
Simson o{ CWinon'sSefer Kerituth, 25.
Sinzheim, Abraham, 81.
— Isaac, 82, 295.
— Juda Efraim Leb, 8.
— Mate, V. Schiff.
— Mindel, v. Schiff.
— Solomon. 8t, 82, 295.
Society, London, for Promoting
Christianity among Jews, 129-
33-
— London, for Prevention of Juvenile
Corruption, 131.
Sofer, R. Moses, 48.
Solomons, Israel, 55, 73, 103.
Southampton, 137.
Speyer, Sir Edgar, 92.
— Fradele, 90.
— Isaac Michael, 89-92, 94, 103,
233. 241, 246.
— Lazar Michael, 91-2.
— Michael, 91, 228.
Sprinza, d. of Abr. Hildesheim,
second wife of R. Zevi Hirsch
Lewin, 58.
Stary Constantinow, Russia, 78.
Steinhart, R. Joseph, of.FUrth, 157,
189-91.
Steinschneider, M., Hebi: Biblio-
graf)liie, 62, 91, 92.
Stockdale, John Joseph, 128.
Strashun. M., 45.
Strassburg 'East Prussia^. 275.
Strauss, David, Rabbi of Fiirtli, 21.
Strife, to avoid, 27.
Succoth festival, 13.
Sunderland, Jacob of, 123.
Swansea, 137.
Symons, Lyon de = R. Leb Press-
burg, 9, 114, 235.
Synagogue, service. 17.
Synagogues in London :
Church Row, 78.
Great, Duke's Place, 76, 95, 115,
149.
liambro, 15, 76, 78, 95, 106, 219,
227,
Synagogues in London :
Magpy Alley, Fcnchurch St., 78.
New, 78, 122.
Portland St., 55.
Reform, 142.
St. Alban's Place, 133.
Synod, Four- Lands, 37.
Talmide Hakamim ( = scholars), 43.
Talmud, study of, 100.
Talmud Torahs. 23.
Tebilah ritual bath), 120,
Tene Bikkurim by Sol. Bennett, 144.
Toleranz-Edictof Emperor Joseph II,
39-
Tombstone inscriptions :
R. Saul b. Zevi Hirsch, 73.
Judith Levy, 99.
R. Tevele Schiff, iii.
Torah, neglect of study, 21, 28, 94.
Torat Jekniiel, 41, 43.
Tosca, R. Leb, 95, 226.
Tower of London, description by
Azulai, 283-4.
Transgression of Laws, 27.
Trumm. Moses' widow, 104. 232,
248.
Turbot, Responsa whether turbot is
permitted to be eaten, 292-3.
Turim, 232.
Van Diemen's Land, 116.
Van Oven, Joshua, 114, 143.
Venice, 275, 276, 292.
Vienna, 82, 83, 92, 107.
Voire of Jacob, 114,. 143, 154-6.
W.
Wachstein, B., Inschnflen, 295.
Wachstein-Landau, Privatbriefe, &c.,
lOI.
Wahl, R, Saul, 59.
Walisch (Wolcz), Simon b. Nala,
Wallich, Moses, of London, 107.
Waiidsbeck, 75.
Warburg, R. Reuben of, 285.
Warsaw, 152.
Weil, R. Jacob, of Regensburg, 3.
Weiss, Isaac, Abm Beth Hajoser, 87.
Wesscly, Naphtali Herz = Herz
Wesel,-249.
— 's Dibre Shalom, 39, 50.
INDEX
305
West London Synagogue, v. Reform
Synagogue.
Wetzlar, R. Leb, of Frankfurt-a.-M.,
91.
Wien, V. Vienna.
Wigi (nnD3 ns'3\ 15-
Wilna, R. Elijah Gaon of, 51, 249.
Wine, raisin, blessing over, 291.
Witherbj', 147.
Wolf, Joseph, missionary, 132.
— Rabbi of Friedberg, 20.
Wolf-Jacobs, Bibliotheca Aii^lo-
Jiidaica, 78, 144, 147.
Worms, 82. 83. III.
Wreschen in Posen, 117.
Wiirzburg, 107, 230, 239.
Yeshivah ^Yeshibot;,scliool for study
of Talmud, 16, 18, 22, 29, 32,
34, 37, 83.
Z.
Zabel. Eger, Rabbi of Braunschweig,
58.
Zangwill, Isr., 96, 97.
Zedlitz, v.. German Minister, 4.
Zeev Wolf, R., Dayyan in London,
n8.
Zelliker, Samuel, son in-law of R.
Sol. Hirschell, 141, 150.
— Nahum, his father, 141,
Zeniah Zedek ^ Responsa\ 59.
Zevi Lazzaddik by Rabbi Michel-
sohn, 5, 21, 31, 35, 53, 116,
152.
Zevi Hirsch, Oppenheim, Rabbi of
Hildesheim, 20.
Zevi Hirsch(el) Lewin, youth, 4, 5 ;
in London, 7-28, 278 ; Ser-
mons on War, 9 ; in Halber-
stadt, 28-34 ; '" Mannheim,
34-5 ; Berlin. 36-53 ; Literary
activity, 53-6 ; Approbations,
51, 57 ; other references, 94,
113, 114, 275; Responsa, 284-
95-
Zunz, L, ^'^'^r\ T-y, 60, 87.
— Leopold, 15, 20, 45.
— Adelheid, 34.
— Moses b. Leb, of Frankfurt-a.-M.,
104, 244.
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