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ISAAC LEESER'S PERSONAL THOUGHTS OF THE IMPORTANCE

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Four large (8 x 12) pages (each blank on reverse) entirely penned in the very small, at times difficult to read hand of Isaac Leeser; unmistakably his original draft (a few Hebrew words interspersed) for a later sermon or possibly article on that important subject. It is obviously hurriedly penned; with but a modicum of patience it is certain to shed considerable insight to the character and beliefs of Leeser himself. Pages are numbered 2, 3, 4, 5 (lacking the page 1; possibly an ending). These have a most credible background; from a noted collection of Leeser documents. and are accompanied with photostats of original Leeser letters to distinctly verify that these 4 pages are in Leeser's hand. There is every indication from their content and the study of Leeser's life (especially of his earlier days) as well affirmed in "Isaac Leeser in the Making of American Judaism" by L. J. Sussman (Wayne State Univ. 1995) that these pages were penned by Leeser in the early 1830's; well before his founding of the "OCCIDENT." It's interesting how Leeser juxtaposes the age of maturity of boys versus girls: "…their religious initiation should commence from the cradle; duly the children should be taught some religious truth, induce to…some religious ceremony; so that when the boy arrives at his thirteenth, and the girl at her twelfth year they may at once enter…upon the duties which are now incumbent on them…" Another indication that this was written early in Leeser's career is his considerable mention of very important events that took place in his youth in Germany (especially) where he spent his youth; those events marking a watershed in the history of emancipation of West European Jewry. He specifically mentions a number of incidents and names of potentates responsible for the changes (all those events discussed in the Sussman biography of Leeser). He writes much of methods and importance of schooling and that synagogues and congregations should devote attention to them and the means to do so. "…Relish their school lesson in synagogue before the assembled congregation…the remedy [of] irreligious can only be found in a thorough religious training at school and at home" …and many more thoughts, ideas and methods. Possibly a full interpretation of these four pages may place an entirely new slant on Leeser's early career…and possibly even experiences and education of his youth before coming to America. His thoughts conclude at bottom page 5: "The only point of dispute which then could arise are the belief in the Messiah and that in the resurrection of the dead. These are not founded on reason as such; but on the [?] of speculation; and so ingenuity of man can gainsay that both doctrines are taught as evidently as words can." Normal aging; very minor chips / nicks extreme bottom blank margin of two pages, not affecting any wording. Significant and certainly extremely rare American Judaica…and valuable source for the student and historian

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