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THIS LETTER TO ISAAC LEESER LED TO A MAJOR PUBLISH

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THIS 4 PAGE (8 X 10) document is entirely penned in the tiny and at times difficult to render hand of Issac Leeser and is Leeser's translation from the original letter (in the German language) he earlier received (from New York!) by Rabbi Joseph Schwarz, a German born and trained rabbi who devoted himself to the history and geography of the Holy Land, where he spent most of his life; the results of his studies into the history, geography, geology of that country place him among the leading Palestinian explorers and geographers and the greatest Jewish authority (since the 14th century) on Palestinian matters at the time. Rabbi Schwarz was visiting his brother in New York at the time he wrote his letter to Leeser. It is obvious from what is most readily and quickly read from this translation by Leeser that Schwarz sent his article to Leeser to be published in the "Occident" and that it was his writing that ultimately led, the following year, to Leeser's translation and publication of Schwarz's masterwork "Descriptive Geography and Historical Sketch of Palestine." There's no doubt that Leeser's translation on these 4 pages was intended for his personal use only and that it was hurriedly drafted as he directly translated it for later "fine tuning" prior to ultimate publication. Document clearly identified as having been written from: "NEW YORK. ELUL 13, 5609" [Sept. 13, 1849] and appears to be literally translated directly. The document commences addressed: "TO THE FRIENDS OF THE ISRAELITES OF PALESTINE." It opens: "Knowing that the descendants of Israel have not relinquished the ancient character of benevolence for which they have been always distinguished, the undersigned messengers from the Holy Land beg leave to lay before you the following statement in the full hope that it may incite you to aid the small remnant yet residing in the country over which once ruled chiefs and princes governing in the spirit of our religion and where spoke the poets and prophets of our own race in a language soon to be forgotten…" Followed by lengthy commentary about devotion to the Holy Land and much more. A few Hebrew words interposed. Letter terminates: "Invoking the blessing of God on you all [and] ourselves…your brothers…Rabbi Joseph Schwarz / Rabbi Zadok Levy…messengers from Jerusalem." [Levy was merely an assistant who accompanied Schwarz on the trip to NY]. There are also a few small passages which Leeser has crossed out and personally added corrections to his translation. Also in Leeser's hand (even tinier than his normal writing) is his NOTATION TO HIS PRINTER in the upper blank margin at top of the first page: "Make with this…about three pages and print 200 copies on [a printer's term]…or letter sheet…" Normal aging, but exc.+ condition. Accompanied with fine bio sketch of Rabbi Schwarz with significant details of that 1849/1850 trip to U.S. and Leeser's subsequent publishing of that famous historical account of Palestine (which is also well mentioned in classic work "Isaac Leeser and the Making of American Judaism" by L. J. Sussman in 1995…and mention in the "The Rise of the Jewish Community of N.Y. 1654-1816" by H. P. Grinstein; J.P.S. 1945 (which also mentions Zadok Levy's arrival with Schwarz from Palestine. Extremely rare American Judaica for the collector and original source material for the historian / researcher

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