News Items

Philadelphia.—At the annual meeting of the Educational Society, on the 23d of May, a proposition was submitted to the German congregation Rodef Sholem, to place their Hebrew School under charge of the Society, for the purpose of giving all the children the same advantage as is enjoyed by 'those in its school. A committee was appointed to confer with those deputised by the congregation. A friendly conference took place, in which the delegates of the Society explained, as nearly as they could, the system which is pursued, and the necessary outlay which would have to be incurred to carry the proposal into effect. We understand that the committee's report was favourably received by a meeting of the congregation, and a subscription list was opened to raise the amount required, in addition to the appropriation of, we think, 950 dollars which the Kahal have hitherto paid to the two. Hebrew teachers they have engaged. At the first annual Board Meeting of the Society, held on Sunday morning, the 13th of Jane, a proposition was carried that if the German congregation will contribute the amount of 1600 dollars for any number not exceeding 160 scholars, and contribute 10 dollars more for every additional scholar, the School Directors be empowered to take the necessary steps to open an additional school, provided the German congregation give the use of their school rooms and supply the necessary furniture. It is expected that the expenses to educate the probable number of scholars will be at least 1800 dollars per annum; the Board, therefore, we think, have shown a commendable spirit in meeting the congregation with the above offer; and; we trust, that the school will be in operation between this and the coming holydays—and we should be grieved to record a failure. The deficiency yet to be secured is but small, and, we hope, that there is public spirit enough in this city to enable the Education Society to afford the means of instruction to all Jewish children of the city and neighbourhood. We respectfully call the attention of the members of the congregation and society to the letter of Mr. Mack, of Cincinnati, to prove to them what can be done with a good will. Our charter was obtained about the same time that the Talmud Yelodim was incorporated; and, we trust, that though there was some delay in our making use of it, we may have the Divine aid in our labours, so that they shall not be suspended, but extend farther and farther, until all has been accomplished that can be wished for. We also hope to see a High School stand ready, <<265>> before many years, to open its portals to students from all parts of the country, and that these may become the messengers of glad tidings to generations not yet born, till the Lord will remember his people and lead them back to their land under the guidance of teachers and prophets, through whom the Divine Spirit shall speak unto those who hope for his salvation.

New York.—We have received a long communication respecting the Netherland Kahal, of New York, for which our limited space does not permit us to make room. But as the writer’s evident intention is to record the good deeds of the persons whose virtues he commends, a brief extract will answer all the purpose. He remarks that the congregation was progressing well, when they had to deplore the death of Mr. S. Cohen, from which lose they did not recover for some time. After that they lost another President, in the person of Mr. A. Pakker, whose efforts on behalf of our religion are highly praised. But the writer avers that they have at length found a worthy successor in the good work of the first named in a relative of his, Mr. A. S. Van Praag, the treasurer, who, finding on entering on his duties, the finances in confusion, stated at the meeting held on the first of Iyar, that the spiritual condition of the congregation must be raised, if they wished not to become disorganised altogether; and he urged the opening of the school, with what success has already been stated. The same thing had, however, been proposed already two years ago by Mr. Seckel, though with­out success. Our correspondent also speaks highly of Mr. Noot’s capacity and success as a teacher, and states that several persons of other congregations have applied to the reverend gentleman to take their children under his charge. We shall be pleased to hear; at all times, good accounts of the success of education, since this is the most requisite to elevate our character as a religious community.—We see a report in the daily papers that the Israelites of New York are about erecting a hospital; but we have received no direct information from any of our correspondents, and must, hence, suppose that it is mere rumour, though we see no actual obstacle in the way if the people are earnest in their desire for such an institution.

Detroit, Michigan.—A letter from Detroit of June the 10th, has the following:—“Fully aware that any information concerning the progress of Judaism will give you pleasure, I take the liberty to communicate to you the present position of our Kahal: Our officers are all good and true men. Mr. Jacob Silberman is President; Mr. S. H. Bendet, Treasurer; and Mr. Joseph Freedman, Secretary. We number twenty-<<266>>four members, and have rented a room for two years, and are fitting it up for a place of worship, at an expense of about $300, rent included. We have also a very handsome burying ground, well fenced and ditched, all paid for. Our Shochet, Mr. B. Marcus, officiates also as Hazan and Teacher. I cannot omit mentioning that our worthy President spares no efforts to promote the interests of his community. Our meetings, which are held regularly, are characterized by the strictest order and decorum, and we hope that peace and harmony will always be the pillars of our Kahal. We have also, by the untiring efforts of Mr. J. Silberman, succeeded in forming a benevolent society, under the name of Bikkur Cholim; we elected Mr. C. E. Bresler, President, Mr. J. Silberman, Cashier, and Mr. J. Freedman, Secretary. I will, after the dedication of our place of worship, the only one in this State, give you, with your permission, a farther account of our doings.”

Our correspondent has our permission, nay, we request him to favour us with his kind reports of the progress of our religious interests in his part of the country, and we trust that he may succeed in awakening those he alluded to, in a part of his letter, as sunk into the slumber of indifference to their faith, to a full realization of the beauty of our religion, of which he so feelingly speaks, as having survived the extinction of our people as a separate nation, whilst so many have drawn hope and consolation from our own Scriptures. O, that all might feel this in truth ! how happy would then our progress be! how gloriously would Israel stand before the world! Let us hope for the best, and let our motto, as always, be “Onward!”

England.—Jewish affairs are at a stand-still in Old England. The college which Rabbi Adler has proposed, is one of the pious wishes which looks for its accomplishment in time indefinite. The poor have not the means, and the rich have to spend theirs in schemes of political advancement. If we are correctly informed, the expenses of securing the two elections to parliament, in which Jews were successful, not to mention the others in which they failed, would have well-nigh endowed a college. The only result yet obtained in the political struggle, has been the condemnation of Mr. David Salomon, as a popish recusant to a fine and outlawry (we do not know exactly what the last term includes); and a Jew who will not swear that he believes in Christianity, is to be considered a follower of the Pope, and punished as such when papists occupy many seats in both houses, and the highest offices in the state ! Notwithstanding this absurdity, the bill, if any such was intro­duced by Lord Lyndhurst, himself married to a Jewess, has not yet <<267>> passed, though it ought to have excited no opposition whatever. The final emancipation of oar people in England is not likely to take place speedily, notwithstanding the excited tone of their weekly paper. We regret to be compelled to say, that except on the royal exchange, we have very little influence in Britain; our leaders commenced wrong, and they will have to exalt their faith and people first, before they can hope for an equalization of rights. Perhaps we are mistaken; but this is certain, that they do not deserve it till they do something more for themselves, than has hitherto been the case.
P.S. We just see that the bill alluded to has passed.

Switzerland.—This country, which always excites in America so much sympathy, on account of its republican institutions, numbers a total of 3125 Jews within its borders, and of these 1562, just one-half reside in Aargau (Argovia), where they acquire right of home (Heimathsrechte) in Oberendingen and Lengau, two small towns. In Berne there are 488; in Vaud (Waadt), 368; in Neufchatel, 231; in Geneva, 170; in Basle, 122; in Zurich, 80; in St. Gall, 62; in Soleure (Solothurn), 21; in Shaffhausen, 9; in Fribourg, 5; in Thurgovia (Thurgau), 3; in Tessino, 2; in the Grisons, 1; in the other eight cantons there are no Jews. Now one would have supposed that Basle might have been able to exist, notwithstanding its large number (122) of Israelites ; still, by the latest accounts, we have learnt that a decree has passed, ordering all Jews to quit the canton, both the city and country, part, by the 8th of May. Comment is useless! Liberty certainly has strange phases in the old world, and not the least in republics.

Germany.—Reaction is everywhere at work to reduce the effects of the revolution of ‘48; the Jews had obtained a strong hold in the state, which calls itself Christian, hence the perpetual efforts to bring things back to the old footing. Still has the condition of Israelites improved much, especially in their domestic relations, in Austria, which state, strange enough, seems by its acts to prove itself more in earnest with its concessions, than any other. But what sort of idea has Austria in regard to personal liberty!

Italy.—We also learn that in Toscana onerous acts have been proposed against our people, and in Rome they are again suffering from the ancient oppression; but we have not received of late many details; still there is no doubt, that but little has been gained by them in the late political struggles. Even the “Constitutionale,” a paper printed at Florence, was seized by the police, on the 20th of April, for having published an article in favour of the Jews, deploring the attempt to abridge the rights conceded to them in ‘48. The revolution in public <<268>> acts was too sudden; the sentiment of intolerance was too strongly rooted in Europe; and it requires yet more time, to eradicate the effects of a long course of injustice. We must wait.

Palestine.—Various accounts we have seen, especially in the Sabbath Recorder, which reports the proceedings of a small colony of Seven-day Baptists, lately established at Artos, near Bethlehem Judah, state, that notwithstanding the deplorable state of lawlessness, which characterizes the administration of public affairs in the distant Turkish provinces, and in spite of the sufferings, to which all but Mussulmans are subjected, the country begins to improve, and especially Jaffa and Beiruth are arising as it were out of their ruins. If ever there were security for life and property, against the violence of Turks and Arabs, we should soon hear that poverty now so grievous, had given place to industry and affluence. The Jewish Gazette reports in a letter from Jerusalem, dated in March, that last autumn a Portuguese Jew, who was well acquainted with the language and customs of the Arabs, was for some years engaged in making a support for his family, by selling dry goods. Lately his lifeless body was found in a cistern; the supposed murderer has been arrested; and the reason assigned for this deed of horror is; that the murderer was indebted to the deceased, and he slew him because he demanded his money. It is argued hence, that if life is so little secure in Jerusalem, how can it be safe in the country. Still it is to be hoped that, with the increase of the commercial importance of Palestine, by the passage, through the southern part of it of large convoys of merchandise coming from India, as no doubt it will be before long when the Egyptian rail road is finished, there will also be greater security, and hence greater prosperity likewise. One thing is certain, that Palestine is capable of the highest improvement, if the people and means were only at hand, to undertake an active culture of the soil—The Gazette also reports that Dr. Abraham Kiel, a native of Lemberg (probably the same who has figured regularly in the annual reports of the London Society, for promoting Christianity among the Jews), who had left the Synagogue 12 years ago, again joined it on the first of last Adar (about the 20th of February), on which day his wife also, a Christian lady, belonging to a wealthy family of Danzig (Prussia), became a Jewess; they were to be married again by the Jewish forms in three months from that date. We wonder that the various conversion journals have not reported this interesting occurrence; it would form a beautiful illustration of their various efforts, carried on at such enormous expense; but people seldom learn wisdom even by experience.