News Items.

New York.—We learn from the public papers, as well as from private information, that the Rev. S. M. Isaacs has resigned the pastoral charge of the Elm Street congregation, and has accepted a call from the members of the new Synagogue in Franklin Street. In connexion with this we have received a printed circular, giving the particulars with respect to Mr. Isaacs’ time of preaching; and as many of our southern friends, who visit New York during the course of the summer, will no doubt desire to hear the reverend gentleman’s lectures, we insert it entire, in order to give it greater publicity.

“Sir,—You are hereby notified that the new Hebrew Congregation, under the pastoral care of the Rev. S. M. Isaacs, will from the 10th instant, meet for public worship, at 17 Franklin Street, near Broadway.

“On the eve of Pentecost, Tuesday evening next, at 7 o’clock precisely, the Rev. S. M. Isaacs will deliver an inaugural address.

“In addition to the usual Hebrew service, English discourses will be delivered on the following days: Saturday, June 28th; Sat., August 2d; Sat., August 30th; Sat., Oct. 4th; the Day of Atonement; Sat., Oct. 25th; Sat., Nov. 29th; Sat., Dec. 27th; Sat., Jan. 24th; Sat., Feb. 21st; Sat., March 21st; Sat., April 4th; Sat., April 25th; Sat., May 23d; Sat., June 20th.

“Public notice will be given when it shall be expedient to deliver additional addresses.

“By order. E. Heilbuth, Sec'ry pro tem.

“June 6th, 5605.”

Charleston.—At the anniversary meeting of the members of “The Society for the Instruction of Jewish Doctrine,” the following officers were unanimously re-elected for the ensuing year : Miss Henrietta Hart, President; Mrs. Mary Hersch, Vice-President; Miss P. Valentine, Secretary and Treasurer.—Trustees: Mrs. Priscilla Lopez, Mrs. S. Woolf, Mrs. M. Loovis, Mrs. M. Levin. Mrs. M. A. Levy.—Committee of Benevolence: Mrs. Jacob Cohen, Mrs. D. D. Cohen, Mrs. A. Levy, Mrs. H. Davis, Mrs. L. Moses.—Teachers: Mrs. J. Rosenfeld, Miss Priscilla Tobias, Miss R. Alexander, Miss Sarah Cohen, Miss H. Hyams, Miss R. Sampson, Miss H. Joseph.

In the report of books used by our Sunday school, “Leeser’s Catechism for Younger Children,” was omitted. S. H.

Education.—We understand that efforts are now making to establish schools for religious instruction in Baltimore, New Orleans, and Montreal. Even in Augusta, Georgia, where there are but few Jewish families, perhaps not more than five or six, they have established a school where there are eleven children under tuition; and they, as we learn, make a creditable progress in their studies. We sincerely trust that the progress of the good cause may be onward, and that it may penetrate every little settlement over the whole continent and the islands where Jews are found.

The Jewish Miscellany, No. II.—The friends of this enterprise are respectfully notified that the second number will be put to press in a very short time. The delay in its appearance has been caused by the great apathy which has been shown by some of our largest congregations in seconding this effort, which has been undertaken by its projectors with the sole view of diffusing religious knowledge among American Israelites at the cheapest possible rates. But as the committee have received assurances of support from different individuals through the country, and chiefly from St. Thomas, Richmond, Augusta, Savannah, and New Orleans, besides Philadelphia, they mean to progress for the present, thus giving a renewed opportunity to those who may feel inclined to aid in this matter, of signifying their intentions to Mr. A. Hart, the president of our congregation, and one of the committee. We trust that this appeal will be enough to enlist the co-operation of all. The sum of one dollar which the plan requires is certainly quite small; and for this, if generally contributed, we shall be able to print and circulate from 500 to 1000 pages per annum, of such works as would otherwise be inaccessible to nearly all, or obtainable only at rates which would put it out of the power of the larger majority to acquire them:—We acknowledge the receipt of five dollars as a donation from Mr. S. L. Levy of New Orleans.

Jewish Population in the Rhenish Prussian Provinces and Westphalia.—In the district of Aix-la­Chapelle, 2522; district of Coblentz, 7956; district of Cologne, 5219; district of Düsseldorf, 7085; district of Treves, 4763; total 27,554. In the province of Westphalia,—district of Arnsberg, 5408; district of Minden, 5782; district of Münster, 3215; total 14,405. The circles having over one thousand are: Coblentz, 1041; Creuznach, 1648; Neuwied, 1191; Bonn, 1116; Duisburg, 1137; Höxter, 1318; Warburg, 1257; the other circles have from 2 to 881 individuals. It is in behalf of the Israelites living in this portion of Prussia that such strenuous efforts have been made by their Christian fellow-citizens to remove all civil disabilities; and though for the second time a bill has been passed by the Rhenish diet, we fear that the spirit of liberality has not yet sufficiently imbued the councils of the king of Prussia to do this tardy act of justice towards a people that was foremost among the first to respond to the call of their country to free it from foreign subjection, in the ever memorable period of 1813 and 14, when North Germany rose en masse to drive out Napoleon’s legions, though by his agency the Jews had acquired many privileges formerly denied them. Well may it is said that of all the inhabitants of Prussia the Jews alone have the most cause to regret the downfall of Germany’s oppressor. But let us hope for justice at last; and so far from regretting the part the Israelites took in the war of liberation, we rejoice that we can look back to the period when the men of our native land vindicated their rights against foreign misrule, and that the Israelites then proved that they are with their country, in word and deed; and the wrong done, is therefore no disgrace to us, but to the narrow policy which sees the glory of religion only in excluding from all offices of emolument those who differ in their opinions from the rulers of the land. But much has been gained already, the Christians themselves call for Jewish emancipation, and it will be granted sooner or later; its long delay only insures its finally sure triumph.

Good News for Judaism.—We learn from the Orient that the resolve of the last summer’s assembly of German Rabbis, consisting of twenty-five men, Rabbis and preachers, of whom two belonged to the same temple at Hamburg, to permit the intermarriages between Jews and gentiles, was originally voted for by but eleven persons, and carried by the casting vote of the Church Councillor. (Kirchenrath) Mayer. So we may breathe freely again, we are safe till the result of another meeting be known. Likewise the proposition to abolish the Hebrew from public worship was negatived. As these wise men are to meet again very soon, we hope that they will endeavour as far as in them lies to consolidate, not to destroy Judaism; but we fear their power for mischief is greater than their power for good, and we pray to be delivered from such defenders.

Jewish Charity.—Gibralter.—“Our agent in this place,” says The Voice of Jacob, of April 25th, “in illustration of the charitable feeling of the Jewish inhabitants, mentions the fact, that the amount collected on Purim day in the Synagogues, and by the collection from private houses, was no less than 4000 dollars, for distribution among poor families resident in the garrison; and this is besides gifts to 105 poor persons from various parts of Barbary! These last had a free passage to their homes, at the expense of the congregation. This charity is indeed munificent, even for a Jewish community.”

Coblentz, March 14.—The repeal of the imperial decree of the 27th March, 1808, and the substitution of another Bill for the perfect equalization of the Jews, were both passed in the Rhenish Assembly, on the 12th instant. The former by a majority of sixty-five to seven, and the latter by fifty-six to sixteen.

Malta, 13th April, 1845.—“To the Editor of the Voice of Jacob.—Sir,—I beg leave to request your insertion of the following additional proof of the paternal consideration of His Highness the Bey of Tunis, for his Jewish subjects, issued latterly in a circular to the respective Consuls in that Regency, so different to that of the Bey of Tripoli, whose ill-treatment of his Jewish subjects, rich and poor, renders the Firman granted to Sir Moses Montefiore, a dead letter in that place.

“I am, Sir, your humble servant,

“A. A. Correa.

Copy of the Circular.

“Praise to the only God!—From the servant of God, (praised be he) the Musheer Ahmed Bashaw Bey, prince of the Tunisian government, to our ally, —— Consul General of ——, &c., in Tunis. Hence the object of our writing to you is to let you know, that we have been informed that some Europeans, residing in our capital, ill-treated some of the Tunisian and other Jews, on the Feast of Easter. Now it is very evident that such conduct is unbecoming. We therefore desire that you warn those under your protection, so that similar bad actions may be avoided in future.

“Written on the 24th of Babea, the first in the year 1261.”

The Russo-Polish Jews.—According to the Königsberg Zeitung, another Ukase has appeared, ordering the Jews to exchange their peculiar costume for that worn by all other classes of the people. Up to the year 1850, they may continue to wear their peculiar costume, on payment of a certain fine; after that period, there will be no alternative for them. The women are subject to the same Ukase. Some principal congregations have signified their intention to obey the Ukase at once.—Voice of Jacob.

Frankfort-on-the-Maine, 18th March.—A second meeting of the Rabbins, who last year held a Congress at Brunswick, has been appointed to be held here on the 15th of July. The managing Committee consist of Leopold Stein, Rabbi of this place; Dr. Formstecher, Rabbi of Offenbach; Dr. S. Adler, Rabbi of Alzey; Dr. A. Adler, Preacher of Worms.

Russia and Poland.—A Ukase, dated 7th January, has appeared, containing the regulations of the settlement of the Jews for agriculture, in which also the Karaites are more favoured than the other agricultural Jews.

Treves, 16th March.—Upon the arrival of the news that the Rhenish assembly had again voted in favour of Jewish Emancipation, with a large majority, the congregation of this place distributed a quantity of fuel among the poor of the city, and an address of thanks was voted to the upper assembly. The congregation of Coblentz, also, when this event became known, sent four hundred dollars to the Institution for the Blind.—Jewish Chronicle.

The Russian Jews.—Another sudden and portentous change in the condition of the Jews in the Russian Empire is affected by a new regulation.—“St. Petersburgh, 14th Feb. The latest bulletin of laws issued by the Emperor of Russia contains a new regulation, which dissolves all laws hitherto existing; in reference to the Jews of the empire. Whether they reside in towns or in the country, they shall submit to all recognised laws of the country. From these will be exempt:—1. Those Jews living in or travelling through Riga, and the other towns of the Baltic provinces, with reference to their particular privileges.—2. Those Jews residing in Siberia, for whom distinct laws and regulations do exist.—3. Karaim (a sect of Jews, renowned for their strong adherence to the Mosaic faith, living in the southern Russian provinces).—4. Those Jews pursuing agriculture, who have not got their own laws. After the introduction of these regulations, no separate form of managing­laws, shall be permitted among the Jews in Russia. Their Kahals (the congregation managing-officers) shall all be dissolved, and the magistrates of the town have to attend to their affairs, and are obliged to keep a register of the Jews living under their jurisdiction, in which separate entries of all their trades are to be made. If a Jew makes any change in his trade or of his place of residence, it is at once to be entered in the register, to enable the government at all times to obtain information regarding his occupation and place of residence. No taxes shall be levied on them besides those lawful and general ones, except approved of by the government.”

The real scope and tendency of this sweeping measure is not apparent. If it be not a mere abolition of certain, varied regulations (to which the Jews in different provinces have hitherto been subject,) with a view to uniformity—considered as Jews—then the design is to assimilate them in every respect with other Russian subjects. Such a measure, although it be even kindly intended, appears to us to involve a revolution rather too sudden and too indiscriminate to be received as a blessing by the Kahals and their constituents. We anxiously wait their own report.—Voice of Jacob.

The Jews in Silesia.—“The number of Jews in the province of Silesia amounted, towards the close of the year 1843, to 28,606, of whom 361 had not the rights of citizenship. Among these were 4,553 men, and 4,542 women, who either were, or had been, married; 5,357 males, and 5,212 females, under fourteen years of age; 7,913 males, and 8,530 females, between fourteen and sixty years; and 879 males, and 715 females, above that age. The number of Jews living in towns amounted to 21,647; in the country, to 6,959; in the district of Oppeln, to 15,560; in the district of Breslau, to 10,376; and in the district of Liegnitz, 2,670 Jews. Their occupations are specified as follows: 270 are physicians, teachers, and professors of arts and sciences; 272 live on their own property, on annuities, or pensions, without following any profession; 3,255 are engaged in trade; 1,150 (of whom in the district of Oppeln alone 924) are tavern and innkeepers; 669 exercise mechanical trades and occupations; 152 are engaged in husbandry, tilling of vines, and orcharding; 344 are horse-dealers, carriers, coachmen, brewers, and distillers. Besides the above, there were 1,266 apprentices; 181 who filled inferior public situations; 81 labourers; 625 servants; 481 recipients of alms, or inmates of hospitals or almshouses; 233 were without any apparent occupation and resources, some of whom gained a living by begging.”—Jew. Int.