News Items

Philadelphia.—In the Board of the Publication Society the following changes have been made. Mr. Leeser retires from being Corresponding Secretary, and Mr. Solomon Solis has been elected to fill his place; and we trust that his letters will meet with the kind countenance of the Jewish communities throughout the land.—As Mr. Lazarus Arnold has removed to Cincinnati, Mr. Leeser was elected to fill his place as one of the Managers. The other members of the Board continue the same as last year. The publication committee continues as heretofore, to consist of Isaac Leeser, A. Hart, and Solomon Solis.—A ball was given in aid of the German Ladies’ Hebrew Benevolent Society, on the evening of the 13th of December, which, as we see from the public prints, netted between three and four hundred dollars to the treasury.—The seventh anniversary ball (see advertisement) will take place on the 17th of January next. Half of the proceeds will be devoted to the Hebrew Education Society, and we hope that a  considerable sum will be realized, to insure the opening of the school at an early day.

New York.—A ladies society has been organized in New York, entitled “The B’nai Jeshurun Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society, for the relief of Indigent Females.” The following ladies are the founders:—Mrs. A. Lissak, Mrs. Barnet King, Mrs. D. Samson, Mrs. Edward King, Mrs. Z. Bernstein, Mrs. Aaronson, Mrs. Rebecca Levy, Mrs. Mark Levy, and Mrs. Henry Leo. The first general meeting was held at the Elm Street Synagogue meeting room, on Sunday the 19th of December, 5609, when the by-laws were read and approved, and the following officers were unanimously elected: Mrs. Lissak, President; Mrs. Samson, Vice-President; Mrs. Z. Bernstein, Treasurer; Mrs. Rebecca Levy, Mrs. Charles King, Mrs. Lewis Lyons, Mrs. Henry Leo, Mrs. D. Roth, and Mrs. E. Goldsmith, Directresses, and the Rev. Ansel Leo, Honorary Secretary. We believe from what we saw when last in New York, that the reverend gentleman drafted the laws, and was greatly instrumental in getting up this benevolent society, from the <<526>>ladies belonging to his congregation. They will have ample field for their benevolence in the constantly accumulating stream of immigrants whom the desolation in their native land urges on to America.—On Wednesday the 13th of December, the anniversary dinner  and ball were given by the Portuguese Israelites, associated as the Society for the Education of Poor Children and Relief of Indigent Persons of the Jewish persuasion, held at the Chinese Rooms, Broadway; Mr. H. Hendricks was chairman on the occasion, Rev. J. J. Lyons said the מוציא and the Rev. A. Leo, the grace after meal, and the Rev. Mr. Isaacs made an address. The chairman acquitted himself with much credit in the address, explaining the object of the Society. Eighteen hundred dollars was the sum collected. The reverend gentlemen engaged at the dinner, and the whole proceedings of the evening gave deserved general satisfaction.

New Orleans.—The German Congregation of this city have sent out circulars inviting all Israelites to aid them in erecting a Synagogue; we know of no better method of seconding the laudable desire of the gentlemen engaged in this enterprise than by giving it publicity; wherefore we subjoin it entire, and hope that persons having the means will be induced to aid them in a work of primary necessity to those interested, as there is no suitable house of worship for our numerous and increasing German brothers in the commercial metropolis of the southwest.

“Subscription List for a Loan to the Hebrew Congregation Shanaira Chasset, of New Orleans, for the Purpose of Building a New Synagogue.—Shares of said loan to be $50 each, bearing six per cent. interest per annum. Payments to be made in three equal installments. The first installment payable on the 1st January, 1849,  and the balance in notes at three and six months from said date, payable at the Mechanics’ and Traders’ Bank.

“The property of said congregation to be responsible for the redemption of the said shares. To be redeemed at the convenience of the Congregation.

“Committee—Isaac Hart, A. Haber, Edward Leon, A. Lazard, L. Hess, Joseph Turner, L. Reigensburger, A. De Young, Alex. Mayer, Lewis Schulher, M. Fleshman, J. Barman, Jno. Marks.”

Montgomery, Alabama.—The congregation in this place, the present capital of Alabama, originally associated as a Society under the name of Mebacker Cholim, proceed with their organization; they possess a burying-ground, and have rented a Synagogue. Their election <<527>>was held on the 5th of November, which resulted as follows: Jacob Myer, President; P. Krans, Vice-President; Emanuel Lehman, Secretary; Henry Weil, Treasurer; and M. Englander and Charles Levy, Trustees.

England.—We see that they have organized a Society in London, to supply those not having the means, with Tallith, prayer-books, and Pentateuch, so that whilst attending public worship they may be enabled to unite properly in prayer with the others assembled.—This is a good movement, and deserves imitation everywhere; for nothing is so destructive to devotion as not being supplied with the books which contain the prayers and ritual. We recommend this example to the serious consideration of our American congregations.

Europe.—The accounts from Europe present but little of special interest to Jews. Their emancipation is said to have been decreed in Rome and Sardinia, and we think Tuscany, and Venice, and Lombardy. But we are not able to state whether the Austrian government in its reactionary spirit will not revolve the privileges so long desired and but just realized. Even at Rome, where all is now democratic, the mob-spirit occasionally demonstrates its hostility to our people; and only the One above knows whether the changes lately brought about, will be for better or for worse to Israel, which has suffered so long. We learn with deep regret that that fearless and bold champion of Jewish rights, Dr. Ad. Jellinek, was executed at Vienna as per last accounts, for his participation in the struggle for liberty in Austria. He was one of the rising spirits in Israel, and could hardly have beers more than thirty years old. We know him as a contributor to the Orient; but as there is another of the same name in Leipzig, we will not venture with the defective materials at our command, to go into details. No doubt the Orient will give the particulars hereafter of the manner of Dr. J.’s death, and a full account of his life, when we shall give them publicity. Of one thing we are sure, that he did not merit the death he met with from any crime he had committed; he was fired by the cruel bondage under which his Jewish countrymen laboured in Austria, and. he fancied that in the new-born liberty, purchased with the blood of heroes in the March days at Vienna, he perceived the dawn of better things for Israel. Hence the ardour with which, he and others of his belief entered into the struggle. He has fallen, because the tyrant has triumphed, in the turmoil engendered by the improper use made of the new liberty just acquired, and to which the men of Vienna were not used. Again, therefore, Jewish blood has been shed in the struggle for <<528>>human rights. Will  Christians at length see that we deserve a full equality with them? But more anon.—In Hungary the Magyars, in revolting against the emperor, have not emancipated the Jews, though these have with alacrity joined the national standard against the Austrians and Croats, the latter of whom have done themselves the honour of removing the Jewish disabilities. Even Rabbi Leopold Löw, of Papa, marched out with the battalion of that place, as field preacher to the Jewish soldiers, and is said to have made spirit-stirring addresses to his co-religionists. But again, what avails all this devotion to public good against ancient prejudices? Time alone can effect a cure. which we fear will be slow. One thing alone, among all the accounts which have lately reached us gives us real pleasure, and this is, that in Prussia many Jews who formerly joined the Christian churches have come back to our communion, since the relaxation of the laws relating to reconversions. Formerly no Christian, of course including baptized Jews, could embrace Judaism without being dismissed regularly by his church; but the churches were prohibited granting this license, consequently conversions to Judaism were by law prohibited. But now that in Prussia all religions are alike, anyone can profess Judaism if he pleases, and several have already taken advantage of this better state of things, among the rest a family consisting of five, a father, mother, son and daughter, and a son-in-law, who had been nominal Christians for fourteen years. This proves what little value can be attached to the conversions produced by fear, desire for gain or office, the like of which used to be so numerous, if we may credit reports, in the north of Germany. We trust that if nothing else will result favourable to Israel, this miserable hypocrisy will be annihilated in the new order of things.

Obituary

Our congregation lately experienced the death of several of its respected members. Miss Sarah M. Cohen departed this life on Sunday, the 19th of November; Mrs. Maria Hackenburg, wife of J. L. Hackenburg, on Sunday night, the 27th Nov. aged 49, and Mr. Jacob Phillips, for many years a member of our adjunta, aged 78, on Monday afternoon, the 4th of December. Their deeds while living will speak their best praise now that they have been gathered to their fathers. May they receive their reward from on high in the abode of the blessed.