Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-01-09

ing their institutions and tenouncino their teachers
ana kabbns. The Jews themselves have commonly
been StgmatiZed as dishonest IN their dealings, and
only DESTROYS CT engaging in small trade om Of
sioa 10 agriculture, unuoi tutor ami tie sciences 1t
Is unfortunately true, that most of my brethren
faith are thus engaged, bat let inquire if the fault
be theirs: Let Us for moment TO our hsto-
ry since the destruction of the Second Temple, and
we shall lind reasons enough to account for the
present state of the Jews. That part of our nation
settled IN syria agricuturistS and mechanics as
long as they lived unmolcsted they respected
ana enlightened, and rot alone made the Ttmud their
study, but de also great rogrl IS IN the other sci
ences, particularly astronomy, OF which the Jewish
Calendar bears honorable testimony, which even the
Christians must confess has bcen very ingeniousy
consructed and several schools, particularly the
III Surla were long and justly celebrated; but barba-
rons nation now occupies this fair land, and the
lsracliteS groan under oppression
The Jews settled amongst the Christians were
uniformly hated and detcstCd every opprcssor CON
sidcred them as lawful prey, and both king and beggaI
tfod them under foot. No Jew was allowed to enter
university. no jew could he member of a guild,
without beng which, he could exercise none of the
nccilc arts: what then left to HIM but to turn
his attention to trade? Could every one be Whole
sale dealer: Surely not. Is it therefore wonderful
that by degrees the greater part nation became
s!nal-traders, sh1p-kecpers and pedlers? Some in
tins way anGsseG considerable fortunes and in conse-
quence turned tIelr attention to increase their wealth
without the trouble and vexation accompanying the
aforementioned occupations. and thus became money
changers and because they loaned money on interest
were directly called usurerS. The Christian nobility
nay even kings became indebted TO them, and they
acquired thus an asccndency which was otherwise
denied them. vii! not dwell upon the many hard
ships we had to endure, how many prosecutions we
had TO suffer, particularly III England, France and
| Spain; how we were driven from town to town, and
from country to country it then, that ilocks OF
! Jews or ''sWGrns' the Quarterly so elegantly
styiesit, icd from these countries into Germany and
Poland where though oppressed they could at least
n arr
where they might dwell to acquire fresh strength TO
be able to endure sufferings. 1t was then that
| the Emperor of Germany took the Jews under his
own projections it was then that the King Casimir of
Poland granted unto the People of God those prvi-
ieges which they yet enjoy there But even in Ger
many and Poland we Obliged to suffer much
and many of us slaughtered and as the Hebrew
eegy expresses 1t, 1.-The blood of parents was mingled
with that OF the children, that Of the teachers with
the blood Of their scholars, aud the blood of the
bridegroom with the blood of his bride" We were
considered an inferior race, every one spit at us
and no one felt pity for the miserable remnant Of
great people. 1t is true cheerfuily went to meet
our death by fire, by water, by the sword and the gal
lows, nay many suffered themselves to he buried alive
rather than torsake faith; and gave up our lives
eXclaining CLEAR o Isruel, the Eternal our God is
the only Eternal Being, rather than by changing our
belief, live highly honoured and respected by the
world, but despscd by ourselves. In all these great
sutferings the voice ofthe Rabbns was heard encour
aging their flock to submit cheerflly to the DEGREES
rather
admonishng and teaching the common people. And
could they acquire glory by a,aytygdom7 Had they
any principle of their to establish bv their
death?No, so far from it, their individual names al
almost forgotten except among few of their breth-
rem and they died for the faith of their ancestors and
as for doctrines of their they had none to estab
is, since their brethren already entirely confided
IN them. and they therefore needed not sacrifice their
lives for the attainment of that, which they already
possessed.-The life of the Rabbins has been uni
forny moral and pous ARD it would puzzle even the
learned writer in the Quarterly Review to find the He
brew Rabies act like some of the MANI Christian
Bishops and Pontfs have DONE No Rabbin / ven
ture to assert went forth in battle to fr in the
train or conQuering prince; Rabbin ever ordered
the eyes OF an opponent to be put out one of the
early Popcs is said 10 have done Upon the whole
the life of Rabblns may without danger their repu.
tatlon be compared with the best of the Christian d.
vines, and l even dare say, that in most cases the
Jewish Ra bbins will be found to have been the best
men. 1t is not my object to throw odum upon the
teachers of christianity far from it, for there are many
good and valuable men amongst them, many both in
ancient and modern times who wished and did well to
Israel but only the memory of our own pas
tors, from the reproach and contempt, which the Re-
viower and many kindred spirits would so gladly
bring them into. If what have said ofthe Rabbins
be true land challenge the world 10 DENY it'll all as
constituent will vanish, why the Jewish tbeoloeians
exercise such powerful influence all their breth-
why their opinions listened TO with such pro-
found Difference and why every Jew should aim, that
ills son should become one OF the sacred fraternity.
Every person that dspassionatey reads the article al
ludcd to in the 0. R. must be convinced, that the
writer of it aCtuated by, may say, deadly ha-
tired to the Rabbins; for what other motive could he
have for calling the great Moses Mendelsohn of bes
sed memory, an infdel' Has the Reviewer ever read
his letters to professor Koelbee, III which he defends
himself against the charge Of being dcist, True he
left Koelbele in possession of the field bit was that be
cause he could not answer him: Certainly not it
was what Mr.. Mendelsohn pubicly Nannounced, that
should Dir. Koelbele think proper to answer him. he
(Acndelsohn) would not think him worthy of reply,
the letter he then writing must of necessity be
sufficient answer to all he could say in reply. on
Is quote from memory not having the book at present.
but am sure, that have stated the substance cor
rectiy. Let any read the works of Arendelsohn,
and let him then pronounce judgment, and 7 do not
fear that he will him find guilty of the tod charge of
the q. R.-Mr. Mendclsolm's memory did not need
Il defence from such obscure Individual as am
hnt [ could sLcr LIZ calmrnnntnr,s nssnrtinr 70