Εικόνες σελίδας
PDF
Ηλεκτρ. έκδοση

IN THE

MOSAIC RELIGION:

TRANSLATED FROM THE GERMAN OF THE LATE

J. JOHLSON,

TEACHER OF AN ISRAELITISH SCHOOL AT FRANKFORD ON THE MAINE.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

"Reverence for the Eternal is the first of knowledge,

And only fools despise wisdom and correction."-PROVERBS i. 7.

PHILADELPHIA:

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR BY JONES & THACHER.

5627.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1830,

BY ISAAC LEESER,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

STEREOTYPED BY JONES & THACHER.

PREFACE TO THE STEREOTYPE EDITION.

THE long interval of time since the first issuing of this book, a period of thirty-seven years, has caused it almost to disappear from the public view, and it is nearly forgotten where it formerly was well known. Still, in the opinion of the translator, nothing better calculated for the instruction of advanced classes has been written since its first publication. He therefore determined to institute a new edition based on the third of the author, who has since quitted the scene of his labours, whereas the first was only within his reach when he made his earliest attempt at authorship with this work in August, 5590 (1830). The author himself considerably enlarged his work both at its second and third issue, and the reader will find nearly all the additions incorporated in this, very few only being omitted as non-essential. It is to be hoped that in its present and enlarged form it will supply a book for family instruction, which is much needed, and be the means of diffusing among those, who have passed the school-age, a móderate knowledge of their religion. As it is stereotyped, it can be supplied in any quantities, and, if the demand is large enough, it can be furnished at such a reasonable charge as to leave nothing to be desired in this respect.

Since this work first came out under the supervision of the editor, he has lost much of the timidity incident to making his appearance before the public; but he has lost none of his earnestness in the blessed cause of our faith, and in the hope of being useful to his fellow-Israelites. PHILADELPHIA, Menachem 25th,

August 26th,

} 5627

390574

PREFACE OF THE TRANSLATOR.

In an age when science of every kind is pursued with avidity, no astonishment can be manifested at the attempt of an Israelite to give his brethren a clear knowledge of the religion which they have inherited from their ancestors; since, if it is of any importance whatever to any portion of the human family to profess a certain creed, it is also highly necessary that the principal features at least of this creed should be familiar to all who profess the same. I claim no great literary merit on account of the present performance; for though the labour bestowed on it has been great, and considerable additions and alterations have been made (particularly to the tenth and eleventh chapters), yet the road was already so clearly pointed out by the learned author of the original, that I had nothing more to do than to make as good a use of the materials as my limited abilities and inexperience would permit. How I have succeeded I leave others to judge, and claim no particular indulgence, because it is my first literary performance of any note. But at the same time I beg leave to state, that I shall not hold myself responsible for any difference of opinion which may happen to exist between myself and any of my readers; and I hope that this difference will not, as in justice it should not, deprive me of as candid and impartial a judgment as though we agreed upon every point. If I have not obtained the good opinion of the public, I have endeavoured to deserve it. For, in the first place, I have (iv)

spared no application to render the work, though small in size, as perfect as I could possibly make it; and next, I flatter myself that the typographical execution is of such-general correctness, as will strike every one as worthy of commendation. I can safely aver that the Hebrew, which is distributed throughout these pages, will be found to be as free from errors as can well be expected; for every passage has been carefully revised with the best editions of the Bible. That some small errors may nevertheless have escaped both in the English and Hebrew, despite of the care bestowed upon both, I cannot doubt; but no one can demand perfection, when perfection is beyond the reach of man, and literary labours must share the fate of every other human undertaking.

The design of this work is the instruction of the younger part of Israelites, of both sexes, who have previously acquired some knowledge of the fundamental part, in the principal topics of their religion. As to the manner of using it to advantage, I would recommend its introduction into schools, wherever these are established, or to be used as a book of instruction in families. Let the scholars learn several paragraphs, both the Hebrew and the English, by heart; but care should be taken that the task given them should be no more than they can conveniently get through, as I conceive it highly absurd to give children such long lessons that they must leave them unattended to, or at best study them but very imperfectly. It would also be very advisable to explain the lesson in general terms, when first given out, and more at length when the scholars recite; and, if possible, the construction of the Hebrew sentences, and the mode of reading this language without points, should at the

« ΠροηγούμενηΣυνέχεια »