The Jews

The following is the letter of a Jew, to his son who had embraced christianity; and when we reflect that the Jews, as a people, have been proscribed, prosecuted, and persecuted; that they have been spoiled, robbed, murdered, pillaged and driven by the Christians, that they have suffered banishment, exile, the confiscation or their property, for ages and generations past, at the hands of their merciless persecutors, and cruel tyrants; we are not surprised that they should cherish in their bosoms, feelings of disgust and abhorrence at the idea of their children embracing a religion which was so at variance with the principles of righteousness; which taught principles which were so sordid, avaricious and devilish, especially when we consider that on the continent of Europe, where a great majority of the Jews reside, they have nothing laid before them but a species of idolatry, which they have ever been taught to abhor from their infancy. What a pity that the pure principles of the gospel and the glorious precepts of the Redeemer should be so misrepresented by priestcraft, bigotry, superstition, and hypocrasy [hypocrisy].-ED.

Breslay, May 21, 1839.

My Dear Son:-I received the letter of the Berlin Rabbi, and when I had read it there ran tears out of my eyes in torrents; my inward parts shook, my heart became as a stone! How! do you not know that the Lord sent me already many hard tribulations? That many sorrows do vex me? But this new harm which you are about to inflict makes me forget

all the former, does horribly surpass them; as well respecting its sharpness as its stings! I write you this laying upon my bed, because my body is affected not less than my soul, at the report that you was about to do something which I had not expected from you. I fainted, my nerves and feelings sunk, and only by the help of a physician for whom I sent immediately, I am able to write these lines to you with a trembling hand. Alas! you, my son, whom I have bred, nourished and fostered; whom I have strengthened spiritually as well as bodily, you will commit a crime on me! Do not shed the innocent blood of your parents, for no harm have we inflicted upon you, we are not conscious of any guilt against you; but at all times we thought it our duty to shew [show] to you, our first born, all love and goodness. I thought I should have some cheering account of you, but alas! how terribly have I been disappointed! But to be short, your outward circumstances are such that you may finish your study or pain.

Do you think that the Christians to whom you will go over by changing your religion will support you, and fill up the place of our fellow believers? Do not imagine that; your outward reasons therefore if you have any are nothing. But out of true persuasion you will, as I think, not change our true and holy doctrine, for that deceitful, untrue and perverse doctrine of Christianity. What! will you give up a pearl for that which is nothing which is of no value in itself? But you are light minded; think of the last judgment,-of that day when the books will be opened and hidden things will be made manifest; of that day when death will approach you in a narrow pass, when you cannot go out of the way! Think of your death bed from which you will be called before the judgment seat of the Lord! Do you not know, have you not heard, that there is over you an all hearing ear, and an all seeing eye? that all your deeds will be written in a book and judged hereafter? Who shall then assist you when the Lord will ask you with a thundering voice, why hast thou forsaken that holy law which shall have an eternal value; which was given by my servant Moses and no man shall change it? Why hast thou forsaken that law and accepted instead of it lying and vanity? Come therefore again to yourself, my son! remove your bad and wicked councellors [councilors]; follow my advise and the Lord will be with you! Your tender father must conclude because of weeping.

Signed, A. L. LANDAU,

[Jewish Intelligencer. Rabbi.

From the Millennial Star.