Untitled

Metadata

Untitled

Description

Letter from Dr. Illowy in New Orleans to an unknown recipient in Philadelphia concerning the circumcision of children born to non-Jewish mothers. The letter discusses the conflict between the views of various mohels (ritual circumcisers) and rabbis on the practice. Dr. Illowy details his efforts to prevent circumcisions without the subsequent ritual immersion (tevilah) and seeks a legal opinion from Rabbi Leeser on the matter. The letter is accompanied by images of four pages of handwritten text in German. The text includes references to Jewish law and religious authorities, such as Maimonides, in supporting the argument that circumcision alone does not make a child Jewish, and the ritual immersion (tevilah) is also necessary.

Subjects

Other Details

Type: Letter

Identifier: LSKAP_NC-5

Collection: Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Isaac Leeser Collection

People

Dates

Gregorian: October 31, 1864

Hebrew: א׳ בְּחֶשְׁוָן תרכ״ה

Places

Languages

German Hebrew

Citation

Please cite this item as:

Bernard Illowy, Isaac Leeser. Die Beschneidung der in Mischehen von nichtjüd. Müttern geborenen Kinder.” (October 31, 1864). Arnold and Deanne Kaplan Isaac Leeser Collection. Accessed at https://leeser.judaicadhpenn.org/item/lskap_nc-5 .