Eckman, Julius. Autograph Letter Signed written to Isaac Leeser, in English and few words in Hebrew.

At the time of his death, Judah Touro’s will constituted the largest charitable bequest ever left by an American. At the end of this letter Eckman writes to Leeser: “This is Mr [Gershom] Kursheedt's doing, he can congratulate himself.” For it was Gershom Kursheedt who convinced the childless Touro (1775-1854) to leave most of his considerable wealth to Jewish charitable causes. Pulling off this feat of persuasion had not been easy as another letter to Leeser (February 19, 1854) from Kursheedt testifies: “Oh my dear friend, if you knew how I had to work to get that will made and how I strove to serve you, you would pity me. Alas, it was not altogether what I wanted, yet I am thankful to God that even if I injured myself I got the most of what I asked for Israel … Poor good old man [Touro] had noble impulses …some of his notions were good, and to the extent that I can, I will carry them out …” See Bertram W. Korn, A Reappraisal of Judah Touro, in: Jewish Quarterly Review Vol. 45.4 (1955) p. 580.