Fischel, Arnold (1830-94). Autograph Letter Signed written to Isaac Leeser, in English.

Dutch born, Arnold Fischel served as a rabbi in Liverpool, England, before emigrating to America in 1856 where he was appointed Lecturer at Congregation Shearith Israel, New York City. Reflecting on the loss of a talented young reverend like Fischel, the London Jewish Chronicle (August 22, 1856, p. 701) opined that “the United States, wiser than we are, profit by our apathy and attract to their shores talents which we seem unable to appreciate.” Fischel was a member of the Board of Delegates of American Israelites, founded in 1859, alongside Isaac Leeser, its vice president. Although American Jews had found themselves in a pleasing situation in terms of political rights since the very formation of the United States, not all rights enjoyed by all citizens had been extended to the Jews until they directly advocated for those rights (see Edward Eitches, Maryland's Jew Bill, in: American Jewish Historical Quarterly Vol. 60.3 (1971) pp. 258-279). So it was, that upon the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, and the volunteering and conscription of American Jews in the Union army, that the Pennsylvania 5th Cavalry's 65th Regiment installed a Hebrew teacher from Philadelphia named Michael Allen as a Jewish chaplain. At the time, all chaplains in the army were under the authority of the US Christian Commission, which promptly demanded Allen’s removal, noting that under law, a chaplain must belong to “a Christian denomination.” Fearing a dishonorable discharge from the army, Allen resigned. Thereafter, Fischel was appointed in his stead. Predictably, Fischel was rejected for the same reason. This time the Board of Delegates of American Israelites, a group founded in 1859 with the intent of coordinating all aspects of Judaism in America, asked Fischel if he would lobby for a change in the law under its banner. He accepted, and on December 10th met with President Abraham Lincoln, who “fully admitted the justice of my remarks… and agreed that something ought to be done to meet this case” (in Fischel’s words). Initially Lincoln offered to appoint Fischel chaplain directly, as he had done with Catholics, but Fischel set his sights on a change in law by Congress. After discussing the matter with his Cabinet, Lincoln gave Fischel a note expressing approval of “a new law broad enough to cover what is desired by you in behalf of the Israelites.” By March 1862 such a bill had passed both houses of Congress and was signed into law by President Lincoln. See Jonathan Waxman, Arnold Fischel: Unsung Hero in American Israel, in: American Jewish Historical Quarterly Vol. 60.4 (1971) pp. 325-343.