Lilienthal, Rabbi Dr. Max (1815-82). Autograph Letter Signed to Julius Feinberg (1823-1905) one of Cincinnati’s leading citizens, president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and a close ally to Lilienthal.

AUCTION 80 | Thursday, March 28th, 2019 at 1:00 PM
The Valmadonna Trust Library: Further Selections from the Historic Collection. * Hebrew Printing in America. * Graphic & Ceremonial Art

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Lot 134
(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

Lilienthal, Rabbi Dr. Max (1815-82). Autograph Letter Signed to Julius Feinberg (1823-1905) one of Cincinnati’s leading citizens, president of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and a close ally to Lilienthal.

A Halachic opinion concerning the disinterment of graves from an older Jewish cemetery in Cincinnati in order to transfer the remains to family plots in Cincinnati’s new Jewish cemetery. Written in English with three words in Hebrew. One page. Lower left corner torn. Folio.

Cincinnati: 31st August 1871

Est: $3,000 - $5,000
PRICE REALIZED $2,500
<<An important letter by Rabbi Max Lilienthal regarding Reform practice.>> The Chestnut Street cemetery, the oldest Jewish cemetery west of the Allegheny Mountains, was used by the Jewish community of Cincinnati until 1849, after which it was closed due to the large number of burials following an outbreak of cholera. The following year, the Jewish community opened a new cemetery, Walnut Hills. After much contentious deliberation it was agreed to relocate all remains from the old cemetery to the new one, a controversial decision made by Rabbi Max Lilienthal and fully endorsed by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise. Indeed Lilienthal’s final paragraph in the present letter notes: “You have also requested me to beg Rev. Dr. Wise, to give his opinion in regard to the pending question… He considers the intended disinterment not only a Mitzvah [Hebrew], but an honor to those that are buried.” Clearly Lilienthal felt that Wise’s opinion was crucial in influencing communal views on this along with so many other matters relating to tradition and community. See J. D. Sarna and N.H. Klein, The Jews of Cincinnati (1989) p. 46 who notes that the decision was ultimately never actualized due to the objection of one family and thus the lack of complete unanimity on the matter.