(Leeser, Isaac, et al.) Persecution of the Jews in the East: Containing the Proceedings of a Meeting Held at the Synagogue Mikveh Israel, Philadelphia, on Thursday Evening, the 28th of Ab, 5600, Corresponding with the 27th of August, 1840.

<<isaac leeser preaches in relation to the damascus blood-libel. A Scarce Pamphlet.>> “A very numerous and respectable meeting of the Israelites resident at Philadelphia was held… 27th August, 1840, to express their sympathy for their suffering brethren in Damascus, and to co-operate with their brethren in other parts of the world to ameliorate their situation.” The “foul accusations against our people,” were deplored, as was the resulting “unwarranted, cruel, and barbarous massacre.” Letters were read from the Jews of Damascus appealing to their coreligionists in Istanbul, and from the Jews of Istanbul appealing to Messrs. de Rothschild in London. These documents are reproduced in the present pamphlet, followed by Isaac Leeser’s address to the meeting and a variety of resolutions passed. Included are the subsequent correspondence of representatives of the Philadelphia meeting with President van Buren (p. 26). For a contemporary newspaper account of this meeting, see Kestenbaum & Company Sale 53, Lot 19.