Moreh Derech. The Hebrew Reader. Designed as an Easy Guide to the Hebrew Tongue, for Jewish Children and Self-Instruction. No. 1. The Spelling Book. By Isaac Leeser.

(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

John Fagan

Philadelphia

1869

Sixth edition. Text in Hebrew and English

Rappel L-42; cf. Deinard 447 and Singerman 1438, 2403

When first published, it was done for the purpose of supplying a valued friend with a manual for the use of her school.” (Introduction). The valued friend no doubt was Rebecca Gratz who founded the The Hebrew Sunday School of Philadelphia in 1838. The work was the first of its kind geared toward Jewish children. German and Portuguese variant pronunciation guides were provided, together with a liturgical selection. See L.J. Sussman, Isaac Leeser and the Making of American Judaism (1995) p.101