(MANDELSTAMM, LEON / ARYEH LEIB).

Vilna

1851

Two Letters Signed, in Hebrew, by Rabbis Israel Gordon and Abraham David Strashun, praising the Biblical writings of Leon Mandelstamm. * 1. Written to Professor Muchlinsky. Stating that Mandelstamm’s Biblical writings are written in full accordance with Jewish tradition. One page. 20th Tishrei, 1851. * 2. Written to Leon Mandelstamm. Extolling the virtues of Mandelstamm’s work. Two pages, with two wax seals. Rosh Chodesh Kislev, 1851.

Successor to Max Lilienthal in the Russian Government’s Ministry of Education, Leon Mandelstamm (1819-89) attempted to enforce Haskalah influence, by way of secular education, upon Russian Jewry. He published various books for use in Jewish schools as well as “Shnei Perakim” which stresses the religious duty to respect temporal rulers. The present letters relate to the “Mandelstamm Bible,” published by the Russian government in St. Petersburg, 1852, issued with a German translation and scholarly notes. These two letters provide interesting background as to the recommendations and approvals needed for publishing such works in Russia. Mandelstamm was required to provide the Education Ministry with the approbations of both Professor Muchlinsky as well as the Jewish representatives of Vilna, even though Mandelstamm was himself the government representative in charge of Jewish Affairs and advising the ministry. See J. Raisin, The Haskalah Movement in Russia (1913), pp. 186, 200; E. Katzman, Yeshurun Vol. V; JE, Vol. VIII, pp. 289-90; EJ, Vol. XI, col. 868. Rabbi Abraham David Strashun (1788-1855), was an outstanding Torah scholar and communal leader. Rabbi Israel Gordon was a Dayan in Vilna, acknowledged by the government as “official Rabbi,” and thus utilized the crown’s seal when signing official papers. Max Lilienthal relates that Gordon spoke German fluently. See Max Lilienthal:American Rabbi-Life and Writings (1915) pp. 268-69.