Leeser, Isaac. Autograph Letter Signed, written in English to Jacob D. Vandever.

(AMERICAN JUDAICA)

7th August

Philadelphia

1862

Discussing the exact date of a particular Jewish religious festival.

* With: Autograph draft of Vandever’s original inquiry to Leeser. (Written on the back of Godey’s Ladies Book broadside). Wilmington, 15th July, 1862. Jacob Vandever was a wealthy Wilmington landowner and descendant of an old family resident in Delaware. He inquires of Leeser as to the precise day the holiday of Shevu’ot (“Pentecost”) fell in the years 1698 and 1699. “My inquiry is connected with certain transactions…” Leeser provides much detailed information, noting that “Pentecost is the 50th day after the Passover.” He concludes “if I were well enough I want to calculate it more…” No record of any relationship between Leeser and Vandever in the University of Pennsylvania’s Jesselson-Kaplan American Genizah Project (Isaac Leeser Digital Repository). Further information available upon request.