2004-09
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/31/2004
JACOB EZEKIEL (1812-1899) Richmond Jewish communal leader and merchant (and father of the famous Moses Jacob Ezekiel, American Sculptor). A letter of extreme historical significance written from Richmond June 14, 1849 to his friend Isaac Leeser, discussing those very same obnoxious laws which he succeeded in helping repeal that very same year. Boldly penned, entirely in his hand with full signature. Three pages, in which he seeks Leeser's assistance in publishing news of the legal action Richmond Jews are undertaking. Writes he just received an article "…relative to the Sunday Laws of Penna and I regret much that every effort has been in vain to modify that obnoxious law in your state. The session is before…our [Richmond] legislature when they revise our Criminal Laws I had the matter under consideration in the Senate nearly two days relative to the Sabbath Laws here…sent you papers with remarks on the subject that were however only slightly modified…and only by one vote [describes how wording of law changed]…penalties lost by a vote of 20-5…the law as reported was done to recognize a Sabbath day and not to leave it discretionary [with details of same]…if we have had any competent person to have argued the point before the committee we would have had matters fixed our own way…but we were minus [votes]…now an extra session…for the purpose of revising the Civil Code and criminal also…intend to use my efforts to get this matter set right in regard to that law…[discusses talks he had with legislature on the matter and that] he will use his effort to have it modified. I am sure were you here and present… you could urge our claims…that could not be easily misunderstood…I would do the utmost to have things right as they ought to be…have great interest in the matter and have enlisted many of the members of legislature from time to time in our favor…wish you would write an article…" and more. Back sheet acts as cover with postmark. Earlier, in 1841, Ezekiel wrote directly to U.S. President John Tyler objecting to the phraseology of a document which designated the U.S. a nation of "…a Christian people." He received a cordial personal reply from Tyler acknowledging that he had really meant "all people" not intending to discriminate and voiced the hope that his reply had alleviated any misunderstanding. The very fact that the president had taken the time to respond personally to the remonstrances of an individual citizen was a favorable augur for the future of democracy. In 1849 Ezekiel was successful in obtaining an amendment to the revised Virginia State Code freeing citizens who observe the Jewish Sabbath from any penalty for violating the Sunday "Blue Laws" (With accompanying photostatic copies of his bio sketch and other information.) Important American Judaica incident.
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