Unpublished Lincoln Letter to Jewish Congregation Discovered

Discovery in the archives of Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning in Philadelphia of a hitherto unpublished letter written by Abraham Lincoln to the Congregation Hope of Israel of Philadelphia on May 13, 1862, was announced here today in connection with the 44th annual meeting of the American Jewish Historical Society, which opens tomorrow evening at the Jewish Theological Seminary here. The signature on the letter was authenticated by Doctor A.S.W. Rosenback, president of the Historical Society and eminent authority on early American books and manuscripts.

The letter was found by Rabbi Moshe Davis among the papers of Sabato Morais, author of the prayer referred to in the letter, Rabbi for many years of Congregation Mikveh Israel, and later founder and first president of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Doctor Moris’s papers were collected by the late Doctor Cyrus Adler, and are stored at Dropsie College. The letter expresses the President’s thanks for a prayer composed by Doctor Morais and delivered at the synagogues on a day set aside by Presidential proclamation for prayer for the casualties of both armies in the Civil War, and for the preservation of the Union. The communication is addressed to Mr. A. Hart (1810-1895) who was an outstanding figure in American and Jewish life.

The text of the letter reads, “Permit me to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of April 23 containing a copy of a Prayer recently delivered at your Synagogue, and to thank you heartily for your expression of kindness and confidence.” It is signed “Your Obt. Servant, A. Lincoln.”