23 autograph letters by Ephraim Deinard, addressed to Elkan Nathan Adler. New Jersey (USA), Ferrara, Ancona, Mantua, Thessaloniki, Constantinople, Beirut, Jerusalem and Ramleh. Most letters from 1902 to 1910. Hebrew (two letters in English).
Deinard's letters to Adler are mainly concerned with books, and include lists of books for sale, descriptions of rare books which he discovered throughout his travels, instructions and comments concerning shipment of books and payment for them, and more. In the letters, written in his unique style full of witty criticism and humor, Deinard refers , to life in the USA and England, to politics and religion, to his travels and visits to various Jewish congregations, and more.
The letters shed light on Deinard's occupation as collector and book dealer; they reveal the scope of Deinard's library (in many letters he refers to shipment of cases full of books, and in one letter he even mentions shipment of 22 cases), as well as the richness of the library, Deinard's love of books and his bibliographic expertise. More than once he mentions rare and precious books and Hebrew manuscripts, or writes to his friend about an unknown book he found .In some of the letters Deinard mentions dignitaries who purchased books from him, among them Mayer Sulzberger (1843-1923), judge, public activist and Jewish-American leader, one of the founders of several Jewish organizations in the USA, who held in his library numerous rare and precious Hebrew books.
Some letters were written during Deinard's travels in various places around the world - Italy, Turkey, Palestine, and more - describing his impressions of various encounters, and his search for manuscripts. For example, in one letter he describes a visit to Nablus:"[…] we went directly to the high priest Jacob Ben Aaron, and after he showed me the whole of his treasure […] I began pleading him to give me, or even just show me, the Book of Joshua. He pledged never to have seen this book, claiming it is not sacred to them, and that they perceive it merely as a history book." In another letter he sums up one of his journeys: "I did not complete my travels, particularly, I did not travel to China to search for the Jews who are dwelling there since ancient times [...] I knew such a journey will cost me much time and great expenses, and a society which supports Hebrew travelers does not yet exist […] and how my heart aches, knowing that to this day, not one of the multitudes of Jews has risen to the task of searching for his lost brothers in this faraway land".
In a letter from 1902 Deinard mentions the fifth Zionist Congress, in which Adler participated, and writes about "the noise which was aroused by delegates who are concerned with their people's wellbeing…", about the "Hibbat Zion" movement and the opposition against it: "Jews in Western Europe - and mainly the rich ones - became like despicable slaves, and this moved them away from Hibbat Zion".
In another letter Deinard writes about the United States: "compared with old arrogant Europe, we lack nothing under Columbus' sky: not money, not objects and not ancient books. Just one thing [is lacking]: 'men-and-Jews'; even though, thank God, we have both, the men are not Jews and the Jews are not men…".
Ephraim Deinard (1846-1930) - Hebrew bibliographer and author, book collector and book dealer; one of the greatest Hebrew bibliographers in modern times; historian and polemicist, considered a fascinating and colorful figure. Deinard was born in Sasmaka (present day Valdemārpil, Latvia). When still young he travelled around the world, studied various Jewish congregations, and collected Hebrew books and manuscripts. In the 1880s he maintained a book shop in Odessa. In 1888 he immigrated to the United States, where he continued to sell books and attempted to establish a Jewish agricultural colony in Nevada. When his attempt failed, he immigrated to Palestine in 1913, and settled in Ramleh. There too he tried to establish a Jewish agricultural settlement, but in 1916 he was deported by the Turks and was obliged to return to the United States.
Deinard's collections served to found departments of Hebrew books in leading libraries in the USA, and catalogues of his books were an important source for research of Hebrew literature and culture. Deinard composed dozens of books, among them study books and controversial polemic books (against Christianity, against Hassidism, and more). Deinard was considered a provocative author, and many of his books aroused harsh criticism..
The addressee of the letters, Elkan Nathan Adler (1861-1946), was a Jewish-British attorney, author and collector of Hebrew books and manuscripts; son of Nathan Marcus Adler, chief rabbi of the British Empire. Adler spent several years journeying to the East and visiting various Jewish congregations. Among other places, he visited Egypt (he was one of the first to study the documents in the Cairo Genizah), Syria, Persia, India and Yemen. During his journey he searched for Hebrew books and manuscripts, and over the years established a collection which was considered one of the largest private book collections in the world.
23 letters (out of which five are written on postcards), and two excerpts from letters. Many of the letters were written on Deinard's official stationery in New Jersey. One letter was written on his stationery in Ramleh - "Deinard Garden, Ramleh (Palestina)". All Hebrew letters (except one) are handwritten in legible square script.
Enclosed: two envelopes addressed to Elkan Nathan Adler and two leaves (on blue paper) with lists of books.
Size and condition vary. Good overall condition. Fold lines, tears to some letters (one letter torn in half at the fold line). Stains (some dampstains, with ink smears).