Name/Title
Alsbacher Document REPLICAEntry/Object ID
1121RDescription
Words of prayer, words of wisdom, words of warning-- a unique glimpse through time into the soul of a community as it says goodbye to its sons and daughters.
This hand-lettered ethical testament is the only one of its kind known to have survived over the centuries. The document was written in 1839 by Lazarus Kohn, a teacher in Unsleben, Bavaria. It was addressed to Moses and Yetta Alsbacher and the other Unsleben Jews who were about to immigrate to Cleveland.
Knowing that he would likely never see his friends again, Kohn offered his wishes for a trouble-free journey. He used verses from the Old Testament to construct a prayer for their safety, and he even listed the names of their neighbors in the village who were staying behind. Most important, he cautioned the travelers never to forget their Jewish heritage, even amid the "tempting freedom" of America.Context
First written document detailing early Jewish immigration to Cleveland.Collection
MMJH, GiftsEthnography
Cultural Region
Continent
Europe, North AmericaRegion
NortheastDimensions
Height
1/2 inWidth
7 inLength
8-1/4 in