Now! Then! Rabbi Phillips of York writes to the Herald accepting an apology from the evangelical Jew-converter (and convert) Joseph Wolff for taking his name in vain

17 October 1826: Rabbi Phillips of York writes to the Herald accepting an apology from the evangelical Jew-converter (and convert) Joseph Wolff for taking his name in vain

L. Phillips. 1826/10/21. Mr. J. Wolff and Rabbi Phillips. York Herald. York. Get it:

Excerpt

Mr. J. Wolff has this morning forwarded to me a letter of apology, for calling loudly on my name in the course of his address, in the New Concert Hall, last evening, when in the presence of the numerous and genteel auditory there assembled, he detailed his efforts towards the conversion of the Jews. I was not present, and I felt myself much hurt when I was informed of the liberty that had been taken with my name, thus bringing me before the public in a matter, concerning which I had no inclination to interfere. I declare, as a sincere Jew, that I accept his apology, and forgive his improper allusion; and thus take my leave of the man, who has served a seven years’ apprenticeship to the Jewish religion, afterwards worked several years as a journeyman in the Catholic church, and now sets up for a Protestant Master of Arts! Farewell, good-natured Wolff! and at parting, permit me to instruct you relative to that system of conversion in which you so zealously and so profitably labour. If the conversion is to be on our part, it is Jehovah alone who can turn the heart, and who will work in his good time. When it please him, he will accomplish his own purposes; and the puny and presumptuous efforts of mortals are not needed to give an impulse to the arm of the Almighty, nor to hasten the accomplishment of his desires.

Order the book

Subscribe to the free daily email

To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations

Comment

The same paper contains a report on the meeting:

Society for the Conversion of the Jews.-On Sunday last, two sermons in aid of the funds of the above society were preached in this city, by the Rev. C.S. Hawtrey, M.A., Chaplain and Secretary to the Society, and Vicar of Whitson, in Monmouthshire. The sermon in the morning was delivered in St. Saviour’s church, and the collection amounted to £22. 11s. 9d. and in the evening the service took place at St. Michael-le-Belfrey’s, when £25. 6s. 1d. were collected. On Monday evening, a public meeting was held in the New Concert Room, Lendal, in consequence of Mr. J. Wolff, a converted missionary to the Jews, having unexpectedly arrive in York. The spacious room was crowded in every part, and the pressure about the doors was extreme, numbers wishing for admittance who could not be accommodated. Mr. Wolff detailed at great length several interesting particulars relative to his countrymen in the East, and other parts of the world, a knowledge of which he had gained by personal visits among them. After the resolutions connected with the business of the meeting had been gone through, a collection was made which amounted to £34. 12s. 2d. The whole sum collected on these three occasions for the society being £82. 10s.
(York Herald 1826/10/21)

What had Wolff, a notorious troublemaker, actually said? That Phillips was about to convert? Who was L. Phillips? I thought there were no rabbis in York between 1190 and the subsequent expulsion and 2020.

Something to say? Get in touch

Original

Mr. J. WOLFF AND RABBI PHILLIPS
To the EDITOR of the YORK HERALD
SIR,-Mr. J. Wolff has this morning forwarded to me a letter of apology, for calling loudly on my name in the course of his address, in the New Concert Hall, last evening, when in the presence of the numerous and genteel auditory there assembled, he detailed his efforts towards the conversion of the Jews. I was not present, and I felt myself much hurt when I was informed of the liberty that had been taken with my name, thus bringing me before the public in a matter, concerning which I had no inclination to interfere. I declare, as a sincere Jew, that I accept his apology, and forgive his improper allusion; and thus take my leave of the man, who has served a seven years’ apprenticeship to the Jewish religion, afterwards worked several years as a journeyman in the Catholic church, and now sets up for a Protestant Master of Arts! Farewell, good-natured Wolff! and at parting, permit me to instruct you relative to that system of conversion in which you so zealously and so profitably labour. If the conversion is to be on our part, it is Jehovah alone who can turn the heart, and who will work in his good time. When it please him, he will accomplish his own purposes; and the puny and presumptuous efforts of mortals are not needed to give an impulse to the arm of the Almighty, nor to hasten the accomplishment of his desires.
I remain, &c.
L. PHILLIPS.
YORK, Oct. 17, 1826.

276 words.