I.
To the Editor of the Jewish Chronicle.
Dear Sir,—As a constant reader of your well conducted Journal, I venture to hope that you will kindly afford me space in it for the insertion of these few lines.
I am anxious to know how the following two statements are to be reconciled:—“But, let me tell you, that you had great men men living in England eight hundred years ago. The sayings of the wise men of Norwich and of York are quoted in some of the additions made by the expounders of the Talmud.”—Moses Samuels’ Address on the Position of the Jews in Britain, p. 27. “Von Schulen ist keine Spur in England, daher auch nicht von Gelehrten; kein dortiger Rabbiner hat einen Platz in den Jüdischen Jahrbüchern der Gelehrten. Zum Studiren war keine Zeit, und keine Ehre lockte unde stärkte den Wissbegierigen.”—J. M. Jost’s Geschichte der Israeliten, vol. vii., p. 165.
I know there is a current opinion amongst the Jews of England in favour of Mr. Samuels’ statement; but after reading through the Talmud again very carefully, at the expense of a great deal of time, and finding that “the sayings of the wise men of Norwich and of York” either escaped my eye, or are omitted in my copy (באמשטרדם לפרט תע׳ו), I bethought me to apply to you. Perhaps this letter may elicit from some of your numerous well-educated readers a reconciliation of the above. Ben Virga mentions the learning of the ancient Jews of Britain, but does not say anything about Norwich and York. He only says, הי״ח האי אשר נקרא היום אנגלאטירה נעשה שם שמד גדול ועצים בכל אותם קהלות גדולות ועצמות אשר היו שם בימים ההם בחכמה ובינה וכבוד וביחוד העיר הגדולה לונדרוש אשר היו שם קרוב לשני אלפים בעלי בתים כלם אנשים בעלי חכמה ועושר וכו׳. An early insertion will greatly oblige me.
I am, dear Sir, yours very truly,
Moses Margoliouth.
Glasnevin, Dublin, August 18, 1845.