Emanuel Deutsch of The Talmud Fame* BETH-ZION LASK ABRAHAMS

It is given to few to change ingrained beliefs and His uncle grounded him well in Jewish by so doing reverse attitudes to what has been studies. His influence shaped Emanuel's future vilified and traduced for hundreds of years. It is so that even when he attended the local gym? con? of few men in the Anglo-Jewish community nasium, and later the University, he that it can be said that they altered by their tinued his Talmud studies. writing the position of Judaism in the English From the age of 16 he supported himself by world of thought, so that what was before an giving lessons and writing occasional articles in embarrassment to be explained away apolo? the press, in the meantime employing his spare a getically became proud admission. And itwas time in studying languages and the Greek and are a rare achievement to influence by intellectual Roman classics. Few other particulars contact and learning a great writer, and so available of the years between, but it is clear was implant in her the idea of the resurrection of that he known in Berlin Jewish circles, for Jewish Statehood twenty years before Herzlian when early in 1855 the British Museum's Ber? Zionism. Emanuel Deutsch, the subject of my lin agents, Asher and Co., were asked to recom? paper, achieved all these. mend an assistant, someone who knew Hebrew, for their library department, Emanuel Deutsch was the His own letter of SEVERE EDUCATION person suggested. application, still to be seen in the Museum's Emanuel Deutsch (his full name was archives, was very carefully written in German, Emanuel Oscar Menachem Deutsch) was born and was accompanied by a letter signed by in Silesia on 28 October 1829 and came of Albert Cohn, the Berlin bookdealer, intro? strictly Orthodox parentage. His father was ducing him as 'a young man of 23 (and a Jew) ...... one of four brothers, three of whom were endowed with natural cleverness He Rabbis, all noted for their opposition to the understands Latin, Greek, and Hebrew per? . . . Reform movement then agitating German fectly English and French, he understands . . . Jewry. At the age of eight, EmanuePs educa? both languages though he does not speak ... tion was entrusted to the most brilliant of the English fluently he will soon become a brothers, Rabbi David Deutsch,1 of Mislovitz, master of it'. Cohn goes on reassuringly, 'His author of various notable Rabbinical works. moral conduct has hitherto been faultless and was The young lad's education of the severe, his character thoroughly respectable'. exacting kind then usual in Eastern Europe, So in 1855 Emanuel Deutsch came to Lon? being wholly devoted to Talmudic study, with don to take up his appointment in a minor little time for play. 'Before I knew how to read capacity at the British Museum. and write the language of the land wherein I was he wrote afterwards in an born', long EXPERT LINGUIST autobiographical fragment,2 'my lips were taught to stammer the Aleph-Beth, and to re? Little is known of his early years in London, ... cite my prayers in the tongue of David It though from accounts written by various friends was deemed well to steep my soul for a time after his death, one gathers a picture of widen? absolutely in the ocean called the Talmud'. ing social contacts in literary and art circles. At * was an Paper delivered before the Jewish Historical the British Museum his position that of Society of England, 7 January 1970. all-round assistant in the of 1 helping cataloguing Jewish Encyclopedia, Vol. IV, p. 546. was 2 books, in which his knowledge of languages Introductory Memoir, p. viii, Literary Remains of put to use, as well as in the archaeo? Emanuel Deutsch, ed. Lady Strangford (John practical In his Murray, London, 1874). logical and antiquity departments. spare E 53

Jewish Historical Society of England is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve, and extend access to Transactions & Miscellanies Jewish Historical Society of England ® www.jstor.org 54 Beth-?ion Lask Abrahams or con? time he studied ancient languages, such as interest in Jews things Jewish. On the Chaldaic, Aramaic, Sanskrit, and Amharic, not trary, in an early letter, she had written, 1848: to mention Phoenician. His name began to be 'My gentile nature kicks most resolutely against noticed when certain reviews on the subjects in any assumption of superiority in the Jews, and which he was soon a recognised expert began is almost ready to echo Voltaire's vituperation. to appear in the learned journals which I bow to the supremacy of Hebrew poetry, but abounded in the mid-Victorian era. much of their early mythology, and almost all Deutsch also studied Arabic and Islamic sub? their history, is utterly revolting. Their stock a a jects; and in 1865 two reviews, one on 'Early has produced Moses and Jesus; but Moses on was Arabic Poetry' and the other 'Egypt Ancient impregnated with Egyptian philosophy, us and Modern', appeared in the Saturday Review. and Jesus is venerated and adored by only His work also became known in the small circle for that wherein He transcended or resisted . . . of Biblical scholars. Many of his early contribu? Judaism Everything specifically Jewish is of a tions appeared anonymously, but it is known low grade'. that more than 190 essays and articles from his Emanuel Deutsch was to work the remark? pen were published in Smith's Dictionary of the able change in her attitude which resulted in Bible, as well as in Chambers''s Encyclopaedia and her novel Daniel Deronda and her essay, 'The an Kitto's Cyclopaedia of Biblical Literature. Modern Hep! Hep! Hep!', appreciation and understanding of Jewish history remarkable in a The was Deutsch THE SYDENHAM CIRCLE non-Jew. friendship close, being a frequent visitor, 'the brightest German About this time Deutsch lived in Sydenham, they ever saw'. After reading his article in the south London, one of a group described as the Pall Mall Gazette* in which he deplored the on Sydenham Circle in the biography of Sir general ignorance prevailing Islam, George no one George Grove,3 a founder and Secretary of the Eliot wrote to him, 'Of course, else but as as treasure Palestine Exploration Fund, well editor of you could write it and unless with the a the Dictionary of Music and Musicians and of of knowledge within you, you do great deal more same Macmillan's Magazine. Many of the members of of the sort, you will deserve the men to some? the Sydenham Circle later became eminent, anathemas of come, who will lack among them being Arthur Sullivan, Holman thing you might have given them. Especially, Hunt, Edmund Yates, the Lehmanns, Mos pray, return often to that note of reproach for con? cheles, Shirley Brookes, editor of Punch, and unashamed ignorance, and insist that George Du Maurier. scientious efforts to know is part of religion. See me The most important of Deutsch's friendships how I take it on to tell you your duty!.. .'5 on of this period was with the Leweses?George In August of the same year, while holiday Henry Lewes and Mary Ann Evans, best in Germany, George Eliot directs Deutsch as known as George Eliot the novelist, whom he where to send what she refers to his 'precious, was met through the Lehmanns. This was for George packet'?the proofs of his article which to Eliot at least a momentous friendship, for itwas be published in October, evidence that he to Emanuel Deutsch that she was indebted for valued her opinion, for he asked for her criti? the Jewish content of Daniel Deronda, the novel cism, writing in a light vein, 'this young mani? in which, with a seer's vision, she writes of the festo of the Deutsch party (consisting at present restoration of Jews to the Land of Israel two of myself) that desires to explain the historic . . . one decades before the advent of Theodor Herzl possibility [and] to bridge over of the and political Zionism. ghastliest gulfs in History, to restore to Human? Deutsch is first mentioned in the list of the ity one of its finest and oldest vantage grounds, famous afternoon at the Sunday gatherings 4 7 Aug. 1867, pp. 512-13. Lewes home in July 1866. Up to this time 5 27 Aug. 1876. The George Eliot letters are in Eliot had not evinced George any sympathetic Yale University (collected letters, 6 vols. Ed., Prof. 3 D.N.B. (1820-1900). Haight). Emanuel Deutsch of The Talmud Fame 55

and to shame shrieking fanaticism and ig? him: 'He was the oriental type of Jew: eyes norance out of its existence by a few simple and hair of the darkest, with flexible, ever facts and adages'. varying expressive mouth of the Israelite; a face the reverse of handsome but one that an GEORGE ELIOT'S HEBREW lighted up under the glow of enthusiastic nature . . . There was a certain loneliness of The friendship was based on mutual interest heart about him that around and in proof of this Emanuel Deutsch under? frequently hangs the took to give George Eliot lessons inHebrew one transplanted Jew'.9 A different is evening a week. picture presented by , who, it will be remembered, was Her About this time George du Maurier, the Britannic Consul at Jerusalem from Punch artist and later author of the ever-popular Majesty's 1846 to 1863. in retirement inHammer? Trilby and other novels, went with Deutsch for Living smith, he writes in his 16 October a holiday to Paris. An amusing account of this journal, 1867: visit from Mr. Deutsch of the is to be found in his granddaughter Daphne du 'Evening British intellectual conversa? Maurier's The Young George Du Maurier. Theirs Museum?highly tion about the East?the Phoenicians, was an easy friendship, due in a large measure palaeology as in we warmed him up to Deutsch's good nature and sparkle, his general?and gradually with music, he is one of those friends all testify. 'His amiability is irresistible', Jewish though persons who to conceal their writes Du Maurier to his wife, 'but funnily try Jewish origin. He to show us the most recondite enough we didn't get to talk with anything like promised curiosities of the British Museum ... It is not geniality until we got into an argument about . . . that he may be sent the Museum Jesus Christ and that we could have done impossible by . to with the just as comfortably in Great Russell Street. .'6 Abyssinia together military expedi? tion to look after MSS. and such matters'. Deutsch's social circle was wide, somewhat Here there is a contradiction to the charac? Bohemian; and he was a popular figure. Robust ter we know of Deutsch. It is that in at that time, he was very short and, according possible this instance he did not wish to be drawn into to Sir Charles D?ke, the Victorian politician, any argument, knowing that Finn was the son 'he was met everywhere with his little yellow in-law of the Rev. Dr. Alexander McCaul,10 gloves, his smile and all that running about London. He was the best talker I ever knew. the Poor. In 1876 she to relief for the man helped organise The only fault was, that as he was the only Bulgarian peasants and established a hospital for on his particular subject, no one could contra? wounded Turkish soldiers in theRusso-Turkish War. dict him'.7 She founded the Cairo Victorian Hospital and a medical school in Beirut. In 1887 she died while on a seamen DESCRIBING DEUTSCH her way to open hospital for British in Port Said. She was the sole beneficiary in Lady Strangford,? herself a traveller and Emanuel Deutsch's will. 9 example of the Victorian woman very different Literary Remains, Lady Strangford's Intro., p. xiv. from today's popular conception of the meek io Alexander McCaul (1799-1863) was born in knew Deutsch and describes stay-at-home wife, and sent by the London Society for Pro? 6 as a The Toung George du Maurier?a Selection of his moting Christianity among the Jews to Poland Letters 1860-67, ed. Daphne du Maurier (Peter missionary to the Jews. Here he studied Hebrew Davies, London, 1951). and Rabbinics. He published in 1836, on his return i an on See Arbiter of Elegance, by Bea Howe (London, to London, The Old Paths, attack the Talmud 1967), p. 106. and Rabbinical Judaism (see 'Stanislaus Hoga, Apo? s Emily Anne, Viscountess Strangford, travelled state and Penitent', in Transactions XV, J.H.S.E., in the Near East and visited the Holy Land and pp. 121-149, 191-196). McCaul took a leading published (1861) Egyptian Sepulchres and Syrian part in confuting the Damascus Blood Libel in 1840. Shrines. After the death of her husband, who was He was offered the office of first Protestant Bishop said to be the original of Benjamin Disraeli's in Jerusalem, but refused it in favour ofMichael a 'Coningsby' in the novel of that name, Lady Strang? Samuel Alexander, converted Jew and Anglican to to ford underwent training as a nurse, and founded the priest. McCaul dedicated his life trying bring National Society for Providing Trained Nurses for about the conversion of Jews to Christianity. 56 Betk-?ion Lash Abrahams ? the well-known missionary; and that Finn, like of the then secular knowledge and scientific the former, had the conversion of the Jews to 'enlightenment'. come Christianity very much at heart. He had In particular it had been viciously attacked to obtain letters of introduction to certain by Alexander McCaul in Old Paths, an anti eminent leaders of the Ethiopian Church Talmud work which, first appearing in 1837, course whom Finn had met during the of his had not received any adequate Jewish answer. consular period in Jerusalem. In its second edition, 1846, appeared the state? men? Regarding the Abyssinian project ment that theWest London Reform Synagogue tioned by Finn, the Trustees of the British and its liturgy had renounced what Old Paths Museum had selected Deutsch to accompany had pronounced as objectionable in the Tal? as : the British Army expedition archaeologist mud and further suggested that the work had and to examine available MSS.; the Treasury influenced the German Reform Rabbis. had agreed to finance the expenses incurred, McCaul himself, according to James Finn,11 but, in the event, Deutsch himself asked to be had been privately consulted by Prof. D. W. released from the mission. Marks, first Minister of the West London The time was now at hand for the spectacu? Synagogue, regarding certain anti-Talmud lar publicity of Deutsch's essay simply entitled aspects of Jewish religious reform. McCaul 'The Talmud'?a work with which his name is contended that though the Jews were a great essentially associated and upon which his fame and noble people, they were the victims of a rests. In October 1867 it appeared anony? system, namely, the Talmud, by which they were mously in the Quarterly Review. Deutsch himself bound and misrepresented. The perni? . . a explains the title: '. It is for very good cious Old Paths had been quoted in Parliament reason that we have placed nothing but the against Jewish emancipation. name of the Talmud itself at the head of our We have far and near for some paper. sought MISSIONARIES' MANUAL ... a special book on the subject book which . . . was should not merely be a garbled translation This then the atmosphere thirty years interspersed with vituperation and supple? after the first appearance of Old Paths, which, mented with blunders, but which from the in the meantime, had been translated into platform of modern culture should pronounce several languages and become the handbook of . . . impartially We have not found such a book, missionaries and Jewish converts to Christianity nor anything approaching it'. in their attack against Rabbinical Judaism. A reply by Judah Middleman, in 1847, named New had little if THE TALMUD Paths, any impact. Deutsch's essay came as a bombshell and its The essay begins with the stark question: effect was phenomenal. It brought the Talmud 'What is the Talmud?' followed by an exposi? into popular knowledge out of its cocoon of tion clearly, brilliantly written, which at once mystery, out of the studies of scholars into pub? established itself as an Anglo-Jewish classic. lic notice, presenting it in a style which for a It was an extraordinary achievement on directness and simplicity could scarcely be theme which had been ridiculed and falsified bettered, and one which appealed alike to the as as soon by haters of Jews and Judaism, well scholar and the lay person. Very people were was traduced by missionaries dedicated to the con? speaking of the essay; it in demand; a version of Jews to Christianity. The Talmud, and in very short time the October number of as seven though known to Jews brought up Deutsch the Quarterly Review went into reprints! had been in the old tradition of Hebrew An unprecedented event; never before had a scholarship, was scarcely known except by such thing happened to any journal, let alone a name to most English Jews, and certainly, in learned journal. 'The Talmud' essay became was a a name was now England at least, it work which they best-seller! Emanuel Deutsch's 11 ashamedly considered out of date in the light Unpublished papers of James Finn. Emanuel Deutsch of The Talmud Fame 57

attached to his essay and he became the literary wrote an editorial on 8 November 1867, im? lion of the season. The press wrote about the mediately, hastily, because 'we wished', stated essay. The very name Talmud became a house? the editor, 'to draw attention ... to the most we hold word. 'The author of the glorious article remarkable paper which believe offers the on the Talmud', wrote George Eliot12 en? long waited reconciliation between the old and thusiastically to a friend, 'is that bright little the new faiths'?and expresses gratitude to the man, Mr. Deutsch, a very dear, delightful Quarterly Review for having brought, as it puts it, creature'. Soon it was translated into several 'the much maligned Talmud under the notice languages, among them Swedish and Ice? of the British public'. landic.13 It had clearly come to fulfil an interest What effect did the unexpected and im? on to the lay and religious reading public, Jewish mediate success and publicity have Emanuel as and non-Jewish, educated people then were Deutsch himself? Without personal documents in the Bible and Scriptural history. To Chris? and letters?he himself, it seems, destroyed his tians, his essay demonstrated that the key to papers?it is difficult to say, but he continued as the life and sayings of the founder of their faith formerly attending to his subordinate duties was to be found in the Talmud itself. at the British Museum, contributing articles and reviews to the press, and seeing his friends ENTHUSIASTIC WELCOME as before. He was now, however, in the public on to the Museum asked to see The effect the Jewish community was eye; people coming and were made no easier for him as a dramatic. The essay was jubilantly acclaimed him, things were result. It is clear from a letter dated 16December by the Jewish press; and extracts pub? from two months after lished running over several issues. The Jewish 1867, George Eliot, just the of his that he was Record declared14: 'Not very many months appearance essay, us disturbed the of some who resented his separate from the time when even a Jewish by envy must an success. She writes: journal have prefaced article having as 'We have been of much since "The Talmud" title with something re? thinking you an from us and have made sembling apology. Now the title is a magic you parted yesterday, ourselves all the more at the password that wins admission, nay, even wel? indignant buzzing and which is I beseech come, into columns of review, magazine and stinging tormenting you. even not to battle with it . . .Get rid of it all newspaper. Wondrous change!' 'How you by wrote a effort of and don't run the risk of strange', Haim Guedalla in the Jewish huge will, maddened insect Let Chronicle,15 'on one side we have a celebrated being by stings. your . . . articles be what account? descendant of Jews, Disraeli and the other, they please?are you we a able to the world for the fuss have made have champion of Israel glorifying our they about it ? If wiseacres it has been overrated long and vilified religion and literature'. Per? say ?was it a of that the haps the writer had in mind that Disraeli's by conspiracy yours went into six editions ? Let the father, Isaac D'Israeli, had himself in his Genius Quarterly quar? rel no ofJudaism (published 1832) attacked theTal? fight itself out, but resolve that editorial or other influence will into it. mud?not from personal acquaintance with the drag you venerable Hebrew tomes, but one suspects from a desire to find a for his own scapegoat MEETING ACCUSATIONS with his quarrel people in having his children a baptised into the dominant faith. 'Only when definite accusation is made, meet it a answer. The Jewish Chronicle was enthusiastic and with definite The ill-nature 12 nonsense 1Dec. 1867. and you are suffering from can have 13 In more recent it on no years has been reprinted permanent influence against you except by several occasions the Publication by Jewish Society your it to'. of America. allowing The London for the Promotion of 14Vol. Society 1, No. 1, 5 June 1868, and following numbers. Christianity among the Jews was, from the very is 22 Nov. 1867. beginning, alert to the effect that Deutsch's 58 Beth-?ion Lask Abrahams was v. article exerting. This is clearly put in their The Talmud the Bible, may clearly be seen . . journal, the Jewish Intelligence, which, though that the case is urgent .'16 published in July 1871, is apposite here. Still, nothing could diminish Deutsch's suc? versus cess Headed 'The Talmud the Bible', it and popularity. Mrs. Walford, in her reads: Memories of Victorian London (1912), gives a an 'Not very long ago, Dr. Deutsch wrote pleasant chatty account of being taken round Essay in favour of the Talmud, and a consider? the British Museum, and states that Deutsch able portion of the Christian public, both here 'turned out to be quite "a little dear"; very and abroad, were so taken with his new theory, small, very natty in his dress, and very unlike as to favour him with applause, and his theory the dry-as-dust antiquity' she had expected. a with considerable amount of credulity. Mrs. Andrew Grosse, in Red-Letter Days ofMy 'A number of celebrated Christian scholars Life (1892), also has pleasant recollections of and divines, apprehensive that this essay might Deutsch, who never flaunted his learning, but a on possibly have mischievous effect some even easily adapted himself, if the occasion once minds, at wrote with great ability against arose, to playing with children, of whom he was it; but, alas! not with all the hoped-for result; very fond. She gives a charming account of for those that were so bewitched with the Ger? some such incident.17 man Judaizing novelty, heeded not what had been so and so advanced justly ably against it; DEVOTION TO STUDY . . . they still hold fast to it The mischief al? ready done by that essay on the Talmud is per? In the biography of Sir George Grove (1903) haps greater than we are aware, and if it is not a romance is hinted at?but there is no clue to speedily and thoroughly counteracted, no one follow.18 The Rev. H. R. Haweis, a popular can tell how far many, perhaps very many more, preacher of the period, in his long and moving might not gradually be led astray respecting obituary notice published in the Contemporary their faith in the divine authenticity of the Review19 after Deutsch's death, stresses Deutsch's some New Testament. Do not of the leading devotion to study, to the exclusion of the usual papers insinuate, and do not many in Christian human frailties; and says he planned to write circles the same, that some of the 16 private repeat A picture to boost the sale of The Pentateuch sublime moral sayings and teachings of the New according to theTalmud, by P. I. Hershon, a Jewish convert to was with the Testament owe their origin to the Talmud? If true, Christianity, published title: 'The Talmud as presented by E. Deutsch, P. what follows? Many Christians will, if they I. Hershon and J. A. Eisenmenger', with Hebrew do not do so infer that the Talmud already, quotations under each name. Above this, three must to be prior and superior the New Testa? identical young women (!) represent the three writers?each in white and with a veil. The ment. What blasphemy! Oh, if Christians first, for has the veil over the were but aware of the baneful influence of the Deutsch, draped right eye; Hershon, in the centre, has a black patch over the tendencies of some of the Judaizing learned, right eye and carries, as the centre-piece, several at once they would then recognise the danger volumes of books; while the figure on the right, not has the veil over to which many of the unlearned are exposed. Eisenmenger, only draped the left but a black also over the To borrow a Rabbinical simile . . . the case is eye patch right eye. An explanation on the obverse states that the urgent. picture is intended to symbolise the opposite of Partiality, the middle course of Impartiality. The verse from the Bible added for Deutsch is from the WARNING CHRISTIANS Song of Songs, iv, 7, 9. i7 Vol. 2, pp. 342-348. 'If the flame has fallen among the is cedars, Mr. Stephen Haweis, son of the Rev. H. R. what can the on the wall do ? If levia? hyssop Haweis, an artist then living in Dominica, British in a than is drawn up with an hook, what can the West Indies, letter (1959) stated that 'his friends it as that he small do? there is Let regarded exceedingly unlikely fry Christians, danger! would ever have married but a as us on our . . . anybody Jewess be guard! his sense of race was very strong.' the 19 'From above short statement respecting April 1874. Emanuel Deutsch of The Talmud Fame 59

an on all-embracing work the Talmud, his and there among his fellow-Jews at theWestern essay being an introduction to this?but this Wall, remnant and reminder of Israel's sacred was not to be. Instead, in the two years im? Temple, he was so overcome with emotion that mediately following the publication of his afterwards he could seldom bring himself to was essay, he busily engaged not only in the speak of the experience without tears. He was British Museum but also in lecturing up and asked as an expert by the Palestine Exploration on down the country. Letters from his pen Fund to identify certain marks on some stones, archaeological and Near Eastern antiquities, and was lowered down the shaft of a well, a as such the Moabite Stone, appeared in the taper and magnesium his sole means of il? press and learned journals. So well known was lumination. His account is to be found in the he that he was consulted by many eminent Fund's very first volume.22 At Nablus he was was scholars and political figures; and invited able to inspect the ancient Samaritan Scrolls, by the Egyptian Government to be present at thanks to a letter of introduction from James the official opening of the Suez Canal, but Finn to the High Priest of the Samaritans. leave to attend this event was refused by his in 1869 Mr. Gladstone con? employers. Early MUSEUM TRIBUTE sulted him about an article he was writing on sent Greek culture, and Deutsch the proofs for Attached to the report he presented to the his comment and opinion. Honoured by the Museum Trustees on his return was the official great statesman's request, he answered, in a comment: 'Considering the shortness of the one ... ten-page letter, that of the burning ques? time in which the tour was accomplished he tions of contemporary science concerned the observed many things which less instructed relation between ancient Greece and Phoenicia, travellers have overlooked . . . and succeeded in as or, he put it, the dominating influence of obtaining sight of certain secluded treasures so Semitic upon Indo-European and on Greek where a less enterprising and persevering on culture. He enlarges this, declaring that traveller would have failed to overcome local ar? from different ends he and Gladstone had difficulties'. Though the comment is extant, rived at same the conclusion. As yet, he adds, Deutsch's report of this important mission is there had been no real excavations in proof. missing. 'What has been done', he writes, 'is a mere And if the account above presents a scholar scratching of the surface: who knows what immersed solely in serious academic investiga? revelations there may be hidden in submarine tion, to the exclusion of all else, to counteract Tyre and Eastwards in the Syrian desolations this sombre impression, in Mrs. Walford's pre? us bursting to tell their lost tale ?'20 A query and viously mentioned reminiscences there is an foreseeing which the Qumran Scrolls and anecdote related by Deutsch himself which Massada discoveries have come to answer in illustrates that light-hearted, humorous side of our own day. He would be proud, he asserted, his character which endeared him to his to assist Gladstone in any way. friends. After Charles Reade, the novelist, at a a came Before reply to this letter Deutsch social gathering, had told of a personal episode was on his way to Palestine, on commission in the Near East, Deutsch related an incident of from the British Museum to examine and deci? his tour of 1869. At Alexandria he found the stone pher certain inscriptions. Along the Customs officials disagreeable and very rude. route he sought Semitic antiquities?in Paris, 'They are fierce fellows when their blood is in Marseilles, Cyprus, Cairo, and Alexandria, up', he related, and was determined to end the as as Arabic well Hebrew inscriptions were of obnoxious conduct of one official in particular. like interest. Reaching the shores of the Holy He went up to him, and whispered in his ear. Land, he wrote, 'The East: all my wild yearn? The effect was magical?and on inquiry from ings fulfilled at last!'21 He went up to Jerusalem his listeners, Deutsch confessed that he had 20 22 Gladstone Papers, British Museum, 2/2/1869. Palestine Exploration Fund Report, VoL I, 21 Lady Strangford, op. cit. 1870. 60 Beth-Zion Lask Abrahams

said to him in the Arabic vernacular, 'Thou son although he was sedated by the drugs then a of pig!'?an insult which had the desired used. When George Eliot first heard of his ill effect. health, she wrote scolding him for not taking . . more care of himself, adding '. I hope you NO RELAXATION intend henceforth to dine and sleep like a no On his return from Palestine he enjoyed stupid Christian'.24 Later, on 7 July 1871, she . . . respite from work. There was no relaxation, and wrote, 'My dear Rabbi Remember, it has he chafed at the restrictions imposed by his happened to many to be glad they did not subordinate position and thought of applying commit suicide, that they once ran for the final ' . . for the post of librarian at Windsor Castle, leap. A sign, indeed, that he must have then becoming vacant. He wrote to Gladstone revealed his despair to her, and that he had to sponsor his application, which the latter was contemplated an end to his suffering by self willing to do. But in the event Deutsch himself, destruction. finding he could not comply with certain withdrew it. requirements, PHYSICAL SUFFERING About this time the first symptoms of his fatal illness became apparent. After his death The account Haweis gives in his 'Memoir'25 his friends23 ascribed his illness to the treatment of Deutsch of this time makes harrowing read? he suffered at the hands of British Museum ing ; and one can only pity his terrible physical officials, whose envy, they said, kept him from sufferings while wondering at the amazing the promotion his abilities and service merited. fortitude displayed. In the biography by Bea But surely itwas a difficult position his superiors Howe of Mary Eliza Haweis,26 wife of Mr. found themselves in, to have under their Haweis, Arbiter of Elegance, published as authority a man the learned societies and recently as 1967,27 further glimpses are revealed scholars deferred to; a subordinate commis? of these months Deutsch spent in Welbeck sioned by The Times (1869) to write three Street. There is also shown the attachment articles on the Ecumenical Council being held which grew between Deutsch and Mrs. Haweis, a as a in Rome. There was no denying the variety herself writer and sensitive artist well as and breadth of Emanual Deutsch's knowledge, designer and indoor decorator; and the grati? on not only matters of Jewish interest but also tude which turned into love. In the biography on the Church and Islam as well as ancient based in part on her journal, we see the humour languages and archaeology. The promotion and wit, Heinesque in its bite, of the man, so he did receive was strictly routine and based on that one can only echo Mary Eliza Haweis, length of service, not on his achievements out? 'How I wish there had been some Boswell to side his duties. chronicle some of the things he said to us!' The strain was telling on the once robust But there was no hope for Deutsch?he a Emanuel Deutsch. He obtained sick leave and suffered from particularly aggravated form of received medical attention, but his condition internal cancer. He was granted six months' began to deteriorate. He withdrew from the sick leave from the Museum, but would not society of his friends, but by a fortunate pay his biannual visit to his aged parents in chance the Rev. H. R. Haweis met him one 24 George Eliot's collected letters, Yale. 25 day and, shocked by his appearance, brought Contemporary Review, April 1874. 26 Eliza Haweis the him to stay at his home inWelbeck Street. Here Mary (1848-1898), daughter of Thomas Musgrove Joy, a Victorian portrait he was tended by both Haweis and his wife. painter, married the Rev. Hugh Reginald Haweis, his he himself to the Despite illness, dragged a popular preacher and writer. She was a talented British there Museum, buoyed up while by designer of clothes, as well as one of the first interior and works on the sheer will-power and determination not to give decorators, published popular subject. Her private Thought Book has, according in. But there were terrible nights of suffering, to her biographer, many intimate and sympathetic 23 Including Haweis and Grove, in theirMemoirs, references to Emanuel Deutsch. 27 and Stefan Poles also. The Harvill Press, London. Emanuel Deutsch of The Talmud Fame 61

Germany, to spare them the shock of his logical works in the Edinburgh Review, reference as appearance. Apart from his physical suffering, was made to Deutsch's Talmud essay merely he was tortured mentally, for he now knew he superficial, George Grove, his friend of a could never complete his projected work on Sydenham days, wrote spirited article in the Talmud, of which his essay had been but the MacmillarCs Magazine, objecting strongly to the .. . on on prelude. He agonises in a letter28:' I work aspersion cast. He throws interesting light my metaphysical Talmud-developments, and the composition of the Talmud essay, writing: see how wasted all that grace, and keenness, 'My friend did me the honour to take me in his and catholicity of the minority has been wasted confidence and I urged on him again and again on the majority, and what things of it all have that he should give some account of the outside . become the heirlooms of Humanity. .' And as of the book?of the numbers and contents of . . now see he contemplated further the kind of things that the various tractates. I how far was ... make mankind happiest, he felt, as others superior his instinct to mine. In before him, the futility of his own self-sacrifice. writing his article Mr. Deutsch had two alter? . . In the end, he came to the conclusion of Kohe natives: first to give. a mere account of the leth: 'all is vanity!' Talmud, an easy superficial catalogue of its On another occasion29 he declares, '. . . contents, well stuffed with names and refer? a as a a there is frightful curse?a nameless curse? ences; and secondly, Jew, profound on man a laid the who touches or divulges scholar in Jewish, Pagan and Christian lore, certain sanctities in the Talmud, and I, the poet and a genius, to give such an exposition of first man for hundreds of years who could read the spirit and intention of the subject as should the secrets, have done it, and the curse is come show how faithful a reflection it was of the . . . upon me'. mind and temper of his nation. He threw himself, adds Grove, 'with all the force, variety, and which DEATH IN EGYPT freshness, affection, poetry genius, made him so remarkable to all who knew him, Towards the end of December 1872 Deutsch into his writing?and the essay was a glorious overture an left for Palestine, hoping that here he would to entire opera which, alas, not to regain his health. He got as far as Alexandria, Emanuel Deutsch did live complete'. but died there on 12 May 1873. His one A year after his death, in 1874, a collection anxiety when he lay on his death-bed was that of his essays and reviews appeared under the he should receive Jewish burial, a wish that title The Literary Remains of Emanuel Deutsch, was granted; and he was buried in the Alex? edited by Lady Strangford. The introductory a andria Jewish cemetery. His tombstone bore memoir is feeling tribute and personal appre? a inscriptions in Hebrew, English, German, and ciation of devoted friend; and in its composi? Arabic. Rabbi Dr. Hermann Adler, later tion Lady Strangford consulted George Eliot. Chief Rabbi, wrote the Hebrew inscription, Asked to review the Literary Remains for the feelingly, for he knew him personally, to 'The Contemporary Review, the Rev. H. R. Haweis a well-beloved, whose heart was burning with wrote 20-page obituary in the April 1874 good things, whose pen was the pen of a ready number, a tribute which one cannot read writer?Menachem, son of Abraham Deutsch unmoved, as well as an attack on those who . . . who departed from this world on Monday, sought to belittle Deutsch's achievements. the 9th of Iyar, in the year, "Arise, shine, for is come" '. thy light PUBLIC ACCLAIM His death at the early age of 44 did not end his distinction. When, some months later, Writing from personal knowledge, Haweis December 1873, in a review of certain theo notes that as a result of Deutsch's famous essay, a had been him at 28 public banquet given Remains, Intro., p. Literary Lady Strangford's that invitations to lec? xiii. Edinburgh; flattering 29 ture had come from the United one of See Haweis, Contemporary Review, April 1874. States; 62 Beth-Zion Lask Abrahams a account of the then the Royal Princesses considered herself fortunate gives terrible prevailing conditions at the with a of in securing the first page of his essay written in Museum, picture a his own hand; that he was an honoured guest Deutsch, already sick man, shivering in the a at the table of the Prime Minister; even a stock draughty basement, not allowed hot drink, 'When I subject of public comment at popular enter? and declaring, die, something may tainments?fame indeed!?and that letters of yet be done'. eulogy reached him from all parts of the a to world.30 There had been project petition BURTON'S FALSE CHARGE Parliament to appoint Deutsch Keeper of The next reference to Deutsch is Richard Semitic Antiquities at the British Museum, but by F. the traveller and translator of the owing to some trifling technical mistake in the Burton, Arabian lover of as one can Petition's terminology, this was shelved. Nights?no Jews, see Haweis did not mince words in his charges from his book The Jew, theGypsy, and El in which he his belief in the against the treatment Deutsch received at the Islam?1, expresses hands of the officials of the British Museum. false charge that Jews commit ritual murder. Another and scurrilous attack on theMuseum In a footnote to one of the Arabian Nights tales, a Burton has: 'The stricter kind of Eastern authorities was published by certain Stefan Jew Poles in 1875 under the title: The Actual Condi? prefers to die on the floor, not in bed, as was the case with the late Mr. Emanuel who tion of the British Museum: A Literary Expostula? Deutsch, in his well-known article on the Talmud had tion. This pamphlet declares that Deutsch was the to of "our Saviour" \33 This 'slowly murdered by the studied and petty courage speak statement was refuted in a review of that jealousy of officials who were his superiors in and Burton writes in the rank only and who chafed at the knowledge particular volume, last volume of his Arabian 'The that they were in every other respect immeasur? Nights:34 Review . . . corrects me in the matter of the ably below him'. Poles31 names officials and late Mr. Emanuel Deutsch, who excised "our 30 At a lecture on the Talmud given in December Saviour" from the article on the Talmud re? 1890 at the Princes Hall, London, by the Rev. his remains. The a printed amongst literary Isidore Myers, who had returned from position ... Reviewer, let me own, knew more of Mr. in Australia, Sir Philip Magnus, the Chairman, in . . Deutsch than a could his introductory remarks, said: '. .In 1867, the I, simple acquaintance, an well-known scholar, Deutsch, wrote article in know; but perhaps he does not know all, and if the electrified the Quarterly Review which British he did, he probably would not publish his public. Edition after edition was sold, and the knowledge. The truth is that Mr. Deutsch was, author, previously known among Jewish savants his a a only, awoke one morning to find himself famous. during younger years, liberal, nay He was for a time the lion of English society. He latitudinarian in religion, differing little from a lecture to a crowded and fashionable audi? gave the so-styled "Christian Unitarian". But when ence at the Institution, and such was the Royal failinghealth drove him toEgypt and his hour eagerness of all sorts of people to learn something drew he became all honour to more about this great work, that I am told that nigh (and him!) ladies drove in their carriages toMudie's library to the scrupulous and even fanatical Hebrew of ask for a of the and copy Talmud, anxiously the Hebrews; he consorted mainly with the enquired whether they could have any one of the followers and divines of his own faith; and it is three volumes in which, they supposed, this work of . said that he ordered himself when to be 2,947 folio pages was published. .' [I am indebted dying toMr. J. M. Shaftesley for this reference, reported taken out of his bed and placed upon the bare in the:Jewish Chronicle of 12 Dec. 1890.] floor. . . The "Saviour" of the article was 31 Stefan Poles, or Pohles, a converted Jew and perhaps written in his earlier phase of religious Russian spy, a son of Rabbi Tugenholdt, of 32 , had taken part in the 1848 political up? Ed., W. H. Wilkins, London, 1898. was one 33 heavals in Europe, of the earliest literary Tale: 'The Angel of Death and the Proud agents in London, and gained notoriety by win? King', vol. V, p. 248. a 34 ning libel action against The Times. See James Burton's rejoinder to Edinburgh Review notice The on Hepburn, Author's Empty Purse (O.U.P., 1968), is p. 359 of Vol. 12 of his The Book of The Thou? pp. 48-49. sandMights and aNight (1897). Emanuel Deutsch of The Talmud Fame 63

as thought, and it was excised the end drew in wrote about Deutsch, is George Eliot. His was sight'. the dominating inspiration and influence in her But G. R. Meade, editor of Hibbert''s Journal, writing of Daniel Deronda; and on him she based in his work Did Jesus Live 100 B.C.?, published the character of Mordecai. Others have been in 1903, in chapterV, headed 'The Talmud in claimed as the original of Mordecai, but all History', writes: conjecture is set aside Grove, who ' by George "Deutsch himself was a Jew converted to on first reading Daniel Deronda when it was Christianity when he wrote his famous article published in 1876, wrote35 enthusiastically to in 1867, yet how marvellously does he differ George Eliot that it made him think of 'our from his predecessors of the Middle Ages, who dear Deutsch'; and further, that she 'makes on . . led the onslaught the Talmud. Deutsch Mordecai?like Deutsch?a great scholar, . . passes them by with scarcely a notice, and seems a man. weakened by disease, consciously never to have realised that they were the main within the shadow of advancing death, but an cause of all the trouble, and we have the new living intense life in an invisible past and a and pleasant spectacle of converted Jew pen? future, careless of his personal lot, except for its ning the most brilliant defence of the Talmud possibly making some obstruction to a con? which has ever been written outside the circles ceived good which he would never share except of orthodox Jewry." as a brief inward vision'.

NOT A CONVERT AN ENTHUSIAST

an 'So I wrote when this chapter appeared as In summing up the character ofMordecai in article in theTheosophical Review (Oct. 1902). I Daniel Deronda, George Eliot depicts Emanuel had then no doubt on the subject, because of Deutsch better than I can when she writes: . . the frequent use of the words "our Lord" 'He is not what I should call fanatical. throughout the famous defence. What, then, Mordecai is an enthusiast: I should like to keep was my surprise to find that an old friend of that word for the highest order of minds?those a care Deutsch's denied absolutely that he was who supremely for grand and general a convert, and asserted that the Editor of the benefits for mankind. He is not strictly ortho? Quarterly, much to Deutsch's annoyance, had dox Jew, and is full of allowances for others; an deliberately changed "Jesus" into "our Lord" his conformity in many things is allowance . throughout the article. The Jewish Chronicle for the condition of other Jews. .' (21 Nov. 1902) also pointed out that I was I can end my paper no better than by quot? mistaken in describing Deutsch as a convert to ing the obituary tribute of an Anglo-Jewish to Christianity. Whereupon I wrote the Chief journal which itself had valiantly fought the Rabbi, Dr. Hermann Adler, who courteously battle of Judaism against heavy odds:36 'We replied as follows: "I was very intimate with unhesitatingly say that from the publication the late Immanuel Deutsch, and can state un? of that article [The Talmud'] we date the altered hesitatingly that he was deeply annoyed that position of Judaism in the English world of . . in the first edition of the Quarterly Review Jesus thought. Men in the public arena win was spoken of as 'our Lord'. This was changed honours and distinction and thus achieve a in the subsequent seven or eight editions of that great position for their community in the politi? number of the Quarterly.' cal and social world, the world of action; but no one a It scarcely need be added that read? Deutsch achieved position for his community was a ing Deutsch's writings can doubt that he in the world of thought and intellect. Action is man with a passionate love for his people and the body: Thought is the Soul!' with pride in theirpast historyand faith in their and no But more 35 future, apostate. important George Eliot letters at Yale. 36 than Burton, or Mead, or those others who Jewish Chronicle, 16May 1873.