№ 19. Мнение Преосвященного Филарета на прошение Еврейского общества в г. Риге о дозволении им учредить школу под покровительством Преосвященного Иринарха Епископа Рижского

On October 16, 1838, Minister of Public Education gr. S. S. Uvarov wrote to the Chief Prosecutor of the Holy Synod, gr. To N. Protasov: when I was in Riga, I received from the kahal of the local Jewish society a request for permission to open a school for the primary education of Jewish youth, with the following content: “Thanks to the successes of our time in education and enlightenment, the shortcomings of our former educational institutions are now everywhere beginning to be felt, and the owners of the globe have recognized it as necessary to improve them according to general good basic rules, in order to provide in the most merciful way ways and means for Jewish subjects to be educated as citizens useful to the State, and to pave the way to sciences and useful knowledge necessary for the well-being of the public. And therefore, we, for our part, should not lag behind, but especially try to be worthy of the mercy given to us in the eyes of the whole world, with our readiness and zeal for all that is good. In our small society, thanks to God, the desire for this subject has long been aroused, and we can boast that we have done much more for our youth than was possible given our difficult civil situation. We understand very well how important must be the introduction, in our educational institutions, of good religious and moral teaching, which alone can provide true education and root the highest civic virtues, especially love of country, in the tender souls of youth; for previous education without a system and rules could only serve to depravity of youth, and sometimes to depravity in mature years. And therefore, the good-thinking of our nation are already filled with gratitude, readiness and zeal for our Most Merciful Monarch for this benefit and care for our youth, but no matter what sublime and noble feelings will be animated, to the amazement of everyone in a few years, the whole nation, when it has been enlightened on an equal basis with other peoples that make up one whole, will be able to appreciate the Monarchs given to it favors, and will deserve them. We truly testify to our deepest gratitude and eternal fidelity to the Great Monarch; for he, prompted by tender paternal concerns for the good of the youth of his vast Empire, remembered with equal favor our children. Reverent gratitude to our Sovereign Emperor for appointing the head of this such a great blessed undertaking, such a man who strives to fulfill the will of the Tsarev with all his zeal. The most grateful gratitude also owes to this husband, an example of fidelity before God and the Monarch, for the labors he put in. Our desire for the first time is this: To establish a school for the initial education of the local Jewish youth, which should be divided into two classes. In the first grade, children are taught 1) reading and penmanship in Hebrew, German and Russian in equal strength, 2) the first principles of arithmetic and 3) the necessary prayers. In the second grade they teach 1) Jewish religion from the Bible, translated into German by M. Mendelssohn, 2) Grammar: Hebrew, German and Russian, 3) Geography, 4) Arithmetic and 5) History, especially domestic. The Jewish religion must be taught systematically and, moreover, on the basis of the sacred books, which contain the revelation of God given through the prophets. The main teacher must be a foreigner, of Jewish confession, who would be educated in the spirit of pure enlightenment and should have a certificate of both knowledge and good behavior. The main teacher should have two assistants from the local Jewish nation and one Russian teacher who has a school certificate in a thorough knowledge of the Russian language. The educational books should be the same as those used in all Christian schools. As for the hours and order of teaching the above-mentioned subjects, they must also be in accordance with the general regulations made for the schools under the jurisdiction of which our school will be jointly with the main teacher. To establish the capital for this establishment, the society unanimously determines the collection of 50 kopecks from each animal killed for Jews for food. silver This income, called educational capital, is collected by the cagal and, after each month, is transferred to the educational commission, elected by the society every three years. The commission submits an annual report to the Kahal and the directorate of educational institutions. Every half-year there is an examination at the school, just like in Christian schools. All poor children who, in recognition of their poverty, present evidence from the kahal, are accepted for education without money, without any exception or refusal. Such children receive, as before, from the members of the society existing here, called overseers of orphans, decent uniform clothing, as well as about their cleanliness and placement in skills upon leaving school. Prosperous parents pay 5 rubles for their children every six months. But whoever already has two children at school can, if he wishes, introduce a third without money. Each child, except for orphans and the poor, contributes 1 ruble for firewood, candles, ink and cleaning of the educational institution. ser. every six months. Each change and proposed improvements in this institution are put into effect upon receipt of permission from the highest authorities. Finally, since for the preliminary preparation of everything needed and for the payment of rent for the premises, there must be all the funds in advance, then only after the approval of this plan and according to the system of explicit collection of the above-mentioned contribution can the establishment of a school begin. This school, like all Christian ones, should naturally be under the supervision of the general directorate of educational institutions; but we would like it to be especially under the patronage of the Most Reverend. Irinarcha, bishop Rizhsky, to whom we have full power of attorney. Presenting this preliminary plan for the establishment of a school for the high discretion and approval of your Lord, together with this we send our warm prayers to the Most High and Good God for the well-being of our Most Merciful Monarch and His blessed house, His high dignitaries and all His subjects without distinction of religion, and may the royal prophetic word be fulfilled: “Those who sow with tears will reap with joy.” Finding this petition remarkable in content and purpose, Mr. Uvarov introduced him to the Emperor. On the all-submissive report dated October 13, 1838, the Emperor wrote: “contact with gr. Protasov, is it possible to allow the school to be under the supervision of the Bishop.” These papers were communicated to Metropolitan Philaret, who wrote the following comments: Subordinating a Jewish school to a Christian bishop is not convenient: 1) Because this would be inconsistent with generally accepted forms of management. 2) Because the official connection between the Bishop and the Jews would present a strange appearance to the Orthodox; and could even give rise to doubts. 3) Most of all, one should be afraid that the dissenters will take the opportunity of temptation out of this, and will instill in their own aversion from the bishop who communicates with the Jews. But on the other hand, if it were made a rule that the Orthodox clergy should shun even those Jews who voluntarily approach them with confidence, then there would be no way left to instill in them the truth, and this would be contrary to the purpose of Christianity and the motives of philanthropy and the good of society. Between these contradictory types of affairs, one must look for a middle path, which may be as follows: 1) The Jewish school shall be under the jurisdiction of the general directorate of educational institutions, as they themselves request. 2) Instruct the bishop privately so that, for the sake of the common good, he does not reject the power of attorney expressed to him by the Jews, so that he contributes to the establishment and improvement of their school with advice and instructions; to listen to the representations of the founders of the school, and if he finds them respectful, he mediates and petitions the authorities on them. 3) Announce this order to the founders verbally through him. 4) The bishop, taking advantage of this relationship, will monitor the spirit of this institution, and will ensure that the teaching in it is predominantly biblical, and not Talmudic, and so that the growing generation is not infected with the misanthropic and harmful rules with which the Jews have fed their children until now, and the older generation can understand the absurdity of them. 5) However, he will use all possible prudence and pastoral prudence to communicate as much truth and good as possible to strangers, without causing stumbling and temptation to the lesser brethren of his flock. 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