humanity, he was not unwilling to write a word on behalf of the Jewish people. Cumberland’s role as a critic of the Jews and Judaism is shown in his reply to a certain David Levi, who had become involved in a religious controversy with the famous Christian dissenting minister, Dr. Joseph Priestly. The latter had written his “Letters to the Jews, inviting them to an Amicable Discussion of the Evidences of Christianity.” His challenge was accepted by David Levi, a humble artisan, a shoe-maker and hat-dresser, who none the less had written “Lingua Sacra”, a Hebrew dictionary and grammar in three volumes; a work on “The Rites and ceremonies of the Jews;” “Dissertations on Prophecies;” and had translated into English the Pentateuch, and several Hebrew prayers and hymns. In response to Dr. Priestly, Levi wrote his “Reply to Dr. Priestly’s Letters to the Jews.” (1787).
Thus Levi speaks in the first of two series of letters: “I am not ashamed to tell you that I am a Jew, by choice, and not because I was born
