Aaron Bernstein - Some Jewish Witnesses For Christ

Alamy, or Alomy Debtera, another Abyssinian convert of the L.J.S., had his sphere of labour at Dagusu.

Alexander, John, an English Jewish convert in the seventeenth century, wrote after his baptism a book entitled, "Covenant Displayed," in which he shewed his brethren that the covenant of God with Israel is only realized in Christ Jesus.

Alexander, John, was for many years an agent of the Bible Society at the Crystal Palace, and did good work there. He laboured also with the writer and the late Mr. Mamlock at the Paris Exhibition in 1879. He accompanied the Rev. Frederick Smith to St Petersburg in 1874, when they obtained permission to reopen the Mission in Poland. Alexander wrote a number of articles for the "Scattered Nation" and for "Good Words," and a book entitled "The Jews, their Past, Present, and Future" (London, 1870).

Alexander, Michael Solomon, first Protestant Bishop in Jerusalem, 5 5 This and following eleven pages are taken from Biographies of Eminent Hebrew Christians . was born of Jewish parents in Schönlanke, a small manufacturing town in the grand duchy of Posen in May 1799. He was trained in the strictest and straitest principles of rabbinical and orthodox Judaism. At the age of sixteen he became a teacher of the Talmud and of the German language. In 1820, when in his twenty-first year, he came to England to engage in a similar pursuit, and also to perform the duties of a shochet. At that time, as he said, he had not the slightest acquaintance with Christianity, and did not even know of the existence of the New Testament. His knowledge of Christ was limited to strong impressions of prejudice against the Holy Name. Disappointed of a situation in London, he settled down as a tutor at Colchester. There the sight of a handbill of the London Jews' Society, notifying its Annual Meeting, aroused his curiosity, and he obtained and read the New Testament. Shortly afterwards he accepted the post of rabbi at Norwich, and subsequently at Plymouth, and in 1821 he married Miss Levy of that town. He there, in the providence of God, became acquainted with the Rev. B. B. Golding, curate of Stonehouse, to whom he gave lessons in Hebrew, and from the conversations which ensued from time to time, Alexander, after much inward conflict, almost came to the conviction of the truth of Christianity. The struggle was now almost heart-rending. He used to steal silently down to Stonehouse Church on Sunday evenings, and, under the shadow of its walls, would stand riveted to the spot, while he listened to the songs of Christian praise, in which he dared not as yet take part. His congregation, however, soon got to hear of his leanings to Christianity, and he was suspended from his duties as rabbi. He now regularly attended Mr. Golding's ministry, and was eventually baptized, on June 22, 1825, in St. Andrew's Church, Plymouth, in the presence of 1,000 people. His wife, who had been a secret enquirer, unknown to her husband, was baptized six months later in Exeter. Owing to Alexander's position, his conversion aroused much interest, and proved a great encouragement to all workers in the cause. He was ordained deacon in Dublin, in 1827, by Archbishop Magee, at a time when the ordination of a Hebrew Christian was of very rare occurrence indeed, and appointed to a small charge in that city. In December of the same year he was ordained priest by the Bishop of Kildare, and joined the London Jews' Society, which he served as missionary, in Danzig, from 1827 to 1830, and in London from 1830 to 1841.

One of the most interesting incidents in his work in Prussia was a visit to his birthplace, and the meeting with his brother, a rabbi to a large congregation near Posen. We quote the future Bishop's own words, as shewing his humbleness of mind, and how fully he had left Judaism behind, and entered into the joys of his new faith.

"I cannot describe my feelings on finding myself now in Posen, my native country, when I reflect on the wonderful dealings of the Lord with me since I left this place nine years ago. I was then a wandering sheep from my Saviour's fold, walking in darkness, and in the shades of death, ignorant of the Lord that bought me. How did He lead me? the blind by a way that I knew not. My soul doth magnify the Lord, because my spirit rejoiceth in my God, as my Saviour, especially when I consider I am now engaged as an humble, but unworthy, instrument to preach the glad tidings of salvation, and to declare to my brethren, what the Lord hath done for my soul. When my prospects of usefulness are dark, I look to my Lord, and say, 'Thy grace is sufficient for me; Thy strength is made perfect in my weakness.'

"The Lord gave me another gracious token of His mercy at Posen. I wrote to my brother, who is rabbi to the large Jewish congregation twelve miles from Posen, informing him of my arrival, and requesting that we might have a meeting. I had very faint hopes of his compliance, as he had been most bitter against me since my baptism. His letter, however, expressed a wish to meet me half way from Posen. I immediately set off, and had the unspeakable satisfaction of embracing my brother, not as an enemy, even for the Gospel's sake, but full of brotherly love and affection, and even giving me credit for sincerity. I stated to him the Gospel, and declared also to him an account of the hope that was in me. He acknowledged that he had not given the subject due consideration, but he promised he would. He told me what is very important, viz., that it is generally expected among the Jews, that the coming generation will embrace Christianity, and that Judaism is fast dying away . Time would not allow him to be much with us, and we parted, praying together that the Lord would open his eyes to behold His glory, as it shines in the face of Jesus, and that we may both be united in His love, and become brothers in Christ." 6 6 Jewish Expositor , July, 1828, p. 260.

In his work in London, Alexander frequently preached to Jews, and took an active part in the revision of the New Testament in Hebrew and the translation of the Liturgy into the same language. He held the post of Professor of Hebrew and Rabbinical Literature in King's College, London, from 1832 to 1841. In 1840 Professor Alexander's name appeared at the head of some sixty names of leading converts from Judaism, who had subscribed to a formal "protest of Christian Jews in England" against the Blood Accusation, or charge against the Jews of using Christian blood in their passover rites. This was a remarkable document, emanating as it did from so many who were by nationality Jews, and who had lived to maturity in the faith and practice of modern Judaism.

Just at this juncture an event took place which then and since aroused considerable commotion in the religious world at home, the establishment of the Anglican Bishopric at Jerusalem.

Dr. McCaul, to whom the Bishopric was first offered, declined it on the ground that a Hebrew Christian ought to occupy the position. Consequently, Alexander was selected and consecrated, as first Bishop of the new See, on Sunday, November 7, 1841, in Lambeth Palace, by Dr. Howley, Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by Dr. Blomfield, Bishop of London, Dr. Murray, Bishop of Rochester, and Dr. Selwyn, Bishop of New Zealand. A distinguished company was present, including his Excellency the Chevalier Bunsen, as representing the King of Prussia; Sir Stratford Canning, Her Majesty's Ambassador Extraordinary to the Porte; Baron Schleinitz, Prussian Chargé d'Affaires; the Prussian Consul-General Hebeler; Lord Ashley; the Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone; the Right Hon. Dr. Nicholl; Sir Robert H. Inglis; Sir Claudius Hunter, and the Rev. Dr. Abeken, Chaplain to the King of Prussia. The sermon was preached by Dr. McCaul from the appropriate text of Isa. lii. 7, "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!"