Difference between revisions of "Aleksander Aleksyeyev"

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'''Aleksander Aleksyeyev''' (called Wolf Nachlass), born in 1820, at Nazarevietz, government of Podolsk, of poor Jewish parents. At the age of ten he was impressed into military service by the press-gang (poimshchiki) of Nicolas I., and sent away to the distant city of Volsks, government of Saratov. It was the political and missionary policy of Nicolas I. to take young boys from their parents and to train them in military schools, so that after they had completed their service of twenty-five years, they might return home and act as missionaries to their parents. Aleksyeyev for a long time resisted Christian teaching, and the officials considered him a most stubborn subject. However, about 1845, he changed his views entirely, and not only became a member of the Orthodox Russian Church, but managed to convert about five hundred Jewish Cantonists, for which he was promoted in 1848 to the rank of a non-commissioned officer, and was honoured by the Emperor's thanks. About 1855, Aleksander was so unfortunate as to lose the use of his legs. He then settled in Novogorod, and during his long illness wrote the following works on ethnographic and missionary topics:—English titles: I. "The Triumph of Christian Teaching over the Talmudic Teaching, or a Soul-saving Conversation of a Christian and a Jew on the Coming of the Messiah" (St. Petersburg, 1859); 2. "Religious Service, Holy Day and Religious Rites of the Jews To-day" (Novogorod, 1861); 3. "The Public Life of the Jews, their Habits, Customs and Prejudices" (ib. 1868); 4. "Colloquies of an Orthodox Christian with a Newly-Converted Jew" (St. Petersburg, 1872); 5. "A Former Jew for Monastries and Monasticism" (Novogorod, 1875); 6. "The Conversion to Christianity of an Observer of the Jewish Law" (ib. 1882); 7. "Do the Jews use Christian Blood?" (ib. 1886), and several others. His works are interesting, as he was the first Jew in Russia to give a description of the life and customs of his Jewish brethren. He refuted the absurd and criminal blood accusation.
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'''Aleksander Aleksyeyev''', was  a Jewish convert to Orthodox Christianity in the mid nineteenth century through the press-gang (poimshchiki) system of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia. He is noted for his writings after his [[conversion]].
  
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===References===
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==Life==
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* "[http://en.messianicjudaismwiki.com/wiki/Aleksander_Aleksyeyev Aleksander Aleksyeyev]" fom the English language <em>[http://en.messianicjudaismwiki.com/ Messianic Judaism Wiki]</em>.
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Aleksander Aleksyeyev was born in 1820 of poor Jewish parents at Nazarevietz, government of Podolsk (Podolia). At the age of ten, he was impressed into Russian military service through the press-gang (poimshchiki) and sent to the distant city of Volsks in government of Saratov under the political and missionary policy of Nicholas I to take young boys from their parents and train them in military schools so that after they had completed their service of twenty-five years they might return home and act as missionaries among their parents. Aleksyeyev resisted Christian teaching for a long time, such that the officials considered him a most stubborn subject.
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However, about 1845, he changed his views entirely, and not only became a member of the [[Russian Orthodox Church]], but managed to convert about five hundred Jewish Cantonists[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=112&letter=C]. For this, in 1848, he was promoted to the rank of a non-commissioned officer and was honored by the Emperor's thanks.
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About 1855, Aleksander was unfortunate in the loss of the use of his legs. After settling in [[Novgorod]] he began writing on ethnographic and [[missionary]] topics during his long illness. His works are interesting in that he was the first Jew in Russia to describe the life and customs of his Jewish brethren. He refuted the absurd and criminal [[w:Blood libel|blood accusation]].
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The date and place of his repose are unknown.
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==Writings==
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* "The Triumph of Christian Teaching over the Talmudic Teaching, or a Soul-saving Conversation of a Christian and a Jew on the Coming of the Messiah" (St. Petersburg, 1859).
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* "Religious Service, Holy Day and Religious Rites of the Jews Today" (Novgorod, 1861).
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* "The Public Life of the Jews, their Habits, Customs and Prejudices" (ib. 1868).
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* "Colloquies of an Orthodox Christian with a Newly-Converted Jew" (St. Petersburg, 1872).
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* "A Former Jew for Monasteries and Monasticism" (Novgorod, 1875).
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* "The Conversion to Christianity of an Observer of the Jewish Law" (ib. 1882).
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* "Do the Jews use Christian Blood?" (ib. 1886).
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==Sources==
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* "[http://en.messianicjudaismwiki.com/wiki/Aleksander_Aleksyeyev Aleksander Aleksyeyev]" from the English language <em>[http://en.messianicjudaismwiki.com/ Messianic Judaism Wiki]</em>.
 
* [http://en.messianicjudaismwiki.com/Aaron_Bernstein Bernstein, Aaron].<em>[http://en.messianicjudaismwiki.com/wiki/Some_Jewish_Witnesses_for_Christ_(book) Some Jewish Witnesses for Christ].</em> London 1906.
 
* [http://en.messianicjudaismwiki.com/Aaron_Bernstein Bernstein, Aaron].<em>[http://en.messianicjudaismwiki.com/wiki/Some_Jewish_Witnesses_for_Christ_(book) Some Jewish Witnesses for Christ].</em> London 1906.
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*[http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=1110&letter=A  Aleksander Aleksyeyev]
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[[Category:Converts to Orthodox Christianity]]
 
[[Category:Converts to Orthodox Christianity]]
 
[[Category:Converts to Orthodox Christianity from Judaism]]
 
[[Category:Converts to Orthodox Christianity from Judaism]]

Latest revision as of 15:00, April 15, 2011

Aleksander Aleksyeyev, was a Jewish convert to Orthodox Christianity in the mid nineteenth century through the press-gang (poimshchiki) system of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia. He is noted for his writings after his conversion.

Life

Aleksander Aleksyeyev was born in 1820 of poor Jewish parents at Nazarevietz, government of Podolsk (Podolia). At the age of ten, he was impressed into Russian military service through the press-gang (poimshchiki) and sent to the distant city of Volsks in government of Saratov under the political and missionary policy of Nicholas I to take young boys from their parents and train them in military schools so that after they had completed their service of twenty-five years they might return home and act as missionaries among their parents. Aleksyeyev resisted Christian teaching for a long time, such that the officials considered him a most stubborn subject.

However, about 1845, he changed his views entirely, and not only became a member of the Russian Orthodox Church, but managed to convert about five hundred Jewish Cantonists[1]. For this, in 1848, he was promoted to the rank of a non-commissioned officer and was honored by the Emperor's thanks.

About 1855, Aleksander was unfortunate in the loss of the use of his legs. After settling in Novgorod he began writing on ethnographic and missionary topics during his long illness. His works are interesting in that he was the first Jew in Russia to describe the life and customs of his Jewish brethren. He refuted the absurd and criminal blood accusation.

The date and place of his repose are unknown.

Writings

  • "The Triumph of Christian Teaching over the Talmudic Teaching, or a Soul-saving Conversation of a Christian and a Jew on the Coming of the Messiah" (St. Petersburg, 1859).
  • "Religious Service, Holy Day and Religious Rites of the Jews Today" (Novgorod, 1861).
  • "The Public Life of the Jews, their Habits, Customs and Prejudices" (ib. 1868).
  • "Colloquies of an Orthodox Christian with a Newly-Converted Jew" (St. Petersburg, 1872).
  • "A Former Jew for Monasteries and Monasticism" (Novgorod, 1875).
  • "The Conversion to Christianity of an Observer of the Jewish Law" (ib. 1882).
  • "Do the Jews use Christian Blood?" (ib. 1886).

Sources

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