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See other History ArticlesTitle: Moses Jacob Ezekiel: Discovered
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Published: Jan 26, 2015
Author: Stan Lefco blog
Post Date: 2015-04-09 06:55:28 by Rube Goldberg
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Views: 436
Comments: 22
Moses Jacob Ezekiel: Discovered A statue of Thomas Jefferson stands in front of the Rotunda, the iconic building, designed by Jefferson that identifies the University of Virginia, which he founded in 1819. Everyone, who visits The University, walks past both on the way to the Lawn, the expanse of greenery, bordered by student rooms and flanked by white columns. Yet, it is likely that very few have ever taken the time to stop and observe in detail this life-size statue of Jefferson. During our formative four years at The University, we probably walked and more likely rushed past the imposing Mr. Jefferson a thousand times on our way to class or Alderman Library. Yet, had we stopped and studied the statue, it still would not have led us to Moses Jacob Ezekiel. A one page article in the fall 2014 issue of the University of Virginia Magazine, entitled, “God Is In the Details,” did. It related the story of an unnamed visiting professor, who pointed out a curious feature on the base of the statue, which he brought to the attention of W. Scott Harrop, an adjunct lecturer in The University’s department of Middle Eastern and South Asian languages and cultures. The names of deities, including God, Jehovah, Brahma, Atma, Ra, Allah and Zeus, are carved on a tablet, held by one of the statue’s four spirits, representing religious freedom. The others represent liberty, justice, and freedom. Intrigued, Harrop began investigating. Who was the sculptor and what was he--or she--attempting to do? He discovered Moses Jacob Ezekiel, who completed the statue in 1910. He also came upon a letter he had written to his father in which he explained that “under our government, they mean, and are all God---and have no other meaning and have each an equal right and protection of our just laws as Americans.” Was Ezekiel aware of the three accomplishments Jefferson wanted on his grave marker? Buried at his beloved Monticello, his grave stone notes: “Author of the Declaration of American Independence, the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom and Father of the University of Virginia. “ Noticeably missing is his service as President. So who was Moses Jacob Ezekiel? He was born on October 28, 1844 in Richmond, Virginia, one of fourteen children of Jacob Ezekiel and Catherine de Castro. His grandparents were of Spanish-Jewish origin and had immigrated to Philadelphia in 1808. From there the family moved to Richmond, a city historically documented for its anti-Semitism in the 1860’s. On September 17, 1862, just before his 18th birthday, Ezekiel boldly entered the Virginia Military Institute, America’s first state military college, founded in 1839. Not only did it hold this distinction, but Ezekiel became its first Jewish cadet. Being the first Jew was not without incident. While his cadetship was typical, he was targeted for special attention by his upper classmates for being Jewish. He apparently later remarked that he successfully resisted their attempts at physical abuse. One’s religion quickly becomes a matter of public knowledge if not a target of scorn. Yet, he later wrote, “The VMI where every stone and blade of grass is dear to me, and the name of the cadet of the VMI, the proudest and most honored title I can ever possess.” While a student, Ezekiel sought a furlough to join his family for Passover. VMI never had to deal with such a request. It was a first. Superintendent Major General F.H. Smith had to obtain the permission of the Board of Visitors for Ezekiel to join his family for the “Feast of Unleavened Bread.” May 13, 1864. The Civil War was raging. VMI sent a cadet battalion of 257 to fight in the Battle of New Market in the Shenandoah Valley. It marched a tough 80 miles to fight General Grant’s Union forces. Outnumbered,untested college students fighting veteran soldiers. It was hand-to-hand combat. The ground was wet. Some of the cadets lost their shoes in the mud. The battle lasted for hours. It has been described as an “incredible moment in American military history.” The students were victorious, but paid dearly. Ten cadets lay dead or dying while another 45 had been wounded. One fatally-wounded cadet, a freshman, was Thomas Garland Jefferson, the grand nephew of Thomas Jefferson. He had been hit by cannon fire. His roommate was Moses Ezekiel. Although wounded and shoeless, Ezekiel searched for him after the battle ended. Upon finding his weakened and dying classmate, he managed to procure a wagon and had him taken to a nearby house where he lingered for three days. Jefferson asked Ezekiel to read to him from the Bible. He read from John 1:4 of the New Testament: “In my Father’s house there are many mansions…” Ezekiel held Jefferson in his arms as the 17 year old uttered his final words, “Moses, it is getting darker and darker.” Six of the ten cadets killed at New Market are buried at VMI beneath a monument surmounted by a bronze statute. The sculptor is Ezekiel, who returned to VMI after seeing more action, defending, somewhat ironically, his hometown, Richmond. He graduated in the class of 1866. He went on to study anatomy at the Medical College of Virginia the following year. The sculpture is known as Virginia Mourning Her Dead. Annually, on May 15, VMI solemnly commemorates New Market Day. A roll call is held. A representative of the same companies from which the fallen cadets had been members answers, “Died on the field of honor, Sir.” There is three volley salute, followed by taps. The entire school passes Ezekiel’s sculpture. In 1870 Ezekiel moved to Berlin to study at the Royal Art Academy. While in Berlin he won the prestigious Michel-Beer Prix de Rome Competition at the age of 29. The winning stipend allowed him to move to Rome where he remained for 31 years. B’nai B’rith, an international Jewish organization, commissioned him to sculpt a statue for the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. He created Religious Liberty, which now stands at the Philadelphia Museum of American Jewish History. He designed a stained glass window for Temple Knesseth Israel in Philadelphia. During his life he executed nearly two hundred monuments in bronze and marble. His last work was a bronze statue of Edgar Allan Poe, who had been a student not only at the University of Virginia but at West Point. Poe also lived for a short time in Richmond. During his life Ezekiel was honored by Italian kings, U.S. presidents, General Robert E. Lee, Mark Twain, Kaiser Wilhelm II and J.P. Morgan, among others. He died in Italy on March 27, 1917, but, due to World War I, his body was not returned to the U.S. until 1921 and was buried at the foot of the Confederate Memorial, Section 16, at Arlington National Cemetery. His marker reads simply: “Wounded Sergeant of Company C Battalion of the Cadets of VMI.” A dispatch from the New York Times reported: “The death of Moses Ezekiel, the distinguished and greatly beloved American sculptor, who lived in Rome for more than forty years, caused universal regret here.” Although a book has been recently published about him, Ezekiel is one of those historical figures, who has all but faded from memory. Yet, his intriguing and fascinating life presents a convergence of the Civil War, anti-Semitism, true loyalty, courage, U.S. Presidents, remarkable talent, and a voice for religious freedom, to name a few. Like so many great artists before and after, his works live on. People will enjoy great music and plays and observe great art or sculpture. They will not know the artists, long forgotten, but they will live forever in their genius and talents through their creations. Behind every form of art, there is a life story. How often we listen but do not hear. How often we look but do not really see. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
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--Are you a *Jew*?
"The government ruling us draws its authority not from the principles of the Declaration of Independence, or even from the delegate powers listed in the U.S. Constitution, but rather from the war to re-conquer the independent South. That conflict, usually referred to by the artfully misleading title “Civil War,” established the fact that the government in Washington is willing to kill Americans in whatever quantity it deems necessary in order to enforce its edicts, and then sanctify the slaughter in the name of some suitably “progressive” social objective.
--Are you a *Jew*?
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
"The government ruling us draws its authority not from the principles of the Declaration of Independence, or even from the delegate powers listed in the U.S. Constitution, but rather from the war to re-conquer the independent South. That conflict, usually referred to by the artfully misleading title “Civil War,” established the fact that the government in Washington is willing to kill Americans in whatever quantity it deems necessary in order to enforce its edicts, and then sanctify the slaughter in the name of some suitably “progressive” social objective.
--Are you a *Jew*?
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
--Are you a *Jew*?
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
--Are you a *Jew*?
--Are you a *Jew*?
--Are you a *Jew*?
------- "They're on our left, they're on our right, they're in front of us, they're behind us...they can't get away this time." -- Col. Puller, USMC
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
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