Lithographic portrait (drawing on stone by S. Schuster, printed by Nagel and Weingärtner, New York) of Rabbi Max Lilienthal, defaced with a handwritten statement by Jacob A. Cohen of New Orleans, Louisiana in 1861. In his statement, Cohen explained that he was returning the lithograph to Lilienthal on the basis of Lilienthal’s abolitionist ideals, and because he had “discarded the Lord and taken up the sword in defense of a Negro government.” | "Sir, Since you have discarded the Lord and taken up the Sword in the defense of a Negro government – your picture which has occupied a place in our Southern homes we herewith return that you may present them to your beloved Black Friends as they will not be permitted in our dwellings – your veneration for the Star Spangled Banner is I presumed in your pockets; Like all other demagogues who left their country for their's countrys good. I shall be engaged actively in the field and should be happy to rid Israel of the disgrace of your life be assured that we have memories and our friends we shall not forget. Should you ever desire to extend any acquaintance with me I affix my name and residence. If [...] may find [...] in your place who and what I am. Jacob Cohen. New Orleans, La. May 28, 1861. J.C.A." 
A printed legend at bottom center, which reads: "Rev. Dr. M. Lilienthal," is followed by the autograph quotation and signature in M. Lilienthal's hand: "The Lord is my Banner. Ex[odus]. 17.16. Lilienthal"). Three words in the latter ("The Lord" and "my") were crossed out, and replaced by Jacob Cohen with the words "Abraham Lincoln" and "your," so that the quotations read " Abraham Lincoln is your banner." | In the middle of the 19th Century, lithographic portraits of Max (Menachem) Lilienthal (1814-1882), an educator, Rabbi, and a promoter of the Reform Movement in North America and the American West, were printed, sold and displayed in homes across the United States. Jacob A. Cohen of New Orleans owned this lithograph of Lilienthal before he defaced and mailed it back to the rabbi, on May 28, 1861. Jacob Cohen became a Captain in the Army of the Confederates States of America and a member of the 10th Louisiana Regiment; he was later killed in the Battle of Manassas (1862), and buried at the Hebrew Cemetery, in Richmond, Virginia. The portrait remained with the Lilienthal family until sometime after the turn of the 20th century. The defaced lithographic portrait was listed by an auction house, and Magnes supporter Dorothy Schnier purchased and then donated it to the Western Jewish History Center.

Classification	PRINTS
Artist/Creator	Nagel and Weingärtner, S. Schuster, Jacob A. Cohen, Max Menachem Lilienthal, 1814-1882
Creation Place	United States, New York, United States, New Orleans, Louisiana
Date Created	1861
Physical Description	Lithograph in black ink, brown ink inscriptions written directly over image, extending beyon onto both primary and secondary supports.
Medium	offset lithograph
Language	English
Script	Latin
Extent	2 linear ft. (1 oversize framed item)
Credit Line	Gift of Dorothy Schnier