Rachel was the eldest daughter of Jacob and Judith "Myers" Mordecai, a Jewish family. Jacob opened a girls' boarding school in Warrenton, NC in 1809, with Rachel as head instructor and his partner. On March 28, 1821, she married AARON MARKS LAZARUS (1777-1841), a Jewish widower with seven children. He and Rachel became parents of four more; Marx Edgeworth, Ellen, Mary Catherine and Julia.
In August 1815, Rachel began corresponding with popular English novelist, Maria Edgeworth, concerning her unflattering portrayal of Jews in her writings. Their exchange of letters lasted over twenty years and were kept and have been published.
Rachel also wrote letters to her brother, Moses, expressing her concern because he was marrying Margaret Lane, who was a Gentile.
Later, Rachel's growing Christian sentiments in 1835, created a family conflict. Her letters to her sister, Ellen, reveal great emotional distress because of her religious conflicts. Not only did she face her Jewish father's displeasure, but her husband, Aaron, threatened to take her children away from her if she tried to convert him to her "heretical beliefs." Rachel died suddenly in 1838 at the age of 50, as she was traveling to the bedside of her ailing father. She was too weak to make the complete journey and was baptized on her deathbed.
Her obituary, published in the June 29, 1838, issue of the "Wilmington Advertiser", which was probably composed by her husband, Aaron:
"In the midst of life we are in death"
Died
"In Petersburg, VA on the 23rd, Mrs. RACHAEL LAZARUS. Mrs. Lazarus was hastening from Wilmington to Richmond to minister at the couch of a sick father, but was so exhausted by fatigue on her arrival at Petersburg, that she was immediatley obliged to retire to that bed whence she was borne to the grave. Truly life is a vain shadow and vanisheth like the mist. The moral, social, and intellectual virtues met together in Mrs. Lazarus, the gentler attributes of her own sex were blended with the more masculine of the other, and formed a combination of most rare excellence. Her uncommon mental endowments were improved and enriched by well directed study, which fitted her, alike, to charm and to mend any society. It will be long before we will look upon her like again. Benevolence of character, singleness of purpose, and unaffectedness of manner --- "virtues the better for their simpleness" --- made her the admiration of her acquaintance and the pride of her friends. A large circle profoundly sympathize with the family, and will not suffer the memory of the dead to perish. Her "remembrance will be richer in our thoughts than on her tomb" --- Society will honour the ashes, whom they loved in life. God's peace be with her."
In August 1815, Rachel began corresponding with popular English novelist, Maria Edgeworth, concerning her unflattering portrayal of Jews in her writings. Their exchange of letters lasted over twenty years and were kept and have been published.
Rachel also wrote letters to her brother, Moses, expressing her concern because he was marrying Margaret Lane, who was a Gentile.
Later, Rachel's growing Christian sentiments in 1835, created a family conflict. Her letters to her sister, Ellen, reveal great emotional distress because of her religious conflicts. Not only did she face her Jewish father's displeasure, but her husband, Aaron, threatened to take her children away from her if she tried to convert him to her "heretical beliefs." Rachel died suddenly in 1838 at the age of 50, as she was traveling to the bedside of her ailing father. She was too weak to make the complete journey and was baptized on her deathbed.
Her obituary, published in the June 29, 1838, issue of the "Wilmington Advertiser", which was probably composed by her husband, Aaron:
"In the midst of life we are in death"
Died
"In Petersburg, VA on the 23rd, Mrs. RACHAEL LAZARUS. Mrs. Lazarus was hastening from Wilmington to Richmond to minister at the couch of a sick father, but was so exhausted by fatigue on her arrival at Petersburg, that she was immediatley obliged to retire to that bed whence she was borne to the grave. Truly life is a vain shadow and vanisheth like the mist. The moral, social, and intellectual virtues met together in Mrs. Lazarus, the gentler attributes of her own sex were blended with the more masculine of the other, and formed a combination of most rare excellence. Her uncommon mental endowments were improved and enriched by well directed study, which fitted her, alike, to charm and to mend any society. It will be long before we will look upon her like again. Benevolence of character, singleness of purpose, and unaffectedness of manner --- "virtues the better for their simpleness" --- made her the admiration of her acquaintance and the pride of her friends. A large circle profoundly sympathize with the family, and will not suffer the memory of the dead to perish. Her "remembrance will be richer in our thoughts than on her tomb" --- Society will honour the ashes, whom they loved in life. God's peace be with her."
Rachel was the eldest daughter of Jacob and Judith "Myers" Mordecai, a Jewish family. Jacob opened a girls' boarding school in Warrenton, NC in 1809, with Rachel as head instructor and his partner. On March 28, 1821, she married AARON MARKS LAZARUS (1777-1841), a Jewish widower with seven children. He and Rachel became parents of four more; Marx Edgeworth, Ellen, Mary Catherine and Julia.
In August 1815, Rachel began corresponding with popular English novelist, Maria Edgeworth, concerning her unflattering portrayal of Jews in her writings. Their exchange of letters lasted over twenty years and were kept and have been published.
Rachel also wrote letters to her brother, Moses, expressing her concern because he was marrying Margaret Lane, who was a Gentile.
Later, Rachel's growing Christian sentiments in 1835, created a family conflict. Her letters to her sister, Ellen, reveal great emotional distress because of her religious conflicts. Not only did she face her Jewish father's displeasure, but her husband, Aaron, threatened to take her children away from her if she tried to convert him to her "heretical beliefs." Rachel died suddenly in 1838 at the age of 50, as she was traveling to the bedside of her ailing father. She was too weak to make the complete journey and was baptized on her deathbed.
Her obituary, published in the June 29, 1838, issue of the "Wilmington Advertiser", which was probably composed by her husband, Aaron:
"In the midst of life we are in death"
Died
"In Petersburg, VA on the 23rd, Mrs. RACHAEL LAZARUS. Mrs. Lazarus was hastening from Wilmington to Richmond to minister at the couch of a sick father, but was so exhausted by fatigue on her arrival at Petersburg, that she was immediatley obliged to retire to that bed whence she was borne to the grave. Truly life is a vain shadow and vanisheth like the mist. The moral, social, and intellectual virtues met together in Mrs. Lazarus, the gentler attributes of her own sex were blended with the more masculine of the other, and formed a combination of most rare excellence. Her uncommon mental endowments were improved and enriched by well directed study, which fitted her, alike, to charm and to mend any society. It will be long before we will look upon her like again. Benevolence of character, singleness of purpose, and unaffectedness of manner --- "virtues the better for their simpleness" --- made her the admiration of her acquaintance and the pride of her friends. A large circle profoundly sympathize with the family, and will not suffer the memory of the dead to perish. Her "remembrance will be richer in our thoughts than on her tomb" --- Society will honour the ashes, whom they loved in life. God's peace be with her."
In August 1815, Rachel began corresponding with popular English novelist, Maria Edgeworth, concerning her unflattering portrayal of Jews in her writings. Their exchange of letters lasted over twenty years and were kept and have been published.
Rachel also wrote letters to her brother, Moses, expressing her concern because he was marrying Margaret Lane, who was a Gentile.
Later, Rachel's growing Christian sentiments in 1835, created a family conflict. Her letters to her sister, Ellen, reveal great emotional distress because of her religious conflicts. Not only did she face her Jewish father's displeasure, but her husband, Aaron, threatened to take her children away from her if she tried to convert him to her "heretical beliefs." Rachel died suddenly in 1838 at the age of 50, as she was traveling to the bedside of her ailing father. She was too weak to make the complete journey and was baptized on her deathbed.
Her obituary, published in the June 29, 1838, issue of the "Wilmington Advertiser", which was probably composed by her husband, Aaron:
"In the midst of life we are in death"
Died
"In Petersburg, VA on the 23rd, Mrs. RACHAEL LAZARUS. Mrs. Lazarus was hastening from Wilmington to Richmond to minister at the couch of a sick father, but was so exhausted by fatigue on her arrival at Petersburg, that she was immediatley obliged to retire to that bed whence she was borne to the grave. Truly life is a vain shadow and vanisheth like the mist. The moral, social, and intellectual virtues met together in Mrs. Lazarus, the gentler attributes of her own sex were blended with the more masculine of the other, and formed a combination of most rare excellence. Her uncommon mental endowments were improved and enriched by well directed study, which fitted her, alike, to charm and to mend any society. It will be long before we will look upon her like again. Benevolence of character, singleness of purpose, and unaffectedness of manner --- "virtues the better for their simpleness" --- made her the admiration of her acquaintance and the pride of her friends. A large circle profoundly sympathize with the family, and will not suffer the memory of the dead to perish. Her "remembrance will be richer in our thoughts than on her tomb" --- Society will honour the ashes, whom they loved in life. God's peace be with her."
Inscription
"In memory of Rachel Lazarus, daughter of Jacob Mordecai and wife of Aaron Lazarus of Wilmington, NC. She died on the 23rd of June 1838 at 50 yrs. Endowed with superior talents and the most estimable virtues, she was an ornament to society and a blessing to her domestic circle."
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