|
(Continued
from issue #1.)
During
the month of August, Messrs. Joseph Jonas, David I. Johnson and Phineas
Moses were appointed a special committee to draft a constitution for the
purpose of procuring a charter: and on the eighth of January 1830,
"Morris Symonds, Jos. Jonas, Morris Moses, David I. Johnson,
Solomon Moses, Jos. Symonds, Phineas Moses, Abraham Jonas, Saml. Jonas,
Saml. J. De Young, Henry Hyman, Simon Block, David Lewis, Simon Symonds,
Bernard Le Jeune, Lewis Levin, and Benjamin Silvers, and all other
Israelites who may apply and be accepted into this congregation, and
their successors," were, by an act of the General Assembly of the
State of Ohio, declared to be "constituted a body corporate and
politic, under the name and style of Kal Kodesh Beneh Israel, according
to the form and mode of worship of the Polish and German Jews in
Cincinnati;" and on the 5th of September following, corresponding
with the 11th of Elul 5590, the requisitions of the charter were
complied with, and the following named gentlemen were duly elected to
the several offices attached to their names, which five officers form
the vestry:
Morris
Moses, Parnass, (Warden Senior;) Bernard Le Jeune, Gabah Zedokah;
Benjamin Silvers, Gabah Beth Hiam, (Wardens Junior;) Joseph Symonds,
Treasurer; David G. Seixas, Secretary.
By
the recorded names of the seat-holders at this date, our congregation
seems to have consisted of thirty-two male, and twenty female adults.
On
the 19th of October, 1832, departed this life, Simon Block, Esq.,
formerly of Richmond, Va. This venerable gentleman had filled the office
of Parnass, and volunteered for a considerable time to be our
שוחט without any emolument, the congregation not
being able to procure one; he was also our only
מוהל at that time. He was highly respected and
lamented by the members. Being the oldest amongst us, we considered him
as the father of the congregation, (peace be unto him.)
Nothing
of interest took place, except a gradual increase of the congregation,
until 1834, when Messrs. Joseph Jonas, Elias Mayer and Phineas Moses
were appointed a committee for building a Synagogue, with full powers to
raise funds, collect materials, make contracts, &c.; and it is
with considerable gratification we have to record the liberal donations
given through the influence of the committee. Fifty-two gentlemen of the
Christian faith, our fellow-citizens, gave us towards the building twenty-five
dollars each. With very inefficient funds we commenced the good
work; but during its progress, with the blessing of God, we were enabled
to procure additional subscriptions. With these, and loans from the city
banks, we were enabled to bring the holy work to its completion. On the
14th day of Sivan, 5595, corresponding to the 11th of June, 1835, the
foundation stone was laid, with suitable enclosures and inscriptions;
and with all due form and ceremony, attended with prayers to the supreme
Eternal, it was solemnly deposited, in the presence of the building
committee and many of the members, by the Rev. Joseph Samuels, our
venerable pastor, (now no more.) During this year we received the
following donations from our brethren abroad:—$100 from the late
Harman Hendricks, Esq., of New York; $170 from a number of our brethren
in Philadelphia and Baltimore, whose names we have duly recorded; among
them we perceive Jacob I. Cohen, Jr., Esq., of Baltimore, $150; and the
following from Philadelphia, viz.: John Moss, Esq., $50; Simpson Morris,
Esq., $10; R. & I. Philips, Esqs., $10; H. Gratz, J. Gratz, and L.
Allen, Esqs., $20 each; A. L. Hart, A. C. Peixotto, Frederick Samuel, A.
Hart, P. S. Rowland, L. Bomeisler, and L. J. Levy, Esqs., $10 each; Mrs.
E. Block, of Baltimore, and eleven gentlemen of Philadelphia, $5 each.
Five large brass chandeliers were received from the Holy Congregation
Shearith Israel, New York, with the condition attached, "that in
case the congregation in Cincinnati
at any future period should decline to use them, then to return
them to the trustees of this congregation." They were originally
used in the old Synagogue at New York, and were received by us with much
pleasure. The original donor could have little dreamed at the time that
his munificent gift would adorn and enlighten a temple erected to the
service of the ever-living God in the far west.
The
officers elected for 5586, the year the Synagogue was completed and
consecrated were as follows:
Joseph
Jonas, Parnass; Elias Mayer, Gabah Zedokah; Phineas Moses, Treasurer;
Building Committee; Benjamin Moses, Gabah Beth Hiam; Morris B. Mann,
Secretary.
During
the months of May, June and July, we sold seats in our new Synagogue to
the amount of four thousand and five hundred dollars, which enabled us
to finish the interior of the building in a much superior style than we
originally intended. The edifice is erected with a handsome Doric front,
a flight of stone steps over the basement, with a portico supported by
pillars. The building is eighty feet in length by thirty-three in
breadth, including a vestibule of twelve feet. It has a very handsome
dome in the centre, ornamented with panels and carved mouldings in
stucco. On entering the building from the vestibule, the beholder is
attracted by the chaste and beautiful appearance of the Ark situated at
the east end; it is eighteen feet in front, surrounded by a neat low
white balustrade, ornamented by four large brass candlesticks; it is
ascended by a flight of steps handsomely carpeted; the entablature and
frieze are composed of stucco work, supported by four large fluted
pillars of the Corinthian order; the doors are in the flat, sliding into
the sides; when opened, the interior appears richly decorated with
crimson damask; the curtain is handsomely festooned in front of the
doors; between the pillars on each side are two marble painted slabs
containing the Decalogue in bold letters; the entablature and frieze
contain suitable inscriptions; the whole is surmounted by a large vase
in imitation of the pot of incense. Near the west end is the Taybah; it
is a square surrounded on three sides by steps imitating marble, with
seats enclosed for the Parnassim in front; it is handsomely painted, as
well as all the seats, in imitation of maple: the balustrade of the
Taybah is surmounted on the four corners by four large brass
candlesticks; on the platform is the reader's desk, neatly covered, and
supported by two small columns. The gallery, with a neat white front, is
over the vestibule, supported by pillars, with six rows of seats. The
seats in the area are placed four in a row, fronting
the ark, on each side of he Taybah. The ceiling is handsomely
finished, wth five circles of stucco work, from which are suspended five
large brass chandeliers. The edifice, when finished, was much admired,
and the Building Committee received a vote of of thanks from the
congregation for their unremitted attentions in procuring the necessary
funds and materials, and for the time and trouble bestowed by them in
superintending the erection of the building. The 9th of September, 1836,
corresponding to the 27th of Elul, 5596, was appointed for the
consecration. The day having arrived, the crowd of our Christian friends
was so great that we could not admit them all. We therefore selected the
clergy, and the families of those gentlemen who so liberally had given
donations towards the building. The members of the congregation
assembled in the basement rooms, a procession was formed, with the
Sepharim in front, (under a handsome canopy,) carried by Messrs. Joseph
Jonas, Parnass; Elias Mayer, G. Z., and Phineas Moses, Treasurer, (these
gentlemen being also the Building Committee.) Mr. David I. Johnson
officiated on the occasion, and chaunted the consecration service; he
also led the choir of singers, supported by a band of music; the choir
consisted of about twenty of the ladies and gentlemen of the
congregation. Who did not enjoy supreme delight and heavenly pleasure,
when the sweet voices of the daughters of Zion ascended on high in
joyful praises to the great Architect of the universe on the glorious
occasion of dedicating a temple to his worship and adoration? And what
must have been the exciting feelings of the founder of this
congregation, at the consecration of this first temple west of the
Alleghany mountains, when on knocking thrice outside the inner door, he
was addressed by the reader within—"It is the voice of my beloved
that knocketh," and when he responded, "Open to me the gates
of righteousness, I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord!"
The consecration hymns and service were composed and selected by the
Rev. Henry Harris. The ceremonies and service being concluded, an
appropriate address was delivered by the Parnass, Mr. Joseph Jonas. The
Sabbath evening service was then solemnly chaunted by Mr. David I.
Johnson, in which he was again harmoniously supported by the vocal
abilities of the ladies and gentlemen of the choir. The Sabbath of the
Lord having commenced, the labours of man ceased, and the instrumental
music was heard no more.
The
whole was concluded by one of the ladies leading in the splendid solo
and chorus of "Yigdal," after which the numerous assemblage
dispersed highly gratified.
(To
be continued.) |
