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Barbadoes, June 14, 1844.
Reverend and Dear Sir!
Should you not be in possession of any other and
more satisfactory account of our people of this island, and you think
this likely to interest either yourself, or the readers of your very
useful periodical, it is entirely at your disposal. You will regret as
much as myself, that nothing documentary can be at this day found within
the archives of the Synagogue, that can establish the correct era of
their original settlement in Barbadoes, or the country in Europe from
which they emigrated hither. The want of this, as well as other
desirable information, is doubtless owing to casualties of fire and
hurricane, that have, in their frequent visitation through the country,
more than once prostrated the sacred edifice of Bridgetown.
I
had therefore to “reach it there, where seraphs gather immortality.”
Here too time had worked its accustomed change “of growth and decay”
since my last visit to the sacred spot: but it was familiar to my
recollection. I quickly found myself beside the same venerable tomb
before which I stood forty-three years ago, and, as now, deciphering
with the same intense though boyish curiosity its much worn face. After
some time spent in clearing and cleaning, I succeeded to make out the
year of interment to be A. M. 5418 (1658). This is decidedly the oldest,
and to all appearance the first stone laid in the ground; those
neighbouring are —d Mercado, 5420, and Levi Resio, 5421 (1661). All
intermediate to that of David Ralph Mercado, 1685, (which is of marble
and in handsome preservation,) are of a very friable substance and are
completely defaced and much broken. I am thus particular, in order to
show that no mistake has been made in the first noticed. There is space
at the back or commencement of the ground, which, although slabs have
never been laid down, has, from every appearance, been filled up with
mortal tenants, and oral testimony seems to corroborate the fact. This
taken into consideration, we may add thirty years for residence and
death, which would extend their first settlement to A. M. 5388,
corresponding to 1628, or so long back as two hundred and sixteen years.
John Payer, in his History of Barbadoes, (to which your inquiring mind
has likely had access), speaks of Jews in 1680, as of long and settled
residents of the island. He thus remarks of them: “Their testimony
in courts of law had been long rejected, but a more enlightened
policy prevailing over an unjust prejudice, they were now admitted, by a
law passed for that purpose, to give their testimony in all civil
suits, and not otherwise, upon the five books of Moses.” It would
appear that they continued under similar disabilities till the
administration of Sir Bevil Granville, in 1706, who, for the
consideration of £200, granted them (though against the law) some other
privileges, but what they were we are not informed. Their Hazanim have
been from time immemorial elected through the vestry of the Portuguese
Synagogue of London, and they have obtained their Hahamim through the
same medium. The names of three or four are to be seen in the Beth
ahayim.
The
rebuilding of the Synagogue, which was destroyed by the hurricane of 2d
Elul, 5591, (August 2d, 1831,) cost $14,00)0. The corner-stone was laid
20th March, 1832, and opened for consecration on the 9th March, 1833.
The architects were Messrs. John Herbert, jr., and T. R. Wilkes. The
committee appointed to superintend its erection (for whose activity,
taste, and foresight, much praise is due) were Messrs. M. D’Azevedo,
Myer Abrahams, D. M. C. Baesa, D. M. Lobo, and M. A. Finzi.
I
am indebted to the latter gentleman for the order and minutiae of
building, which are as follows:
It
is built of rough native stone, with brick coins and jambs, and
contrived outside to imitate squared freestone. It is thirty-seven feet
high, fifty long, and forty wide; walls two feet thick, which receive
great strength by the rounding of its angles, which are capped with
censers, uniting a balustraded parapet all around. The windows in the
upper part are eighteen in number, and lancet-shaped; those below are
elliptic. A double flight of stone steps, on the north side, covered
with a gothic hood, leads to the ladies’ gallery, which occupies three
sides of the building, supported by ten gothic columns. The Hehal,
Tebah, and Banca, are of mahogany; the benches of a wood called
determer, very much resembling
the above. The area is paved with alternate squares of white and black
marble, and the ceiling painted in relief. The roof is peculiar, being
formed of timber laid direct across with massive knees, or angles, of
iron. The necessary current, which is three inches in ten feet, is given
by blocking its beams. The whole is covered with sheet copper, the edges
of which are lapped over ridges of plank running longitudinally down the
roof, and these are capped with lead. The ceiling is attached
immediately to the under side of the beams, so that the whole depth from
the outer to the inner surface of the roof does not exceed eighteen
inches.
The
K. K. Nidhe Israel is not now, nor ever has been, a corporated body. It
subsists purely by the tender mercies of “the powers that be.” They
have to obtain license, by petition to the legislature of the island, to
conduct their affairs, which grants its sanction to such constitutional
laws of which it may approve. It is likewise necessary, should it be required to enforce payment of arrears
due the Synagogue by any of its members, that the same go before the
governor in council, who, according to the “ordinance made and
provided,” “examine, conclude, and determine,” before a suit at
law can take place. Every thing appertaining to the concerns of the congregation is conducted with much
order, and the service performed with appropriate solemnity every
alternate week. by Messrs. Edward Moses, Parnass, Abm. Finzi, and M. S.
Daniels. The usual routine of worship is adhered to, and all offerings, as well as the prayers for
government are said in the Spanish language. We may presume, therefore,
from the intelligent and enlightened character of the present
generation, that some more modern and consistent improvement will soon
be resorted to.
I
am, Reverend and dear sir, yours,
D.
N. Carvalho.
[D. N. Carvalho was the father of
S.
N. Carvalho.] |
