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Philadelphia, Congregation Knesseth Israel.—It
is with pleasure that we record that the new German
Congregation of this city lately presented their
minister, the Rev. Lazarus Naumburg, with an elegant
gold chain and a pair of gold spectacles, in
testimony of their high regard for his exertions in
the discharge of his official duties. We hope that
the parties may long enjoy the opportunity of
expressing their mutual satisfaction with each
other. If we are correctly informed, the
congregation contemplate erecting a suitable place
of worship of their own, so soon as they can raise
the funds, in which we hope they may be amply
successful.
The Hebrew Education Society’s School is
progressing fairly, with every prospect of effecting
much good. Up to the moment of writing this it has
been only a few days over six weeks in operation,
and it numbers already sixty-seven scholars,
about equally divided between the two sexes. The
teachers are faithful and diligent in their duties,
and already a marked improvement is observable in
our pupils, in every sense of the word. The
applications for admission had become so numerous
that the Board of Directors were compelled to
decline taking any more till they had appointed
additional teachers whereupon, after due examination
of the candidates, the Board of Managers, on the
recommendation of the Directors, elected, on Sunday,
the 18th of May, two assistant female teachers, Miss
Clara F. Weil and Miss Mary A. Murray, who at once
entered on their duties the day following. Since
then, several additional pupils have been admitted,
and, if we understand right, it is the intention of
the committee to admit as many, on application, as
the school-rooms will hold, and the present corps of
teachers can properly attend to. We record the
progress of this society <<165>> so minutely, as it
is the first of its kind in the country, and perhaps
anywhere else; and should it succeed in establishing
a wholesome system of education in this place, and
diffuse a high tone of religion and morals among the
youth of our nation, it is to be hoped that it will
meet with many imitations wherever practicable, so
that in every city of the Union all Jewish children
may be trained under the guidance of teachers of
their own faith, or at least that their education
may be under the strict supervision of Israelites of
good standing, so as to guard them against the
gradual introduction of error and enmity to our
religion, which are not seldom imbibed in the
ordinary schools, both public and private. We may
also add, that in order to aid the teachers in their
onerous labours, one of the school directors attends
every morning at the school, and we believe that
this has been faithfully done every day since it
commenced; at the same time, we do but justice to
all to say that the greatest unanimity prevails
among the Directors and the Board in general, which
gives an assurance of many happy results for the
future.
Congregation Rodef Sholem of Philadelphia.—This,
the oldest German Congregation in the United States,
has certainly made great progress in all the
material elements of outward propriety during
worship, an improved manner of singing, and increase
of members. We recollect when the worshippers in
their hired room, which they had fitted up, were
extremely limited; and now, on the last Passover,
their Synagogue, the largest by far in this city,
was well filled both by male and female attendants.
We see also a constantly improved state of religion
among them, and we believe that several of them have
of late paid attention to the sanctity of the
Sabbath more than formerly. The congregation have
also two Hebrew teachers to instruct the children
belonging to their members and seatholders, Messrs.
Bachman and Sternheimer, and there are few indeed
who attend Synagogue now who. are not able at least
to read the Hebrew fluently. It is nothing but
justice, that we make this statement.
Shearith Israel Congregation of New York.—Whilst
lately in New York, we learned from the venerable
Secretary of the Portuguese Synagogue of our sister
city, that the trustees had purchased twelve acres
of land on Long Island, opposite what is called the
Cypress Cemetery, for a burial ground, and that it
was supposed that the Bnai Jeshurun Congregation,
would take a portion of this land for the interment
of their dead. This step of purchasing land so far
from the city has been rendered necessary in
consequence of the Common Council passing an
ordinance prohibiting interments within certain
limits; which <<166>> embrace the burying-places of both the
congregations named; and as it is probable that
before long the whole island, composing the City of
New York, may be thus interdicted, it is the best
policy to go to Long Island to seek a place where
the dead may lie undisturbed by the constant
encroachment of improvements in the shape of new
buildings and new streets. Would it not be well were
all the Jewish congregations of New York to make one
cemetery common to them all, under proper
regulations, if even each might have its own
particular portion? We think the matter worth a
serious reflection. But who will move first?
Albany, New York.—Our readers will recollect
that we reluctantly stated last autumn, that in
consequence of some misunderstanding, on Rosh
Hashanah, Dr. Wise, was deprived of his ministerial
charge; whereupon his friends formed a new
congregation, over which they elected him as
minister. We just learn that the subject had been
brought before the Mayor’s Court of that city, and
that it was decided on the 17th of May, in favour of
Dr. Wise. We have been requested to give the
substance of the Judge’s charge and the finding of
the jury. We are ready, however, to admit a
counterstatement should we be misinformed in the
premises. The following report has reached us:
The judge charged as follows:
1.
A minister elected by the majority of the
congregation can be deposed only by a vote of said
majority, otherwise none dare prevent him or
interfere with him in the discharge of his official
duties.
2.
All acts of a Parnass without the consent of the
majority of trustees are illegal.
3.
The meeting of the Congregation Beth-El on the 5th
of September last was illegal, and all resolutions
passed are null and void, because, 1. No notice was
given, that resolutions would be offered regarding
the minister of the congregation, and still such
resolutions were passed at said meeting 2. Motions
to adjourn the meeting were made and seconded, which
the chair refused to put to the meeting; in
consequence of which the majority of the trustees,
after a delay of two hours, announced the meeting
adjourned, to which the majority of the congregation
responded and left the meeting; only 43 out of the
132 members of the congregation remained and passed
resolutions concerning Dr. Wise.
4.
The plaintiff Isaac M. Wise, D. D., was bound in
duty to mount the pulpit on Sabbath next, September
7, as he usually did, and did so in a legal and
orderly manner.
3.
The defendant, Louis Spanier, had no right to
interfere nor to stand at the pulpit
6.
The defendant prevented the plaintiff from the
discharge of his duty by inflicting upon him blows
and pushes.
<<167>>
7. The defendant is guilty of an assault and battery
committed on a minister in the pulpit in the
presence of his congregation.
The jury then retired and brought in a verdict of
one thousand dollars, and costs.
Richmond, Virginia.—It gives us much pleasure
to announce the following:—“At a meeting of the
Bakal Kadosh Beth Shalome, held on Sunday, May 18th,
1851, the Rev. Jacob Mendes De Solla was duly
elected Hazan and Teacher for that congregation. Mr.
De Solla will enter immediately on the discharge of
the duties of his office.” Mr. De Solla made a very
favourable impression on us when in Philadelphia
last winter, and we welcome him with sincere
gratification to the ministry. We wish him all
imaginable success.
Pittsburg, Pa.—We
learn from one of the members of that congregation
that they are progressing there in all things, and
that the number of Israelites is fast augmenting in
the western capital of Pennsylvania. We should like
to obtain an accurate account of their condition.
Will some of our friends oblige us?
Augusta, Georgia.—It will be seen by
reference to our advertiser that the congregation of
that flourishing city desire to engage a competent
person to act as Hazan and Shochet. We hope that
they may soon be able to find one every way
calculated to serve the cause of religion, both
spiritually and materially. Augusta has the credit
of being the first congregation in Georgia to make a
proper movement towards a permanent religious
organization. May they be blessed for it.
St. Louis.—A correspondent from this
flourishing city writes as follows :
With sincere joy, and an admiration, as only my own
experiences earned on your thornful field, can
inspire, I received the first number of the new
series of your Occident, and I determined to obey
your friendly and repeated demands for some
contributions of my pen. To save you the trouble of
translating, I write in English, and hope your
readers will excuse their German brother for the
want of elegance and even correctness of style, and
that they may find what he offers them worthy of
their notice.
As
a correspondent at this place, I feel it my duty to
begin with local matters, though they may not be of
much interest, as my knowledge of them is but very
little, and this not favourable. The body of the
Jews here of Polish origin and habits, and have
generally followed the clothing trade, which is
little calculated to gain the <<168>> esteem of our
fellow-citizens; but even many Jews were unwilling
to join them, on account of their intolerance and
exactions at every opportunity. The result is, that
a kind of stagnation prevails in our community, and
while St. Louis has become in the last ten years one
of the largest and wealthiest cities of the U. S.,
and whilst the number and wealth of its Israelites
kept pace in proportion, our religious institutions
are insignificant, our house of worship poor, and
there is no learned man at the head of the community
to elevate, on the Sabbath, our minds and hearts, to
instruct our children, which are, in great numbers,
sent to parochial and Catholic nunnery schools, to
obtain the first rudiments of education. Most
probably the old community thought to obtain
adherents by making extravagant charges, when a Jew,
who was not a member, had the sad duty to perform to
bury his friend or relation. This was a grievance to
many, and they formed lately, though with very
little means, new congregations, one of which is
generally called the Bavarian, the other the
Bohemian. The latter, though very few in number,
distinguish themselves by a greater degree of
tolerance; they have, by great sacrifices, purchased
a burying- ground, and have organised a
well-regulated system of worship, which is well
attended on our holy days.
It
is to be hoped the future will furnish a more
agreeable report, with regard to our interests;
until then, you will not wonder that your magazine
finds but very few subscribers in this great
metropolis of the West; and that a St. Louis paper,
speaking of Jews in general (and though as a
catholic organ inclined to speak favourably of
them), mentions the Jews of South Carolina and
Savannah, of New York and Philadelphia, but does not
find anything to say in praise of those Jews that
are its own readers. I. B.
Died, at Curaçoa, W. L, on the 19th Nissan, 5611,
21st April last, Mr. Obediah Mendez Da Costa,
a native of London, in his fifty‑seventh year.
Mr. Da C. had been, from the year 1812, a merchant
of that place, and was much beloved by all who knew
him. He has left an only daughter, of the early age
of sixteen, to lament her loss, with a numerous
circle of relatives and friends; he was an indulgent
parent, affectionate brother, and sincere friend.
Peace be to his departed soul. |
