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Philadelphia.—During the past holydays the various
Synagogues were filled, at times, to overflowing
with Israelites desirous of testifying, at least
once a year, their adherence to our religion, and we
hope that many have resolved not to be only annual
visitors hereafter. By the by, it seems strange to
us that many can satisfy themselves in this way, and
not feel that if it is their duty to come once or
thrice a year, it must be so on every occasion when
the Synagogue is open for prayer. We regretted to
observe in the place where we attended, that many
spent the Kippur-day in running in and out; and we
must pointedly condemn the practice of paying a
round of visits to various places of worship on that
solemn day; for such intrusion disturbs the devotion
<<426>>
of those who are desirous of praying, and results
from those who evidently cannot be much interested,
or else they would attend to their prayers in the
assembly to which they are attached. It is to be
hoped that in future these evils will be guarded
against as much as possible, and that the worship on
the Day of Atonement may not be rendered the most
disorderly of all days in the year. We say this in
sorrow and not in anger. Would it not be well to
have a sermon delivered in place of a mass of
useless offerings, and thus retain the people in
their seats at a time when they are most inclined to
absent themselves. We throw out this suggestion to
the heads of the congregations, who for once, we
trust, will take our well-meant advice as a rule for
their actions. One thing struck us from the crowds
that attended the German Synagogue where we lately
worship, that a new place of prayer, or more
enlarged room in the houses already existing, is
absolutely required in Philadelphia to accommodate
the people, not alone those who come hither as
visitors during the festivals, but the residents
themselves. We trust that before long a suitable
building may be procured for the accommodation of
those who live in the western part of the city, to
enable especially the pious ladies and the aged,
whom distance often prevents from attending on the
Sabbath, to be regular in their presence in the
house of God. Such a structure, we are sure, whilst
it would promote piety, would not in the least
interfere with the prosperity of already existing
congregations. We forbear to say more at present.
Bnai Jeshurun Congregation, New York.—On Thursday,
the 28th of Elul (25th of September last), the new
Synagogue of the late Elm Street congregation,
situated in Greene, above Houston Street, was
consecrated to the worship of God with the usual
solemn rites. We learn from a correspondent, that
though the building was consecrated in an unfinished
state, the service was highly impressive. The music
used was composed by Mr. Louis Leo, originally for
the dedication of the St. Alban’s Place Synagogue,
London, about twenty years ago, and was executed by
the Rev. Ansel Leo, a brother of the composer, who
is, as our readers know, the minister of the
congregation. The instrumental music was under the
management of Mr. Newstadt. The Synagogue was
crowded, and the ladies’ gallery to such a degree
that many of the female visitors had to be
accommodated in the body of the building, which, by
the way, is asserted to be the handsomest of its
kind in the country. We, for our part, have not yet
seen it, for which we have our reasons; but hope to
visit it at a later period. The orchestra was
composed of many eminent professors of music. The
opening symphony was the overture
<<427>> from
“Joseph in Egypt,” by Mehul, an opera well known
about thirty years ago, though lately a little out
of fashion. The chorus, composed of men and boys,
and twenty-five strong, was exceedingly well
drilled, and performed its part well. Dr. Raphall
delivered the dedication sermon, which occupied, we
learn, a full hour. A prayer, also, was recited by
Dr. R., composed by the late Rabbi Solomon
Hirschell, of London, which appears to us to be
written in good spirit and excellent style, and
altogether superior to many modern productions. But
we cannot say the same with regard to the hymn
originally written for the St. Alban’s Synagogue, by
the late Professor Hysm Hurwitz; nor do we except
from this inferiority the stanza adapting the
blessing originally conveyed to the King of Britain
to the republic; the Hebrew muse, we fear, is not
always favourable to those who woo her; but there is
one man in the country, no other than Mr. Judah
Middleman, now at Cincinnati, who knows how to waken
the long-silent lyre. We must, at some future day,
give some of his productions, and would have done so
long since, were our readers more intimate with the
sacred tongue. But to our subject: the assembly did
not disperse till they had testified their
liberality; as near 2000 dollars was offered to the
funds of the congregation, and was, we suppose,
quite acceptable. The whole ceremony occupied about
three hours and a half. The sermon of Dr. R. was, as
a matter of course, attractive; it would be strange
if it were not, as the reverend preacher’s
reputation is so well established; but the Rev. Mr.
Leo also obtained approbation for his portion of the
service, and was presented by the trustees with a
liberal sum of money for his exertions. We regret to
learn that several invited ministers were absent;
for our part we can assure the gentlemen of the
congregation, that had they invited us in a proper
manner, we would not have been missing on the
occasion, which was to them one of joy, and of deep
interest to us; we hope to meet them hereafter,
when their house is entirely finished.—As no notice
has been taken elsewhere of the fact, we deem it our
duty to state that a beautiful perpetual lamp of
silver (נר תמיד),
similar to the one we had made in Philadelphia, for
Mr. Touro’s Synagogue at New Orleans, was presented
by Mr. M. A. Mitchell of our city, the son of the
president of he congregation, Mr. Abraham Mitchell.
It is in the shape of the old classical lamp, and is
suspended by a silver chain, we think, in front of
the ark. A more appropriate and elegant donation
could not have been bestowed, and Mr. M. deserves
commendation for so endowing the Synagogue over
which his father has presided for so many years. On
the whole, the <<428>> erection of this splendid
structure is another proof of the progress of Jews
in America.
Albany.—Dr. Wise’s Synagogue was consecrated on the
3d of October; Dr. Lilienthal of New York was
present, and delivered a sermon. We have received no
official account, wherefore we cannot communicate
any particulars.
Isaac Hart, Esq., of New Orleans.—We lately
intimated that Mr. Hart would be presented with a
token of regard from the congregation over which he
had been president for several years. The
presentation took place on Sunday, the 21st of
September, and the following extract from the New
Orleans Bee will give our readers all the
particulars which have reached us:
“Presentation
of a Silver Pitcher.— On Sunday last, we were
witness of a highly-interesting ceremony. Everybody
knows Mr. Isaac Hart, of Canip Street, and most
persons are aware that he is an active, zealous, and
intelligent member of the German Hebrew Congregation
of this city. To his unwearied exertions, his
liberality, and his unflagging energy, that
Congregation is indebted, in a great degree, for its
present prosperity, and for the possession of a
spacious and beautiful Temple for the worship of the
GOD of Israel. Mr. HART retained the honorable post
of President of the Congregation, devoting himself
to its welfare, until its leading objects were
secured. He then resigned his office, leaving to his
successors a noble example of the successful fruits
of diligence, religious faith, and indefatigable
perseverance.
“The members of the congregation, desirous of
testifying their grateful appreciation of the
efforts of their ex-president, subscribed toward the
construction of a massive silver pitcher of
exquisite workmanship, having on one side an
appropriate inscription, and on the other a
beautiful representation of the German Synagogue,
and enriched all over with tasteful devices. On
Sunday, the officers of the Congregation assembled
at Mr. Hart’s residence, and Mr. George G. Levi, on
behalf of that body, tendered the pitcher to that
gentleman, accompanying the gift with some feeling
and eloquent remarks, in which he set forth the
valuable services of Mr. Hart, and the high sense of
his merits entertained by the association of which
he had been selected the interpreter. The donee, in
accepting the splendid token, responded warmly and
sincerely. He sketched the history and progress of
the Congregation, from the days when, obscure and
almost nameless, it first struggled into existence,
up to the present time, when its members assemble
weekly in a noble edifice, consecrated to the
Almighty, to <<429>> solemnize their Sabbath and
offer up devotion and prayer to the Most High. He
claimed little merit for himself, but said, that
like a general in battle, he only led his soldiers,
while they had won the victory by their courage and
resolution. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the
gentlemen and ladies present were conducted by Mr.
Hart into another room, where they were entertained
with cordial and profuse hospitality.”
Montgomery, Alabama.—We are requested to announce
that twenty-one Israelites of Montgomery have
associated together for the purpose of establishing
a charitable institution under the name of the
“Hebrew Benevolent Society.” The names of The
members are Sigmund Angel, Albert Binnard, B.
Binnard, Isidore Binnard, Michael Binnard, A. Blum,
N. B. Royer, S. Cellner, Charles Engers, A.
Gugenheim, J. Hausmann, H. Keller, Charles Loeb,
Ferdinand Marks, Loeb Marks, Paul Marks, David
Reiss, L. W. Reiss, Gustav Sutro, Simon Sutro, and
W. Terk. The officers are L. Marks, President; A.
Binnard, Vice-President; G. Sutro, Treasurer; L. W.
Reiss, Secretary; H. Heller and Charles Engers,
trustees.
Lafayette, Indiana.—We learn that in this place,
also, a regular congregation has been organized,
with a Hazen and Shochet; but we have not
ascertained particulars. In Fort Wayne, also, there
is a Kahal existing for more than a year. In
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and in
Detroit, Michigan, we hear there are small
congregations; but we have no regular correspondent
in any of these places to whom we could apply for
information. Can any of our friends oblige us by
inquiring what has been done, and sending us the
information obtained?
Berlin, Marquette Co., Wisconsin.—Extract of a
letter dated October 9th.—“You will undoubtedly be
pleased to hear that in the backwoods country there
were, on the Day of Atonement, a few of our people
assembled to praise the Lord on high. We met, to the
number of thirteen, at the house of Mr. Kusel, who
lives about twenty miles north of this place, on
land belonging to the late Menominnee purchase. So
you will see that the land is not even sold yet to
actual settlers; and still in that wilderness were a
few of God’s chosen ones assembled to praise His
name. We had everything to make the day pass off
according to ancient usage. There was a Sepher
[Torah], as also a Shophar belonging to Mr. Kusel, and we had also, in our small congregation, a
Cohen and a Levi; and everything went off to the
satisfaction of all present.
Knowing that you take a great interest in all that
concerns our holy faith, I send you these few lines,
thinking that they will be read with
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pleasure; and if you should see fit to publish the
same in the next number of the Occident, you will
greatly oblige me.”—We certainly will in this oblige
our correspondent, who is also a subscriber; for
what else is the object of our work? Is it not to
diffuse knowledge of our affair? and who will not be
interested in witnessing the fact of the planting of
our glorious standard in lands where but lately
roamed the savage and resounded the war whoop, and
flashed the tomahawk and scalping knife? Cheer up,
dear brothers; proceed as you hare begun; read the
law of God, sound the Shophar on the days of our
solemn assembly, and honour the sons of Aaron and
the children of Levi whom the Lord chose as his own;
and may He be with you in your outgoing and
incoming, as He was with our fathers when they went
forth in the desert to be his chosen people. |
