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Cincinnati, December 25th, 1843.
Rev.
Isaac Leeser,
Dear
Sir—In accordance with the request to furnish you "with a history
of the settlement of the Jews in Ohio," with much pleasure I attend
to that subject, and shall probably be more minute than many would
consider necessary: you must indulge me in this my weakness, as every
thing connected with the settlement of our nation, and the establishment
of our holy religion in this city and state renews within me feelings of
gratitude and veneration to the great Author of our being, who from a single
individual, alone adoring his Unity, has in a few years assembled in
this noble city two considerable congregations; numbering more than
eighteen hundred souls.
It
was in the month of October, 1816, that a young man arrived in New York
from the shores of Great Britain, to seek a home and a residence in the
New World. This individual's name was Joseph Jonas, from Plymouth, in
England. He had read considerably concerning America, and was strongly
impressed with the descriptions given of the Ohio river, and had
therefore determined to settle himself on its banks, at Cincinnati. This
he was encouraged in by a relative he met with in New York. On arriving
at Philadelphia, he was persuaded to settle in that city, and took up
his residence for, a short time with the amiable family of the late Mr.
Samuel Joseph, (peace be unto him.) He here became acquainted with the
venerable Mr. Levi Philips, who took a great interest in him, using many
persuasive arguments not to proceed to Ohio. One of them was frequently brought to his recollection: "In the
wilds of America, and entirely amongst gentiles; you will forget your
religion and your God."
But
the fiat had gone forth, that a new resting place for the scattered sons
of Israel should be commenced, and that a sanctuary should be erected in
the Great West, dedicated to the Lord of hosts, to resound with praises
to the ever-living God. The individual solemnly promised the venerable
gentleman never to forget his religion nor forsake his God: he received
his blessing, and, taking leave of the kind friends with whom he had
resided, departed for Pittsburg on the 2d of January, 1817. On his
arrival, he found the navigation of the Ohio stopped by being frozen
over. He procured profitable employment during the winter, being a
mechanic, and at the breaking up of the ice was wafted on the bosom of
this noble river to the then rising city of Cincinnati, where he arrived
on the 8th day of March, 1817. The city then contained about
six thousand inhabitants, but the only Israelite was himself. With the
assistance of the God of his ancestors, he soon became established in a
lucrative and respectable business, and his constant prayer was, that he
might be a nucleus around whom the first congregation might be formed,
to worship the God of Israel in this great western territory. Solitary
and alone he remained for more than two years; and at the solemn
festivals of our holy religion, in solitude was he obliged to commune
with his Maker.
Some
time in December, 1818, his heart was delighted with the arrival of his
lamented and ever-valued friend, David Israel Johnson, (from Portsmouth,
England,) with his wife and infant child. But they were bound for
Brookville, Indiana, and again for a while solitude was his portion. In
the month of June following, three members of our nation arrived, viz.,
Lewin Cohen, of London; Barnet Levi, of Liverpool; and Jonas Levy, of
Exeter, England; and the following ימים
טובים were duly solemnized in Cincinnati,
and probably in the western country, for the first time,
My
friend, D. I. Johnson, being summoned from Brookville, and joined us on
the occasion. A few days afterwards the solitary sojourner was joyfully
recompensed by the arrival of his brother, Abraham Jonas, his sister and
her husband, Morris and Sarah Moses: there also came with them Philip
Symonds, his wife and child; all from Portsmouth, England. We began from
this time to form a community of Israelites. In 1820 arrived Solomon
Buckingham, Moses Nathan and Solomon Minken, all from Germany, and the
ימים טובים of 1820
were solemnized in due form with the legal number and a Sepher Torah. In
1821 arrived Solomon Moses, from Portsmouth, England. In 1822 arrived
Phineas Moses, and Samuel Jonas, another brother of the solitary and now
were our hearts rejoiced, for the prospects of a permanent congregation
were near at hand. During the ensuing year, 1823, arrived Simeon Moses,
from Barbadoes, and Morris and Joseph Symonds, from Portsmouth, England.
We are now arrived on "terra firma," and have official records
for reference. On the 4th of January, 1824, a majority of the
Israelites in Cincinnati assembled at the residence of Morris Moses, who
was called to the chair, and Joseph Jonas appointed secretary; when the
following proceedings took place, and the subjoined preamble was
adopted: "Whereas, it is the duty of every member of the Jewish
persuasion, when separated from a congregation, to conform as near as
possible to the worship and ceremonies of our holy religion, and as soon
as a sufficient number can be assembled, to form ourselves into a
congregation for the purpose of glorifying our God, and observing the
fundamental principles of our faith, as developed in the laws of
Moses:—with these impressions, the undernamed persons convened at the
residence of Morris Moses, in the city of Cincinnati, state of Ohio, on
the 4th day of January, 1824, corresponding to the 4th
of Shebat, 5584."
"Present,
Morris Moses, Joseph Jonas, David I. Johnson, Jonas Levy, Solomon Moses,
Simeon Moses, Phineas Moses, Samuel Jonas, Solomon Buckingham, and
Morris Symonds."
Sundry
preparatory resolutions were adopted, a committee on constitution and
by-laws appointed, and the chairman authorized to summon every member of
the Jewish persuasion. We then find the following proceedings officially
recorded:
"In
accordance with a resolution of a convention which met at the residence
of Morris Moses, in the city of Cincinnati, state of Ohio, on the 4th
of January, 1824, corresponding with the 4th of Shebat 5584,
a full convention of every male of the Jewish persuasion or nation was
convened at the house of the aforesaid Morris Moses, in the said city
and state, on the 18th of January, 1824, corresponding with
the 18th day of Shebat, 5584.
"Present,
Joseph Jonas, Morris Moses, David I. Johnson, Philip Symonds, Abraham
Jonas, Jonas Levy, Solomon
Buckingham, Solomon Minken, Solomon Moses, Phineas Moses, Samuel Jonas,
Simeon Moses, Morris Symonds, Joseph Symonds. Morris Moses being in the
chair, and Joseph Jonas secretary, a constitution and by-laws were
adopted, and the following officers duly elected: Joseph Jonas, Parnass;
Phineas Moses and Jonas Levy, vestrymen. Resolutions were then passed to
procure a room, and to fit it up as a temporary place of worship.
(To be continued.)
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