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The new place of worship of the old German congregation of Israelites
of this city was solemnly dedicated to the worship of the Lord on
Wednesday afternoon, the 12th of Nissan (12th of April), with the usual
ceremonies attendant on such an event in Jewish communities. The
Synagogue is a large room having a gallery on both sides, each
accessible by a separate staircase. The arrangement of the whole
displays a gratifying evidence of good taste on the part of the
authorities of the congregation; but as it differs but little from the
usual mode of the American Synagogues, we forbear giving a minute
description. For the information of our European friends we will merely
state that in the greater part of, if not all, the German Synagogues in
this country, the Portuguese manner of having the Hazan placed on the Beema,
instead of before the Hechal, has been adopted; the new Synagogue
does conform in this to the older ones. This deviation from the European
Minhag is doubtlessly owing to the fact that it is not long since the
Portuguese was the only one prevalent in America, with the single
exception of the congregation Rodef Sholem in this place, which also was
established long after the formation of the congregation Mikveh
Israel, which has been worshipping on the site of its present
Synagogue for about sixty-two years.--We are in hopes of being furnished
before long with a concise history of the establishment of all the
principal congregations in this country; at least we will endeavour to
obtain all the accessible information, and to spread it before our
readers with strict impartiality.
About half past four P.M. the congregation and other persons having
tickets of admission began to assemble, and at six o'clock, when the
doors were closed, the whole area presented a dense mass of persons,
among whom were many of the most honoured of our citizens. We saw
several distinguished clergymen of various denominations, judges of
several courts, the post-master, the city authorities, as likewise the
greater part of the officers of the other Jewish congregations. A little
after six the exercised commenced and continued without intermission
till about a quarter before nine. During each of the
הקפות a Psalm was sung, viz. 30, 122, 100,
111, 132, 138, and 91, by the choir especially organized for the
occasion, assisted by several solo singers, and an efficient
instrumental band. It is but seldom that sacred music was better given
or had a more soothing effect on the audience; pleasure was depicted on
every face, and glad indeed must have been the hearts of those more
immediately interested in the completion of the goodly work. We were
pleased to observe that the honour of carrying the Sepharim, which had
different bearers at each Hackafah, was distributed indiscriminately to
all Israelites present, without regard to any adventitious circumstances
attending their station, with the single exception of the first circuit,
when the minister of the oldest congregation, and the president,
treasurers, and managers of the respective Kehilloth were selected, and
the first Sepher in the second, third, and seventh circuits, given to
the ministers of the different congregations, in succession. When the
procession arrived the seventh time before the ark, Psalm 29 was
chaunted, after which the law-books were placed in their new dwelling,
which is surmounted with the ten commandments, and the celebrated
inscription on one of the scrolls,דע
לפני מי אתה
עומד, "Know before whom thou art
standing."
The initiatory ceremonies being over, the prayers for the
congregation and the government were said, after which a sermon, on the
sanctification of the spirit, written for the occasion was pronounced.
At its conclusion the choir sang the hundred and fiftieth Psalm, when
the usual evening service was read by the assistant minister of the
congregation Beth Israel, and after Yigdal had been sung, the assembly
dispersed; and unless we mistake the general sentiment of all present,
many a day will elapse before the pleasant impression produced by the
exercises of the evening will pass from the memory.
The offerings which are usual on such occasions were dispensed with;
but in lieu thereof subscription papers were distributed, on which each
person who felt inclined inscribed his name with the donation he meant
to give, and we believe that the experiment was sufficiently successful
not to cause the authorities to regret having resorted to this method of
obtaining funds for the support of the congregation.
The services were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Rau, the minister of the
congregation Rodef Sholem, the Rev. Mr. Papé, late minister of the
congregation Beth Israel, and the minister of the Portuguese
congregation; the music was under the direction of Mr. B.C. Cross, who,
together with Mr. Roget, deserves honourable mention for the efficiency
with which the vocal performers were trained for the difficult parts
which fell to their share.
Our space necessarily compels us to be brief in our account of this
interesting ceremony; but we trust it is sufficiently full in all
essential particulars, at least for those who have witnessed a similar
celebration; and for those who have not it would require a much more
extended description than we have room in our present number. |
