American Jewish Historical Quarterly Volume 10 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ... five years, we have congregated where a few years before nothing was heard but the howling of wild Beasts, and the more hideous cry of savage man. We are well assured that many Jews are lost in this country from not being in the neighborhood of a congregation, they often marry with christians, and_ their posterity lose the true worship of God forever; we have, at this time, a room fitted up for a synagogue, two Manuscripts of the law, and a burying ground, in which we have already interred four persons, who, but for us would have lain among christians; one of our members also acts as nmw It will therefore be seen that nothing has been left undone, which could be performed by eighteen assessed and six unassessed members. Two of the deceased persons were poor strangers and buried at the expense of the congregation, one of whom was brought to be interred from Louisville a distance of near 200 miles. To you Gentlemen we are mostly strangers, and have no further claim on you, than that of children of the same faith and family, requesting your pious and laudable assistance to promote the decrees of our holy Religion. Several of our members are however well known both in Philadelphia and New York--namely Mr. Samuel Joseph formerly of Philadelphia Messrs Moses & Jonas, and Mr. Joseph Jonas, the two Mr J onas s have both married daughters of the late Rev Gershom Mendes Seixas of New York. Therefore with confidence, we solicit your aid to this truly pious undertaking, we are unable to defray the whole expense, and have made application to you as well as the other principal congregations in America and England, and have no doubt of ultimate success. It is also worthy of remark that there is not a congregation within 500 miles of...