USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Newport > The story of the Jews of Newport; two and a half centuries of Judaism, 1658-1908 > Part 13
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For the Hebrew Congregation, Moses Seixas greeted the President in words that have been quoted in School textbooks, as a specimen of English style of Biblical character. The address read :
"To the President of the United States of America "Sir:
"Permit the children of the stock of Abraham to approach you with the most cordial affection and esteem for your person and merits, and to join with our fellow citizens in welcoming you to Newport.
"With pleasure we reflect on those days, those days of difficulty and danger, when the God of Israel, who delivered David from the peril of the sword-shielded your head in the day of battle-and we rejoice to think that the same Spirit who rested in the bosom of the greatly beloved Daniel, enabling him to preside over the provinces of the Babylonish Empire, rests, and ever will rest, upon you, enabling you to discharge the arduous duties of Chief Magistrate in these states.
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THE STORY OF THE JEWS OF NEWPORT
"Deprived as we heretofore have been of the invalu- able rights of free citizens, we now (with a deep sense of gratitude to the Almighty Dispenser of all Events) behold a Government erected by the majesty of the people, a Government which gives to bigotry no sanction to persecution no assistance; but generously affording to all liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship, deeming everyone, of whatever nation, tongue, or language, equal parts of the great Government machine. This so ample and extensive Federal Union whose basis is philanthropy, mutual confidence and public virtue, we cannot but acknowledge to be the work of the Great God who ruleth in the armies of Heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, doing whatever seemeth Him good.
"For all these blessings of civil and religious liberty, which we enjoy under an equal benign administration, we desire to send up our thanks to the ancient of days, the Great Preserver of Man, beseeching Him that the Angel who conducted our forefathers through the wild- erness into the promised land, may graciously conduct you through all the difficulties and dangers of this mortal life, and when, like Joshua, full of days and full of honor, you are gathered to your fathers may you be admitted into the Heavenly Paradise to partake of the water of life and the tree of immortality.
"Done and signed by the order of the Hebrew congregation in Newport, R. I., August 17, 1790.
Moses Seixas, Warden".34
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To the President of the United States of America
Termit the children of the Stock of Abraham k ayran you with the most cereal affection and estum for your person & merits -Und to pour with our felow Citizens in welcoming you lo di client
With pleasure we reflect on those days _ these days of Dificuly. Gerneer when the Bed of frail, who Delivered Daved from the peril of the frow,- fuld' Your head in the day of battle : - And we tyone to think, that the fame Spil,wie tested In the Grosom of the greatly beloved Danul making him in presse over the Provinces ifthe Batulonisk Empire, tests and ever will test when you, making you is disney I've arduous Duties of Chief Magistrate. in Kusi States.
Depewved as we herelife have been of the invaluable tights of free Clients . ve im furth a deep pense of gratitude to the Honestly discover of all events behind "Ivernment, erected by the Majesty of the People ..... Government , which to figstry ques ne familien, to persecution no abuslance_ Set generous affriens to il ficorly ofconscience, and immunities of Cilerinthis :- Turning iver one, of whatever Helen, lonous, or language equal parts of the queat govermental Machine- This Bamble and extensive Federal Union union Basis is Philanthropy, Mutual confirme. and istisk Virtue , we cannot but ackmontage to be the work of the Great Ga the Tulek in the Armes Of Heaven and among the Inhabitants of the barik, cine whatfewer sumeth him good.
For all the Belings of civil and religious liberty which we enjoy sinder an exe and benign administration , we Device Is find us our thanks to the ancient of Days. In great presiver of men ... Brefeching him , that the Angel who consulis our forfatter Through the wilderme's into the promis low , may graciously condus you through al 4
the Dificulties and Dangers of this marked life :_ an, when like joshua ful of a and full of honour, you are gathered & your Father, may you se admiten into it Heavenly Paradis to parlak of the water of lik , and the love of immortality Done and signed by Order of the Hebrew Congregation in . Vir Ont White Island . August My By go. Mares Seixas rund
Facsimile of Address to George Washington by Moses Seixas in the Name of the Congregation of Newport.
EVACUATION AND REVIVAL
In the name of King David's Lodge, Moses Seixas' address was as follows:
"WE, the Master, Wardens and Brethren of King David's Lodge, in Newport, Rhode Island, joyfully embrace this opportunity, to greet you as a Brother, and to hail you welcome to Rhode Island,
"We exult in the thought, that as Masonry has always been patronized by the wise, the good, and the great, so hath it stood, and ever will stand, as its fixtures are on the immutable pillars of faith hope and charity.
"With unspeakable pleasure, we gratulate you as filling the Presidential Chair, with the applause of a numerous and enlightened people; whilst at the same time, we felicitate ourselves in the honour done the brotherhood, by your many exemplary virtues, and emanations of goodness proceeding from a heart worthy of possessing the ancient mysteries of our craft, being persuaded that the wisdom and grace, with which Heaven has endowed you, will eventually square all your thoughts, words and actions by the eternal laws of honour, equity and truth; so as to promote the advance- ment of all good works, your own happiness, and that of mankind, Permit, us then, illustrious Brother, cordially to salute you, with three times three, and to add our fervent supplications, that the Sovereign Architect of the Universe may always encompass you with his holy protection,"35
In the reply of the President to the "Hebrew Congre- gation in Newport" we have the final confirmation of full and complete religious liberty to the Jews in the
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THE STORY OF THE JEWS OF NEWPORT
United States. The importance of the address of Moses Seixas to the President and the latter's reply cannot be over-estimated. Moses Seixas' address to the President invited that reply of the founder of this Republic which has been and will be quoted by every generation in which religious liberty is cherished.
The President's answer to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport read:
"To the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island.
"Gentlemen.
"While I receive, with much satisfaction. your Address replete with expressions of affection and esteem, I rejoice in the opportunity of assuring you, that I shall always retain a grateful remembrance of the cordial welcome I experienced in my visit to Newport, from all classes of Citizens.
"The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are past is rendered the more sweet from a consciousness that they are succeeded by days of uncommon prosperity and security. If we have wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot fail, under the just administration of a good Government, to become a great and a happy people.
"The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy : a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no
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2 In the Hebrew Congregation in Newport Rhode Island
Gentlemen
While Freccine, with much satisfaction your Address repecte with expressions of affection and esteom; Irejoice in the opportunity of afouring you, that I shall always return a grateful vemem: france of the cordial welcome & experienced in. my visit to Newport, from all classes of Citizens. The reflection on the days of difficulty and danger which are kraft is rendered the more sweet from a consciousness that they are succeeded by day. of uncommon Inviperity and security If we have. wisdom to make the best use of the advantages with which we are now favored, we cannot-fail, under the just administration of a good Government, to become a great and a happy people.
The belizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given. to mankind examples of an enlarged and Celeral holicy : a policy worthy of invitation. all hopeto alike liberty of conscience and immunities of stigenship It is now no more that toleration is broken of as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise. of their inherent natural rights For halfuly the
1
the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no afristance, requires only that they who live under its protection, should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support. It would be inconsistent with the franknete
of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my administration, and ferient wishes for my felicity. May the Children of the State of abraham, who duell in this land, continu to ment and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants while every one shall out in safety under his own arne and figtree, and there shall be none to make him a fraud May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our Maths , and make us all in our several vocations here , and in his own due time and way everlastingly happy.
Mathington
Facsimile of Address sent by George Washington to the Newport Congregation.
EVACUATION AND REVIVAL
more that toleration is spoken of as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection, should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.
"It would be inconsistent with the frankness of my character not to avow that I am pleased with your favorable opinion of my Administration, and fervent wishes for my felicity. May the Children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the good will of the other Inhabitants, while every one shall sit in safety under his own Vine and Figtree, and there shall be none to make him afraid. May the father of all mercies scatter light and not darkness in our paths, and make us all in our several vocations useful here, and in his own due time and way everlastingly happy.
Go. Washington
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CHAPTER XI
THE CLOSE OF A COLORFUL CHAPTER
With the death of many members of the Jewish community, and with the emigration of others, the Jewish community of Newport again faced extinction. By the year 1790, this was deeply felt in the synagogue life. Mr. Judah, the Shochet, left the town, and the synagogue did not have a person to read the scroll of the Law on the Sabbaths and the Holidays. The situation became such that the Congregation did not even posses a Shofar, except a cracked one, which could be used only if it were mended. Yet, this was not so bad as not having anyone eligible or capable to blow the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah-the New Year.1
For a while Joseph Jacobs, who was a silversmith by trade, acted as the Shochet of the community;2 but lack of spiritual guidance had an ill effect on the conduct of the services at the synagogue, which were severely criticised by visitors from New York.3 The services gradually lost their traditional beauty and sanctity. Liberties were taken by many in the synagogue. Some advised incorrectly as to the carrying out of the laws relating to the worship.4 The attendance dwindled. It began to be inconvenient to solicit offerings. The
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THE CLOSE OF A COLORFUL CHAPTER
Jewish community was a flock without a shepherd.
In an attempt to check the growing spiritual chaos, Moses Seixas, the warden of the synagogue, addressed a letter to Manuel Josephson, asking for some advice as to the conduct of the services. Mr. Joephson was the president of the Congregation Mikveh Israel in Phila- delphia and was well versed in Jewish law. The letter was written the 3rd of December 1789.5
Little was Manuel Josephson able to help the Newport situation, except to corroborate by the law that the conduct of the services at the Newport synagogue was contrary to the best Jewish tradition of the Spanish- Portuguese Jews. After advising Mr. Seixas on the few matters he had asked about, Josephson censured the warden of the Newport synagogue in these words: "I can't avoid to say a word in justification of Mr. Uriah Hendricks not attending publick worship when last at your place. . . . On the score of a religious principle in the circumstances you conduct the service, I must coincide with him, and should have acted in a similar manner had I been in the same predicament".6
It may be well to note here, that during this spiritual crisis the Congregation was in no financial distress whatever. Moses Seixas wrote to Josephson that the services could be conveniently supported just by the subscriptions which the Congregation received, and he inquired whether he might abolish the custom of making offerings at the Sefer or Hechal, which is an age-old practice in every synagogue. The custom of making offerings during the service was abolished upon the
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advice of Mr. Josephson; and certain improvements advised by Mr. Josephson were attempted; yet the fate of the synagogue was sealed. Not very long after 1790, the services ceased to be held, except on rare and special occasion when it was possible or necessary to gather a Minyan.
In 1792 there still were services at the synagogue, for, in that year, Moses Levy stipulated in his will that, "There shall be a Solemn Prayer said for me in said Synagogue yearly and every year on the evening or day Kippur or atonement".7 One would harldy write that at a time when the synagogue was closed.
Not long after this date the services at the synagogue completely ceased, and were not to be revived until a half century later, and then only temporarily. The Scrolls of the Law were removed to New York to be deposited in the Ark of the Congregation Shearith Israel. After a little while, even Jewish marriages were no longer celebrated in Newport.8
Channing in his "Recollections", laments this fact. He observes: "I well knew a Mr. Levara. During his residence in Newport, there was occasional worship in the Synagogue. Gradually these impressive services subsided, and finally died out; and then the building was left to the bats and moles, and to the occasional invasion, through its porches and windows, of boys who took great pleasure in examining the furniture scattered about".9
When Moses Levy died in 1792, he left to Moses Seixas not only his elegant mansion on the parade which
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THE CLOSE OF A COLORFUL CHAPTER
later became the residence of Commodore Oliver H. Perry, the hero of Lake Erie, but also "the residue and remainder" of his real and personal estate which included partial ownership of the synagogue. The deed of the land of the synagogue was made out to Jacob Rodrigues Rivera, Isaac Hart and Moses Levy. This gave Moses Levy ownerhip of part of the synagogue and its grounds. Joint heirs to this bequest of Moses Levy were also Hiram and Simeon Levy, both closely related to Mr. Seixas. This legacy was to the heirs named and to their heirs forever.10
Thus the legal title to the synagogue passed in part to the families of Seixas and Levy, who, together with the families of Lopez and Rivera were the only Jewish families in Newport by the close of the eighteenth century. Jacob Rodrigues Rivera in his last testament devised his share of the title to the synagogue-which was two thirds, in virtue of the fact that Isaac Harte had before relinquished his right to him-"to and for the sole use, benefit and behoof of the Jewish Society of Newport, to be for them reserved as a place of Public Worship forever".11 By 1800, the "Jewish Society" of Newport contained no one outside the families of Rivera and Seixas, and some of their relatives, Lopez and Levy respectively. The others had removed to various places in the United States. A great number went to New York.12 where they became members of the Congrega- tion Shearith Israel.
Moses Seixas continued to occupy an esteemed position in the life of the community. Together with
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THE STORY OF THE JEWS OF NEWPORT
other merchants in town, he organized the Bank of Rhode Island, which conducted its business in his house until 1818. From 1795 until his death, Moses Seixas occupied the position of cashier in this bank. In 1791 he was elected Master of the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island Masons. In 1780, he became Deputy Grand Master of the Lodge; and in 1802 he attained the office of Grandmaster.13 Moses Seixas was exalted to the Royal Arch Degree and, when the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Rhode Island was established in 1799, he was elected its first Grand High Priest.14
The high standing of Moses Seixas in the community gave him the honor of being amongst those who petitioned Abraham Redwood Ellery to deliver an "Oration on Independence Day", at the Baptist Meeting House on July 4, 1796.15 In 1799, the Superior Court appointed him as one of the commission- ers to settle a litigation.16 In 1800, he was appointed referee in another lawsuit.17
Benjamin Seixas, a son of Moses Seixas, acted as Shochet in Newport at this time and supplied the small remnant of the Jewish community with Kosher meat. The account recording this fact is found in the Newport Mercury of March 19, 1881 :
"Moses Seixas' son Benjamin", recalls an old gentleman, Oliver Read, "was the butcher of the Jews. The slaughter house of Simpson & Barker was the place where, on Fridays the time when, Benjamin acted as butcher. The helpers were S. Carr, Holder Almy, Caleb Cranston, and Benjamin Marsh, the last named now
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A Lunar Calendar,
OF.THE
FESTIVALS, AND OTHER DAYS IN THE YEAR,
OBSERVED BY THE ISRAELITES, COMMENCING' ANNO MUNDI, 5566, AND ENDING IN 5619, BEING A PERIOD OF 54 YEARS,
Which by the Solar Computation of Time, begins September 24th, 1805, and will End the 28th of the fame Month, in the Year 1859,
Together with other Tables ufeful and convenient.
The Whole of which having been carefully examin- ed and corrected, its utility has obtained the voluntary acknowledgment and approbation of the Rev. Mr. SEIXAS. the respectable Hazan of the K. K. Shearith Ifrael, in New- York.
By MOSES LOPEZ, OF NEWPORT, RHODE. ISLAND.
(COPY- RIGHT SECURED.) Printed at the Office of the Newport Mercury; 18062
Facsimile of Title Page of "A Lunar Calendar", calculated by Moses Lopez in 1806.
THE CLOSE OF A COLORFUL CHAPTER
living. They would throw a bullock on his back. Then Benjamin would take a long knife fifteen inches in length, and after drawing it across his thumb nail to find if the edge was keen, he would draw it across the bullock's throat. And if the knife touched a bone, the Jews would not eat the meat".
We note in this recollection a true description of Shechita- the Jewish process of slaughtering an animal according to the ritual. The last remark about the knife touching a bone and thus invalidating the meat for Jewish use is even more interesting, for it reveals the scrupulous observance of Benjamin Seixas as a Shochet.
Benjamin was otherwise regularly employed as a teller in the Bank of Rhode Island.
Moses Seixas was gathered to his fathers at the end of the first decade of the nineteenth century . He passed away in New York while on a visit to his son in law, Mr. Naphtali Phillips, on Wednesday, November 29, 1809.18 His remains were brought to Newport and entombed in the family plot on the old Jewish cemetery on December 3d.19 The funeral was solemnly conducted. A procession from the synagogue to the cemetery was attended by officials of the city and state. The officers of the St. John's Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Newport performed the Masonic funeral rites at the grave. Thus was laid to rest the last outstanding member of the Jewish community of pre-Revolutionary Newport, admidst the lamentation and tribute of the entire city.
The tribute paid Moses Seixas in the obituary note
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in the Newport Mercury of December 2nd of that year expressed the esteem in which this man was held by all. "Mr. Seixas" wrote this newspaper, "has left behind him an unblemished reputation. He is deeply lamented, not only by his immediate family and friends, to whom his domestic virtues justly endeared him, but by the community at large, who highly respected him as a useful, honest and worthy man. Born a Jew, and strictly "taught according to the perfect manner of the law of his Fathers", he was, but without bigotry, zealous and uniform in the profession of his faith.
"As a Merchant, he united to an unimpeachable integrity, the valuable qualities of method, precision and punctuality in the transaction of business. These qualities fitted him for, and rendered him, peculiarly useful, in the Station of Cashier of the Bank of Rhode Island-a place which he held from the institution of that bank until his death.
"Liberal in his opinion, and compassionate in his feelings, he was an active member of the charitable society of "Freemasons", and was until his resignation a few months before his death, Master of St. John's Lodge in this town, and Grandmaster in the Grand Lodge of the State.
"We are anxious to avoid all excessive praise, and solicitous not to overdo with minuteness of panegyric, this sincere tribute to the memory of a respected fellow- citizen. In short, we have said nothing but what all who knew Mr. Seixas will warmly join in saying: That he was an honest man, an "accepted Mason" and an
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THE CLOSE OF A COLORFUL CHAPTER
'Israelite without guile'."
Although the Jewish community had dwindled until it consisted of no more than four families, namely, Seixas, Levy, Rivera and Lopez, some still took an interest in intellectual matters. In 1806, Moses Lopez wrote and published in Newport a Lunar Calendar of the Jewish Festivals "and other days of the year as observed by the Jews", which extended from 1805 to 1859. This Calendar was published with the approbation of the Reverend Gershom Mendes Seixas, the minister of the Congregation Shearith Israel of New York. Abraham Rodrigues Rivera was a member of the Redwood Library, a right which he inherited in 1789 from his father Jacob, who had been one of the very first members. In 1808 Joseph Lopez and, in 1810 Samuel Lopez were still members of the library.20 Some of the Lopez boys were attending Brown University in Providence at the beginning of the nineteenth century.21
Though the Jewish community was exceedingly small when the War of 1812 broke out, yet the Jews of Newport contributed their share as American patriots.
In 1790, Abraham Rodrigues Rivera was a member of the Newport Artillery Company, which membership he held until he left the city.22 Benjamin Seixas, the son of Moses, enlisted voluntarily in 1811, and in that year he became clerk of the Newport Volunteers.23 Abraham Massias served in the army in 1812. He was a member of the St. John's Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Newport.24
Many of the Jewish officers and soldiers who served
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THE STORY OF THE JEWS OF NEWPORT
in the various regiments of the different States from which they enlisted, were either themselves Newport Jews by birth, or the children of Newport Jews, who had left the city, seeking adventure elsewhere.25
By far the most distinguished Newport Jews who participated in the War of 1812 were Mordecai Meyers and Judah Touro.
Mordecai Meyers was born in Newport, the very year the Declaration of Independence was signed. While he was still young, his parents moved to New York, where he spent most of his life. He lived to the ripe old age of ninety-five. He saw active service in 1812 as Captain in the 30th United States Infantry and was wounded in the battle of Chesterfield. Eventually he went to reside in Schenectady, New York, where he was twice elected to serve as mayor. He was also a member of the State Senate, Grand Master of the Masonic Order and Grand High Priest of the Royal Arch Masons of the State of New York.26
Judah Touro son of the Reverend Isaac Touro was born in Newport in 1775. At the time of the War of 1812 he was living in New Orleans, Louisiana. His patriotism is associated with the memorable defence of New Orleans by Andrew Jackson in 1814-15, and is recorded by a contemporary author.
Judah Touro enlisted as a common soldier, and performed all such severe labors as were required of him. On January 1, 1815, he volunteered his services to carry shot and shell from the magazine to Humphrey's battery, the center of defense of the city. He engaged
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