USA > Rhode Island > Newport County > Newport > The story of the Jews of Newport; two and a half centuries of Judaism, 1658-1908 > Part 17
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To comply with this condition, the constitution of Congregation Jeshuat Israel, Article XIX, stipulated, "The Ritual and customs of this Congregation shall forever remain according to the Sephardic Minhag, as at present practiced and constituted in this Congrega- tion". The bond between the Congregation Jeshuat Israel and the Congregation Shearith Israel was further strengthened by the provision in Article II of the constitution which combined these two organizations. In part this article reads: "The government of this Con- gregation shall be vested in the President, Vice-President
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and three Trustees elected by this Congregation, and four Trustees appointed by the Spanish-Portuguese Congregation Shearith Israel of New York City".
On March 30, 1899, the Reverend David Baruch was gathered to his fathers. The funeral took place a day after, from his home on Division Street. The Reverend Abraham H. Nieto, Associate Chazan of the Spanish-Portuguese Synagogue of New York, officia- ted. The funeral was attended by members of the various organizations with which the deceased had been affiliated, especially by the officers and members of the St. John's Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. The interment took place in the Braman Cemetery in Newport. Masonic rites were performed by the officers of the lodge at the grave.6
The other of the congregations alluded to before continued its organization, even after the Legislature had granted the Charter to the Congregation Jeshuat Israel in 1894. This congregation functioned and held services under the name, "Touro Congregation". The services of the Touro Congregation were held in private houses . Occasionally, during a Holiday, the rooms at the old City Hall, the present Chamber of Commerce, one of the historic buildings of the City of Newport, were rented for public worship. Upon the death of the Reverend Mr. Baruch, the Touro Congregation elected as its minister the Reverend E. M. Myer. The Congregation Jeshuat Israel elected Moses Guedalia.7 Because the Touro Congregation constituted a larger membership, the Council of the City of Newport voted
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the salary from the Judah Touro Ministerial Fund to the Reverend E. M. Myer.8 During the summer of 1899, both Congregations "Jeshuat Israel" and "Touro" joined together in worship at the old synagogue. The Reverend Dr. H. Pereira Mendes, who was spending the summer in Newport, conducted the services. During the high holy days of the year 1899, the Reverend E. M. Myer officiated, assisted by I. Levy, J. L. Cardoze, and H. J. Caplan.9
The controversy between the Congregation Jeshuat Israel and the Touro Congregation was only temporarily settled at this time. The final fusion of the two did not come about until the early part of the present century. In the controversy, the Congregation Shearith Israel inevitably supported the Congregation Jeshuat Israel which was the legal successor of the old Congregation. The attitude of the New York Congregation was motivated by the determination to preserve the ancient traditions, and to maintain over the synagogue in Newport their authority which now seemed to be challenged.
The Reverend E. M. Myer did not stay long in Newport. To succeed him the Reverend Henry Samuel Morais, - - who, we recall officiated here during the high holy days of the year 1881 when the synagogue was opened for the first time after having been closed over three quarters of a century - - was elected to the ministry of the Newport synagogue in 1900.
The Reverend Mr. Morais, who was born in Philadelphia, was of Sephardic origin. His father, Rabbi,
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Sabato Morais came from Italy. Mr. Morais received his Hebrew education from his father. For about twelve years he was instructor in the schools of the Hebrew Education Society as well as in the Hebrew Sabbath Schools in Philadelphia. He was the founder and editor of the "Jewish Exponent" and of "The Hebrew Watchword and Instructor". He contributed frequent- ly to the general and Jewish press in the United States. In 1897 - 8, Morais was acting minister of the Congregation Mikveh Israel of Philadelphia. In 1899- 1900, he held the position of minister of the Congrega- tion Adath Jeshurun of Syracuse, New York. It was from there that he received the call to come to Newport, where he officiated during the year 1900-1.1º Morais was the author of two books published prior to his coming to Newport, "Eminent Israelites of the Nineteenth Century" and "The Jews of Philadelphia".
After a brief interval, the controversy between the "Touro Congregation" and the "Congregation Jeshuat Israel", was again renewed. The Touro Congregation held its services at 11 Coddington Street. For the holy days, they made use of the rooms of the old City Hall. The differences between the two Congregations attract- ed city-wide attention. Once again the Congregation Shearith Israel of New York was involved. After much controversy and misunderstanding, in which all the members of the "Congregation Jeshuat Israel" and the "Touro Congregation", as well as the "Congregation Shearith Israel" of New York participated, the matter came to a truce on April 25, 1902. The two Newport
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Congregations united to worship and to function to- gether under the one name "Congregation Jeshuat Israel", and to hold services in the historic synagogue, the trusteeship of which remained vested with the Congregation Shearith Israel of New York.11 Hebrew and Sunday schools were held in the side building adjacent to the synagogue.
In 1902. the Reverend Jacob M. Seidel was called to the ministry of the Congregation. He was the first Ashkenazic rabbi of the Congregation. The services at the synagogue continued in the Sephardic ritual, however, but not as regards the Spanish-Portuguese pronunciation of the Hebrew.
Rabbi Seidel was succeeded in his ministry in 1905 by Rabbi Maurice Kaplan, who in turn was succeeded a year later by Rabbi B. H. Rosengard.12
In 1900, the synagogue was enriched with a scroll of the Law, donated by Leonard Lewisohn in honor of his marriage which was consecrated in the synagogue. Mr. Lewisohn was a descendant of some of the founders of the synagogue. He did not reside in Newport at the time of his marriage, but his love for the ancient synagogue induced him to be married in it. In respect to the synagogue, he not only donated the scroll, but also a beautiful Kiddush cup. To the scroll was attached a small metal plate on which was inscribed "A Donation From Leonard Lewisohn Nisan 14, 5660". The cup itself was inscribed, "Presented to the Touro Synagogue by Leonard Lewisohn, March 22nd, 1900".
The synagogue received other gifts: a beautiful breast-
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plate for the scrolls of the Law with an inset of twelve stones of different colors representing the twelve tribes of Israel; a Megillah in a Palestinian wooden case, as well as an artistic Palestinian Omer Board from Mr. Alfred M. Marcus of Boston, whose family were descendants of the old Newport community. These objects were inscribed in Hebrew and in English. The English on the breast plate reads: "This Breast Plate is presented by Alfred A. Marcus' daughter Mary Ann, and son Simeon of Boston in sacred and holy memory of Kate Marcus, God rest her soul, who died at Boston, U. S. A., Nissan 11, 5647". The inscription also contains the names of the parents of "Alfred A. Marcus and his darling wife Kate"; "Simeon Marcus died in London, Ellul 16, 5612, his beloved wife Ellen died in London, Shebat 6, 5632. Judah Benjamin, died in Graham's Town, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa, Heshvan 10, 5598. and his beloved wife Mary Ann, died in London, Iyar 11, 5637".
The Hebrew inscriptions, which give the date of the deceased only on the box of the Megillah, read essentially the same as the English. From the Hebrew inscription on the breast plate, it may be seen that these gifts were made in 1888 under the ministry of Rabbi Mendes.
The Congregation Shearith Israel of New York was interested to preserve not only the historic religious tradition of the Newport synagogue, but also the physical structure itself. The synagogue in Newport was to remain unaltered both physically and spiritually. In 1905, the Congregation Jeshuat Israel
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attempted to make certain alterations and additions to the side building where the religious school was conduct- ed. As this could not be done without the consent of the Board of Trustees of the Congregation Shearith Israel, a letter was dispatched to New York, addressed to the Reverend Dr. H. Pereira Mendes, the minister of the New York Congregation.
Dr. Mendes presented the application of the Cong- regation Jeshuat Israel before the Board of his Congregation on February 27, 1905. The result was thus recorded in the Minutes: "Communication received from Congregation Jeshuat Israel, Newport, R. I. (addressed to the Minister) relative to altering Syna- gogue at Newport for additional school room and Reverend Mr. Mendes was directed to reply that this Board would not consent to any alteration of any description in that historic edifice".13
By 1908, the synagogue at Newport was restored to its ancient foundations in all aspects. As in the days of yore, the beautiful psalms were sung in the synagogue in the traditional Sephardic chants. In the building on the side, religious instruction was given to the Jewish youth of Newport. To complete the organization of the Jewish community as manifested in the synagogue, the Ladies' Auxiliary of the Congregation Jeshuat Israel was organized, taking for its aim, (a) "The build- ing and establishment of a Mikvah, (b) the support and temporary help of the poor and sick, and visiting the poor of a deserving nature, so as to do away with the necessity of asking relief from house to house, and (c)
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to see to the maintenance of a regular and well established Hebrew and Religious School".14
Before a decade of the new century had passed, the three things Torah - Education, Avodah - Religion, and Gmilus Chasodim - Beneficence again emanated from the portals of the old shrine - the historic synagogue of the Congregation Yeshuat Israel - as in the days of old. Not only was the physical structure restored and pre- served, but the very name of the new Congregation - "Jeshuat Israel" - the Salvation of Israel was restored, with these its spiritual functions were renewed, its worship, its education and its charity revived.
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CHAPTER XV IMMORTALITY
The voices of the Jews of Newport were not heard very often on the battlefields, or in the halls of legislation; neither did their names fill the columns of the newspapers of the day. Yet the story of the Jews of Newport is of absorbing interest and it forms a unique chapter in the epic of Israel in America. Nay, more than this. The story of the Jews of Newport, with its historic remains and associations, is often quoted as an example of "noblesse oblige" from the beginnings of Israel in America. The synagogue and old cemetery in Newport have been immortalized in poetry and in prose. They have become historic landmarks, venerated by Jew and by non-Jew.
In the course of Israel's wandering, innumerble groups of Jews have built synagogues and acquired burial grounds, in the cities where they have found a haven of refuge. But only too often were these groups forced to forsake the holy shrines for which they had labored and suffered, and to take up their wandering anew, repeating for themselves or their descendants the tribulations they had experienced before. Such has been
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the destiny of Israel, throughout the Diaspora. The shrines, which they had to abandon, were often seized and converted into churches, and all too often they passed into oblivion rather than were preserved.
This, however, was not the fate of the two shrines in Newport, the synagogue and the cemetery. The vision of Abraham and Judah Touro in leaving bequests for the preservation of both historic relics at the time when there were no Jews left in the town, simply with the hope that some day a new Jewish community might settle there, saved both these shrines.
When Judah Touro's funeral was held in the syna- gogue where once his reverend father had chanted the ancient hymns and prayers, one of the eulogists sounded the note of prophecy when he said: "Years will roll on, another generation will succeed us, many a name now shining in the meridian of its glory will be forgotten and unknown; yet the name and memory of Judah Touro will live in the hearts of posterity. Through the length and breadth of this country, the name and memory of this philanthropist will ever be coupled up with the beautiful words of Scripture- "The memory of the just will be for a blessing". - "The fruit of the just is a tree of life".
In 1908, more than a half a century after these words were uttered, the Congregation Jeshuat Israel of Newport in honoring the name of Touro erected a memorial tablet in marble on the western wall of the synagogue, with this text from the Scriptures; "The fruit of the just is a tree of life". To replace the old
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wooden tablet which was dedicated to the memory of Rabbi Abraham Pereira Mendes only, the Congregation Jeshuat Israel decided to erect a more durable tablet of marble. In testimony of the unbroken faith which links the generations one to another, the Board of Officers of the Congregation decided to honor the memory of the four men who had been most closely connected with the birth, preservation and rejuvenation of the synagogue. The marble tablet was therefore dedicated to the memory of the Reverend Isaac Touro who was the first minister of the synagogue, and whose inspiration gave incentive to the devoted souls who built the historic edifice; to Abraham and to Judah Touro the two sons of the Reverend Isaac Touro, whose foresight and bounty kept the synagogue preserved to be ready and prepared, when the Jew once again should tread the soil of their beloved city of nativity - Newport; and to Rabbi Abraham Pereira Mendes, the link between the old and the new Jewish communities in Newport, and who one hundred and three years after the demise of the Reverend Isaac Touro succeeded him in the ministry in the syna- gogue, rededicating and reconsecrating the building which Isaac Touro had dedicated and consecrated.
The ceremony of the dedication of the memorial tablet to the four "pillars" of the synagogue was an impressive climax to the story of the old Jewish community and its transition to the new. The synagogue was decorated with flowers and palms and illuminated with burning candles from the old candelabra. It was Monday, September 7, 1908.
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Although the ceremony of the unveiling and the presentation of the tablet took place in the morning, the synagogue was filled to capacity, much before the time set for the beginning of the ceremonies.
Within the reading desk enclosure were seated the Reverend B. H. Rosengard, rabbi of the congregation, and the Reverend Dr. David de Sola Pool, rabbi of the Congregation Shearith Israel of New York. In the elevated pew on the northern wall of the synagogue and all along the wall were seated the Hon. N. Taylor Phillips, clerk of the Congregation Shearith Israel of New York; the Hon. William P. Clarke; the Reverend Dr. Emery H. Porter; Mr. Leon Huhner, curator of the American Jewish Historical Society; and the Hon. Max Levy, president of the Congregation at the time. The Governor of Rhode Island and Doctor Cyrus Adler, as well as a number of other notables, sent messages of regret for being unable to be present, toge- ther with their congratulations upon the occasion.
Among those present, besides those already mentioned were; Ex-Mayor Patrick J. Boyle of Newport; Senator P. J. Murphy; the Reverend William S. Jones of the Channing Memorial Church of Newport; A. O'D. Taylor, President of the Newport Natural History Society; Commander Roy Campbell Smith of the United States Navy; the Hon. Robert S. Franklin, Senator of Rhode Island and former Mayor of the City of Newport; the Reverend William Brenton Green of Newport; the Hon. Darius Baker, Justice of the Superior Court of Rhode Island; and Doctor Nathaniel
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G. Stanton, a prominent physician of Newport.
The ceremonies of dedication began with a eulogy by the Reverend Doctor Pool, which was followed by an historical address by the Hon. Max Levy, in which he rehearsed the story of the Jewish persecution, the arrival of the Jews on the American continent, their settlement in Newport and the building of the synagogue, bringing the survey down to the time of the dedication of the tablet. This address was followed by another eloquent oration delivered by Mr. Leon Huhner.
Among other remarks of an historic nature the orator pointed out: "To the Jew, Newport has always been a cherished name, for here it was that civil and religious liberty were first firmly established by that illustrious champion of brotherhood of man, Roger Williams . . .
"Like the great temple in Rome dedicated to all the gods, so Rhode Island became the Pantheon for all sects and all creeds irrespective of race or nation.
"Nor did the Jews abuse this liberality, for nowhere did they have a prouder record of the past than in this very city. While found as pioneers in each of the thirteen original colonies, it may fairly be said that nowhere did they exert greater or more beneficial influence than in Colonial Newport."1
Following the oration, the Hon. N. Taylor Phillips, after a short address, drew the curtain which unveiled the white marble tablet bearing the inscription in gold letters. Captain Phillips in his remarks dwelt chiefly
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on the historic associations between the Congregation Jeshuat Israel of Newport and the Congregation Shearith Israel of New York. The tablet was presented to the City of Newport as the custodians of the "Holy Building". On behalf of the City, Mayor William P. Clarke, accepted the tablet with a brief address, expressing the joy of the city in preserving such records of its historic associations. The Memorial Prayer for those commemorated was then offered by Dr. Pool. It was followed by an address by the Reverend Emery H. Porter, who brought greetings in the name of the clergy of the city. The Reverend B. H. Rosengard closed the exercises with the priestly benediction.
The Tablet bears this inscription :-
IN MEMORIAM REVEREND ISAAC TOURO - Rabbi of this Synagogue from its dedication 5523 - 1763 until the American Revolution Born 5498 - 1738 Died Tebet 14, 5544 - December 8, 1783
ABRAHAM Son of REV. ISAAC TOURO Born in Newport 5534 - 1774 Died Heshvan 6, 5583 - oct. 8, 1822
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IN MEMORIAM-
REVEREND ISAAC TOURO Rabbi of this Synagogue from its dedication 5523-1763 until the American Revolution Bofn 6498 - 1738 Died Tebet 14,5544-December 8,1793
ABRAHAM SON OF REV. ISAAC TOURO Born in Newport 6534-1774 Died Heshvan 6,5583 - October 18.1822 JUDAH SON OF REV.ISAAC TOURO Born in Newport Shan IS, 3685 - June 16,1775 Died Tebet 19,5314 - January 13,1854 Their sacred gifts endowed this Holy Sanctuary
REVEREND ABRAHAM PEREIRA MENDES Rabbi of this Synagogue 5641-1681 ~ 6653-1893 Born R.H Ve Adar 8588 - February 19,1825 Died Nissan 18, 6633 - April 4,1893 פרי צדיק עץ חיים ולקח נפשות חכם The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that winneth Souls is wise. Proverbs XI. 00
Tablet to the Memory of the Reverend Isaac Touro, the Reverend Abraham Pereira Mendes, Judah and Abraham Touro, erected in the Synagogue in 1908.
IMMORTALITY
JUDAH Son of REV. ISAAC TOURO Born in Newport Sivan 18, 5535 - June 16, 1775 Died Tebet 19, 5614 - January 13, 1854
Their sacred gifts endowed this Holy Sanctuary REVEREND ABRAHAM PEREIRA MENDES Rabbi of this Synagogue Born R.H. Ve Adar 5585 - February 19, 1825 Died Nissan 18, 5653 - April 4, 1893 פרי צדיק עץ חיים ולקח נפשות חכם The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that winneth Souls is wise.
Proverbs XI:30" 2
Posterity does not always remember the heroes who have benefited humanity without egotism or personal pride. Yet one gains true immortality less by virtue of political power, or might, than by virtue of noble living.
Such were the lives of the Jews of Newport, among whom were the Touros, Lopez's, Riveras, Seixas, Hays and Harts. The heart of every Jew was instinct with benevolence and human love. In their charity they knew no differences of race, color, or creed. In their friend- ship they knew of no sectional or sectarian boundaries. Modesty and humility were the virtues of each one of them. They delighted in doing good to others, and in making them happy. The spirit of Religion penetrated their souls, and the spirit of God motivated their actions.
In their benevolence, their generosity and their noble
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lives, they erected for themselves numerous monuments more durable than any of moulded bronze or chiseled marble which the gratitude of others may raise. Their lives teach a lesson of true wisdom.
The story of the Jews of Newport is a lesson in the "immortality" of man.
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APPENDICES
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APPENDIX A
LAST WILL OF ABRAHAM TOURO, ESQUIRE
Dated at Boston, November 4th, 1822. Recorded in Probate Court, County of Suffolk, Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Be it remembered that I, Abraham Touro of Boston, do make, publish and declare this my last Will, as follows, Viz:
First: I desire and direct that I may be buried at Newport, Rhode Island, in such manner, as I have expressed to my friends.
Item: I give to the Trustees of the Jewish Synagogue in New York Ten thousand dollars, for the purpose of paying the debts due by that Society, the Sum of about One thousand dollars due me from said Society, to be accounted part of this bequest.
Item: I give Ten thousand dollars to the Legislature of the State of Rhode Island, for the purpose of supporting the Jewish Synagogue in that State, in Special Trust to be appropriated to that object, in such manner as the said Legislature together with the Municipal Authority of the Town of Newport may from time to time direct and appoint.
Item: I give Five thousand dollars, to the Trustees of the Asylum for indigent Boys in the Town of Boston for the purpose of said Asylum.
Item: I give to the Female Asylum for Orphans in the Town of Boston, the sum of Five thousand dollars, by whatever name either of said Institutions be called.
Item : I give to the Trustees of the Massachusetts General Hospital the Sum of Ten thousand dollars.
Item: I give my rspected friend Govr. John Brooks, Ten Boxes of Wine now in the Store of Mr. Farley.
Item: I give to Doct. John C. Warren Ten Boxes of the same Wine.
Item: I give to Richard D. Shephard Ten Boxes of the same Wine.
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where I now am, Five Hundred dollars.
Item: I give to the Municipal authority of the Town of Newport in Rhode Island the Sum of Five thousand dollars, in Special Trust and confidence that they will appropriate the same, in such manner they may judge best, for repairing and preserving the Street leading from the Burying Ground in said Town to the Main Street.
Item: I give to Mr. Isaac Coffin of Wiscasset Six Shares in the Capital Stock of the Boston Theatre.
Item: I give to Miss Juliet Lopez of the City of New York the Sum of Two thousand dollars; also I remit and fully discharge any debt, due from any member of the family to me.
Item: I give to the Trustees of the Provident Institution or Savings Bank of the Town of Boston, One thousand dollars, in Special trust, to appropriate the same to the use and benefit of Miss Francis Brewer during her life, and at her decease, to be equally divided among her Sisters.
Lastly : I give, devise and bequest, all the rest and residue of my Estate, Real and Personal, to my Brother Judah Touro and my Sister Rebecca Touro, equally to be divided between them.
I appoint my said Brother Judah Touro and Titus Wells of Boston, Merchant, joint Executors of this Will, and revoke all former Wills. In Testimony whereof I hereto set my hand and Seal this Seventeenth day of October A. D. 1822. Item : I give to Joseph B. Henshaw the Sum of Two hundred and fifty dollars.
Abrm. Touro
Mr. Touro wishes the following added as Codicil to the Will:
"He leaves Five thousand dollars to the Humane Society in trust, the interest of which is to be appropriated as the Trustees of that Society think proper. He fully remits to Wm. B. Proctor all monies owing him and also his liability to pay Money to him whether as endorser on Notes or Otherwise; he also gives the said Proctor Five Hundred dollars; the Bank Stocks in Virginia he gives to three daughters of Moses and Sally Myers, to be divided equally between them. He fully discharges Moses Myers of Norfolk from all claims which he has against him. He wills to Moses Myers of Norfolk in trust, to John Coffin Jones, Esqr. Five thousand dollars, of which Sum said Myers is to receive the interest with the right of disposing of the same at his decease. He gives Two thousand dollars to Moses L. Moses of the City of New York being his particular friend".
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