The Earliest Extant Minute Books of the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation Shearith Israel in New York, 1728–1786

The eve of New Year 5518 [September 14, 1757]

At a meeting of the Elders and Parnassim this day Mr Heyman Levy paid the fine for refusing serving Parnass Last year, it was at the same time voted by the Elders & Parnasseem that Mr Isaac Gomez Senr: serve as Parnas President for the ensuing year & Mr Samson Simson serve as Parnas Resident Mr Abrams Hatan Torah & Mr Samuel Judah Hatan Beresit

In the Name of the God of Israel

The Parnasim & Elders having received undouted Testimony That severall of our Bretheren, that reside in the Country have and do dayly violate the principles our holy religion, such as Trading on the Sabath, Eating of forbidden Meats & other Henious Crimes, and as our Holy law injoins us to reprove one Another agreeable to the Commandments in Liviticus Hocheach tocheach et ‘ameetecha thou shalt surely reprove thy Neighbour and not suffer sin upon him, the consideration of this Divine Precept has Induced the Parnasim & Elders to come to the following resolution in order to check the above mentioned growing evil & as our Hachamim observe En ‘onshin ela mazhero That is no one is to be Punished unless First admonished, therefore whosoever for the future continues to act contrary to our Holy Law by breacking any of the principles command will not be deem’d a member of our Congregation, have none of the Mitzote of the Sinagoge Confered on him & when Dead will not be buried according to the manner of our brethren. But like Nehemiah who treated those of old that transgressed In the same manner he ordered the gates to be shut against Them, so will the Gates of our Community be shut intirely Against such offenders, but those that repent & obey the precepts of the Almighty, We beseech the Divine goodness to open to them the Gates of Mercy, & all their Enterprizes be attended with the Blessing of Haven. Vechol hashomeang yabo elav beracha.

At the meeting of the Parnasim & Elders of the Congration it was unanimously agreed that the foregoing should be read on the Holly day of Kipoor 5518. which was accordingly don in the Sinagog—and as Mr Benja Pereira our Hazan Declined serving it was agreed by said Parnassim & ajuntos to wright to the Parnassim & Elders of the Portogues Congration of London to send us one to whome wee ordred fifty Pounds Starling Salary pr anum to serve as a Hazan & teach the poor children Hebrew, English & Spanish the Letter being dated ye 4th Elul, in answer to which they wrote us that if any came they expected to have thire Expences and Passage paid by our Congregation which have agreed to do, as pr Coppy of the Letter dated March 13 1758 or 3 Veadar 5518.

Isaac Gomez Pte.