Minute Book

Congregation Shearith Israel of New York

1728

In the Name of the Blessed God Amen

Whereas on or about the Year 5466 [1706] certain wholesome Rules and Restrictions have been made By the then Elders of our Holy Congregation, to Preserve Peace, tranquility and good Government amongst ym and those after them, and they have Been neglected to be put in due force for some time past, wee now meet with common consent and Resolve to Revive the same with some amendments and additions, which are as follows:

Ftly

There shall be elected a Parnaz & Two Hatanim, wch shall Like wise serve as assistants for ye good Government of our Holy Congregation, & in order to wch we have now this Year of 5489 Elected Mr Mosses Gomez for Parnaz To whom we gave Power that he might Elect Two Hatanims and as assistants for this present year. & accordingly he did elect Mr Daniel Gomez for Hatan Torah & first assistant, and Mr Binjn Mendez Pacheco as Hatan Bereshit and Second assistant; & for the future the Parnaz and his assistants then in Being has Power to chuse another Parnaz & assistants in their Roome Yearly.

2ndly

We give authority to the Gentm That shall be elected yearly as, is, Customary in the Jewish Congregations that with the fear of God they may act as their Conscience shall dictate them for the well Governing of our Said Congregation.

3dly

If any person or persons whatsoever shall offer to give any affront or abuse, Either by words or action to any person of persons within the said Sinagog, he or they so offending shall be obliged to pay to the Parnaz then in Being the Sum of Twenty Shillings. if it be adjudged By the Said Parnaz and assistants that he or they have offended, which money shall be applyd for the use of the Sinagog. & if refus’d to pay the said fine the whole Congregation shall assist the said Parnaz and assistants to recover the same.

4thly

Whoever shall be elected Parnaz and refuse to serve shall pay the sum of three Pounds, alsoe those Hatanims that shall be elected and refuse to act in the sd post shall pay a fine of Foarty Shillings each one which sums shall be apply’d as in the 3d article is specified.

5thly

In Case any disputes may arise so that the Parnaz and his assistants cannot agree, an Indifferent person whom they shall chuse shall decide the difference between them.

6thly

No unmarried man shall be elected Parnaz, nor a married man before he has served either for Hatan Torah or Hatan Bereshith.

7thly

If any poor person should happen to come to this place and should want the assistance of the Sinagog the Parnaz is herby impowerd to allow every poor person for his maintainance the sum of Eight Shillings pr Week and no more Not Exceeding the term of twelve weeks. And the Parnaz is also to use his utmost endeavours to despatch them to sum othere place as soon as Possible assisting them with necessarys, for their Voyage, that is for a single person fourty Shillings, but if it be a family then the parnaz shall call his assistance and consult with them both for their maintainance whilst ashore and also for their necessarys when they depart; those poor of this Congregation that shall apply for Sedaca shall be assisted with as much as the Parnaz and his assistant shall think fit:

8thly

The offerings shall be Gather’d every three months by the Parnaz; as Likewise it not being convenient the selling of Misvots. its Resolved for the future that in Lieu thereof the Parnaz with his assistants shall tax the mens Seats in the Sinagog, as they are now seated But not exceeding Fifteen Shillings each Seat per annum, nor less then five Shillings, and the Misvots shall Be given out by the Parnaz as the whole year.

9thly

We now prezent and those that shall hereafter be admitted as Yechidims into this Congregation do & shall submit to the foregoing articles.

10thly

The Parnaz shall be oblidged twice a year to cause these articles to be read in the Sinagog both in Portugues & English:

Sign’d In New yorck in the Kl Ks [Kahal Kadosh, Holy Congregation] of Sheerit Israell ye 12 of Tisry 5489 [September 15, 1728].

Two silver finials with bells.
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These silver Torah finials with bells adorned a Torah scroll at the consecration ceremony of the Mill Street Synagogue of Congregation Shearith Israel, which opened in New York in 1730 and was located on present-day South William Street in downtown Manhattan. They are still used today in the congregation. Shearith Israel was the first Jewish congregation established in North America, and the only Jewish congregation in New York City from 1654 until 1825. Between 1654 and 1730, it met in rented quarters, consecrating its first building in 1730 on Mill Street. To meet the needs of a steadily growing membership, the congregation moved into five different buildings over the centuries.
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Published in: The Posen Library of Jewish Culture and Civilization, vol. 5.

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Creator Bio

Congregation Shearith Israel of New York

Congregation Shearith Israel (also known as the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue) in New York, founded in 1654, was the first Jewish congregation in North America. It was established by twenty-three Jews of Spanish Portuguese descent who fled from Recife, Brazil, after it was reconquered by the Portuguese. The community has become an important symbol in the history of the North American Jewry. For its founders, who were fleeing persecution, New Amsterdam was a haven. Nonetheless, they had to fight to secure the right to remain. Between 1654 and 1730, it met in rented quarters, consecrating its first building in 1730 on Mill Street. To meet the needs of a steadily growing membership, the congregation moved into five different buildings over the centuries. The American Jewish architect Arnold Brunner designed Shearith Israel’s present location, which it has occupied since 1897. Until 1825, it was the only Jewish congregation in New York, and all Jews in the city belonged to it. Its earliest documents date from 1728.

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