Page:Notes and Queries - Series 9 - Volume 8.djvu/147

 9s. vm. AUG. IT, HOI.] NOTES AND QUERIES.

139

turned to a kindred matter. The subject of religious education was considered, and in 1664 " The Tree of Life," a society for the study of the Law, was established. The same year the "Gates of Hope "School commenced its operations, and this institution, after having been reorganized in 1882, still serves the useful purpose for which it was originally intended. In 1703 another institution was founded, " The Gates of Life and the Father of the Fatherless." Its object is fourfold, viz., to educate, maintain, clothe, and apprentice orphan boys, the boys being admitted by the votes of the subscribers. In 1724 a society for providing fatherless girls with dowries was established. In 1730 the Villareal School was founded by Isaac da Costa Villareal for the benefit of the poorer girls of the congregation. Disraeli in the memoir of his father speaks thus of the charitable founder :

" There might be found among other Jewish families flourishing in this country the Villareals, who brought wealth to these shores almost as great as their names, though that is the second in Portugal, and who have twice allied themselves to the English aristocracy."

In 1747 the Beth-Holim was instituted. This charity combined the offices of a hos- pital, lying-in hospital, and home for aged poor, and two years later another charitable society came into existence, the Mahasim Tobim, "Good Works." In 1757 Moses Lamego endowed the synagogue with 5,000/., the interest of 4,000/. being devoted to the orphan school and of 1,000. to the salary of an English tutor at the Ngetz Chaim Schools. Benjamin D'Israeli, the grandfather of the statesman, was in after years appointed inspector of the Ngetz Chaim. A lease of the land in Bevis Marks was obtained for ninety -nine years at an annual rental of 120/., and the present build- ing was consecrated in 1702. Many of the benches were brought from the old synagogue, and some of the candlesticks from Holland.

The celebration service on the 26th of June was observed with due ceremonial, the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs being present. The Jewish World reminds us that

"the Jewish people do not erect personal monu- ments, and the Sephardic section of the community mark the resting-place of their people by less obtrusive memorials than their Ashkenazi brethren ; in their ' House of Life ' the stones lie flat. If we want memorials to martyrs and heroes, we have no need to fashion them of stone or marble. We have only to turn the pages of history and the finest

models are before us the record of the Sephar-

dim in England tells the story which we can all read with profit. The outward, the visible, the tangible sign of the record of the Sephardim is the ancient synagogue in Bevis Marks."

The Hahain, the Rev. Dr. Moses Gaster, one of the most eloquent men that the Jews can boast of, in the course of his sermon paid the following tribute to the English people :

" This synagogue now represents not only the old form of Jewish worship, but it represents also the noblest form of religious liberty and political emancipation. It is perhaps the only synagogue in existence which, since the days when the foundation stone was laid, has never been exposed to the attack of a misguided populace. No harsh sound has ever disturbed the peace of the worshipper, no fanatical hand has been raised against its walls, no stone has been thrown against its windows. This synagogue is a monument of the great liberal spirit of the English nation, whose progress is a steady one which knows no going backwards. Once a barrier had been broken down, it had never been raised anymore ; once an illiberal measure repealed, no re-enactment would ever be contemplated. In perfect security the people lived under the righteous laws of England."

At the close the choir sang 'Yitgadal,' an ancient melody, harmonized by C. G. Verrin- der. This was followed by 'Adon Olam' (solo by Mr. Rittenberg) and Psalm CL., com- posed by the late Dr. Artom. Lastly came the first verse of the National Anthem in Hebrew, arranged by Dr. Verrinder.

The rulers of the Manchester Synagogue for Spanish and Portuguese Jews, anxious to have a part in the celebration, sent a massive ornament, consisting of a handsome silver crown for a '"Sepher Torah." This weighs fifty ounces and is of the " Imperial " order, or shaped in Gothic style in the Decorative period. Upon the front are two tablets containing the Ten Commandments beneath an oblong shield bearing the follow- ing inscription : ** Presented to the Bevis Marks Synagogue, London, by the Manchester Congregation of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews, in commemoration of its bicentenary. Tamuz 9, 5661." The whole is topped by a smaller crown, whilst its base is surmounted in repoussJ with ovals, diamonds, and discs in gilt with frosted silver background relieved by ornamental rope bordering.

In addition to this, the poorer members, desiring to share in the commemoration, had been for three years contributing their mite, and brought as their offering and tribute two silver crowns and a rich velvet covering for the scrolls of the Law. N. S. S.

(To be continued.)

THE JUBILEE OF THE FIRST GREAT INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION.

As I am perhaps the sole survivor of the executive staff of the first international display, and one who has collected certain