Page:Notes by the Way.djvu/217

 NOTES BY THE WAY.

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��The Beth-Holim.

Moses Lamego.

��In 1747 the Beth-Holim was instituted. This charity com- bined the offices of a hospital, 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,OOOZ., 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 building 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, 1901, 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 monuments, and the Sephardic The " House

section of the community mark the resting-place of their people by of Life."

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 Sephardim 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 Haham, the Rev. Dr. Moses Gaster, one of the most eloquent Dr. Moses men of whom the Jews can boast, in the course of his sermon paid Gaster^s tri- 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 any more ; once an illiberal measure repealed, no re-enact- ment 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, har- monized by C. G. Verrinder. This was followed by ' Adon Olam ' (solo by Mr. Rittenberg) and Psalm CL., composed by the late Dr. Artom. Lastly came the first verse of the National Anthem in Hebrew, arranged by Dr. Verrinder.

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��bute to the English people.

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