Circular to the Members of the Faith of Israel, 1839
This is a key document in the foundation of the York Street Synagogue, the first permanent house of worship for Sydney's Jewish community. It states the Sydney Hebrew congregation's intentions to build a synagogue, school and residence, and to pay the regular expenses of a 'Minister of the Mosaic Religion'. The names of all those who have subscribed to the building fund are listed, along with details of how much money had been collected thus far. Finally, the document contained an appeal for further funding from members of the Jewish community, so that the dream of establishing and sustaining a synagogue could be realised.
The State Library's copy of the circular is from the Percy J. Marks Collection of Judaica. Samuel Benjamin, a merchant of Sydney and Goulburn who was on the building committee, was the grandfather of Percy Marks. It is thought that Samuel Benjamin owned this copy of the circular, and that Benjamin may have been responsible for the drawings on the back of the document.
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Sydney Hebrew Congregation, Circular to the Members of the Faith of Israel. 1839. Printed. JA Pam 261/1.
Transcript
(CIRCULAR.)
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE FAITH OF ISRAEL.
"How goodly it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity." PSALMS.
"He shall build an house for my for my name, and he shall be my son, and I will be his father, and I will establish the throne of his Kingdom over Israel for ever."
"Now my Son, the Eternal be with thee and prosper thee, and build the House of the Eternal thy God, as he hath said of thee." CHRON. II., Chap. xxii, and 10 and 11.
"I have surely built thee an house to dwell in, a settled place for thee to abide in for ever." KINGS I., Chap. xiii.
WITH sincere and heartfelt gratification, we have to announce to the Members of the Faith of Israel, that we, the united few, now residing in the Colony of New South Wales, have, in love to the Eternal God, the GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, and JACOB, resolved to raise up a Sacred Edifice for the worship of his holy name; and it is with the like heartfelt gratification that we have to announce, that towards the commencing and completion of this goodly work, the resident Members in New South Wales of our community have come forward and given, (as their free will offerings) an amount of money already approaching nearly to Three Thousand Pounds, and they confidently anticipate, from the devoted veneration which every Israelite has for his Ancient Faith, that those who reside, whether far or near, will on hearing of this, our work, gladly and promptly respond to the sacred call, and give their utmost aid, and join heart and hand, so as to enable the increasing congregation of this newly inhabited portion of the world, to raise an edifice that shall render honor to Him, as enjoined from the beginning, to our ancestors.
But before we conclude this, our brief to our Brethren in Faith, we will direct their attention to the objects which we have in contemplation, and which we are desirous to carry forward and into effect, with as little delay as possible:-
1. – The Building of a Synagogue, which shall (in after, and we pray at no distant time,) accommodate, with comfort and with ease, a Congregation, at the least, of Five Hundred Persons at their daily service.
2. – That the Edifice shall be an elegant and stately one, with Offices and School House attached, and a suitable Dwelling for a Minister of the Mosaic Religion.
3. – The Internal Fittings to correspond with the Building.
4. – That at least three (Sepher Toras) “Scrolls of the Law,” to be deposited in the Ark, be obtained with their necessary appendages.
5. – That provision be made, for the maintaining with right dignity and independence, the Minister.
6. – That for the purpose of furthering to the ends of, and the advancement of our Holy Religion, amongst our Youthful Members, that a competent Master be engaged to instruct them in the Mosaic Religion, and in the ordinary and most approved courses of English Education.
And lastly. – That this contemplated work of our hands, should neither be slack or stop. We, in conclusion, appeal to, and earnestly entreat, that our Brethren will, with the utmost speed, forward to us their contributions, through the medium of our Treasurer, for the time being, or to any other individual Member of our congregation, they residing in the town of Sydney. The names may be selected for that purpose, from the enclosed list of Contributors.
We remain with prayers for your welfare and happiness,
THE MEMBERS OF THE FAITH OF ISRAEL
(IN THE COLONY OF NEW SOUTH WALES.)
At a Special General Meeting, held in the Sydney Synagogue Chambers, on SUNDAY, 15th September, MR. ISAAC SIMMONS, President of the Sydney Synagogue, in the Chair;
It was unanimously resolved–
That a subscription be entered into for the erection of a New Synagogue; and the following Gentlemen were appointed to act as Officers and Committee to carry the same into effect, under the denomination of “The Building Committee:”–
Chairman.
MR. ABRAHAM POLACK.
Treasurer.
MR. ISAAC SIMMONS.
Honorary Secretary.
MR. GEORGE MOSS.
Solicitor.
MR. D. POOLE.
Committee.
MR. ABRAHAM ELIAS
MR. MOSES JOSEPH.
MR. VAIBEN SOLOMON
MR. JOHN LAZAR.
MR. SAMUEL BENJAMIN.
List of Subscribers to the projected New Synagogue:
[subscriptions expressed in pounds, shillings and pence]
Mr. A. Polack 150/0/0
Mrs. A. Polack 75/0/0
Miss Sarah Polack 75/0/0
Master Solomon Polack 50/0/0
Master Isaac Polack 50/0/0
Mr. Isaac Simmons 100/0/0
Mrs. Simmons 25/0/0
Master James Simmons 10/0/0
Master Barnett Simmons 10/0/0
Mr. Moses Joseph 75/0/0
Mrs. Moses Joseph 25/0/0
Master Hyam Joseph 25/0/0
Mr. Joseph Joseph, senior 20/0/0
Mrs. Joseph Joseph 20/0/0
Mr. Lewis Joseph 5/0/0
Mr. Vaiben Solomon 100/0/0
Mrs. Vaiben Solomon 10/0/0
Master David Solomon 5/0/0
Master Abraham Solomon 5/0/0
Master Saul Solomon 5/0/0
Master Moses Solomon 5/0/0
Master Edward Solomon 5/0/0
Miss Elizabeth Solomon 5/0/0
Mr. S. M. Solomon 25/0/0
Mrs. S. M. Solomon 5/0/0
Miss Elizabeth Solomon 5/0/0
Mrs. Judah Solomon 10/0/0
Mr. Isaac Solomon, Adelaide 10/0/0
Mr. Emanuel Solomon, Adelaide 20/0/0
Mr. Phillip Solomon 20/0/0
Mrs. Phillip Solomon 5/0/0
Mr. Abraham Moses 25/0/0
Mrs. Abraham Moses 5/0/0
Master Jacob Moses 5/0/0
Miss Julia Moses 5/0/0
Mr. Joseph Moses, senior 20/0/0
Mr. Isaac Moses 20/0/0
Mrs. Isaac Moses 5/0/0
Mr. Samuel Benjamin 25/0/0
Mrs. Samuel Benjamin 5/0/0
Mr. E. Phillips 20/0/0
Mrs. E. Phillips 5/0/0
Mr. John Jacobs and Daughter 30/0/0
Mr. John Isaacs 26/5/0
Mrs. John Isaacs 15/0/0
Mr. C. Zadock 10/0/0
Mr. Abraham Elias 50/0/0
Mr. Hyam Elias, Parramatta 10/0/0
Mr. David Newton 10/0/0
Mr. Simon Lear 15/0/0
Mr. George M. Moss 15/0/0
Mr. Joseph Simmons 20/0/0
Mr. Israel Solomons 20/0/0
Mr. John Solomon 25/0/0
Mr. John Lazar 21/0/0
Mrs. John Lazar 5/0/0
Mr. Moses Rochats, of Windsor 10/0/0
Mr. Lewis Cohen 10/0/0
Mr. Joseph Hyams 5/0/0
Mr. Lewis Barnett 20/0/0
Mr. A. Moses, George-street 5/0/0
Mr. S. H. Benjamin 10/0/0
Mr. Israel Myers 20/0/0
Mr. Solomon Folk 10/0/0
Mrs. Solomon Folk 5/0/0
Mr. Raphael Benjamin 10/0/0
Mrs. Raphael Benjamin 5/0/0
Mr. Emanuel Myers 5/0/0
Mr. James Simeon 6/0/0
Mr. B. A. Phillips and Family 15/0/0
Mr. A. Cohen 15/0/0
Mr. H. J. Cohen 21/0/0
Mr. Michael Cashmere 7/10/0
Mr. Bertram Nathan 5/0/0
Mr. Joseph Fonseco 5/0/0
Mr. Samuel Cohen, Maitland 10/0/0
Mr. Isaac Solomon, of Launceston 10/0/0
Mr. David Moses and Son, of London, per Mr. S. Benjamin 10/0/0
Mr. Phillip Joseph 20/0/0
Mr. Henry Moses, of London, per Mr. Moses Joseph 10/0/0
Mr. Abraham Levy 10/0/0
Mr. John Barnett 10/0/0
Master Lewis Barnett 5/0/0
Mr. Joseph Aarons 50/0/0
Mrs. Joseph Aarons 10/0/0
Miss Sarah Aarons 5/0/0
Miss Rebecca Aarons 5/0/0
Miss Louisa Aarons 5/0/0
Mr. Henry Aarons 5/0/0
Mr. Joseph Aarons 5/0/0
Mr. Samuel Lyons 50/0/0
Mr. Edward Lee and Family 21/0/0
Mr. Samuel Solomon 15/0/0
Mrs. Samuel Solomon 5/0/0
Master Lewis Solomon 5/0/0
Master Benjamin Solomon 5/0/0
Master William Solomon 5/0/0
Mr. Solomon Phillips, Parramatta 10/0/0
Mrs. Solomon Phillips 5/0/0
Mrs. R. Phillips 5/0/0
Mr. Abraham Lyons 25/0/0
Mr. Saul Lyons 25/0/0
Mr. Samuel Emanuel 20/0/0
Mrs. Samuel Emanuel 5/0/0
Mr. Samuel Levy, Maitland 10/0/0
Mr. Solomon Davis 5/0/0
Mr. Phillip Joseph Cohen, Maitland 20/0/0
Mr. Simeon J. Cohen, Black Creek 20/0/0
Mr. A. H. Hart, of Windsor 10/0/0
Mr. Isaac Hart, of Goulburn 5/0/0
Mr. A. Abrahams 25/0/0
Mrs. Abrahams 10/0/0
Miss Sarah Abrahams 5/0/0
Miss Caroline Abrahams 5/0/0
Miss Rachael Abrahams 5/0/0
Mr. J. Abrahams 5/0/0
Mr. P. D. Van Millingen 5/0/0
Mr. S. J. Raphael 5/0/0
Mr. Abraham Levy, George-street 5/0/0
Mr. Elias Elias 21/0/0
Mr. John Sullivan 5/0/0
Mr. Phillip Hart 5/0/0
Mrs. Hart 5/0/0
Miss Emilia Abrahams 5/0/0
Miss Rachael Abrahams 5/0/0
Mr. Hyam Jacobs 5/0/0
Mr. Joseph Levy, Berrima 5/0/0
Mrs. Rebecca Levy 10/0/0
Mr. Michael Cohen, Campbell Town 5/0/0
Mr. Michael Hyams, Wollongong 10/0/0
Mr. D. Poole 50/0/0
Printed by S. B. DOWSETT, “Australian” Office.