Historical Report on the nauguration of a building in the Synagogue of the Holy Congregation of Mikve Israel in ...

Historical Report on the nauguration of a building in the Synagogue of the Holy Congregation of Mikve Israel in Philadelphia in New-Tork Spectator, January 1825

Newspaper issue of the semi-weekly 'New-Tork spectator', dated January 28, 1825, announcing the opening of the gates of the Mikveh Kodesh Israel synagogue in Philadelphia to the CHERRY street - Using another structure designed by architect William Strickland - the second structure erected in part of the area of the ancient synagogue.

The article reports on a special ceremony held in the synagogue by distributing tickets in advance, and that by 3:30 noon all the seats were occupied. It also describes the opening of the shrine by the community's rabbis, and the solemn lighting of the synagogue lamp donated by 34 members of the community. The Saying of Psalms by the synagogue choir in a special melody conveyed from father to son within the community, the excitement that gripped everyone present, and the rest of the details of the event.

Kehilat Kadosh Mikveh Israel is a Jewish community and synagogue, one of the oldest in the United States, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania since the mid-18th century. The Philadelphia Jewish community began as a small group of Spanish-origin Jewish residents who organized a joint prayer service in a rented home in about the year of 1740. As the Jewish community grew with an influx of West Indies, its members decided to build their own proper building and, in 1761, purchased the first Torah scroll. The synagogue officially opened at its first seat in Cherry Alley (now Cherry Street) ten years later, in 1771, and the name "Kehal Kadosh Miekve Israel" was officially given to their community and synagogue in 1773. Among the members of the community were quite a few famous Jews, and the synagogue founders were Haim Solomon (1740–1785), the “banker” of the American Revolution, and Jonas Phillips (1736–1803), a Philadelphia militia fighter in the American War of Independence and grandfather of Uriah Levy, The first Jewish Commodore in the United States Navy.

For years, non-Jewish appeals were raised about the Jewish community's strength in the building, and it was only in 1823 that the community's ownership of the building was finally recognized, under the declaration of James Monroe and Daniel Tompkins [American government], and Joseph Heister Governor of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania as described before us. [In 1829, Isaac Lesser became community leader].

The bi-weekly New-Tork Spectator began its journey in New York in 1804 by the editor and publisher J. Mills and was published continuously until 1867.

See also Dynasty auction 6 Item # 1.

[4] p. 51 cm. Complete sheet. Time stains. Good condition.