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Two Hundred Years in Georgia * By Judith I. Stein J ULY 10, 1933, will mark the two hundredth anniversary of the arrival of the first Jewish settlers in Georgia. Congregation Mickve Israel of Savannah held its Bicentenary Celebration on May 7th, and an elaborate program was arranged to commemorate the coming of the Jews to this State which was intended as a refuge for all per sons fleeing from religious persecutions. Rabbi George Solomon, leader of Mickve Is rael Congregation, prepared a special service that was attended by many visitors who came for this memorable occasion. With the exception of Beth Elohim Congrega tion of Charleston, Mickve Israel is among the oldest of the Southern Congregations. Its found ers include several persons who helped to make history in the State of Georgia. Taking a bird's-eye view of the history of the Jews in Georgia from the arrival of the first set tlers in 1733, we find that General James Ogle thorpe intervened in their behalf when the trus tees of the Colony wished to oust them, by point ing out the good work which had been done by Dr. Nunez, one of the first Jewish arrivals in Savannah. Once permitted to settle in Georgia, the Jews prospered and led a peaceful life there until the Revolutionary War, when they scattered, several enlisting in the Army. After Washington was elected President of the United States, the Jews of Savannah extended their congratulations to him in a letter signed by I>evy Sheftall, President of Mickve Israel Congregation. This letter was gra ciously acknowledged by Washington. Since the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Jewish Community at Savannah has enjoyed an al most uninterrupted era of tranquillity. The history of Congregation Mickve Israel dates back to July, 1733, the month of the arrival of the first Jewish settlers. Services were held in a small house near the present Market Building, and were conducted in turn by members of the Congregation. In 1737 a Sefer Torah, a Hanuk- kah lamp and some books were presented to the group by Benjamin Mendes, of London. After the Revolutionary War, with the influx of new Jewish settlers into Savannah, the Congre gation was re-established. On November 30, 1790, Governor Edward Telfair granted to Levy Sheft- all, Abraham Depass, Cushman Pollock, Joseph Abrahams, Mordecai Shef tall, and their successors a charter of incorporation wherein they were de clared to be “a body incorporate by the name and style of the ‘Parnass and A juntas of the Mickve Israel at Savannah.’ ” A copy of this original charter has been sent to the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, and parts of it may be of interest in view of the coming celebration. The early proceedings of the Congregation show that on January 10, 1791, “The Parnos (Presi dent) informed the Congregation that he thought it necessary a new' Code of Laws should be made for the government of this Congregation which w*as unanimously agreed to.’’ Among these new' law's submitted bv Benjamin Sheftall, Secretary, were the following: EDITOR'S NOTE—It has been a long time—two hundred years—that the first Jews settled in the State of Georgia. The Rirentennial celebration now being observed by Georgia has well recog nized the part the Je<w has played in the making of Georgia history, in which the Congregation Mickve Israel, of Sa vannah, has had a vital part. THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE sets forth, through the pen of Judith I. Stein, a few interesting farts in connection with one of the outstanding congregations of A merica. “ That the mode of worship be ac cording to the Pourtu Guese Min- hauge, and that all offerings shall be made in Hebrew, and that the money so offered shall he nominated in the name of the coin as named in the State. RABBI GEORGE SOLOMON A Capable Leader for Temple Mickve Israel * “ That there shall be chosen on every third Mon day in August annually one Parnos and six Ajunta, and there be chosen by the Yehadim one person out of the said ajunta to act as Gabov to have power to regulate this congregation and inflict penalties on all Transgressors of the following Rule. 1 hat if the Parnos and officers elected refuse to serve, they shall pay a fine not exceeding Forty Shillings for the Parnos, Thirty Shillings for the Gaboy, and Fen Shillings for each Ajuntaman. "That a decent beheaviour be observed by every person during service, no person to raise his voice above, or disturb the Reader, or hold any conver sation either in the Synagogue or places adjacent, and in case any person so offending on being called to order, and still persisting, shall for every such ofFense pay a fine not exceeding Forty Shillings. MICKVE ISRAEL TEMPLE among the oldest of the Southern Congregations.' “That any person refusing a Mitzwa shall no* be entitled to another until he can give a suff cient excuse to the Parnos—Also any person \vb is called to Seipher shall be obliged to offrr t the Parnos no less than Five Pence. “That every person professing the Jewish reh: ion who shall violate the Sabbath or Hob dat* shall be called before the Ajunta within four da\^ and should such persons be found guilty, they sha! be deprived of every honour in the Synagogue unitl they make such concessions as may appr* r satisfactory to the Parnos and Adjunta. “That every person shall appear in the Syn> gogue in as decent apparel as his abilities will ad mit, and that no person shall be called to d* Seipher in Boots. "All Persons intending to have a wedding ^ their Family shall notify the same to the Pan** requesting the attendance of the Glazon who shail be desired to attend provided the wedding be wid a Female of our religion.” In 1820 a Synagogue was erected on Whitakf* and Liberty Streets and consecrated by the hor orary hazzan, Dr. Jacob de la Motta. The Syn a gogue was destroyed by fire in 1829, but thr Scrolls of the Law and the Ark were sa\ ed. 3 new brick structure on the old site was erects and consecrated in 1841 by Isaac Leeser. I. P. Mendes served as leader of the CongT^P tion for many years. A new Synagogue was o* secrated in 1878. Rabbi George Solomon is d* present leader of Mickve Israel, w’hich has member of the Union of American Hebrev C ,,n ' gregations since* 1904. [6] * THE SOUTHERN ISRAI LIT*