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P»fe 12 THE SOUTHERN ISR AELITE December 28. 1979
Old New York, N,Y
Exhibition honors Jews of
early New York 1654-1800
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“The Jewish Community in
Early New York: 1654-1800,” an
exhibition honoring the
community of Colonial Jewish
Settlers, opened recently at the
Fraunces Tavern Museum, the
Sons of the Revolution landmark
where George Washington bade
farewell to his troops. The museum
is located at 54 Pearl Street.
John L. Loeb Jr. donated the
newly constructed Adeline Moses
Loeb Gallery, in honor of his
grandmother. "The Jewish
Community in Early New York:
1654-1800” is the inaugural
exhibition in the new Loeb
Gallery.
“The Jewish Community in
Early New York” illustrates the
lives of the first Jewish
immigrants, second generation
colonists, and Revolutionary War
patriots. Tracing its development
through paintings, prints,
documents, and decorative arts, it
highlights the Jewish settlers’
contributions to the city,
demonstrating their vital role in
building the American society.
At the dedication of the Adeline
Moses Loeb Gallery, Lt. Gen.
Andrew J. Goodpaster, superin
tendent of the United States
Military Academy and the former
commander in chief of the United
States forces in Europe, said, “In the
West Point Register of
Graduates, the name of Simon
Levy, a Jewish cadet, appears in
the first graduating class at West
Point. I must tell you that he stood
in the lower half of his class—in
fact, he was the lower half of his
class since it consisted of only two
people, himself and the numbei
one man, Joseph Swift, later an
early superintendent of the
academy.”
The exhibition shows that under
Dutch rule and Peter Stuyvesant's
governorship, the Jews met some
opposition but were supported in
their struggles by the Dutch West
Indian Company. For example,
the right to own land was at first
prohibited to the Jews. However,
their first private land purchase
was made in 1675 and was
recorded in the Asser-Levy Deed,
owned by the Museum of the City
of New York, which is illustrated
in the exhibition. Gradually the
Jews became an integral part of life
in New Amsterdam.
On loan to the exhibition from
the Chamber of Commerce is the
Charter of 1768 illustrating the
Jews’ part in its formation. Also
illustrated is a list of donors to the
Church Steeple Fund at Trinity
Church, dated 1711 which shows
contributors, including several
Jewish colonists.
During the Revolution, Jewish
merchants provided supplies to the
troops and many fought in the
militia. After the Revolutionary
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War the Jewish citizens’ loyalty
was commended by George
Washington in letters to Jewish
congregations of New York and
Philadelphia, thanking them for
their role in the patriots’ cause.
Portraits in the exhibition
highlight several of these
prominent families revealing their
elegant life-style. Portraits of
Moses Levy and his wife, Grace
Mears Levy, depict one of the
earliest successful merchant
families. The pair of paintings are
from the Museum of the City of
New York.
Also on loan from the Museum
of the City of New York is a
minature of Gershom Mendes
Seixas who was the first American
born religious leader. It was Rabbi
Seixas who led most of the
congregation during the British
Because Energy issues are of vital
concern to Jews, we present the
following item for your information
Above.'-a N.Y. Jewish cemetery
established 1682. At left, a portrait of 17th
century provision agent David Salisbury
Franks.
occupation in 1776 to Connecticut
and then Philadelphia.
The religious life of the Jewish
community is explored through
objects on loan from several
congregations and cultural
institutions. From the New York
Historical Society, is a porcelain
plate showing the Mill S.treet
Synagogue in 1750, only a few
blocks from the Fraunces Tavern
Museum Religious objects in the
exhibition include the beautiful
silver Rimmonim bells by Myer
Myers, lent by Mikveh Israel in
Philadelphia. Rimmonim are
ornamental bells which decorate
the wooden poles of the Torah.
A Torah arrangement from the
Congregation Shearith Israel
includes Tin Bells or Rimmonim, a
silver Torah pointer, and an Omer
Scroll which computes the days
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!h& protect presented as a pubk service by the Energy
Committee ot the Atlanta Chapter American Jewish Committee
and The Southern Israel*
between the holidays. Among
objects on loan from the Jewish
Museum are a glass star of David
and a 17th century Purim
Megillah.
Artistic contributions from the
first Jewish colonists are
represented by Myer Myers, the
first Jewish artist born in America,
A renowned silversmith, Myer
Myers created works used in every
facet of New York’s society. He
crafted elegant pieces for both
Jewish and Christian households.
Religious objects were made for
both his congregation and
Christian churches. Works by
Myer Myers included in the
exhibition are a tankard with the
Hamilton Coat of Arms from the
Philadelphia Museum of Art, a
sauceboat and two salvers from
Bernard and S. Dean Levy, Inc., a
sugar bowl with the Goelet family
crest from the Brooklyn Museum,
a candlesnuffer from the Jewish
Museum and a circumcision set
from the American Jewish
Historical Society. An ornate
silver tea kettle made in 1745 by
Paul de Lamerie, decorated with
the Franks’ family crest is from the
collection of the Metropolitan
Museum of Art.
Fraunces Tavern Museum is
open to the public Monday
through Friday from 10 a m. to 4
p.m.
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