Jewish Disabilities (Canada and Jamaica). “Return of Copies of the Acts of the Parliaments of Canada and Jamaica, by which Civil Disabilities of the Jews were Removed…”

Important Document Concerning the History of the Jews of Canada and Jamaica. Canada - In Canada, a major issue of contention was the fact that in order to serve in public office a Jew would have to take an oath of abjuration containing the formula “upon the true faith of a Christian.” Thus, Ezekiel Hart, though elected to the legislature of Lower Canada in 1807 and 1808, was unable to take his seat as he was unwilling to swear in such a manner. As late as 1833, prominent Montreal Jews, such as Benjamin Hart, Moses Judah Hart and Aaron Philips Hart had to urge the Government to remove this impediment to their assuming office (pp. 9-12). See EJ, Vol. V, col. 103. Jamaica - Between the years 1827 and 1830, thanks to the energetic petitions of local Jewish leader Moses Delgado, the final “disabilities” or impediments to the Jews of Jamaica achieving full equality were removed. On December 21, 1826 we learn of an Act to entitle Jews to the rights and privileges of natural born subjects. And on February 17, 1830, an Act repealed the clauses disabling Jews from being elected members of the Corporation of Kingston and from holding title to real estate. (Jewish Disabilities, pp. 13-19.) See Mordechai Arbell, The Jewish Nation of the Caribbean (2002), p.250.