Congregation Mikveh Israel. Dedication Ceremony. Manuscript in Hebrew and Yiddish. Written by(?) Hazan Gershom Mendes Seixas.

(AMERICAN-JUDAICA).

29th August / 18th Ellul

Philadelphia

1782

The name “Mr. J.I. Cohen” appears at the corner. Likely indicating that this was his copy to read from during the course of the service (see below).

Upon the construction of a new, modest, but larger building, Mikveh Israel consecrated it in an impressive ceremony in late August of 1782. This manuscript is the text of the service, a call and response between Hazan and members, written in a beautiful hand. Consisting of choice Biblical verses relating to dedication, buildings and praises of God, the ceremony is divided into six Hakafot, or circuits around the Teba holding the Torah Scrolls in a festive ceremony, reminiscent of Simhat Torah. While unsigned, the manuscript is quite likely written by Gershom Mendes Seixas, the hazan and spiritual guide of the congregation. Although names and more information is lacking in this document, the Minute Book of Mikveh Israel provides details about the ceremony. First, a procession from the old synagogue to the new was led by “Hayam Salomon to open the shul door.” The synagogue itself only owned one Torah scroll, so it borrowed several others, one of which was loaned by Haym Salomon himself (we know this because his son requested it back decades later). The six men who were honored with holding the scrolls in this ceremony were Bernard Gratz,  Isaac D’acosta, Isaac Moses, Henry Marks, Benjamin Seixas, and Asher Myers.