Rebecca Gratz. Mikve Israel Certificate. Lifetime purchase of a synagogue seat. Printed with manuscript additions. Text in English and Hebrew.

(AMERICAN-JUDAICA)

27th October / 26th Tishrei

Philadelphia

1845

Signed by Rebecca’s brother Hyman Gratz, as gabay, Abraham Hart, parnass, and Solomon Solis, secretary. The certificate states: “Miss Rebecca Gratz is entitled to the possession of the Seat…to be held during her natural life.”

Rebecca Gratz was issued this certificate for her seat at K.K. Mikveh Israel - Upstairs, No. Fourteen. Many congregants rented their seats annually, but wealthier ones were able to purchase a seat for the duration of their lifetime. The seats themselves were offered in three classes, both upstairs for women, and downstairs for men. Rebecca’s seat was of the first class, and cost $60 as a one-time fee, with an additional annual fee of $8. (See Congregation Mikveh Israel “Record of annual seat rentals, 1845-1862,” Philadelphia Congregations Early Records). In a recent publication Daniel Judson estimates that seats such as this one cost the equivalent of $1540 and $205 annually in today’s dollars (“Pennies for Heaven: The History of American Synagogues and Money,” Brandeis University Press, 2018,  p. 41). This certificate was issued in the aftermath of a grand remodeling of the synagogue. The Occident tells us that in the summer of 1845 complete repair and expansion was made, adding seats, windows, and other amenities, an expense which it estimates cost $1600 to $1700 (The Occident, v. IIII, November 1845, p. 55).