Gershom Mendes Seixas
Encyclopedia
Gershom Mendes Seixas was the first native-born Jewish minister in the United States
. He was the minister of Congregation Shearith Israel
, the Spanish and Portuguese
Synagogue
of New York
from 1768 to 1776 and again from 1784 to 1816. Although not an ordained Rabbi
, he served as Hazzan and Minister to the Congregation and was among the first Jewish communal leaders who was born and educated in the United States. He was also the first American Jewish clergyman to give a sermon in English
.
. He moved the congregation to Philadelphia's Congregation Mikveh Israel
and was the Hazzan there for the duration of the war.
In 1783, he successfully sought revisions in a constitutional clause newly adopted by the Pennsylvania
legislature requiring a religious examination for office seekers.
Seixas was one of the fourteen recognized ministers in New York in 1789, participating in George Washington
's first inauguration
, and continued to be one of the most vigorous defenders of the much-maligned James Madison
administration during the War of 1812
.
Although Seixas was an opponent of the War of 1812, he advocated to his congregation that it was the responsibility of all Americans to support their country in a time of war, regardless of their faith. Known as the "Patriot Preacher", he stated "They, the ruling powers, have declared war, and it is our bounded duty to act as true and faithful citizens, to support and preserve the honor, dignity, and the independnece of the United States of America, that they may bear equal rank among the nations of the earth".
Seixas was one of the incorporators of Columbia University
and served as a member of the Board of Regents
of the University of the State of New York
.
. Another brother, Benjamin Mendes (1748-1817), was one of the founders of the New York Stock Exchange
. A third brother, Moses Mendes (1744-1809), was one of the organizers of the Bank of Rhode Island and the president of the historic Touro Synagogue
. Gershom's son, David, established the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb in Philadelphia, and was among the first to discover efficient ways of burning anthracite coal
. Today, members of the Seixas family are still leaders of the American Sephardic community.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was the minister of Congregation Shearith Israel
Congregation Shearith Israel
Congregation Shearith Israel, often called The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, is the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States. It was established in 1654....
, the Spanish and Portuguese
Spanish and Portuguese Jews
Spanish and Portuguese Jews are a distinctive sub-group of Sephardim who have their main ethnic origins within the Jewish communities of the Iberian peninsula and who shaped communities mainly in Western Europe and the Americas from the late 16th century on...
Synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
from 1768 to 1776 and again from 1784 to 1816. Although not an ordained Rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, he served as Hazzan and Minister to the Congregation and was among the first Jewish communal leaders who was born and educated in the United States. He was also the first American Jewish clergyman to give a sermon in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
.
Biography
Seixas was an ardent patriot during the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. He moved the congregation to Philadelphia's Congregation Mikveh Israel
Kahal Kadosh Mikveh Israel
Congregation Mikveh Israel, Mikveh Israel synagogue, officially called Kahal Kadosh Mikveh Israel is a synagogue located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was founded in the 1740s. It is one of the Oldest synagogues in the United States...
and was the Hazzan there for the duration of the war.
In 1783, he successfully sought revisions in a constitutional clause newly adopted by the Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
legislature requiring a religious examination for office seekers.
Seixas was one of the fourteen recognized ministers in New York in 1789, participating in George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's first inauguration
Inauguration
An inauguration is a formal ceremony to mark the beginning of a leader's term of office. An example is the ceremony in which the President of the United States officially takes the oath of office....
, and continued to be one of the most vigorous defenders of the much-maligned James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
administration during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
.
Although Seixas was an opponent of the War of 1812, he advocated to his congregation that it was the responsibility of all Americans to support their country in a time of war, regardless of their faith. Known as the "Patriot Preacher", he stated "They, the ruling powers, have declared war, and it is our bounded duty to act as true and faithful citizens, to support and preserve the honor, dignity, and the independnece of the United States of America, that they may bear equal rank among the nations of the earth".
Seixas was one of the incorporators of Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and served as a member of the Board of Regents
Board of governors
Board of governors is a term sometimes applied to the board of directors of a public entity or non-profit organization.Many public institutions, such as public universities, are government-owned corporations. The British Broadcasting Corporation was managed by a board of governors, though this role...
of the University of the State of New York
University of the State of New York
The University of the State of New York is the State of New York's governmental umbrella organization responsible for most institutions and people in any way connected with formal educational functions, public and private, in New York State...
.
The Seixas family
The Seixas family has contributed many prominent Americans - Gershom's brother, Abraham Mendes (1751-1799), was an officer in the Continental ArmyContinental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
. Another brother, Benjamin Mendes (1748-1817), was one of the founders of the New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
The New York Stock Exchange is a stock exchange located at 11 Wall Street in Lower Manhattan, New York City, USA. It is by far the world's largest stock exchange by market capitalization of its listed companies at 13.39 trillion as of Dec 2010...
. A third brother, Moses Mendes (1744-1809), was one of the organizers of the Bank of Rhode Island and the president of the historic Touro Synagogue
Touro Synagogue
The Touro Synagogue is a 1763 synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, that is the oldest synagogue building still standing in the United States,the oldest surviving Jewish synagogue building in North America, and the only surviving synagogue building in the U.S...
. Gershom's son, David, established the Pennsylvania Institution for the Deaf and Dumb in Philadelphia, and was among the first to discover efficient ways of burning anthracite coal
Anthracite coal
Anthracite is a hard, compact variety of mineral coal that has a high luster...
. Today, members of the Seixas family are still leaders of the American Sephardic community.