Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-30
J EWISH CELEBRATION
OF FIRST HEBREW
SETTLEMENT IN AMERICA.
Notable Event to Occur in New York
City This Year-Thousands
to Participate.

Special Correspondence Of The Star
NEW YORK, April 29.-The 100000 Jews
of this city are already making arrange
ments to celebrate the two hundred and
fiftieth anniversary of the first Hebrew set
Element in this country. and fully 100000
more Hebrews in other parts of the United
States are taking an interest in the festival
which is about to begin. For many reasons
the celebration will occur in this city
1t was here that the first actual Jewish
settlement in this country was made. Here,
too, the Jews founded their first religious
society in the United States. Here they
fought their first battles for commercial
and civic freedom and won. Here they have
increased in numbers faster than any other
community in the old or the new world,
until at the present time New York con-
tains more Jews than have ever before lived
in one place. Jerusalem today has a popu-
lation of only about $1,000, not more than
one-half of whom are Jews.
Extent of Jewish Population.
Accordingly, it would take nearly thirty
Jerusalems crowded together to become the
abode of many Jews as have found an
abode in New York. On an average one
man out of every six met in New York city
today is a Jew, If the tide of immigration
continues from southern Europe and from
Russia in the future IN the past the fu-
ture percentage in favor of the Jews will
be even greater
Rev DR.. II. Pereira Mendes himself de-
scended from Spanish Jews, is one of the
prime movers in the coming anniversary
celebration plans. He is leader of the con-
gregatiOn of Shearith Israel, or the Spanish
and Portuguese Congregation of the City of
New York, as it was originally known.
This is the organization which now has
marble synagogue in Central Park west.
After giving many facts regarding the rap
id growth and development of the race in
New York, Or. Mendes said:
Tribute to Jewish Effort
The pages of history record few passages
more interesting than those which tell of
grit and integrity, and certainly the first
Hebrews in New York demonstrated the
possession of these qualities. They We're
Sephardic Hebrews, cultured sons of Gull
tured sires. and doubtless superior in refine
ment to the doughty Hollanders, who did
not like their coming. For centuries in
Spain they had produced poets, philoso-
pliers, physicians, grammarians and mer-
chant princes.
New York's first Jews manfully stood
for their rights against Stuyvesant, rights
which the authorities of Holland supported.
They met for worship in little frame
house next to a MILL then in frame build
ing then in a real synagogue on Mill street
They formed the congregation which still
exists, known as the Spanish and Portu-
guesa Congregation.
About 1924 the English and German Jews
began to come, and they have been fol-
lowed by the representatives of the race
from other European countries. The growth
of most of the Hebrew congregations has
kept pace with the growth of the first con-
gregation The splendid temple on 9th
avenue representing an investment of $780,
600, tells the story of great results which
had an origin in small beginnings" 8.