curupira
11-08-2013, 03:48 PM
http://explorepahistory.com/kora/files/1/2/1-2-6FA-25-ExplorePAHistory-a0h1v9-a_349.jpg
Of Sephardic Jewish background:
Gershom Mendes Seixas (1745–1816) 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.
The Seixas family
The Seixas family has contributed many prominent Americans - Gershom's brother, Abraham Mendes (1751-1799), was an officer in the Continental Army. 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 among the organizers of the Bank of Rhode Island and the president of the historic Touro Synagogue in Providence, Rhode Island. 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.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gershom_Mendes_Seixas
Of Sephardic Jewish background:
Gershom Mendes Seixas (1745–1816) 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.
The Seixas family
The Seixas family has contributed many prominent Americans - Gershom's brother, Abraham Mendes (1751-1799), was an officer in the Continental Army. 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 among the organizers of the Bank of Rhode Island and the president of the historic Touro Synagogue in Providence, Rhode Island. 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.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gershom_Mendes_Seixas