The Jews in Ohio.

(Continued from issue #1.)

During the month of August, Messrs. Joseph Jonas, David I. Johnson and Phineas Moses were appointed a special committee to draft a constitution for the purpose of procuring a charter: and on the eighth of January 1830, "Morris Symonds, Jos. Jonas, Morris Moses, David I. Johnson, Solomon Moses, Jos. Symonds, Phineas Moses, Abraham Jonas, Saml. Jonas, Saml. J. De Young, Henry Hyman, Simon Block, David Lewis, Simon Symonds, Bernard Le Jeune, Lewis Levin, and Benjamin Silvers, and all other Israelites who may apply and be accepted into this congregation, and their successors," were, by an act of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, declared to be "constituted a body corporate and politic, under the name and style of Kal Kodesh Beneh Israel, according to the form and mode of worship of the Polish and German Jews in Cincinnati;" and on the 5th of September following, corresponding with the 11th of Elul 5590, the requisitions of the charter were complied with, and the following named gentlemen were duly elected to the several offices attached to their names, which five officers form the vestry:

Morris Moses, Parnass, (Warden Senior;) Bernard Le Jeune, Gabah Zedokah; Benjamin Silvers, Gabah Beth Hiam, (Wardens Junior;) Joseph Symonds, Treasurer; David G. Seixas, Secretary.

By the recorded names of the seat-holders at this date, our congregation seems to have consisted of thirty-two male, and twenty female adults.

On the 19th of October, 1832, departed this life, Simon Block, Esq., formerly of Richmond, Va. This venerable gentleman had filled the office of Parnass, and volunteered for a considerable time to be our שוחט without any emolument, the congregation not being able to procure one; he was also our only מוהל at that time. He was highly respected and lamented by the members. Being the oldest amongst us, we considered him as the father of the congregation, (peace be unto him.)

Nothing of interest took place, except a gradual increase of the congregation, until 1834, when Messrs. Joseph Jonas, Elias Mayer and Phineas Moses were appointed a committee for building a Synagogue, with full powers to raise funds, collect mate­rials, make contracts, &c.; and it is with considerable gratification we have to record the liberal donations given through the influence of the committee. Fifty-two gentlemen of the Christian faith, our fellow-citizens, gave us towards the building twenty-five dollars each. With very inefficient funds we commenced the good work; but during its progress, with the blessing of God, we were enabled to procure additional subscriptions. With these, and loans from the city banks, we were enabled to bring the holy work to its completion. On the 14th day of Sivan, 5595, corresponding to the 11th of June, 1835, the foundation stone was laid, with suitable enclosures and inscriptions; and with all due form and ceremony, attended with prayers to the supreme Eternal, it was solemnly deposited, in the presence of the building committee and many of the members, by the Rev. Joseph Samuels, our venerable pastor, (now no more.) During this year we received the following donations from our brethren abroad:—$100 from the late Harman Hendricks, Esq., of New York; $170 from a number of our brethren in Philadelphia and Baltimore, whose names we have duly recorded; among them we perceive Jacob I. Cohen, Jr., Esq., of Baltimore, $150; and the following from Philadelphia, viz.: John Moss, Esq., $50; Simpson Morris, Esq., $10; R. & I. Philips, Esqs., $10; H. Gratz, J. Gratz, and L. Allen, Esqs., $20 each; A. L. Hart, A. C. Peixotto, Frederick Samuel, A. Hart, P. S. Rowland, L. Bomeisler, and L. J. Levy, Esqs., $10 each; Mrs. E. Block, of Baltimore, and eleven gentlemen of Philadelphia, $5 each. Five large brass chandeliers were received from the Holy Congregation Shearith Israel, New York, with the condition attached, "that in case the congregation in Cincinnati  at any future period should decline to use them, then to return them to the trustees of this congregation." They were originally used in the old Synagogue at New York, and were received by us with much pleasure. The original donor could have little dreamed at the time that his munificent gift would adorn and enlighten a temple erected to the service of the ever-living God in the far west.

The officers elected for 5586, the year the Synagogue was completed and consecrated were as follows:

Joseph Jonas, Parnass; Elias Mayer, Gabah Zedokah; Phineas Moses, Treasurer; Building Committee; Benjamin Moses, Gabah Beth Hiam; Morris B. Mann, Secretary.

During the months of May, June and July, we sold seats in our new Synagogue to the amount of four thousand and five hundred dollars, which enabled us to finish the interior of the building in a much superior style than we originally intended. The edifice is erected with a handsome Doric front, a flight of stone steps over the basement, with a portico supported by pillars. The building is eighty feet in length by thirty-three in breadth, including a vestibule of twelve feet. It has a very handsome dome in the centre, ornamented with panels and carved mouldings in stucco. On entering the building from the vestibule, the beholder is attracted by the chaste and beautiful appearance of the Ark situated at the east end; it is eighteen feet in front, surrounded by a neat low white balustrade, ornamented by four large brass candlesticks; it is ascended by a flight of steps handsomely carpeted; the entablature and frieze are composed of stucco work, supported by four large fluted pillars of the Corinthian order; the doors are in the flat, sliding into the sides; when opened, the interior appears richly decorated with crimson damask; the curtain is handsomely festooned in front of the doors; between the pillars on each side are two marble painted slabs containing the Decalogue in bold letters; the entablature and frieze contain suitable inscriptions; the whole is surmounted by a large vase in imitation of the pot of incense. Near the west end is the Taybah; it is a square surrounded on three sides by steps imitating marble, with seats enclosed for the Parnassim in front; it is handsomely painted, as well as all the seats, in imitation of maple: the balustrade of the Taybah is surmounted on the four corners by four large brass candlesticks; on the platform is the reader's desk, neatly covered, and supported by two small columns. The gallery, with a neat white front, is over the vestibule, supported by pillars, with six rows of seats. The seats in the area are placed four in a row, fronting  the ark, on each side of he Taybah. The ceiling is handsomely finished, wth five circles of stucco work, from which are suspended five large brass chandeliers. The edifice, when finished, was much admired, and the Building Committee received a vote of of thanks from the congregation for their unremitted attentions in procuring the necessary funds and materials, and for the time and trouble bestowed by them in superintending the erection of the building. The 9th of September, 1836, corresponding to the 27th of Elul, 5596, was appointed for the consecration. The day having arrived, the crowd of our Christian friends was so great that we could not admit them all. We therefore selected the clergy, and the families of those gentlemen who so liberally had given donations towards the building. The members of the congregation assembled in the basement rooms, a procession was formed, with the Sepharim in front, (under a handsome canopy,) carried by Messrs. Joseph Jonas, Parnass; Elias Mayer, G. Z., and Phineas Moses, Treasurer, (these gentlemen being also the Building Committee.) Mr. David I. Johnson officiated on the occasion, and chaunted the consecration service; he also led the choir of singers, supported by a band of music; the choir consisted of about twenty of the ladies and gentlemen of the congregation. Who did not enjoy supreme delight and heavenly pleasure, when the sweet voices of the daughters of Zion ascended on high in joyful praises to the great Architect of the universe on the glorious occasion of dedicating a temple to his worship and adoration? And what must have been the exciting feelings of the founder of this congregation, at the consecration of this first temple west of the Alleghany mountains, when on knocking thrice outside the inner door, he was addressed by the reader within—"It is the voice of my beloved that knocketh," and when he responded, "Open to me the gates of righteousness, I will go into them, and I will praise the Lord!" The consecration hymns and service were composed and selected by the Rev. Henry Harris. The ceremonies and service being concluded, an appropriate address was delivered by the Parnass, Mr. Joseph Jonas. The Sabbath evening service was then solemnly chaunted by Mr. David I. Johnson, in which he was again harmoniously supported by the vocal abilities of the ladies and gentlemen of the choir. The Sabbath of the Lord having commenced, the labours of man ceased, and the instrumental music was heard no more.

The whole was concluded by one of the ladies leading in the splendid solo and chorus of "Yigdal," after which the numerous assemblage dispersed highly gratified.

(To be continued.)