News Items

Philadelphia.—At the annual election of the: congregation Mikve Israel, held on Sunday the 24th of September, being the Sunday before eve of Rosh Hashana, the officers of last year were re-elected to serve for the year 5609, viz., A. Hart, Parnass; J. A. Phillips, Mayer Arnold, A. S. Wolf, and I. J. Phillips, Adjuntas; H. Gratz, Gabay; and E. P. Levy, Secretary.

Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania.—It gives us pleasure to announce that the Israelites in this interior town of our State have a Synagogue in progress of erection; and we were gratified to see that some contributions were lately made in Philadelphia to their funds. It is also a very delightful circumstance to us to be enabled to state that the Christian residents at W. have contributed about seven hundred dollars to defray the expenses of the building. The Jews, numbering about eighteen families, were anxious to erect a frame building for a place of worship, all that their means allowed them. But they were told that for such a house no contributions would be made by their Christian neighbours, who would however aid them to erect a more substantial structure; and thus the Synagogue was commenced, and the people hope to be soon enabled to assemble therein for the worship of the Most High God; and we trust that the day may speedily arrive.

Baltimore.—We learn from reliable sources, that the congregation אהבת ישראל “Friendship Hebrew Congregation of Fell’s Point, Baltimore,” consecrated their new Synagogue on Friday afternoon the 15th of September. The Rev. Mr. Isaacs of New York, delivered the opening sermon in English, being succeeded by the Rev. A. Rice of Baltimore, in German. The service was conducted by the Rev. Joseph Levin of the old congregation, and the collection, we are told, amounted during the evening and next morning to about seven hundred dollars. In the morning service, the Rev. Dr. Lilienthal of New York, delivered a German address. It is superfluous to say that the well-known reputation of all the above reverend gentlemen, left but little to be desired, and that a general satisfaction was felt and expressed with the conducting of the ceremonies and the various addresses delivered on the occasion. We decline, however, to enter into particulars, from various reasons, one of which is that we have so often already given details of consecrations, that it would be superfluous to give all the particulars on every occasion.

Cincinnati.—The new Synagogue of which we lately spoke as <<372>>being in progress in Cincinnati, was to be consecrated on the 22d of September; too late for us to give any particulars this month.

Richmond, Va.—We received a card of admission to the opening of the new German Synagogue at Richmond on the 21st of September. We were not present, and up to writing this, we have received no account of the exercises. It will thus be seen, that in the course of two weeks no less than three new Synagogues have been dedicated to “the Great and Holy One of Jacob,” in various parts of the land; besides which, there are now in progress three more, to wit, Wilkesbarre, Pa., Louisville, Ky., and New Orleans: Our march is onward.

New Orleans.—We regret to perceive by a publication in the N. O. Commercial Times, the death of Mr. David Sanger, the President of the German congregation, and Treasurer of the Hebra Gemilut Hassadim. The Board of the latter society passed complimentary resolutions to his memory, and resolved to wear a badge of mourning for thirty days; an expressive and unusual token of regard among Jewish societies. We should gladly state more of the deceased, had we any personal knowledge of his merits; which we are sorry to say we had not.

St. Thomas.—The new laws enacted by the congregation in St. Thomas, were lately received back from Copenhagen with the royal approbation, and have thus become binding and of full force. We may perhaps, on some future occasion, speak more at length of them; our space now compels us to be satisfied with this mere notice of them.

Dresden, July 4th.—Eligibility of Jews as Members of Parliament.—In yesterday’s sitting of our second chamber, the deliberation on the laws of election was resumed, and the question that Jews as well as Christians are eligible as members of the Constituent Assembly was carried, there being only two opponents.—Allg. Zeit. d. Jud.

Prague.—Protection of the Jews by Christian Labourers.—In the late emeute at Prague, many Christian labourers stationed themselves before the Judenstadt (the quarter inhabited by the Jews), in order to defend them against the attacks of the populace. They said that they would not have any injury offered to those from whom they earned their livelihood.—Orient.

Berlin.—The Government of Prussia has lately sent the following reply to the report of the authorities of Posen:—“The distinction which has hitherto existed between naturalized and unnaturalized Jews in the Duchy of Posen, is to be extinct by the new law of July.”