David Aaron De Sola was born in Amsterdam in 1796. In 1818, just 23 years old, he was appointed Assistant Hazan (Cantor) of the Bevis Marks Sephardic synagogue in London. The De Sola family had a long history and association with Bevis Marks, and his kinsman, Isaac De Sola was Hazan in London from 1690 … Continue reading Seder Brachos – The Blessings by D. A. De Sola, London, 1829.
Tag: Sephardim
Report of the Mahamad of the Proceedings on the occasion of the Bicentenary Festival of the Bevis Marks Synagogue, 5661 – 1901, London 1903.
The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, Shaar Hashamayim, is in Bevis Marks, a street in the City of London. The community had acquired the land in 1699 to replace the older and now too small synagogue in Creechurch Place which had opened in 1657. The new landmark synagogue, still in continuous use, the United Kingdom's oldest … Continue reading Report of the Mahamad of the Proceedings on the occasion of the Bicentenary Festival of the Bevis Marks Synagogue, 5661 – 1901, London 1903.
Form of Prayers for the Day of Atonement according to the custom of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews, David Levi, London 5551 (1791).
I have a set of these Machzorim (Festival Prayer Books), in near mint condition, but sadly with no bookplate or information about who owned them. The translation, into fine 18th century English, demonstrates the skill of the erudite scholar, David Levi. The prayer for King George the Third and the Royal family, below, is particularly … Continue reading Form of Prayers for the Day of Atonement according to the custom of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews, David Levi, London 5551 (1791).
The Sephardim of England, by Albert M. Hyamson, London, 1951
This is an important work of reference, written by Albert Montefiore Hyamson (1875 - 1954), a British civil servant and historian. He was the nephew of Dayan Moses Hyamson of the London Beth Din (Rabbinical Court). Albert Hyamson was born in London and entered the civil service in 1895, initially at the Post Office. During … Continue reading The Sephardim of England, by Albert M. Hyamson, London, 1951