THE DETROIT JEWISH NEW S Friday, October 2, 1959 — 50
Documents in. Archives Show How Christian Helped Build Synagogue
CINCINNATI—Christian sup-
port of Jewish fund - raising
campaigns is a deeply-rooted
American tradition dating back
to colonial times. Dr. Jacob R.
Marcus, director of American
Jewish Archives, the center for
American historical research
located on the campus of
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UN 4-0674
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Daily and Sunday
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Hebrew Union College-Jewish
Institute of Religion, traces
interfaith cooperation of this
kind back to the 1760's when
Newport's now famous Touro
Synagogue had just been built.
The daring congregants who
built Rhode Island's first syna-
gogue, a lovely Georgian struc-
ture, today, by act of Congress,
a national historic site, had
just one big problem: how to
pay for it. The temple, designed
by Peter Harrison, colonial
America's most notable archi-
tect, had cost some 2,000
pounds sterling, no small sum
in those days, and the expense
had to be defrayed in part by
an eight per cent mortgage.
The close of the French and
Indian war in 1763 had precipi-
tated a depression, and money
was tight. There was nothing
for it but a fund-raising cam-
paign, and the Newporters set
about it without delay, appeal-
ing to other congregations in
the Colonies and abroad.
Their plea to Mikveh Israel
l'---"'G7;77.7"---"—i
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on the New Year i
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HEARLD
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WHOLESALE CO .
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VE 8-4790
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22800 Woodward, cor. Nine Mile,
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124 W. Fourth, cor. Center,
Royal Oak
5279 Schaefer, Dearborn
LI. 5-4884 LI. 3-2630 - LU. 2-1892
.1.11•11.41!OMINWLI41 ■ 01MIOW.IMMLI.M1*.0.11.0 ■ 1104 .1■1■1j
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ABE HERTZBERG
HEATING - COOLING
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1-0301
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Magnavox Hi-Fi - Television
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Frederick E. Harris
1918 Stanley
KE T-7300
TY 5-3846
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PLUM HOLLOW
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Congregation in Curacao in
the Netherlands West Indies
may have initiated the
very first of the modern-type
Jewish appeals under the
leadership of a Christian well-
wisher. Frederick De Wit, a
member of one of Curacao's
most distinguished Christian
families, who probably had
business relations with New-
port Jewish merchants, trans-
mitted the appeal for
synagogue funds to the
Curacao congregation. With
characteristic Dutch drive
and efficiency, he lent him-
self to the campaign and—
in his own way—offered to
organize his own little United
Jewish Appeal.
Dr. Marcus draws much of
the story from a remarkable
letter dated October, 1764,
taken from the files of the
Curacao congregation. Sent
over the signatures of Aaron
Lopez, parnas (president) of
the Newport synagogue; Ishac
de Abraham Touro, hazzan
(minister) and seven other
members, the letter said the
writers were "cheered by the
hope offered us by the kind
protection of Mr. Frederick De
Wit" and, "through the offices
of the above gentleman," they
requested "the liberal assist-
ance of Curacao Jewry."
The letter went on to say
that faced with the third annual
due date of the mortgage, they
found themselves in the "de-
plorable situation" of being
unable "not only to pay the
principal, but even the inter-
est," and it added that "Mr.
De Wit, who has personal
knowledge of our plight, has
graciously encouraged us, offer-
ing to supervise and sponsor a
campaign for funds to save the
synagogue, and, being an ef-
fective speaker, proposes to
open the drive for this cam-
paign—an offer which we can
hardly commend highly enough,
and one which is characteristic
of noble thoughts."
Here the documentation ends,
so history does not record how
Curacao Jewry responded. But
it does not seem likely that the
efforts of the energetic Mr. De
Wit went without result.
There are other instances of
active Christian interest in
early American Jewish philan-
thropies. Perhaps the most
notable took place in Philadel-
phia in 1788 when Benjamin
Franklin, David Rittenhouse,
William Bradford and a number
of -other leading Christians
came to the aid of the city's
sorely - pressed Mikveh Israel
Congregation. H o w e v e r, it
seems clear from the record
that one of the first of the
modern - type Jewish drives- -
perhaps the first—was organ-
ized in 1764 by the Christian
Frederick De Wit of Chicago.
Copies of the Newport-
Curacao correspondent are on
file in the American Jewish
Archives which collects, pre-
serves, classifies and publishes
Jewish Americana.
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Company
Quality Awning Co.
Roofing & Siding
Flat Roof Service
9715 Chatham, Allen Pork
Aluminum
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WA 8-3994
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FRENCH 610 VALET
RAY'S BRIDAL SALON
A complete - line of
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a
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FOOD PRODUCTS
St. Aubin
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TE 1-3350
.........
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Lubrication - motor work - wash
simonizing — Road Service
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at Ledyard
WO 4-9028
2580 3RD
Detroit, Michigan
F6-0
o 61S-2115-6-0-1-61121.6-0-
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Best Wishes for a
Happy New Year
DAVIS IRON
WORKS, Inc.
19381
John R
FELDBRO
QUALITY MEATS
I
I
20233 W. 7 Mile Rd.
Betwen Kentfield and Heyden
KE 4-7522
g
Harold and Bob Want
to Meet You
FO 6-3300
■ •••1011•11 ■ 411•0 ■ 01 ■ 041•10.••• 41 ■ 041M1414111•11.1
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FINE ARTS
OPTICAL SERVICE
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Davison Auto Parts
and Equipment
Quality and Service Is Our
Greatest Concern—
On It We Stake Our Reputation
710 David Broderick Bldg.
4238 E. Davison
TW 2-0100
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DENT SERVICE
GAS - OIL - BATTERIES
Accessories - Motor Tune-up
Brake Service - Repairs
John R
TR 3-9868
9100
WO 3-6907
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1
1
Adler-Kay Company
Everything in Wood
12126
Wormer, Detroit 39
KE 2-7100
...mooPows.o .no.olowoo.amo. ■ nannoro ■ coasuo.o ■ o.ob:
ULQ...LSLCULLSULLSULOMJULL9 ,
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BRODER BROS.
ei
c ,i Everything in Quality Hosiery
218
W. Jefferson
LO 2-3331
WO 2-7131
-0inninnimts-tnizamn a 6 6 "2
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HEATING &
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Restaurant - Delicatessen
Good Food Is Good Health
TE 1-5353
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3300 Grand River
Harry E. Citrin = Harley J. Citrin
I
ir
Detroit 24, Michigan
Sincere Good Wishes
GRAND AUTO
REPLACEMENT
PARTS, INC.
DENWOOD REALTY
V*4-AitAuf-11-10F2S.********-11-20.1*
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24417 Ford Rd., Dearborn
One hour or same day
Dry Cleaning Service.
One Day Pick-up and Delivery
Service
FREE PARKING
19377 Livernois at Outer Drive
DI 1-0450
Gowns for All Occasions
15240
NMIND.O.111.041=1. ■ IMMO CIENNS.111 ■ MMI•001111•41 ■ 11 ■ 111{
Woolman
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Real Estate Co.
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TO 8-1773
Fh5-21-nrinn5-6-InSifirrirrinfrin,
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Office: 1317 BEAUBIEN ST.
Detroit, Mich.
Charles Finkel
TI 6-5735
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WO 1-4645 - WO 1-4646
WO 1-1196
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! 7937 Schaefer at Tiremon
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President James Madison once
studied Hebrew with the idea
of becoming a preacher.
St....-SVI....-....n.......-.2.......1\4..........fL
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19234
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BUCK'S EAT SHOP
24
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7056 W.
Vernor
TE 3-8322
VI 2-9627
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R. HAL BURISS
SIGN STUDIO
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Mufflers Installed Free
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14843
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TA 5-1711
Established 1921
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WO 1-2251