Volume 4: Jewish Consumption and Material Culture in the Early Modern Period, 2007, University of Maryland

Presentation

Sermons (Amsterdam, 5435/1675)

An Introduction

Limor Mintz-Manor, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

The description of the newly built Sephardic synagogue in Amsterdam appears in the prologue to a collection of sermons, which were delivered during the celebration of the inauguration of the synagogue in 1675. The prologue, that was composed by the publisher David de Castro Tartaz, describes the circumstances that led to the erection of the new synagogue and the preparations that were undertaken in order to fulfill the project. The author describes the interior design of the synagogue and comments on various aspects of the celebrations. In this account, as well as in other sermons in the collection, there are several references to the resemblance between the synagogue and the Temple in Jerusalem. Indeed, the synagogue's architecture was influenced by a renowned seventeenth century model of the Temple, and this similarity conceals the hope of the congregates for individual and communal redemption as "New Jews" in Amsterdam.

Bibliography

Miriam Bodian, Hebrews of the Portuguese Nation. Conversos and Community in Early Modern Amsterdam, Indianapolis 1997. (general)

Yosef Kaplan, Bom Judesmo: The Western Sephardic Diaspora, in: David Biale (ed.), The Cultures of the Jews: A New History, Vol. 3, New York 2002. (general)

H. den Boer, 'Exile in Sephardic Literature of Amsterdam', Studia Rosenthaliana 35 (2001), pp. 187-199.

A.K. Offenberg, 'Jacob Jehuda Leon (1602-1675) and His Model of the Temple', in: J. van den Berg & E.G.E. van der Wall (eds.), Jewish-Christian Relations in the Seventeenth Century. Studies and Documents, London 1988, pp. 95-115.

J. Poesch, 'The Phoenix Portrayed', The D.H. Lawrence Review 5 (1972), pp. 200-237.

Leo and Rena Fuks, The Inauguration of the Portuguese Synagogue of Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 1675, Arquivos do centro cultural português, vol XIV Paris 1979.

Websites including relevant images:

Dedication of The Portuguese Synagogue Drawn by Romeyn de Hooghe :
http://www.jtsa.edu/library/exhib/sanctuary/01.shtml

The Portuguese Synagogue Drawn by Emanuel de Witte (and more):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amsterdam_Esnoga

The official website of the synagogue:
http://www.esnoga.com

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