BM 
 295 
 S73a 
 1872
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 A S C A M O T ; 
 
 OR, 
 
 LAWS AND REGULATIONS 
 
 THE CONGREGATION 
 
 tamialt and ntejnust 
 
 pir"*^ *^* it L 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 REVISED AND AMENDED. 
 
 56321872. 
 
 LONDON: 
 PRINTED BY WERTHEIMER, LEA & CO., 
 
 CIRCVS PLACE, FINSBURY.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 ASCAMOT OF THE YEHIDIM. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 1 . Union of the congregation 1 
 
 2. Institution of the Finta, penalties incurred by non- 
 
 payment of the Finta and Offerings, and mode of 
 election of Fintadores . .3 
 
 ASCAMOT OF THE ELDERS. 
 
 1. Election of the Parnassim and Gabay of the Kaal, 
 
 penalties incurred by refusal to accept, and duties 
 attached to the offices ...... 6 
 
 2. Regulations respecting the Finta, and election of 
 
 Fintadores . . . . . . . .12 
 
 3. Admission of Yehidim, their qualifications, and causes 
 
 for which they may be excluded . . . .15 
 
 4. Regulations respecting the Fintas for Beth-Haim, the 
 
 purchase of reserved graves, and the guards of the 
 burial ground . . . . . . .18 
 
 5. Meetings and duties of the Mahamad . . 21 
 
 2070942
 
 iv INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 6. Meetings of the Elders ; Election of their president, 
 
 their authority, their duties, and the mode to be 
 adopted for calling meetings of Tehidim . . .27 
 
 7. Presidency in Synagogue. ; authority of the President, 
 
 and Penalties of disobedience . . . .34 
 
 8. Elections and Regulations respecting the Noivos de 
 
 Ley 38 
 
 9. Elections of Haham and Bethdin, and their duties . 40 
 
 10. Elections and duties of the Hazanim . . .43 
 
 11. Elections and duties of the officers of the Kaal, viz., 
 
 Secretary, Hazan de Hebra, Samas, Physician, and 
 Surgeon of the Sedaca, Keeper of the Beth-Haim, 
 and Keeper of the Bath . . . . .47 
 
 12. Offerings and Collections in the Synagogue . .51 
 
 13. Distribution of the Seats in Synagogue . .53 
 
 14. Elections of the Parnassim of Heshaim, Hebra, Terra 
 
 Santa and Cautivos, and fines for not serving . . 55 
 
 15. Regulations for the government of the United In- 
 
 stitutions of Heshaim and Mahane Rephael ... 59 
 
 16. Authority of the Parnassim of Hebra, their duties, 
 
 objects of that Society, and regulations for preserv- 
 ing order in Beth-Haim . . . .64 
 
 17. Elections of Treasurer and Parnassim of Beth-Holim, 
 
 their duties, fines for not serving, and objects of the 
 Society . . , . . .66 
 
 18. Regulations of the offerings for Terra Santa and 
 
 Cautivos ....'.... 70 
 
 19. Equality of Sepultures, honours to deceased persons, 
 
 and dimensions of the graves and tombstones . .71 
 
 20. Prohibition against making proselytes, against clan- 
 
 destine marriages, and marrying with persons of 
 another faith . . . . . .75 
 
 21. Register of Births, Marriages, and Burials . . 77 
 2'2. Regulations respecting the Board of Deputies ... 79
 
 INDEX. . v 
 
 PAGE 
 
 23. Regulations respecting the properties of the Synagogues 84 
 
 24. Distribution of the monthly Allowances and Charities 
 
 of the Sedaca ....... 86 
 
 25. Administration to the effects of poor persons dying 
 
 without heirs . . . . . . . 89 
 
 26. Disobedience to the Penalties of the Ascamot . . 90 
 
 27. Regulation of the Dower left by Abraham Rodriques 
 
 Marques ........ 91 
 
 28. Regulations of the School of Isaac da Costa Villa Real 93 
 
 29. Regulations of the legacy of Moses Lamego . 95 
 
 30. Regulations of the Society of Mahassim Tobim . . 96 
 
 31. Regulations of the Institution of Shaare Tickva . 97 
 
 32. Institution of the Yeshiba of Assifat Habeiim . . 98 
 
 33. Gift of Moses Lara for benevolent purposes . . 100 
 
 34. Trust of the late Judah Guedalla .102
 
 The following Laws were chiefly promulgated in 
 Portuguese, and in the year 5597 (1819), were 
 translated by order of the Meeting of the Elders, 
 by three Gentlemen from their body. The object 
 sought by these Gentlemen in their labours was fidelity 
 of version. Hence, a foreign idiom is discernible 
 in many parts of the Work, obviously demonstrating, 
 a translated, not an original, work.
 
 A S C A M T 
 
 OF 
 
 THE YEHIDIM. 
 
 I. 
 
 Winwn of % C01T0 npiiorc. 
 
 Duly considering how important and beneficial 
 has been the Union of our Congregation, since our 
 settlement in this country, in the year 5416 1656, 
 and impressed with the conviction that the 
 preservation of this Union is essential, not only to 
 our present, but to our future welfare, it is resolved 
 that there be not allowed in London and its suburbs 
 (that is, within six miles distance from our present 
 Synagogues) any other than our holy Synagogues 
 of Shaar Ashamaim, unless two-thirds of the votes 
 of the Yehidim, in meeting assembled, shall decide 
 that another is necessary, when it may be established 
 under such conditions as may then be determined 
 upon. 
 
 In order, therefore, the more firmly to establish 
 and secure this object, it is hereby enacted, That 
 any member of this Congregation attempting to 
 form, or aiding in the formation of any other Syna- 
 
 B
 
 gogue, within the limits above mentioned, without 
 such a decision having been arrived at, shall be 
 deemed a violator of this Ascama, and become sub- 
 ject to the following penalties : 
 
 To pecuniary fines, according to the gravity of the 
 offence ; to exclusion from the list of Yehidim, 
 and forfeiture of all rights as a member of 
 the Congregation; and to refusal of burial 
 in the Carreira of our Beth-Haim while in 
 contumacy. 
 
 And it shall be incumbent on the body of Elders, 
 on learning any case of violation of this Ascama, 
 to enforce these penalties, or such of them as may 
 meet the case under consideration. 
 
 It is further declared that any Yahid or Congre- 
 gator, desirous of holding an assembly for prayers 
 with Minyan in any private residence, on the morn- 
 ings when the law is read, shall previously apply 
 for the permission of the gentlemen of the Mahamad, 
 and in case of his holding any such assembly, 
 without obtaining their consent, he shall become 
 liable to a fine, not exceeding Ten Pounds for each 
 offence. Should any Yahid or Congregator, 
 through illness, be incapable of attending the 
 Synagogue on the days of Rosh Ashana and Kipur, 
 and desire to have prayers read at his house, this 
 may be allowed by the Mahamad, provided that all 
 offerings made on such occasions be paid over to 
 the Gabay of the Sedaca.
 
 II. 
 
 tjnstiiniwn of % Jfmia. 
 
 The Finta (or assessment) was first instituted at 
 a meeting of the heads of families in the year 5467, 
 when the maximum was fixed at 600 per annum; 
 it was subsequently (in the year 5498) increased by 
 the Yehidim to 900 per annum, and lastly, it was 
 again increased, in the year 5569, to the amount 
 of 1,400 per annum, always subject to the deter- 
 mination of the elders, as to the sum which should 
 be raised within these limits. In accordance, there- 
 fore, with the above stipulation, and the regulations 
 which from time to time have been established, it 
 is hereby enacted, 
 
 1st. That the Elders of the Congregation shall 
 every two years fix the amount to be raised as Finta 
 for the ensuing two years, and the same shall be 
 assessed by the Mahamad (being complete), together 
 with ten Fintadores, to be elected by the Yehidim 
 at large, at a meeting duly summoned for that pur- 
 pose ; these shall meet in three classes, each to make 
 out a list of assessment, and the aggregate of such 
 lists being divided by three, the result shall be the 
 amount of each individual's assessment, it being 
 declared and understood, that the highest Finta 
 shall in no case exceed 40, nor shall the lowest be
 
 under 20s. per annum. Any deficiency in the 
 number of the Mohamad shall be supplied by the 
 Yehidim, at the aforesaid meeting of election. 
 
 2nd. Fathers and sons, brothers, uncles, and 
 nephews, and brothers or uncles by marriage, shall 
 not serve together as Fintadores. 
 
 3rd. Every Fintador shall consider himself 
 pledged not to suffer favour, affection, or anti- 
 pathy, to influence him, but shall act to the 
 best of his deliberate judgment, for the benefit 
 of the Synagogue; and he who does not accept 
 being a Fintador, or does not join his asso- 
 ciates in the class meetings, shall pay a fine of Five 
 Pounds to the Sedaca, and shall be subject to a 
 similar fine of Five Pounds for non-attendance at 
 the meeting for making the division of the lists. 
 
 4th. Any Yahid quitting the country may with- 
 draw himself on paying one year's Finta or assess- 
 ment, besides what he may be indebted. And every 
 newly admitted Yahid shall be assessed by the 
 gentlemen of the Mahamad, until the periodical 
 assessment is made. 
 
 5th. The said Finta shall become due for the 
 first six months on the day of Purim, and for the 
 second six months, on the first of Elul, together 
 with the offerings that may be due; and in case of 
 any person or persons evading the payment of the 
 said Finta and offerings, or any part thereof, and 
 at the end of the year not having paid the Syna-
 
 gogue, every such person shall be considered as 
 committing the offence of withholding the money 
 of the poor, and should he continue in arrear twelve 
 months longer, he shall be liable to the forfeiture of 
 his seat (of which notice shall be given him) unless 
 the Mohamad receive a satisfactory reason for the 
 non-payment of his debt to the Sedaca.
 
 ASC AMOT 
 
 OP 
 
 THE ELDERS. 
 
 I. 
 
 of 
 
 It being highly essential for the good govern- 
 ment of this Kaal, that its Mohamad should consist 
 of God-fearing men of capacity and respectability, 
 the election of the four Parnassim and a Gabay, of 
 which the said Mahamad is to be composed, shall 
 be vested in the body of the male Yehidim of the 
 congregation, and be conducted with all possible 
 consideration and solemnity, it is therefore 
 enacted : 
 
 1st. That two Parnassim shall be elected in the 
 month of Adar, whose period of office shall com- 
 mence Shabat Agadol, and two other Parnassim 
 and a Gabay in the month of Elul, whose period of 
 office shall commence at Eosh Ashana, for which
 
 purpose meetings of the Yehidim shall be con- 
 vened at the appointed periods to proceed to 
 these Elections. That in January in each year 
 the dates of the two Elections shall be fixed by 
 the Mohamad, and entered in a book to be kept 
 in the Vestry Room. That twenty-one days 
 prior to each of the Elections, the Mohamad shall 
 cause to be entered in the same book the names 
 of the Gentlemen nominated by them for Par- 
 nassim and Gabay. That at any time, not later 
 than fourteen days before the Meetings, it shall 
 be open to any Yahid to nominate, in writing, 
 any other duly qualified Yahid, which nomina- 
 tions shall be entered by the Secretary in the 
 same book. That no further nominations shall 
 be received at the Meetings for Election. That 
 no nominations shall be made without the 
 written consent of the nominees. That all the 
 nominations shall be inserted in the summonses 
 convening the Meetings for Election, and that at 
 least seven days' notice shall be given of those 
 Meetings. That the book containing the infor- 
 mation referred to shall be open to inspection on 
 any day on which the Vestry Room shall be 
 open for business. 
 
 2nd. No person shall be elected Parnas or
 
 8 
 
 Gabay without having been a Yahid for at least 
 two years, and being above the age of thirty 
 years for Parnas, and twenty-five years for 
 Gabay, except he has already been elected to 
 the office of Gabay ; nor shall he be eligible 
 unless his contributions to the Sedaca for Finia 
 and offerings, in the two years preceding the 
 period of election, shall have amounted to not 
 less than six pounds per annum ; nor shall any 
 Yahid be allowed to vote at such elections if 
 indebted to the Sedaca for more than two half- 
 yearly accounts, at the time that the said elec- 
 tion may take place. 
 
 3rd. Should the number of nominations exceed 
 the vacancies that have to be filled, a ballot 
 shall be taken at the said Meetings, and shall 
 remain open for one hour, and the names of 
 those having the largest number of votes shall 
 be declared elected ; and in case of equal votes, 
 the eldest of those having such equal votes shall 
 be the elected. At these elections no salaried 
 officer of the congregation shall be allowed to 
 vote, or be nominated as a candidate. 
 
 4th. The following shall not serve together 
 in Mahamad : fathers with sons, sons-in-law or
 
 9 
 
 step-sons, grandfathers with grandsons, brothers 
 or brothers-in-law, uncles with nephews, whether 
 by blood or affinity ; but in the relationship by 
 affinity, it is intended only in case the wife 
 through whom such relationship subsists be 
 living. 
 
 5th. In the event of a vacancy, either in the 
 office of Parnas or Gabay, by reason of resig- 
 nation or any other cause, a meeting of Yehi- 
 dim to fill up such vacancy may be convened 
 by the Mohamad, the election to be held 
 in the same manner and on the same condi- 
 tions as hereinbefore provided for the half-yearly 
 elections. 
 
 6th. The above-named elections shall be pro- 
 claimed in Synagogue on Shabat Agadol, and on 
 the Sabbath preceding Rosh, Ashana, or within 
 four days after any other election, first naming 
 the elder of the two Parnassim elected ; and at 
 any time when it shall appear to the Mahamad 
 for the time being, that any election of Parnas 
 or Gabay made within the antecedent month is 
 wholly improper, the said Mahamad shall have 
 the power to propose, in a meeting of Elders, 
 to annul the said Election ; but no individual
 
 10 
 
 Elder shall have the privilege of making such 
 proposition, nor shall it be deemed to pass in 
 the affirmative unless two- thirds of the Elders 
 present vote in favour of it, as well at the con- 
 firmation, as in the first instance. 
 
 7th. Every person accepting the office of 
 Parnas or Gabay, shall be obliged to attend to 
 all its duties for the term of a year, or for the 
 term for which he may be elected, and to offer, 
 equally with his colleagues, in all the offerings 
 in which the Mahamad are accustomed to offer 
 jointly, not exceeding five shillings each time. 
 
 8th. Each one of the Parnassim shall preside 
 three months, namely, from Shabat Agadol until 
 Rosh Hodesh Tamuz, from that day to Rosh 
 Ashana, from that day to Rosh Hodesh Tebet, 
 and from that day to Shabat Agadol, beginning 
 with the eldest of those elected, in the ante- 
 cedent six months. 
 
 9th. Every person who has served or been 
 fined for the office of Parnas or Gabay , shall, 
 from the time of his election, be summoned to 
 ail the meetings of Elders of the Congregation, 
 during the time of his continuing a Yahid.
 
 11 
 
 10th. In the event of there being no person 
 serving in the Mohamad^ all the duties of Parnas 
 shall devolve on the eldest of those who last went 
 out of office; and in his absence, the next in 
 rotation, until there be a meeting of Elders, 
 which he shall call within fourteen days from the 
 day on which the duties of the office devolve on 
 him.
 
 12 
 
 II. 
 
 Ugulali0ns respiting % Jfinia, an0 (frhdion 0f 
 
 To provide for the expenses of our Synagogues, as 
 well as for the assistance of our poor, the Finta 
 annually paid in the Congregation was established; 
 and in the year 5569 a meeting of the Yehidim fixed 
 the maximum amount thereof at 1,400 per annum. 
 The mode of raising the said Finta shall be as 
 follows : 
 
 1st. Every two years, at the Annual Meeting of 
 the Elders, the said gentlemen shall take into con- 
 sideration the amount to be raised as Finta, within 
 the limit of the said 1,400, and in the month of 
 Tebet ensuing, notices shall be issued to the Yehi- 
 dim to meet in the Chamber of the Mahamad, on 
 the day and hour which the said Mahamad shall 
 appoint, to elect ten persons, who, jointly with the 
 five gentlemen of the Mahamad, shall be the Finta- 
 dores (assessors of the Finta) , the ballot for which 
 shall be open for one hour from the time fixed for 
 the meeting. 
 
 2nd. The said ten persons shall be elected by a 
 majority of votes, observing that each of them must 
 be a Yahid, and that there do not exist between 
 them and the gentlemen of the Mahamad any of
 
 13 
 
 the degrees of relationship, which, according to the 
 Ascama of Yehidim, No. 2, prevent their serving 
 together. And he who shall refuse to accept the 
 office of Fintador, shall pay a fine of Five Pounds 
 to the Sedaca. 
 
 3rd. To make out the list of the Finta, the afore- 
 said fifteen Fintadores, shall meet in three classes, 
 namely, the five gentlemen of the Mahamad forming 
 one, arid if there be not five persons in the Mahamad, 
 the Yehidim shall also elect, besides the ten Finta- 
 dores, the number of persons wanting to complete 
 the Mahamad^ and the other ten shall be divided 
 into two classes, each class making a separate list 
 of assessment : and after these three lists are made 
 out, the whole fifteen Fintadores shall meet, and, 
 summing up the amount at which each person is 
 assessed in the three different lists, they shall divide 
 the product by three, and the result shall -be the 
 annual Finta for the two years following, observing 
 that all this must be done before the 15th Sebat. 
 
 4th. Should any one of the Fintadores who are 
 elected fall ill, absent himself, or die, before having 
 met the other Fintadores of his class, and should 
 this happen after the 10th Sebat, so that there be 
 not time to call a meeting of the Yehidim for a 
 fresh election, the Mahamad shall elect another in 
 his stead, under the same restrictions as regards 
 relationship. 
 
 5th. When, at a meeting of the Elders, any new
 
 14 
 
 Yahid is admitted, the Mohamad, in complete 
 Mahamad, shall immediately after the confirmation 
 assess the new Yahid, which assessment shall serve 
 until the period of making the new general Finta. 
 
 6th. If any person represent to the Mahamad 
 that, in consequence of an alteration in his circum- 
 stances, he cannot pay the whole Finta imposed on 
 him, the Mahamad, in complete Mahamad, may 
 lessen it for the future, as shall appear just to them, 
 until a new Finta be made.
 
 15 
 
 III. 
 
 glhmsskm: xjf 
 
 As one of the principal points on which depends 
 the prosperity of this Congregation, is the selection 
 of its Yehidim, great care and consideration should 
 be had as to the persons to be admitted into their 
 number, for which end, 
 
 1st. Only the Meeting of Elders shall have 
 authority to admit persons as Yehidim. All Spanish 
 and Portuguese Jews, or the descendants of such, or 
 who shall have congregated with our community for 
 at least twelve months, shall be eligible ; also those 
 who, coming from abroad, have always followed our 
 ritual, and those who shall have married, or be 
 about to marry, the daughter of a Yahid. And the 
 Gentlemen of the Mohamad shall lay before the 
 Elders at their annual or other meetings, the names of 
 persons who desire to be admitted, or whom they may 
 deem proper to recommend for election; but in the 
 case of persons marrying the daughters of Yehidim, 
 that fact shall not of itself give the right of nomination 
 to the Gentlemen of the Mohamad ; but the appli- 
 cation for election must emanate from the individual 
 desirous of being elected. 
 
 2nd. All persons above the age of twenty -one 
 years may be proposed for Yehidim, except those
 
 16 
 
 who may be indebted to the Sedaca for more than 
 one year's offerings. 
 
 3rd. The person proposed for admission as Yahid 
 must have two-thirds of the votes in favour, as 
 well in the first proposition as in the confirmation. 
 
 4th. Every Yahid from the time of admission 
 shall become subject to, and bound to observe all 
 the Ascamot in force at that time, and all others 
 that shall afterwards be made by the Yehidim or 
 Elders, and the said Ascamot, shall be printed and 
 furnished to all the Yehidim, charging two shillings 
 and sixpence for each copy. 
 
 5th. Should any Yahid be admitted on the list 
 of Sedaca, he shall immediately cease to be a 
 Yahid ; also, when any Yahid shall be indebted 
 for three years' Finta, and offerings, his name shall 
 not be put in the new list, and he shall forfeit all 
 the rights and privileges of a Yahid of this Con- 
 gregation, provided that he shall have received at 
 least three months' notice of his position. 
 
 ()th. Any Yahid, being an Elder, having been 
 withdrawn from the list, either from having quitted 
 the kingdom, or from being in arrear, may, on 
 being re-admitted as Yahid, be also received as an 
 Elder, but only by a vote of the body of Elders ; 
 but any Yahid withdrawing himself for any other 
 reason, not approved of by the Elders, shall not be 
 re-admitted without giving satisfaction, and paying 
 such fine as the Elders in their discretion may
 
 17 
 
 impose on him ; and should he die without having 
 given such satisfaction, he shall not be buried in 
 the Carreira of our Beth-Haim, unless his executors 
 or representatives shall formally engage to pay 
 what the Gentlemen of the Mohamad, in complete 
 Mohamad, shall impose, besides his debt to the 
 Sedaca. 
 
 7th. Should any Yahid be proved to have de- 
 parted from the tenets of our holy religion, by 
 publicly professing another, he shall be immediately 
 excluded from the list of Yehidim, provided that 
 the Elders shall be convinced of the existence of 
 the fact. 
 
 8th. Should any Yahid dismiss himself, alleging 
 his intention to quit the kingdom, or the limits of 
 this Congregation, and under this consideration 
 his resignation be accepted, and at the expiration 
 of two years he be found established within the 
 said limits, he may be again proposed for Yahid. 
 
 9th. Should any Yahid be convicted of fraud, or 
 any other criminal offence, he shall immediately be 
 excluded from the list of the Yehidim of the Con- 
 gregation.
 
 IV. 
 
 Jfinia for 
 
 The expenses we are at for the cost and mainte- 
 nance of our burial grounds being very consider- 
 able, independently of the payments to the officers 
 and guards for the safety of the bodies, it has been 
 found necessary to impose at different times the 
 following rates to reimburse the said expenses : 
 
 1st. When any person is admitted a Yahid of 
 this Congregation, he shall pay the first year, for 
 once only, a sum of Five Pounds ; also the half of 
 his annual Finta, towards the expense of the 
 Beth-Haim. This amount shall serve as payment for 
 the graves of his wife and descendants. Any per- 
 son coming from abroad shall pay the same rate 
 ( not being a son or daughter of a family that has 
 already paid it) at the time of marriage or death, 
 and it shall be at the option of the Gentlemen of 
 the Mahamad, not to require the said rate of those, 
 who, they conceive, may not have" the ability of 
 paying it, but they shall accept from no one less 
 than five pounds; and if any one refuse to pay it, 
 not giving a satisfactory excuse to the Mahamad, 
 110 seat shall be given to him in the Synagogue, nor 
 when he dies shall he be buried in the Carreira 
 of Betk-Haim and, in the event of the decease of
 
 19 
 
 any casual resident amongst us, not having paid 
 the above rate, the Mahamad, in complete Moha- 
 mad t shall have authority, previously to the burial 
 of such person, to demand of his or her represen- 
 tative any sum they may think just, not exceed- 
 ing twenty pounds. 
 
 2nd; If any Yahid or Congregator choose to 
 bay ground for one or more graves to be reserved 
 in the Carreira of our burial-ground, for himself 
 or for others, he shall pay for each place five 
 pounds, whether it be in the great Carreira, or in 
 the small ; but, if within thirty days he shall 
 desire to cede his right to any of the said reserved 
 graves, there shall be returned to him the half of 
 what he paid for them, and the said graves shall be 
 considered the first in the Carreira; and any 
 Yahid or Congregator, who may wish to have a 
 foundation to any grave, previously to depositing 
 the body therein, or who may purchase reserved 
 graves with the intention of having a foundation 
 made, shall pay fifty shillings extra to the Beth-Haim. 
 
 3rd. It is understood, that neither the payment 
 of the rate of Beth-Haitn^ nor of the half-rate above- 
 mentioned, nor the purchase of any reserved grave, 
 shall entitle any person to be buried therein, or in 
 the Carreira) if, according to the Ascamot, he shall 
 have incurred the penalty of not being buried in 
 the said Carreira, or if he has ceased to be a Yahid 
 or Congregator.
 
 20 
 
 4th. There shall be kept in the books of the 
 Sedaca an account of the expenses and receipts of 
 the Beth-Haim, in which the said Beth-Haim shall 
 be always valued at fifty pounds, and this account 
 shall be debited, with expenses of repairs, taxes, 
 salaries to the Keepers, and other contingent 
 expenses; and credited for the said rate, and 
 the half-rate, and the purchase of reserved graves, 
 the balance at the end of each year being carried to 
 profit and loss, there always remaining in the account 
 the fifty pounds valuation above-mentioned. 
 
 5th. The Maharnad shall appoint guards for 
 the safety of the bodies in the Beth- Haim, to be one 
 man every night except Friday night, when a 
 Christian shall be engaged to attend in addition ; the 
 hour of watch shall be from sunset till five in the 
 morning in summer, and till seven in the winter ; 
 and in aid of this expense, the Hebra, in the account 
 which it delivers of the expenses of each burial, shall 
 insert an article in blank, saying " For Sedaca, in 
 aid of the expense of the Guards," to which each 
 person may contribute as he thinks fit, and the 
 amount of the said contribution, and that which 
 the Society of the Hebra may likewise annually 
 contribute towards the said expense, shall be 
 credited in the account of Beth-Haim.
 
 21 
 
 fjterimp anfo $ntm d % U 
 
 The institution of the Mahamad in this Con- 
 gregation is very ancient, and its continuance has 
 tended greatly to our prosperity, and it being 
 necessary that the said Mahamad, (which is com- 
 posed of the four Parnassim and a Gabay, elected 
 annually, according to Ascama of Elders No. 1,) 
 should meet frequently, as well to regulate the 
 management of our Synagogue, as to relieve the 
 necessities of our poor. 
 
 1st. It is the duty of the presiding Pamas, by 
 a written summons signed by the Secretary, to 
 convene the other Gentlemen of the Mahamad to 
 meet at all times, when according to the Ascamot 
 they ought to meet, and at other times, when 
 deemed necessary, it being never less than once in 
 each month, and when it shall be necessary to call 
 a meeting of the Mahamad, and the presiding 
 Parnas, either through absence or other sufficient 
 cause cannot do it, or shall neglect calling it, 
 having been reminded so to do, the Vice-President, 
 or any two Gentlemen of the Maliamad, shall have 
 authority to convene it. 
 
 2nd. The notice for meetings of the Mahamad
 
 22 
 
 shall be delivered to each member of the Ma- 
 hamad, or be sent to his address, at least one 
 day before the day appointed for the meeting, and 
 every person not attending shall pay a fine of 
 twenty shillings for the Sedaca, unless he be in 
 Abel, or confined at home by illness. 
 
 3rd. The meetings of the Mahamad shall be 
 held in its Chamber, where the said Mahamad 
 shall decide all matters under its jurisdiction, by a 
 majority of votes, there not being less than three 
 persons present ; and in case of equal numbers, 
 the Parnas who presides shall have the casting 
 vote ; and at all times when the Mahamad shall 
 be deficient in number, they shall call in to com- 
 plete the required number, whether for the ordinary 
 Mahamad or for complete Mahamad, any of the 
 Elders, provided that none of them come within 
 any of the degrees of relationship, which prevent 
 their serving together. 
 
 4th. In the meetings of the Mahamad there shall 
 be received and read the petitions of our poor, as 
 well natives as foreigners, and the said Mahamad, 
 either jointly with the Board of Guardians (as 
 specified in section 11) or separately, shall answer 
 them as they may think just, distributing the 
 money of the ,Sedaca with impartiality and 
 economy, within the limits annually fixed by the 
 Elders, always conforming to the regulations of 
 the Ascamot, as well with respect to the age, as to
 
 23 
 
 the condition of the parties ; but at no time shall 
 they give to any person or family more than ten 
 pounds for once, and this only in an urgent case, 
 nor shall they grant a monthly allowance which 
 with the quarterly money shall amount to more 
 than thirty shillings a month, and this only to 
 very deserving persons or families. 
 
 5th. The Mahamad shall distribute the charities 
 w,hich either by will or by gift have been or 
 shall in future be left to its administration, and 
 which have been accepted by the Elders, always 
 conforming, with the most faithful exactness, 
 to the will and orders of the Testators or 
 Donors. 
 
 6th. The Gabay of the Sedaca shall receive and 
 pay all sums under its administration ; and, when- 
 ever the said Gabay shall report to the Mahamad 
 that he is in advance more than one hundred pounds, 
 they shall adopt such measures as may be necessary 
 to reimburse him. 
 
 7th. The Mahamad shall also hear the complaints 
 or disputes that may arise between any of the 
 Yehidim or Congregators, whether for offences or for 
 debts, and shall endeavour to reconcile the contend- 
 ing parties, persuading them to that which is just 
 and reasonable, or advising them to leave their cases 
 to the decision of arbitrators, making every exertion 
 to prevent the parties from carrying their complaints 
 into the public Courts of justice. And no member
 
 24 
 
 of our Congregation shall commence a suit in any 
 Court of justice, without first citing the party before 
 the Gentlemen of the Mohamad, except in any case 
 where delay would be prejudicial to his claim. Any 
 person contravening this law shall be subject to a 
 penalty, not exceeding five pounds, to be levied in 
 complete Mohamad ; and a party not obeying a 
 summons to appear in such case before the Mohamad, 
 shall be liable to the penalty. 
 
 8th. The Resolutions made in complete Mohamad, 
 and which it may be found necessary to enter in its 
 books, shall not be altered or annulled, without 
 first convening the persons who composed the 
 Mohamad in which they were made, or such of 
 them as may be living within the districts of this 
 Congregation, giving them notice wherefore they 
 are called; and if they do not attend, any alteration 
 or repeal maybe made therein, provided it be done 
 in complete Mohamad. 
 
 9th. The Mohamad shall have under its manage- 
 ment and control the Synagogues, the Beth- E aim, 
 and all buildings appertaining to the Congregation, 
 and the distribution of the rooms therein, to poor 
 and deserving persons; it shall also be their duty 
 to regulate the conduct of the officers of the Sedaca, 
 and see that they fulfil their duty ; they shall also 
 have to their charge the insurance from fire of the 
 Holy Synagogues, and all the buildings belonging 
 thereto, which shall be made at one of the public
 
 25 
 
 offices ; the Mahamad, in complete Mohamad, shall 
 have the distribution of the seats in the Synagogues, 
 conforming to the Ascama on that subject. , 
 
 10th. The Mohamad shall summon a meeting 
 of the Elders annually, in the month of Kislev 
 also within eight days after they shall have been 
 required so- to do, in writing, by eight Elders, not 
 being of the Mahamad ; and further, at all other 
 times when it may be deemed necessary by a 
 majority in complete Mahamad; at all times, 
 when any resolution shall be passed in any 
 meeting of the Elders, the said Mahamad shall 
 call a meeting within thirty days, for the confir- 
 mation thereof. 
 
 llth. A Board of Guardians having been long 
 established to aid the Mahamad in the distribution 
 of relief to the poor, whether pecuniary or other- 
 wise; the said Board shall consist of the Gentlemen 
 of the Mahamad for the time being, and eight 
 Yehidim. And the Board shall be renewed annu- 
 ally in the month of Adar, by an election of four 
 Yehidim, to replace a like number quitting office, 
 the election being vested in the body of Yehidim. 
 But any vacancy occurring after the annual elec- 
 tion shall be filled up by the Mahamad, in com- 
 plete Mahamad. The Board so constituted shall 
 have power to make rules and regulations for the 
 administration of relief, or for improving the con- 
 dition of the poor in any way they may deem
 
 26 
 
 expedient. A quorum of a meeting of the Board 
 shall consist of three members, of whom one at 
 least shall be a Gentleman of the Mahamad. 
 
 12th. Finally, the Mahamad shall put in execu- 
 tion all the Ascamot, and orders of the meetings of 
 the Elders, and they shall be vigilant in every 
 other thing that may conduce to the welfare of our 
 Congregation.
 
 27 
 
 VI. 
 
 The Elders, having exercised the government of 
 the Congregation almost from its establishment, 
 for their regulation, the following is resolved : 
 
 1st. All the Yehidim, from the time of their 
 being elected to serve the office of Parnas, Gabay, 
 or Deputy, shall be entitled " Elders of the Con- 
 .gregation," and each one shall be called to all their 
 meetings (as long as he shall be a Yahid, or if a 
 Deputy, during the time he holds that appoint- 
 ment) by a summons signed by the Gabay, or in 
 his absence, by one of the Gentlemen of the 
 Mohamad, which shall be delivered to him, or sent 
 to his address, at least three days previously. 
 
 2nd. The better to preserve the order and 
 decorum essential to all deliberative assemblies, 
 every third year there shall be an election of an 
 Elder to preside over all their meetings, such elec- 
 tion taking place at the last meeting of the Annual 
 Session, and being for the term of three years; the 
 said President shall always be referred to on dis- 
 puted points respecting the order of the proceed- 
 ings, and his decision on such points shall be 
 without appeal. He shall be invited to attend all 
 the meetings of the Mohamad, where the speech of
 
 28 
 
 the Mohamad is to be taken into consideration ; he 
 shall open all meetings of the Elders during the 
 term of his presidency, and declare the votes on 
 every question, only voting himself in case of the 
 numbers being equal, as is declared in Section 
 No. 9. Whenever, at any meeting, the said President 
 is unavoidably absent, the first business entered 
 into shall be the election of an Elder, to preside in 
 his stead for that meeting only; in case of vacancy, 
 occasioned by resignation or death, the first busi- 
 ness at the earliest meeting shall be to proceed to 
 the election of President for the remainder of the 
 term ; neither of the above cited elections shall 
 require Confirmation. It is also declared and 
 expressed that the Elder who may be appointed to 
 preside over the meetings of the said Elders, shall 
 be exempt from all offices in the Congregation 
 during the term of his presidency, should he so 
 desire it. The election of President shall be by 
 ballot ; and the Elder having the largest number of 
 votes, shall be declared elected. 
 
 3rd. Every Elder who shall fail to attend at any 
 meeting, shall be fined ten shillings for the Sedaca, 
 except he be seventy years of age or upwards, or 
 be in Abel, or thirty miles distant from the Syna- 
 gogue; also he who feels himself entitled to claim 
 excuse, either in consequence of his infirm state of 
 health, or any other cogent cause, may be exempted, 
 provided such be signified by letter or made through
 
 29 
 
 the medium of an Elder present at the meeting, and 
 the same fine shall be paid by any one leaving any 
 meeting before business is concluded. But when 
 any Elder shall have been fined for non-attendance 
 at six meetings, no further fine shall be levied on 
 him during that year. 
 
 4th. No Elder can vote in any meeting, if he be 
 indebted to the Sedaca for two yearly accounts 
 (unless, previously to each Annual Meeting, he 
 gives a satisfactory .excuse to the Mahamad in com- 
 plete Mohamad') ; a list of the Elders so circum- 
 stanced shall be placed before the President at each 
 meeting, in order that he may enforce this regula- 
 tion. 
 
 5th. The meetings of the Elders shall be held in 
 the Chamber of the Mahamad, at the hour appointed 
 in the summonses, and the President shall open each 
 meeting, calling over the names of all the Elders, 
 and charging the fine to such as are not present, and 
 not exempted, according to Section 3, immediately 
 after which the business shall commence by de- 
 claring the objects of the meeting, and any Elder 
 entering subsequently shall not be relieved from his 
 fine, except on his own application, declaring the 
 reason of his delay ; and his excuse being admitted 
 by a majority. 
 
 6th. At every meeting of the Elders, the busi- 
 ness which the Gentlemen of the Mohamad may 
 have to submit shall take precedence of all others,
 
 30 
 
 and their propositions shall not require seconding, 
 but in every other case no proposition can be put 
 to the vote, or debated upon, until seconded. 
 
 7th. After entering into debate upon any propo- 
 sition, should any person move, and it be seconded 
 that such question be not put to the vote, the said 
 second proposition shall have the priority. Also, 
 if any amendment be proposed to any question, and 
 any one require that it be put to the vote, whether 
 such a question shall be amended or not, this said 
 proposition shall be put first, but the question of 
 adjournment shall at all times have priority over 
 every other. 
 
 8th. No person shall speak in a debate on any 
 proposition more than twice, and this Section, as 
 well as Section 4, shall be read at the first meeting 
 of every Annual Session, previously to entering on 
 any business whatever. 
 
 9th. All propositions after being debated shall be 
 put to the vote, to be resolved in the affirmative or 
 negative, and every Elder present, except the Pre- 
 sident, shall be obliged to vote, unless it be in a 
 case that affects him personally, or that he be under 
 the circumstances mentioned in Section 4 of this 
 Ascama. The President shall only vote when the 
 numbers prove equal, in which case his vote shall 
 decide the question ; and, any proposition coming 
 out in the affirmative shall not be enforced till it be 
 proposed and confirmed in another meeting. If
 
 31 
 
 in the Confirmation of any resolution, any amend- 
 ment be made to it, it shall not, on that account, 
 require a fresh Confirmation. 
 
 10th. The summonses sent to the Elders shall 
 always state for what purpose the Meeting is 
 called, whether it be for the Annual Meeting, or to 
 declare the vacancy of any post, or for the election 
 of any officer, or to alter any Ascama, or on any 
 urgent occasion, or at the requisition of eight 
 Elders, and no meeting of the Elders shall be com- 
 petent to act when less than ten in number; and, if 
 at the opening of any meeting, there should not be 
 the said number present, the absentees shall be 
 fined, or excused at the next meeting. 
 
 llth. In the Annual Meeting the Elders shall 
 examine the accounts of the Sedaca, of the preceding 
 year, and shall determine the sum to be expended 
 in the current year ; therein shall be proposed for 
 Yehidim such persons as may request it, or as may 
 appear to the Mohamad eligible for admission. 
 The petitions for assistance shall be considered, and 
 finally, all further regulations shall be made that 
 may be conducive to the good of the Congregation. 
 
 12th. Whenever eight Elders shall by writing 
 require the Mahamad to convene a meeting of the 
 Body, the said Mahamad shall summon it to meet 
 within fourteen days, and the first matter taken 
 into consideration shall be that which the said 
 requisition ists may have to propose.
 
 32 
 
 9 
 
 13th. General meetings of the Yehidim of thp 
 Congregation shall be convened, either by a resolu- 
 tion of the Elders, by the Gentlemen of the Mahamad 
 in complete Mahamad, or by a requisition of fifteen 
 Yehidim, addressed to the Gentlemen of the Maha- 
 mad (who shall convene such meeting within fifteen 
 days); such requisition shall express the object of 
 the intended meeting, and no signature of a Yahid 
 shall be valid to a requisition, if he be indebted to 
 the Sedaca for more than one year's Finta and 
 offerings. 
 
 J4th. No vote on petition for pecuniary relief, 
 and no grant or donation, or increase of salary or 
 annuity, or original grant of any salary or annuity, 
 shall be deemed carried in the affirmative, unless 
 two-thirds of the members present are in favor, 
 both in the first meeting and the confirmation, ex- 
 cept grants to our public institutions, or where the 
 subject has been introduced and recommended by 
 the Mahamad, and forms a part of their speech. 
 
 15th. Any Elder who shall become a bankrupt, 
 or shall be convicted .of any criminal offence, shall 
 immediately become disqualified and cease to be an 
 Elder ; but the Elder so disqualified shall (except 
 in the case of a conviction for fraud or crime) be 
 eligible for re-election as an Elder, at the expiration 
 of twelve calendar months from the time of his 
 having ceased to be such. 
 
 16th. Should any Elder desire to resign his
 
 33 
 
 Office, and should it be the opinion of the Board 
 of Elders that a valid and sufficient reason is 
 assigned, and that the interests of the Synagogue 
 would not thereby be prejudiced, such Elder's resig- 
 nation may be accepted at a meeting by a majority 
 of two-thirds of those present, and the same 
 majority -shall be required at confirmation.
 
 34 
 
 VII. 
 
 in 
 
 In order to ensure that decorum and devotion 
 which should always prevail in our holy Synagogues, 
 the following regulations are established : 
 
 1st. There shall always be in the Synagogue 
 during the time of prayers some person to preside 
 therein, which presidency shall devolve in the 
 following order : 
 
 The President of the Mohamad and the other 
 
 Parnassim in rotation. 
 The Treasurer and Parnas of Heshaim. 
 The Parnassim of Hebra, the priority being 
 with him who is in the six months of his 
 duty. 
 
 The Treasurer of Beth Holim. 
 The Parnassim of Beth Holim, the priority 
 being with him who is in the six months of 
 his duty. 
 
 The Parnas of Terra Santa and Cautivos. 
 The Elders of the Congregation, according to 
 
 seniority in age. 
 The Haham of the Kaal. 
 The Gentlemen of the Bethdin, according to 
 
 seniority in office. 
 
 And the Yehidim of the Congregation, accord- 
 ing to seniority in age.
 
 35 
 
 2nd. The presiding Parnas shall give leave in 
 Synagogue at the accustomed time to begin prayers ; 
 he shall also distribute the Misvot among the Ye- 
 hidim or Congregators as he may think best, but no 
 Misva shall be given to one who, according to the 
 Ascamot, is ineligible thereto, nor to any one 
 under thirteen years of age, except those of 
 Aftorah, Ashem-melech, and Kadish ; if these three 
 Misvot, and that of saying the Zemirot, shall have 
 been given by the Pumas Presidente, no one else 
 shall have them, except in the absence of the person 
 ,to whom they had been given. The Misva of 
 Heshaim and Desfaxar may be performed by any 
 one above ten years of age; also Levantar Sefer 
 shall be given in turn to those accustomed to have 
 it, and no person shall be admitted a Levantador, 
 except with the approbation of the Levantadores 
 and with permission of the Mahamad. 
 
 3rd. When any person shall have presided at 
 the commencement of prayers, and, subsequently, 
 another should enter who is before him in the pre- 
 sidency, such latter person shall give the Misvot, 
 unless the previous President had already gone to 
 the Echal or Tkeba for the purpose. 
 
 4th. It shall not be permitted to any person to 
 refuse & Misva given to him by the presiding Parnas, 
 and he who so acts shall be subject to a penalty 
 of five pounds, unless he give a satisfactory excuse 
 either to the said President, or to the Mahamad.
 
 36 
 
 5th. Any person misconducting himself in the 
 Synagogue or its precincts, either by offending the 
 presiding Parnas, or by gross insult to any other 
 person, or in any way acting inconsistently with 
 the decorum proper to a place of worship, shall be 
 subject to such penalty as the Mohamad may deem 
 proper, but not in any case exceeding five pounds ; 
 and this fine, as well as that mentioned in the last 
 section, shall only be imposed in complete Mohamad; 
 and the said Mohamad shall, on representation, have 
 power to commute or remit such penalties, as they 
 may see just. 
 
 6th. At any time when Sura is to be made in 
 Synagogue, either for the celebration of nuptials 
 or Berit, or other particular cause, the presiding 
 Parnas may call to Sefer, and give Misvot to 
 persons belonging to any of the recognised Congre- 
 gations in this city ; and the same may be done at 
 any other time, on application made to, or by a 
 member of such congregations. On occasions of 
 Sura, it shall not be permitted to call to Sefer more 
 than two persons in addition to those usually called 
 up on that day, except on Simha Tora and Shabat 
 BeresTieet. 
 
 7th. In the prayers of Rash Ashana and Kipur, 
 and on Purim, at the reading of the Meguilah, where 
 it is customary for the Hazan to be accompanied on 
 the Theba, no one shall accompany him except the 
 Haham of the Kaal, and any one of the Gentlemen
 
 37 
 
 of the Bethdin, or of the Hazanim of the Kaal, or 
 of the Hebra, or the Students of the Bet-amedrash, 
 or any other person whom the presiding Parnas 
 shall appoint. 
 
 8th. In all cases where a Eogativa may be desired 
 for a person of our Congregation suffering under 
 illness, permission must be obtained of the presiding 
 Parnas for such purpose.
 
 38 
 VIII. 
 
 (frhdionz anb Regulations respecting % 
 11 $oib0s 0* f ej." 
 
 It being a custom in all congregations of Israel 
 to have two persons appointed to celebrate the 
 festival of Simha Torah; for the keeping up of the 
 said good custom in this our Kaal, and for the cele- 
 bration of so great a Misva with all due solemnity 
 
 1 st. The Mohamad, in complete Mahamad, shall 
 elect annually, two days before the Sabbath preced- 
 ing Rosh Ashana, two persons to serve as Hatan 
 Torah and Hatan Beresheet, who may be any of the 
 Yehidim who have not already served or paid the 
 fine for non-acceptance, and on the said Sabbath the 
 election shall be proclaimed in Synagogue the 
 elder of the two elected being nominated Hatan 
 Torah, and the younger Hatan Beresheet ; and the 
 Mahamad shall, at the same time, elect two other 
 persons to serve the said offices in the Branch 
 Synagogue, the election to be from Yehidim residing 
 in that locality, and to be subject to the same rules 
 and regulations as before specified. 
 
 2nd. Each of the said Noivos, on the day of his 
 festival, shall distribute the Misvot, giving a list of 
 them in writing to the presiding Parnas; and each 
 on his day may call to Sefer as many as nine per- 
 sons, besides the two said Noivos and the Maphtir ;
 
 39 
 
 and the presiding Parnas, and the next in rotation, 
 shall accompany the said Noivos to Synagogue, 
 seating themselves by them, according to custom. 
 
 3rd. In case any one of the Noivos elected shall 
 refuse to serve the said Misva, or shall not declare 
 to the Mahamad his intention of accepting it within 
 seven days after his election being proclaimed in 
 Synagogue, he shall pay a fine of five pounds. 
 
 4th. Should no one offer himself by the eve of 
 Kipur, of whom the Mahamad approve, to serve the 
 said Misva, instead of the person so refusing, the 
 said Misvot shall be fulfilled by the President of the 
 congregation, and the next Parnas in rotation, or 
 by any other of the Gentlemen of the Mahamad who 
 may so agree to serve it. 
 
 5th. In case any person after his election to this 
 Misva should lose by death any relation, for whom 
 he or his wife should take Abel, he shall be exempt 
 from serving, without paying any fine ; and should 
 no one offer in his stead, his place shall be supplied 
 as declared in section 4.
 
 40 
 
 IX. 
 
 (fchdians of % Pajram atifo g,effrbm. 
 
 The office of Haham, as one of the most impor- 
 tant in this Kaalj ought to be provided for with 
 particular attention, in order that its obligations 
 may be discharged with the utmost fidelity and 
 zeal, to which end 
 
 1st. Whenever the above office shall be vacant, 
 the Mohamad shall call a meeting of Elders within 
 three months, to decide whether there shall be a 
 fresh election; and, in case of their so resolving, 
 they shall determine the conditions regarding the 
 said office, which shall require confirmation at 
 another meeting, and the said election shall be 
 made by the Elders. 
 
 2nd. The meeting for election shall be sum- 
 moned at least eight days previously, declaring its 
 purpose; and should there be more than one can- 
 didate, each shall be ballotted for in turn, and the 
 name of him who shall have most votes, shall 
 be again put up to decide on his election, which 
 shall only be deemed carried in the affirmative, by 
 two-thirds of the votes being in favour, and the 
 same majority shall be required in confirmation ; 
 should the election not be carried, no further 
 election shall be entered into, except by a fresh
 
 41 
 
 resolution of the Elders, which shall not be called 
 until the expiration of six months. Whoever may 
 be finally elected shall be named in the Synagogues. 
 
 3rd. The Eaham is the head of the Bethdin and 
 Medrash, and shall declare the Din, when required 
 by any of the Yehidim or Congregators, and decide 
 any disputes among them, which require to be 
 determined according to Din. He shall preach in 
 the Synagogues when the Mahamad may require it, 
 and attend therein, and at the Medrash as much as 
 possible. He shall marry all persons of our Con- 
 gregation by permission, in writing, from two ot 
 the Mahamad, and not without such permission ; 
 he shall provide all the Quetubot, and copy them in 
 the register kept in the Mahamad Chamber. 
 
 4th. He shall not intercede in favour of any 
 candidate for an office in the Kaal, or applicant 
 for assistance from the Sedaca, lest the respect 
 due to him should induce a deviation from impar- 
 tial justice. 
 
 5th. Should the Haham at any time commit any 
 dereliction of his duty, a meeting of Elders shall 
 be convened to consider the case; but should the 
 same occur with any other of the Bethdin, the 
 Mahamad in complete Mahamad may suspend him 
 for a limited time, or until the first Meeting of 
 Elders. 
 
 6th. The Elders shall provide two efficient persons 
 to compose the Bethdin, jointly with the Haham,
 
 42 
 
 or three persons, in case of the office of Haham 
 being vacant, any one of whom may declare the 
 Din. And should a case occur, which, according 
 to Din, requires to be decided by more than three, 
 the said Beihdin shall call those they think proper 
 for that purpose, and no other persons shall be 
 permitted to give Dinim within the Districts of 
 this Congregation, under a penalty of five pounds, 
 to be levied in complete Mahamad. 
 
 7th. In all cases of vacancy of Haham, the per- 
 formance of the marriage ceremony shall devolve 
 on the Hazanim of the Kaal, and the Quetubot shall 
 be prepared by the Gentlemen of the Bethdin, who 
 shall divide between them any emoluments they 
 may receive. 
 
 8th. Should any person offend the Haham, or 
 any of the Gentlemen of the Bethdin, in any matter 
 connected with their office, such person may be 
 condemned in complete Mahamad, in a sum not 
 exceeding five pounds.
 
 43 
 
 X. 
 
 &hdian anb tyntm 0f % JP 
 
 As the elections of the Bazanim of this Kaal 
 are to be made by the votes of the Yehidim, to 
 avoid any irregularities that might occur at such 
 elections, the following regulations are resolved 
 on : 
 
 1st. When a vacancy occurs of a Bazan, the 
 Mahamad shall call a meeting of the Elders 
 as early as possible, to consider whether it be 
 necessary to elect another; and if it be re- 
 solved to have an election, the said Mahamad 
 shall give public notice, that whoever wishes to 
 offer himself for the said office may apply by letter, 
 within a reasonable time which shall be limited 
 for that purpose ; and every one who offers himself 
 shall be admitted with the sanction of the Mahamad 
 to put himself on probation, unless the Haham, or, 
 in his absence, the Gentlemen of the Bethdin, shall 
 declare by writing that, according to Din Torah, 
 he is not eligible to the office. 
 
 2nd. The said probation shall consist in each 
 candidate saying prayers in Synagogue as Hazan 
 one whole week, beginning with the prayers of the 
 going-out of Sabbath, in order that all the Yehidim 
 may have time to hear and judge of his capacity 
 and voice; and during such probation he shall not
 
 44 
 
 depart from the established order of our prayers 
 by increasing or altering any portion of them, 
 except with regard to singing; and the Mohamad 
 shall determine by . lot the order of probation, 
 always having authority to alter their rotation in 
 case of urgency. 
 
 3rd. When all the candidates have gone through 
 their probation, the Mohamad shall appoint a day 
 for election by the YehicKm, which election shall 
 be made in the Chamber of the Mahamad, within 
 one month after the conclusion of the probations, 
 and in presence of the Gentlemen of the Mohamad^ 
 and the Haham, or, in his absence, one of the 
 Gentlemen of the Bethdin; and the manner of 
 voting shall be by putting the name of the can- 
 didate voted for, in a folded paper, and delivering 
 it to the presiding Parnas, who shall deposit it un- 
 opened into a box. 
 
 4th. All the Yehidim shall be admitted to vote, 
 both men and women, who have paid their Finta 
 and offerings, and what they may further owe the 
 Sedaca, up to the Rosh Ashana before the election, 
 and no person shall vote by proxy ; and at the ex- 
 piration of the time limited, the Mohamad, with the 
 JJaham, or one of the Gentlemen of the Bethdin, 
 shall reckon the votes, and the candidate who has 
 the majority shall be declared elected, and in case 
 of equal numbers, it shall be decided by lot. 
 
 5. All persons buying or selling any vote or
 
 45 
 
 votes at any election shall be excluded from voting 
 on that occasion. 
 
 6th. It shall be the duty of the Hazanim of the 
 Kaal to attend Synagogue daily, at all times of 
 prayer, at the commencement of the service, and 
 to read the prayers, each one in his week, and 
 alternately on the days of Festivals. Whenever 
 one of them shall be unable to attend his duty, the 
 other or others shall officiate in his stead, and they 
 shall attend, each in his week, at all weddings and 
 circumcisions, and divide equally between them any 
 emoluments they may receive, they always appear- 
 ing dressed in black, according to the custom which 
 has hitherto prevailed. 
 
 7th. No Hazan shall commence prayers without 
 leave of the presiding Parnas, nor give any Misva 
 without his order, nor call out the offering of any 
 person who shall be under the censure of the 
 Ascamot, nor give a title to any person which shall 
 not have been determined on by a complete Moha- 
 mad, in company of the Haham, or one of the 
 Gentlemen of the Bethdin. He shall not say a 
 Rogativa at any time, nor an Ascaba for the first 
 time for a person dying out of the country, without 
 leave of the presiding Parnas ; and, finally, he 
 shall yield obedience to all orders of the Elders 
 and Mohamad. 
 
 8th. If a Hazan neglect any part of his 
 duty, the Mohamad, in complete Mohamad, may
 
 4G 
 
 suspend him from his post for a period of one month ; 
 but, in that event, they shall convene a meeting of 
 the Elders to consider the case, who may suspend 
 him for a period not exceeding six months from his 
 post and its emoluments; no greater punishment 
 shall be inflicted, but by a meeting of the Yehidiin. 
 Also, in case of necessity, the Mahamad may appoint 
 such person as they may think proper to assist the 
 Hazanim, or to officiate in their stead, until the 
 meeting of Elders shall otherwise provide. 
 
 9th. If any Hazan of the Kaal should neglect 
 to mention the name of any deceased person that 
 ought to be in the list of the Ascabot said every 
 Roshhodesh and Kipur, he shall be liable to a fine 
 of twenty shillings for the Sedaca ; and if in the 
 book or list of the said Ascabot there be missing any 
 of the names that ought to be therein, each Hazan 
 of the Kaal shall be liable to a fine of forty shillings 
 to the Sedaca. 
 
 10th. In case of an application to elect a Hazan 
 for any other Kaal, the Mahamad, in complete Ma- 
 hamad, may give leave to each of the candidates to 
 say prayers for a week on probation, and the person 
 who shall be elected may be permitted to say 
 prayers at such times as the Mahamad may, in their 
 discretion, think proper.
 
 47 
 
 XL 
 
 mEr $htties of % (Dfftes of t^ 
 
 The following officers of this Kaal shall be ap- 
 pointed by the Elders, as vacancies may occur 
 from time to time : The Secretary; the Hazan 
 of Hebra; the iSamas of the Synagogue ; the Physi- 
 cian and Surgeon of the Sedaca ; the keeper of 
 Betk-Haim, and the Keepers of the Baths. 
 
 1st. When there shall be a vacancy in any 
 of the above named offices, the Mohamad shall 
 declare it to the Elders, in a meeting which they 
 shall call for that purpose, at latest within three 
 months, in which meeting it shall be resolved 
 whether a new election is to be made or not, and 
 also the terms on which the vacant office is 
 to be offered. As soon as these resolutions 
 shall be confirmed, the said Gentlemen shall pro- 
 ceed to an election, following the same method as 
 for the office of Baham, except that a majority of 
 votes, as well in the election as in the confirmation, 
 shall suffice to make it valid; and the summonses 
 for the above named meetings shall be delivered 
 eight days before hand. 
 
 2nd. In the event of any of the above named 
 officers being incapacitated from attending to his 
 duties, either from illness or any other cause, the
 
 48 
 
 Mahamad may appoint another person to serve in 
 his stead, and the same during the vacancy or 
 suspension of any of them. 
 
 3rd. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to 
 attend all the meetings of the Elders, of the 
 Mahamad, and of the Committees which may 
 be appointed ; to make out the summonses to 
 them, and copy all the orders and resolutions 
 made therein, to attend Synagogue as far as 
 possible at all times of prayer, and also at 
 circumcisions and weddings; to take an account 
 of the offerings made for Sedaca, to keep the books 
 of accounts, and make therein all the necessary 
 entries of the expenses and income of the said 
 Sedaca, and of the charities which are under its 
 administration, to draw out twice a year the ac- 
 counts of each person indebted to the Sedaca, and 
 make application for them within one month after 
 their delivery, to receive the money due to the said 
 Sedaca, and to pay all the expenses or charities 
 that the Elders or the Mahamad shall order, giving 
 an account of all the said receipts and payments to 
 the Gabay of the Kaal, and to attend in the 
 Mahamad Chamber two days in each week, and on 
 the days of Roshhodesh, to pay the salaries to the 
 officers, the monthly and quarterly allowances, and 
 other grants to the poor. 
 
 4. The Hazan of the Hebra shall accompany to 
 the grave every deceased person who shall be buried
 
 49 
 
 in the Carreira, or in a reserved grave, in any of 
 our Beth-Haim, and shall officiate on all such occa- 
 sions in the usual form, but he shall not accompany 
 any one, who, according to the Ascamot, shall be 
 buried out of the Carreira. He shall say prayers 
 at the house of mourners who may require it, 
 morning and evening during the seven days of 
 Abel ; he shall go attired in black, like the Hazanim 
 of the Kaal, and attend at Synagogue at the com- 
 pletion of any Abel> and at other times as often as 
 possible. 
 
 5th. It shall be the duty of the Samas of the 
 Synagogue to attend constantly therein, opening it 
 for, and shutting it after, public prayers, having at 
 his charge the cleanliness of the Synagogue and its 
 courtyard, to be in attendance at the meetings of 
 the Elders, Mahamad, and Committees, that may 
 be appointed, to attend at the circumcisions and 
 weddings that may take place in the Congregation, 
 to deliver the summonses on the day of their 
 date, to attend the Secretary in the payment of 
 the salaries and distribution of the monthly and 
 quarterly allowances, and alms of the Sedaca among 
 the poor. 
 
 6th. The physician and surgeon of the Sedaca 
 shall, each one in his profession, visit the sick 
 poor, and the officers of the Kaal, prescribe for 
 them, and perform the surgical operations that 
 may be necessary, either in the hospital, or at 
 
 E
 
 50 
 
 the houses of the said officers and poor, being 
 bound in respect to the above to obey the orders 
 of the Mahamad, and of the Pamassim of Beth- 
 Holim. 
 
 7th. The duties of the keeper of the burial-ground 
 shall be to attend all the funerals, to keep an accu- 
 rate register of all the burials, to be especially 
 careful that the tombs do not exceed the measure- 
 ment prescribed by the Ascama of Elders, No. 19. 
 That the graves be made in rows in the usual 
 manner, and that those likewise do not exceed the 
 limits mentioned in the said Ascama. 
 
 8th. The keeper of the bath shall be obliged to 
 have it ready for all the females of our Congrega- 
 tion, and from those of our poor no payment shall 
 be demanded for its use. 
 
 9th. No officer of the Kaal shall intercede or 
 make interest with the Elders or Yehidim, in favor 
 of any candidate for election to any office in the 
 Kaal. 
 
 10th. All the officers of the Kaal before men- 
 tioned shall be subject to the resolutions of the 
 Elders, and bound to obey the orders of the Maha- 
 mad, and on their refusing to comply therewith, or 
 neglecting their duties, the Mahamad in complete 
 Mahamad shall have power to suspend them for a 
 time, not exceeding three months, or to represent 
 their neglect to the Elders.
 
 XII. 
 
 artfr Collections in % 
 
 As the great and necessary expense of our Syna- 
 gogues, as well as the charitable assistance given to 
 the poor of our Congregation, are supplied from the 
 Sedaca fund, it is just that the offerings of the said 
 Sedaca should precede all others; therefore 
 
 1st. Every person called to Sefer shall make an 
 offering of at least one shilling for Sedaca, or oil, 
 which is likewise for the fund of Sedaca ; and in all 
 cases the first offering shall be for Sedaca, except 
 at Sefer, where the person may offer for oil first, but 
 the second offering in such case must be for Sedaca, 
 after which he may offer for Heshaim, Hebra, Beth- 
 Holim, Shaare Tickva, Terra Santa, and Cautivos, 
 and for repairs of the Synagogues. The same order 
 shall be observed at the house of Noivos or Baal-a- 
 Berit. On occasion of Bent, an offering may be 
 made for the Baal-a- Berit, and for the Samas of the 
 Society of Baal-a-Berit ; complimentary offerings 
 are only permitted by a party called to Sefer, or 
 saying Aftorah, or at a wedding or Berit. 
 
 2nd. The following collections shall be made in 
 Synagogue, and no others, except on some urgent 
 occasion by order of the Elders. 
 
 On the Shabatot preceding the three Festivals, 
 E 2
 
 52 
 
 the Nedabot of "Shalosh Pengamim" and 
 every Yahid not offering therein, shall be 
 charged one shilling each time. 
 On the day of Kipur, a Nedaba for the wax of 
 
 the Synagogue, and for S/iaare Tickva. 
 On the morning of the first day of Pesah, one 
 
 for Beth-Holim. 
 On the morning of the seventh day of Pesah, 
 
 one for Hebra. 
 
 On Purim morning, the presiding Parnas and 
 the two next in rotation, shall go round the 
 Synagogue, each with a plate; the first to 
 collect the half-shekel, which is valued at 
 one shilling and sixpence ; the second, for the 
 money of Purim ; and the third, for Sedaca. 
 The two last are voluntary, but the first is 
 compulsory on all above twenty years of age, 
 and if not paid shall be charged in his bill. 
 On the five Fasts of Guedaliah, Tebet, Esther, 
 Tamuz, and Ab, the Secretary shall go 
 round at Minha with a plate, to collect for 
 the Sedaca. 
 
 3rd. There shall also be in Synagogue four small 
 boxes, two at the pillars for the Yehidim, and two in 
 the galleries for the Ladies, which shall be opened 
 annually, and whatever may be found in them, shall 
 be for Sedaca.
 
 53 
 XIII. 
 
 of j&eais in 
 
 That the distribution of the seats in the Syna- 
 gogues be made with equity, and to avoid the con- 
 fusion or displeasure which the failure thereof might 
 cause to any of the Yehidim : 
 
 1st. The said seats shall always be granted in a 
 meeting of complete Mahamad, to the Yehidim or 
 Congregantes, as the said Mahamad may think just, 
 provided that none be given to a person who, con- 
 formably with the Ascama, is unworthy to hold one ; 
 nevertheless observing, that when there may be a 
 vacant seat in either of the ends of any bench, or in 
 the two seats nearest to either of them, before it be 
 given to any person, the Mahamad shall give notice 
 to the person sitting in the next seat more towards 
 the centre of the said bench, that he may declare 
 within eight days, whether he choose to move to the 
 vacant seat, in which case the said notice shall be 
 given to the next person, until they come to the 
 centre of the bench ; but if any one of the persons 
 to whom the said notice be given shall not choose 
 to remove from his seat, that shall not prevent the 
 next person from passing onwards and exchanging 
 his seat. 
 
 2nd. A register book shall be kept, wherein shall 
 be set down the names of the persons who now hold,
 
 54 
 
 or to whom may hereafter be given seats in the 
 Synagogues. And to each person to whom a seat 
 be granted, a ticket shall be given specifying the 
 number of the seat, and the bench, declaring it is 
 granted to him as a loan; which ticket shall be 
 signed by the President or Gabay of the Sedaca, in 
 order that at any time when such person shall die, 
 quit the kingdom, or incur the penalty of any of the 
 Ascamot, rendering him unworthy to hold a seat 
 in Synagogue, the Maliamad may have authority to 
 dispose of it to another person.
 
 55 
 
 XIV. 
 
 &httiuon& of % ||arnassim, of ||*s|jatm, Hebra, 
 Ctrra Santa anfr Cawtibm 
 
 The elections of Parnassim of Heshaim, Hebra, 
 and Terra /Saato and Cautivos, shall always be with 
 the approbation of the Mahamad, in the following 
 manner : 
 
 1st. Annually, two days before the Sabbath pre- 
 ceding Rosh Ashana, there shall be an election of 
 two Parnassim of Hebra, and annually, two days 
 before the Sabbath preceding Sebuoth, there shall 
 be an election of a -Treasurer, and a Parnas of 
 Heshaim, and a Parnas of Terra Santa and 
 Cautivos, for which the Mohamad shall summon in 
 writing, three days before the above-mentioned 
 days of election, the Treasurer or Parnassim who 
 have served during that year, and who are to go 
 out, and each one shall have the nomination of 
 the person to succeed him in his office; and no 
 election shall be made without having at least four 
 persons present, three of whom are to be of the 
 Mahamad ; and if either of the above-mentioned 
 Treasurer or Parnassim shall fail to attend, or to 
 send in writing the nomination of a person to suc- 
 ceed him in his office, he shall pay forty shillings
 
 56 
 
 fine to the Sedaca : and likewise, if any one of the 
 Mohamad shall fail to be present at any of the 
 elections, without sending a satisfactory excuse, or 
 being in Abel, or distant thirty miles from London, 
 he shall pay twenty shillings to the Sedaca. 
 
 2nd. The above-mentioned elections shall be 
 made in the chamber of the Mohamad, the power 
 of voting therein being solely with the Mohamad, 
 together with the Treasurer and Parnas of Heshaim 
 in, the elections for the said Society, and with the 
 Parnassim of Hebra in the elections for Hebra, and 
 with the Parnas of Terra Santa and Cautivos 
 in that office, and on the nominations being made 
 by the Treasurer or Parnassim of the said societies, 
 they shall be decided by majority of votes ; in case of 
 equal numbers, the Parnas who presides shall have 
 the casting vote, and should the person nominated 
 not be elected, the said Parnas who presides shall 
 nominate another, or he shall have the first nomi- 
 nation, in case the Treasurer or Parnas whose turn 
 it is to go out should not attend or send such 
 nomination in writing. 
 
 3rd. For the Treasurer of Heshaim, or first 
 Parnas of Hebra, there shall always be nominated 
 one of the Elders, (those having always the prefe- 
 rence who have not served the said offices); unless 
 any one of the Elders should offer himself and be 
 approved of by the said meetings ; and for the 
 second Parnas of Hebra, Parnas of Heshaim, and
 
 57 
 
 Parnas of Terra Santa and Cautivos, any of the 
 Yehidim may be nominated, not having previously 
 served; but every person above seventy years of 
 age shall be exempt from fine for not serving, 
 unless he offer himself, or accept the said office. 
 And if the person elected for Treasurer, or Parnas 
 of Heshaim, be not a member of the said Society, 
 he shall be considered one during his year of 
 office: and in like manner for either of the 
 Parnassim of Hebra who may not be a member of 
 that Society. 
 
 4th. The election of the Parnassim of Hebra 
 shall be proclaimed in Synagogue on the Sabbath 
 preceding Rosh Ashana, and the first Parnas shall 
 serve from that day till Shabat Agadol ; and the 
 second from Shabat Agadol till the Sabbath pre- 
 ceding Rosh Ashana. And the election of Trea- 
 surer and Parnas of Heshaim, and of Parnas of 
 Terra Santa and Cautivos, shall be proclaimed on 
 the Sabbath preceding Sebuoth, on the first day of 
 which festival the Treasurer of Heshaim going out, 
 or in his absence, the Parnas of the said Society 
 going out, shall preside and distribute the Misvot. 
 
 5th. The Parnas of Terra Santa and Cautivos 
 shall take an account of and receive the offerings 
 that may be made for the said society before 
 quitting his office, and give in his accounts, and 
 deliver to the Gabay of the Sedaca what he may. 
 have received for the said society.
 
 58 
 
 6th. When any person elected shall refuse to 
 serve any of the above mentioned offices, he shall 
 pay a fine of Five Pounds ; and the fines for Trea- 
 surer and Parnas of Heshaim shall be for Heshaim^ 
 and for the Parnassim of Hebra for Hebra, and for 
 Parnas of Terra Santa and Cautivos for Sedaca. 
 
 7th. In case of refusal to serve any of the 
 above named offices, the Mohamad shall make a 
 new election, or elections, until the same be filled. 
 And for the said new elections it shall not be 
 necessary for the Mohamad to call the persons who 
 last served the office, and each new election shall 
 be proclaimed in Synagogue within four days.
 
 59 
 XV. 
 
 $Ugulalixms for t(p Oiobtrnnwtt 0f % 
 Institutions 0f JMsIjaim anb U 
 
 Conscious of the obligation incumbent on all 
 the Communities of Israel to encourage and pro- 
 mote the study of our Holy Law, as the surest 
 means for its preservation and observance, the 
 founders of our Congregation, in the year 5424, 
 instituted for this purpose the Beth Hamedrash 
 under the title of Heshaim. And further in the 
 year 5494, the late Benjamin Mendes Da Costa, to 
 perpetuate the memory of his only son, founded and 
 endowed, with a similar object, the Yeshiba of 
 Mahane Rephael. 
 
 It having subsequently been deemed advisable 
 by the Governors of Heshaim, and by the Elders 
 of the Congregation, that these Yeshibot be amal- 
 gamated and form one Institution, under the title 
 of Heshaim and Mahane Rephael it is hereby 
 enacted : 
 
 1st. That these united Yeshibot shall continue 
 as hitherto, 'under the special protection of the 
 Elders of the Congregation, in conformity with the 
 compact with Heshaim in 5590. 
 
 2nd. That the present Funds, which consist of 
 5,961 18s. ild. Consols, and 304 8s. 9d. re- 
 duced 3 per cent. Annuities belonging to Heshaim,
 
 60 
 
 and 2,550 reduced 3 per cent. Annuities belong- 
 ing to Mahane Eephael, shall always continue in 
 the names of four Trustees, to be appointed by the 
 Elders ; and with the exception of the 304 8s. 9d. 
 reduced 3 per cent. Annuities which is an avail- 
 able Fund, shall constitute a Permanent Fund, the 
 Interest alone being applicable to the purposes of 
 the Institution, and that all Legacies bequeathed, 
 and Life Subscriptions shall be added to that 
 Fund. 
 
 3rd. That the united Yeshibot shall be supported 
 by the Interest of their funded property; by the 
 Subscriptions of Members, which is fixed at twelve 
 shillings per annum for gentlemen, and six 
 shillings for ladies ; by the usual offerings and 
 Nedaba ; and by such assistance as may be granted 
 from the Funds of the Congregation. The Sub- 
 scriptions are redeemable by a payment at once of 
 five guineas for gentlemen, and three guineas for 
 ladies ; which will constitute them Life Governors. 
 
 That the Government of the united Institution 
 shall be vested in a Committee of management 
 consisting of the Treasurer and Parnas ofEeshaim 
 and three Inspectors, jointly with the gentlemen 
 ot the Mahamad. The Inspectors to be selected 
 by the Elders every two years from among the 
 Yehidim of the Congregation, and if not Members 
 of the Institution they shall be such during their 
 period of office. That such Committee shall meet
 
 61 
 
 at least twice a year, or oftener if necessary ; and 
 Five Members present to form a quorum, two of 
 whom must be of the Mohamad. 
 
 That the number of Students to be admitted 
 into the Medrash shall not be less than Six (6) 
 provided fit and proper persons to compose that 
 number be attainable, having a knowledge of the 
 English language. That the pay of such Students 
 shall be regulated according to their proficiency 
 and usefulness. But the highest pay shall not in 
 any case exceed four pounds per month embracing 
 the attendance and duties of both Yeshibot. 
 
 That the Medrash shall be opened daily from 
 ten to one o'clock in the morning, and for 
 two hours after the afternoon service from Eosh 
 Ashana until Pesach ; and from nine to twelve, and 
 for two hours after the afternoon service, from 
 Pesach until Rosh Ashana excepting the days 
 usually kept as holidays. But under exceptional 
 circumstances, some Members may be admitted 
 for a portion only of that time at a reduced pay. 
 
 That the election of Students shall be by the 
 Votes of the Governors and Subscribers; the 
 candidates being first approved of by the Com- 
 mittee, and their names inserted hi the notices for 
 election. But no one shall be allowed to vote 
 unless he has been a Subscriber for at least one 
 year, and is not indebted for more than one year's 
 Subscription and Offerings.
 
 62 
 
 That in order to perpetuate the pious intention 
 of the founder of the Yeshiba of Ma/iane Rephael, 
 the latter ho.ur of the morning studies shall be de- 
 voted, according to the directions of the deceased, 
 in preparing and studying the subject or lessons 
 of the following days. 
 
 The granting of rolls to the junior boys of our 
 public schools to be continued, as well as an appro- 
 priation for the purchase of books. 
 
 That general meetings of the Governors and Sub- 
 scribers shall be held half-yearly in the months of 
 Hesvan and lyar for the election of Students and 
 for general purposes. At the meeting in lyar the 
 Treasurer shall present the accounts of the In- 
 stitution. 
 
 That any Student not present by fifteen minutes 
 after the appointed hour of attendance, or quitting 
 before the expiration of the time devoted to study, 
 without reasonable cause assigned, shall be subject 
 to a fine of One shilling, which shall be deducted by 
 the Treasurer from his monthly pay. And a book 
 shall be kept, wherein the Students shall sign their 
 names; and a line shall be drawn by the senior 
 Student present at the termination of the quarter 
 of an hour allowed ; and the book shall be submit- 
 ted monthly by the Secretary to the Treasurer, that 
 the fines, if any, may be deducted from the salaries. 
 
 That the Committee shall have power to suspend 
 any Student for neglect of duty or other reasonable
 
 63 
 
 cause, and report the same to the first general 
 meeting. 
 
 That in accordance with the resolutions adopted 
 by the Governors of Heshaim in 5603, and sanc- 
 tioned by the Elders, scholarships may be granted 
 by the united institutions, for the advancement of 
 such boys from our public schools as may exhibit 
 talent, so that by a suitable secular and religious 
 education they might be qualified to fill clerical 
 offices in the congregation. 
 
 That the Committee shall provide a person to fill 
 the office of Secretary whose duties shall be to keep 
 an account of the offerings and subscriptions, and 
 to make out the bills annually in the month of Elul; 
 to receive and pay, by direction of the Treasurer, 
 the salaries to the Students and all other expenses 
 of the Institution ; to issue all summonses, to attend 
 all meetings, and keep the usual minutes. 
 
 That at no time shall the Sedaca be responsible 
 for any part of the expenses of these united Yeshi- 
 bot beyond what the Elders may grant towards 
 their support.
 
 64 
 XVI. 
 
 of 
 
 It being most important to preserve order and 
 decency in our burial grounds, at all times, the 
 Parnassim of the Hebra shall have authority therein 
 to enforce the following regulations : 
 
 1st. If any person, within the districts of the 
 Beth-Haim, which is understood to be within the 
 walls which separate them from the high road, 
 should strike, or raise his hand to strike another 
 person, or should insult any person by offensive 
 expressions within the said districts, he shall be 
 liable to a fine not exceeding forty shillings for the 
 Sedaca. 
 
 2nd. In the Arrodeamentos which it is customary 
 to make in Beth-Haim, no one shall be permitted to 
 join except married men, or bachelors belonging 
 to the Medrash, or other persons above forty years 
 of age, and in carrying the deceased to the grave, 
 or putting them into the ground, the members of 
 the Hebra shall always have the preference, and of 
 these such as are drawn by lot for each burial ; but 
 the better to avoid any dispute that may occur in 
 these or other matters, the Parnassim of Hebra 
 shall have authority within the said Beth-Haim to 
 order what they may think best, and whoever shall 
 oppose the said orders, shall be liable to a fine not
 
 65 
 
 exceeding forty shillings for the Sedaca, which fine, 
 as well as that referred to in the preceding section, 
 may be imposed in a Meeting of the Mahamad, in 
 company with the Parnassim of Hebra, five forming 
 a quorum. 
 
 3rd. The said Parnassim of Hebra are recom- 
 mended to accompany every Misva to the Beth- 
 Haim as often as possible, to prevent any disorder 
 that might happen at such time; and finally, the 
 said Parnassim, each one in the six months of his 
 office, shall call a meeting of the Members of the 
 said Society, to lay before them the state thereof, 
 that the meeting may adopt such regulations as 
 shall be found necessary, and the Gentlemen of the 
 Mahamad shall be called to, and have a vote in, all 
 the said meetings, and the said Parnassim of Hebra 
 shall be bound to attend such meetings, and failing 
 to come to them, or to convene them, each one in 
 his six months, shall pay a fine of forty shillings 
 for the said Society, except he be ill at home, or in 
 Abel, or thirty miles distant from the Synagogue.
 
 XVII. 
 
 0f Cttasuwr atib |]antasstm 0f 
 |U;t|r Jj0Iim. 
 
 A Society having been established in this Kaal, 
 under the title of Beth Holim, and this charity being, 
 in its general government, subject to the jurisdiction 
 of this Congregation, the elections of the Treasurer 
 and Parnassim who govern it shall be made with 
 the approbation of the Mahamad, and the said 
 Society shall be subject to the following further 
 regulations : 
 
 1st. Annually, two days before the Sabbath pre- 
 ceding Rosli Ashana, an election shall be made of a 
 Treasurer and a Parnas of Beth Holim; and two 
 days before Shabat Agadol, of another Parnas of 
 the said Charity : for these elections, the Mohamad 
 shall convene meetings by summons, issued at least 
 three days previously, at which the Treasurer and 
 Parnassim quitting office, shall give in the names 
 of the parties chosen by the Meeting of Beth Holim 
 for those offices, or failing to attend shall send the 
 nomination in writing. At such meetings not less 
 than four persons shall act, and the name or names 
 submitted shall be balloted for, and decided by a 
 majority of votes, the President having the casting
 
 67 
 
 vote, when the numbers are equal. Should the 
 nomination be negatived, the Meeting of Beth Holim 
 must send a fresh nomination within eight days. 
 For either of the said offices Yehidim of the Con- 
 gregation only shall be eligible. No one above 
 seventy years of age shall be fined for refusing 
 either of the said offices, and no one shall be elected 
 a second time within four years from his first elec- 
 tion. If the persons elected be not members of the 
 Charity, they shall be so considered during their 
 year of office. Should the said Treasurer or Parnas 
 not attend at the Mohamad at the time appointed, 
 or send in writing the said nomination, he shall be 
 fined forty shillings for the Sedaca, and any of the 
 Mahamad not attending, except it be through ill- 
 ness, being in Abel, or thirty miles distant from 
 London, shall be fined twenty shillings for the 
 Sedaca. 
 
 2nd. If the Treasurer refuse to serve his Office, 
 he shall pay a fine of ten guineas, and any one of 
 the Parnassim not accepting his office, shall pay 
 five guineas, the said fines being for Beth Holim, 
 and in every such case a new election shall be 
 made to fill up the vacant office in the same 
 manner as the first ; the persons elected shall be 
 named in Synagogue on the Sabbath preceding 
 Rosh Ashana, and on the day of Shabat Agadol, 
 and should it be a second election, within seven 
 days afterwards. 
 
 F2
 
 68 
 
 3rd. Besides the House Committees to be held 
 in Beth Holim, for the regulation thereof, there 
 shall be at least two general meetings yearly, to 
 which the Gentlemen of the Mahamad shall always 
 be summoned. 
 
 4th. Any of the Gentlemen of the Mahamad shall 
 have authority to recommend patients to the said 
 Hospital, and the same power shall extend to the 
 Physician and Surgeon of the Sedaca, and the said 
 Physician and Surgeon shall be obliged to visit 
 constantly the patients who may be in the said 
 Hospital, and to conform to its internal regulations 
 in what regards the said patients. 
 
 5tb. The Society of BethHolim, shall be obliged 
 to supply all the medicines prescribed for the poor 
 of our Congregation, by the Physician and Surgeon 
 of the Sedaca, although they be not in the said 
 Hospital, the poor providing the vessels to contain 
 such medicines. 
 
 6th. If any person should attempt to enter by 
 force the said Hospital, or whilst there create any 
 disturbance, wantonly injuring any part of the said 
 house, or of its furniture, or shall in any manner 
 defraud the said Hospital, on a representation 
 thereof being made to the Mahamad in the name of 
 the House- Committee, such person shall be ex- 
 cluded from all benefit which he enjoys or might 
 enjoy from the Sedaca, for such time as may be 
 thought just, according to the degree of his offence.
 
 69 
 
 7th. At no time shall the Sedaca be responsible 
 for the engagements of Beth Holim, except for what 
 may be annually granted in the Meeting of the 
 Elders for the expense of the dispensary and the 
 relief of our sick, which assistance shall not. be 
 denied to the Charity without giving it notice at 
 least one year beforehand.
 
 70 
 XVIII. 
 
 of % ^ffmngs for fern; Sattta: atrtr 
 
 As the Gabay of the Sedaca is to receive 
 annually, from the Parnas of J<?rra /Santa and 
 Cautivos, the amount of the offerings for the said 
 Misvot, there shall be an account in the Sedaca 
 books with him. 
 
 1st. As respects those of Terra Santa, the 
 Mohamad shall be obliged to remit the amount 
 annually, or at least every two years, in the follow- 
 ing proportions, namely, for the Kaal of Jerusalem, 
 eleven parts in twenty-four ; for that of Safet, 
 seven parts in twenty-four ; and for that of 
 Hebron, six parts in twenty-four. 
 
 2nd. As respects the offerings for Cautivos, the 
 Mahamad, in complete Makamad, may dispose 
 of them, or of such part as they may think proper, 
 for the redemption of Captives of the Jewish nation 
 only, and not to liberate those taken for public or 
 private debts, nor for any other purpose ; but on 
 any urgent occasion it shall be competent to the 
 Meeting of the Elders to authorise the Mahamad, 
 in complete Mohamad^ to apply a sum from the 
 said fund, in aid of any distressed Jewish Congre- 
 gation, if at the time there be no claims on it from 
 captives.
 
 71 
 
 XIX. 
 
 0f S^ultees, anb Jfonmtrs ia 
 
 As death makes no distinction of persons, it has 
 been a very laudable custom in our Congregation, 
 and one which we ought to preserve, not to make 
 any distinctions among the deceased, whether in 
 respect to the graves, or the honours conferred in 
 Synagogue. 
 
 1st. All persons of either sex, and of whatever 
 condition, being Yehidim or Congregators of this 
 Kaal on dying, shall be buried in our Beth-Haim, 
 following each other in rows, in the order of their 
 burial, always excepting those who, according to 
 our Ascamot, shall have incurred the penalty of 
 not being buried in the Carreira ; and for children 
 there shall be made a separate row, between the 
 rows of adults, as may be found necessary, observ- 
 ing that whoever shall be interred in a reserved 
 grave, purchased before death, shall in all respects 
 be considered as if buried in the regular Carreira. 
 
 2nd. In the measurement of the tombs to be 
 placed upon the graves, there shall also be the 
 same equality none exceeding six feet and a 
 quarter in length, three in breadth, 'and one and a 
 half in height, including the thickness of the stone 
 in the rows of adult persons, except it be to cover
 
 72 
 
 two graves, in the like proportions; and in the 
 rows for children, they shall not exceed three feet 
 and a half in length, one and a half in breadth, 
 and one and a half in height, including also the 
 thickness of the stone, and should any one exceed 
 these limits, the party placing it shall be obliged to 
 reduce it immediately without any excuse being of 
 avail, and the Keeper of the Beth-Haim shall have 
 to his charge to give notice to the Mohamad when- 
 ever any one shall put a stone exceeding the above 
 limits, that they may order it to be altered; and 
 the said Keeper shall have under his care to 
 measure the ground for each grave before it is 
 opened, in order that they may not take more 
 space than two feet and a quarter in breadth for 
 each grave of an adult, or three feet and three 
 quarters if with a foundation and a half foot be- 
 tween each, and that each grave for children do 
 not exceed one foot and a quarter in breadth, one 
 quarter of a foot between each : the depth for an 
 adult's grave being at least five feet, and for a 
 child's at least four feet. 
 
 3rd. Each deceased person buried in the Carreira 
 shall be accompanied to the grave by the Hazan 
 of ITebra, and have the usual ceremonies performed 
 in 'Beth-Haim, according to age and sex, and time 
 of burial ; an Ashcaba shall be said for such person 
 in Synagogue on the following Sabbath, if it be 
 not a day of festival, and during the days of the
 
 73 
 
 Abelut in the morning, in case prayers are not 
 read with Minyan, in the house of the deceased, 
 or of the Abelim, and likewise on the mornings 
 when it is customary to make the Honras in 
 Synagogue, which are on the seventh day, the 
 thirtieth day, and at the end of the eleven months. 
 
 4th. In the Ashcaba to be said in Synagogue on 
 the first Sabbath after the burial, the relations of 
 the deceased shall offer as customary, but if there 
 be none, nor any one to offer in their stead, the 
 Parnas of Hebra shall offer in such Ashcaba. 
 
 5th. An Ashcaba may likewise be said in Syna- 
 gogue for any Jew not buried in our Beth-Haim, 
 if any one desire it, and make an- offering therein, 
 but for the first time it shall not be done without 
 permission from the presiding Parnas ; and should 
 there be two or more Ashcabot on the same day, 
 they shall give precedence to those, buried in our 
 Beih-Haim, and to those for men, over women, and 
 where other circumstances are equal, to the person 
 first buried. 
 
 6th. On each Sabbath afternoon Ashcaba shall be 
 said for all those who have had the first Ashcaba in 
 the customary manner, until the completion of 
 eleven months after decease; likewise for all the 
 deceased who shall have left, or whose relations 
 have paid for them, a Legacy for the Sedaca often 
 pounds or upwards, Ashcaba shall be said every 
 month during the afternoon service ; dividing their
 
 74 
 
 number between the several Thursdays of each 
 month, and likewise on Kipur night after the 
 evening service, which shall serve for all the month 
 of Tisri, and the Mahamad, in complete Mahamad, 
 may include in this number any person appearing 
 to them meritorious, even where no legacy has been 
 left. 
 
 7th. On the three days on which it is customary 
 to make Honras in Synagogue for any deceased 
 person, there shall be lighted two large wax-lights 
 at the Echal, and two on the T/ieba. No corpse 
 shall be brought to Synagogue or to the Medrash 
 before burial, for the purpose of receiving Honras, 
 except that of the Haham of this Kaal, and only in 
 that case, or for the death of a Haham of another 
 Kaal, shall funeral sermons be preached in Syna- 
 gogue, and then only with the permission of the 
 Mahamad. 
 
 8th. The Misva of saying Kadish in Synagogue 
 shall only be given to one having lost father or 
 mother, during the first eleven months after their 
 decease, and no Ashcaba shall be said for a person 
 dying under thirteen years of age, except at the 
 time of burial, and during the seven days of mourn- 
 ing, if required.
 
 75 
 XX. 
 
 |)r0{n0if:i:0n ajgahtst making |)r0stlgtes, against 
 Clanfresiittt gtarriag^s, att0 Ularrgmg ixritjr a 
 |),ers,oit of ,n0%r Jfaiijr. 
 
 1st. It is expressly prohibited to every YaJiid or 
 Congregator of this Jiaa/ to persuade any person of 
 another religion to change it for ours, or to cir- 
 cumcise or bathe, or assist in the circumcision or 
 bathing of any such person. 
 
 2nd. It is also expressly prohibited to every 
 Yahid or Congregator to contract marriage with a 
 person of another faith, or to consent to any such 
 person passing by his name, this being at once a 
 high religious offence, and tending to the injury and 
 disquiet of the congregation. 
 
 3rd. It is also expressly prohibited to all parties 
 under the guardianship of parents or guardians, to 
 contract marriage, or give or take Kidushim, without 
 their consent and sanction. It is also forbidden to 
 any one in any way to act or assist in the celebra- 
 tion of such marriage. Nor is it permitted to any 
 Yahid or Congregator to marry, except through 
 the recognised officer of the congregation, and with 
 the proper authority obtained from the gentlemen 
 of the Mahamad. 
 
 4th. In all cases where it shall appear that parties 
 seeking permission to be married have rendered
 
 76 
 
 themselves unworthy of having the ceremony per- 
 formed by the usual officer of the Kaal, the Ma- 
 hamad shall appoint another person to officiate at 
 such marriage. 
 
 5th. That any Yahid or Congregator intending 
 to marry in some town or place in the country 
 where there is a recognised Jewish congregation 
 may, with the sanction of the gentlemen of the 
 Mahamad, have his marriage solemnised by the 
 Hazan of that congregation ; but in all cases where 
 the appointed officer for marriages, and the Secre- 
 tary, as Registrar, shall have to attend in the 
 country, their travelling expenses, and an adequate 
 sum for their attendance, shall be paid to them by 
 the person marrying at such distance. 
 
 6th. In case of violation of any clause of this 
 Ascama, the gentlemen of the Mahamad shall have 
 authority to inflict pecuniary penalties on the parties 
 according to the nature and degree of the offence, 
 but not exceeding the sum of twenty pounds. But 
 in case it shall appear to them that the offence 
 deserves exclusion from being Yahid, they shall 
 submit the matter to a meeting of Elders for their 
 decision.
 
 77 
 
 XXI. 
 
 0f girths, gtarriag^s, atifr |htnab. 
 
 It having been found highly important to have 
 authentic registers to certify the dates of the birth, 
 marriage, and death of persons belonging to our 
 congregation, independently of the registry of the 
 country, it is resolved as follows : 
 
 1st. There shall always be kept in the Mohamad 
 chamber a book, wherein the Secretary shall register, 
 both by the Hebrew and English name, the day 
 of birth of every son and daughter of a Yahid or 
 Congregator of this Kaal by a Jewess, for which 
 purpose early notice shall be given by the parent 
 to the said Secretary of the day of birth of his son 
 or daughter, which date is to be registered as well 
 by the Jewish calendar as by that of the country. 
 And the said Secretary shall be annually paid for 
 his trouble out of the funds of the Sedaca, what the 
 Mohamad may think proper; for the reimburse- 
 ment of which there shall be charged to each person 
 having a son or daughter one shilling on each 
 occasion, to be placed to his account of offerings, 
 except to poor persons who may be uriable to 
 pay it. 
 
 2nd. There shall also be kept a register of the 
 marriages celebrated in our congregation, which
 
 78 
 
 shall consist of a copy of the Ketulot, to be made 
 in a book, either by the Haham of the Kaal or the 
 other officer or officers of the Kaal whom the 
 Mohamad may appoint for the purpose of marrying 
 and preparing the Ketubot; which book shall be 
 always kept in the Maliamad chamber, and each 
 person on being married shall pay the cost of the 
 stamps of his Ketuba, if any be payable, as also any 
 other tax that may be imposed by government. 
 
 3rd. A register shall also be kept by the Secre- 
 tary of the persons buried in our Beth-Haim, with 
 the date of their burial, both by the Hebrew and 
 common calendar; which particulars the keepers of 
 the said Betli-Haim shall give in, every three months 
 to the Secretary, and this register shall also be kept 
 in the Maliamad chamber.
 
 79 
 XXII. 
 
 ffte nf i\\t 
 
 lip Ul UJl 
 
 It having been found beneficial to have a depu- 
 tation to watch over our interests, and consult on 
 what may conduce to our welfare ; and a Board of 
 Deputies composed of representatives from each 
 of the Synagogues in London, and designated the 
 " Deputies of British Jews," having been instituted 
 for this purpose, be it enacted, 
 
 1st. That the deputation from our congregation 
 to the said Board of Deputies shall consist of five 
 gentlemen, to be chosen from the body of Elders 
 or Yehidim, by the suffrages of the Yehidim at 
 large. That on the non-acceptance, resignation, or 
 death of any of the said deputies, the Mahamad 
 (which shall be complete,) shall, within two months 
 of such vacancy occurring, give public notice of the 
 same, either by proclamation in Synagogue, or by 
 any other means they may deem fit, and invite the 
 Yehidim to meet at the Mahamad chamber on a 
 day to be appointed for that purpose, to put in 
 nomination any person or persons they may think 
 proper to be elected a deputy or deputies; and 
 that at an interval not exceeding fourteen days from 
 such day of nomination a ballot shall be taken in
 
 80 
 
 the said chamber for the election of such deputy 
 or deputies, which ballot shall remain open from 
 the hours of eleven to two in the day; and the 
 person or persons having the largest number of 
 votes (or, should the votes be equal, the eldest of 
 those having such equal votes,) shall be declared 
 elected, and proclaimed in Synagogue ; that no 
 proxies shall be admitted at such elections, nor any 
 Elder or Yahid be allowed to v ote, or be returned 
 a deputy, who shall be in arrear'with the Syna- 
 gogue for more than twelve months Finta and 
 offerings; and every deputy must be at least 
 twenty-one years of age. 
 
 2nd. That the said deputies shall make observa- 
 tion of all legislative or municipal enactments, and 
 take such steps as they may deem requisite, in 
 order that no infringement upon the religious rites, 
 customs, and privileges of the Jewish community 
 may ensue therefrom. They shall also watch over- 
 the interests, and deliberate on what may conduce 
 to the welfare and improve the political condition 
 of the Jews in this empire ; and for these purposes 
 they may adopt the measures they may think meet, 
 consult the best legal opinions, and call to their aid 
 and advice, and obtain the co-operation of such 
 persons as they may deem requisite and proper. 
 
 3rd. That the expenses which may be incurred 
 shall be borne by our congregation, in the propor- 
 tion which the relative number of our representa-
 
 81 
 
 tives bear to the whole number of deputies, and 
 shall be paid out of the funds of the Sedaca, the 
 said deputies giving an account thereof to the meet- 
 ing of the Elders ; and at no time shall they incur 
 an expense of which the contingent of our Syna- 
 gogue shall in any one year exceed 100, without 
 first obtaining the consent of the Elders. 
 
 4th. That at any time when the said deputies 
 shall have occasion to interfere with regard to mat- 
 ters of a- religious nature, they shall always do so 
 under the advice and direction of the ecclesiastical 
 authorities, with whom alone rests, as heretofore, 
 the spiritual guidance of the community. 
 
 5th. That the period of service of the deputies 
 shall be three years, at the termination of which 
 they shall be eligible for re-election; and any ap- 
 pointment of deputies made in that interval of time 
 shall only extend to the periodical election, the 
 ballot for which shall always take place in the first 
 week in the month of lyar. 
 
 6th. That in any meeting of the Elders where 
 the deputies shall declare that they have any matter 
 to propose, the said matter shall have preference 
 to be submitted immediately after those contained 
 in the speech of the presiding Parnas ; and at all 
 times when the deputies shall request the Mohamad 
 to call a meeting of the Elders, the Mohamad shall 
 be obliged to call the said meeting for the time 
 required. 
 
 a
 
 82 
 
 7th. That the deputies shall, in the months of 
 Adar and Elul in each year, furnish the Parnas 
 president with a report of their proceedings, who 
 shall lay the same before the next ensuing meeting 
 of the Elders. 
 
 8th. That in all proceedings of the board of 
 deputies relative to Legislative and Municipal en- 
 actments, and in all matters of importance, the board 
 may (previously to taking any measures founded on 
 such proceeding) specially report their intention 
 to the Parnas president, who shall immediately cause 
 such report to be publicly announced as open to 
 the perusal of the Yehidim of the congregation. 
 
 9th. That in cases of emergency, when even a 
 short delay would be fatal to the object to be 
 attained, the deputies may adopt such proceedings 
 as may appear to them in such case to be indis- 
 pensable, and report forthwith to the Parnas presi- 
 dent, who shall communicate the same to the Yehi- 
 dim, as before mentioned. 
 
 10th. That on a requisition in writing, signed 
 by ten of the Yehidim, addressed to the Parnas 
 president, it shall be incumbent on him to convene 
 forthwith a meeting of the Yehidim, to deliberate 
 upon and to express their sentiments on any mea- 
 sures about to be proposed or undertaken by the 
 deputies ; and the president shall communicate the 
 result of the deliberations of such meeting to the 
 deputies.
 
 83 
 
 llth. That the board of deputies shall be 
 authorised to make official communications with 
 the Government of the country in reference to all 
 matters connected with the purposes of their 
 appointment. 
 
 12th. That the said deputies shall have power to 
 receive into their body representatives from any of 
 the Jewish Synagogues in this empire, subject, 
 however, to such regulations with regard to their 
 proportionate numbers as may be determined upon 
 by the board of deputies.
 
 84 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 meeting % |)r0p*ritts nf % 
 
 For the due security and preservation of the 
 properties of the Synagogues, it is resolved, 
 
 1st. The real property of the Synagogues shall 
 be invested in the names of seven Elders; whenever 
 the said number shall be reduced by death or 
 otherwise, to three, the Elders shall name others to 
 complete the number of seven; and every such 
 trustee shall sign a deed declaring that he holds it 
 in trust for the use of the Yehidim, and at the 
 disposal of the Elders by whose orders in regard 
 to the said property they engage to abide. 
 
 2nd. That of the funds that have hitherto been 
 bought, or that shall hereafter be bought with the 
 amount of legacies left to the Sedaca, the interest 
 or dividends alone are to be expended; the 
 capital shall always continue permanent, and shall 
 not at any time be sold, except it be to relieve the 
 congregation from some urgent necessity, from 
 which God protect us ; and even then only by a 
 resolution of the Elders at a meeting convened for 
 that purpose, there not being any other fund or 
 income to recur to. 
 
 3rd. When any sums of money shall in future
 
 85 
 
 be bequeathed or given to the Sedaca, the Mohamad 
 shall, before the annual meeting, invest them in 
 government stock, as part of the fund of legacies, 
 unless the persons who give or bequeath them, or 
 their executors, declare that they are towards the 
 annual expense of the Sedaca. 
 
 4th. A fund shall be maintained for the repairs 
 of the Holy Synagogues and the buildings, for 
 which purpose the Elders shall from time to time 
 appropriate any sums which may be available out 
 of income or arising from any other source. 
 
 5th. The securities belonging to the two funds 
 above-mentioned of legacies and for repairs of the 
 Holy Synagogues, likewise all others that may be 
 the property of the Sedaca and of the funds under 
 the administration of the Synagogue, shall stand 
 in the names of four persons appointed by a 
 meeting of Elders, and at any time when a vacancy 
 may occur by death, or any other cause, the 
 Mohamad shall report it to the Elders at the 
 first meeting in order to the appointment of 
 another person or persons to supply the vacancy. 
 And it is declared and understood that all trustees 
 in whose names may be placed any funds belonging 
 to the Synagogue, or to the trusts under its ad- 
 ministration, are bound to resign their trust when- 
 ever called upon so to do by a resolution of the 
 Elders.
 
 86 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 of % Ijtatfrlg gjhrfoanas 
 Cjmnfe 0f % 
 
 The assistance of our Poor being one of the 
 principal objects of Sedaca, and the provident ad- 
 ministration of the said charity being of the 
 utmost importance to the welfare of this congre- 
 gation, it has been found necessary to establish the 
 following regulations : 
 
 1st. The charities of the Sedaca shall be admi- 
 nistered by the Mahamad, assisted by the Board of 
 Guardians, who shall have power to make rules and 
 regulations for the administration of relief, subject 
 always to the following restrictions. 
 
 2nd. No person or family can be admitted on the 
 Sedaca list to have monthly or annual stipend, 
 unless by a resolution of a meeting of the Elders ; 
 and that such person or family be of the Portuguese 
 or Spanish Jews, or of others accustomed to con- 
 gregate with us, and natives of this kingdom, or 
 having resided therein at least five successive years ; 
 but where any person shall be upwards of sixty 
 years of age, having at the same time the above- 
 named qualifications, the Mohamad shall have 
 authority to admit such person on the said list ; and 
 likewise they may admit, at all times, the widow of
 
 87 
 
 any person dying in the receipt of monthly allow- 
 ances from Sedaca: but no person who has married 
 within three years shall be admitted on the said list 
 of monthly stipends, nor entitled to receive any 
 other assistance except Matsot; and all such as 
 shall not have been married by the Haham, or by 
 the person who officiates in his place, shall be 
 excluded from all relief, with the same exception, 
 for a period of five years, except on some very 
 urgent occasion. 
 
 3rd. If any person or family of those admitted 
 on the Sedaca list, or receiving any assistance 
 therefrom, should desire to emigrate, the Mahamad 
 may grant them as Despacho, to the amount of one 
 year of the monthly or other allowance which they 
 receive from the Sedaca ; and if they desire to 
 proceed to America or Asia, they may grant them 
 to the amount of three years of the said monthly 
 or other allowances : but in case the person or 
 family receiving said Despacho do not quit this 
 kingdom, or, having quitted it, return back, they 
 shall be excluded from receiving assistance from 
 the Sedaca, except Matsot, for the term of three 
 years, having received the Despacho for one year, 
 or for the term of ten years if they have received 
 the Despacho of three years. To other persons a 
 grant may be made sufficient to defray the expense 
 of their passage to Holland or France, or the 
 nearest port in the route of their destination.
 
 88 
 
 4th. All persons receiving monthly allowances, 
 or any other assistance from Sedaca, shall be 
 obliged to attend Synagogue every Sabbath and 
 Festival, and on other days of the week as much as 
 possible; and whoever shall fail doing this, not 
 giving satisfactory excuse to the Mohamad, may be 
 condemned by the said gentlemen to lose part or 
 the whole of his assistance from the Sedaca for the 
 time that may appear to them just, not exceeding 
 three months. 
 
 5th. Should any person pledge any monthly 
 allowance or other benefit which he may receive 
 from the Sedaca (except only to the Society of Beth 
 Holim, to be admitted an invalid, the consent of the 
 Mahamad being first obtained in writing), or sell 
 the coals or Matsot given him, he shall be excluded 
 from all benefit therefrom for such time as the 
 Mahamad may think proper. 
 
 6th. And should any person summon the gentle- 
 men of the Mohamad, or the Elders of the congre- 
 gation, or any one of them as an Elder before any 
 magistrate or court of justice, to complain of their 
 not having answered his petition, or granted the 
 charity he required, or any other complaint against 
 our government, he shall be excluded from all 
 benefits which he receives, or might receive from 
 the Sedaca or Synagogue, until he have given satis- 
 faction to the said Elders or Mahamad whom he 
 has summoned.
 
 89 
 XXV, 
 
 0f ||00r 
 
 As well as it is the duty of the Mohamad to dis- 
 tribute the money of the Sedaca amongst the needy 
 of our congregation, it is also their duty to 
 endeavour to receive what they can in reimburse- 
 ment of the expense they may have been at, with 
 any particular person, as far as they can do so 
 legally. When any person receiving monthly 
 allowance, or other assistance from the Sedaca, 
 happens to die, without leaving wife, children, or 
 grandchildren, the Mohamad shall endeavour to 
 possess themselves of all the effects which such 
 persons may leave, making an inventory thereof, 
 and converting the whole into money, of which they 
 shall enter an exact account in the books of the 
 Sedaca ; and from the nett proceeds they may 
 deduct what the Sedaca expended for the deceased 
 and pay the Parnassim of Hebra and of Beth Holim 
 what those Societies likewise expended for the 
 deceased; and the remainder shall be kept in 
 reserve, to be delivered to any person who may 
 afterwards appear, and to whom it may be proved 
 to belong ; otherwise the Elders may dispose of the 
 same as they may think fit.
 
 90 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 % |)wialites 0f 
 
 The better to secure obedience to the penalties 
 imposed by the different Ascamot, 
 
 In all cases and at all times when any person 
 shall be condemned by the Mohamad, in complete 
 Mahamad, in any penalty, and shall not conform 
 to the same within thirty days from the imposition 
 thereof, no Misva shall be given him. nor shall any 
 benefit from the Sedaca be granted to him except 
 Matsot y but if at any time afterwards he shall pro- 
 fess himself ready to submit to the said penalty, 
 and to what further the Mahamad shall impose on 
 him, in consideration of the time he persisted in 
 his contumacy, he shall be relieved from the above 
 named penalties.
 
 91 
 
 XXVII. 
 
 Ic0ulati0it 0f % $0ta; left 
 
 The late Abraham Eodriques Marques, having 
 left by Will one thousand pounds, that out of the 
 Interest thereof the Mahamad of this Kaal should 
 give annually a dower of fifty pounds to a female 
 orphan, and the funds bought with this sum, being 
 1,157 5s. Id. reduced 3 per cent, annuities, 
 and 563 7s. Id. consolidated 3 per cent, annuities 
 under the administration of the Court of Chancery, 
 to fulfil in the best manner the Will of the Testa- 
 tor, the following is resolved : 
 
 1st. That the Mahamad shall annually cause 
 notice to be given, one month before the said 
 dower is to be granted, in order that any female 
 orphan who is desirous of becoming a candidate 
 may send in her petition, and the Mahamad shall 
 give the said dower to such one of the candidates 
 as may appear to them most deserving, or they 
 may decide it by lot, in whichever way they may 
 judge it advisable to determine, observing, how- 
 ever, that should there be among the candidates 
 any one who can prove her affinity to the Testator, 
 she shall be preferred to the rest, according to the 
 express recommendation of the said Testator.
 
 92 
 
 2nd. Should the person to whom the dower is 
 allotted, not marry within two years with one of 
 our Yehidim or Congregators, who shall be ap- 
 proved of by the Mahamad, she shall lose the said 
 dower ; and in no case shall the money be with- 
 drawn from Chancery until such marriage be 
 arranged, and the papers signed. 
 
 3rd. The Mahamad shall not dispose of 
 any such dower, without there being sufficient 
 funds in Chancery at their disposal for that pur- 
 pose, and whenever, owing to parties not marrying 
 within the limited time, there shall be enough for 
 two dowers, the said Mahamad may give them 
 away at the same time.
 
 93 
 
 XXVIII. 
 
 of % Stjrool of Isaac & 
 
 The late Isaac Da Costa Villa Real having given 
 in his life time certain funds for the establishment, 
 with the interest thereof, of a school for the in- 
 struction of girls, the daughters of indigent Yehidim 
 or Congregators of this Kaal, which establishment 
 began in the year 5490, and the property now in 
 existence belonging to this Institution being 2,565 
 11s. Sd. Consolidated 3 per cent. Annuities which 
 stands in the names of four Trustees : 
 
 1st. At all times when any of the said four 
 Trustees shall be deficient, the Mohamad shall fill 
 up the vacancy, and at no time shall the capital, or 
 any part thereof, be expended, but its annual pro- 
 duce shall be applied for the instruction and cloth- 
 ing of twenty girls, or as many as the funds will 
 admit of. 
 
 2nd. The election of the master or mistress of 
 this School shall be made by the said Mohamad, 
 in company with the heirs of the said donor, who 
 choose to be present thereat ; likewise the Mohamad 
 shall elect the girls to be admitted into this School, 
 except that out of the twenty the said heirs of the 
 donor may make choice of four ; and for the task
 
 94 
 
 of purchasing the clothing for the said girls, and 
 whatever else may be necessary for this Institution, 
 the Mohamad shall provide a person whom they 
 shall pay out of the funds of the Sedaca. 
 
 3rd. And with respect to the age of the girls, the 
 instruction they are to receive, and everything else 
 concerning this charity, the Mahamad shall strictly 
 follow the directions left by the deceased donor, 
 which are written down in a book marked by him- 
 self, which shall always be kept in the Mahamad 
 Chamber, to enter therein the account of the receipt 
 and expenses of this charity, as also any new regu- 
 lations which the Mahamad may think proper to 
 adopt respecting it.
 
 95 
 XXIX. 
 
 of t0s*s 
 
 The late Moses Lamego having given, in the year 
 5517, five thousand pounds capital of Bank Reduced 
 Annuities, for the Mahamad to pay over the interest 
 of four thousand pounds annually to the adminis- 
 trators and treasurer of the Orphan Society, entitled 
 Shaare Or a Veaby Yetominij and the interest of one 
 thousand pounds to be for the salary of an English 
 master for the Heshaim Schools, according to his 
 declaration, dated 30th Tisri, 5517: for the fulfil- 
 ment of this pious intention, it is ordered, 
 
 1st. The said five thousand pounds annuities 
 shall continue in the names of four trustees, under 
 the conditions above specified. 
 
 2nd. The Schools of Heshaim having been 
 abolished, the Elders, by virtue of the authority 
 delegated to them by the deceased donor, resolve, 
 that the dividends on the said one thousand pounds 
 Reduced Bank Annuities be paid over to the 
 Treasurer of the School of Shaare Tikva, during 
 the pleasure of the said Elders, to be applied in aid 
 of the payment of a salary to the English teacher.
 
 96 
 
 XXX. 
 
 uf % j&atuig of UJajjasshn Cobim. 
 
 A Society entitled Mahassim Tobim having been 
 established in this Kaal in the year 5509, with the 
 approbation of the Elders of the Congregation, its 
 intention being to assist our poor by lending them 
 money to follow their trades, and to establish in 
 employment the children of the said poor, which 
 good purpose merits all the protection which the 
 government of our Congregation can give. 
 
 The said Society shall be regulated by its 
 Governors, who, to be admitted, shall always be 
 approved of by the Mohamad ; and to all general 
 meetings held of the said Society, the Gentlemen of 
 the Mohamad shall be summoned, and have a vote 
 therein.
 
 97 
 
 XXXI. 
 
 of % Jttstitutbit of Sljamt 
 
 The schools under the management of Hesliaim 
 having been abolished, and a society established in 
 lieu thereof, under the name of S/iaare Tickva, for 
 the support of a Spanish and Portuguese Jews' 
 Charity School, for the education of the youth of 
 our poor in the principles of our holy religion, the 
 Elders of the Congregation, anxious in every way 
 to promote so laudable a purpose, have resolved, 
 
 1st. That the said Institution of Shaare Ticlcva 
 be administered by Governors chosen by its own 
 members, and subject to such regulations as they 
 may from time to time think it advisable to adopt. 
 
 2nd. That a Nedaba for the said Society be made 
 annually, on the day of Kipur, and offerings at any 
 other time. 
 
 3rd. That a grant in aid of the said Institution 
 be proposed at every annual meeting of the Elders. 
 
 4th. That the Mohamad be always considered 
 honorary Governors, and be summoned to all meet- 
 ings, and individually have a right to vote on all 
 occasions, although they may not be subscribers to 
 the Charity. 
 
 ii
 
 98 
 
 XXXTT. 
 
 (Institution of % |)cs|nlKt of |Usifat pubcrim. 
 
 The late Benjamin Mendes da Costa and Isaac de 
 David Levy having in the year 5522 given 30 a- 
 year, Long Annuities, to support a Yeshiba entitled, 
 Assifat Haberim, which fund, in the year 5590, 
 was, by a resolution of the Elders, converted into 
 632 reduced 3 per cent, annuities, to fulfil the 
 good intentions of the donors, it is ordered : 
 
 1st. That the said fund of reduced 3 per cent, 
 annuities shall always continue in the names of four 
 persons, and on the death of either of them the 
 Elders shall appoint another to supply the vacancy; 
 that the interest and annual proceeds thereof shall 
 be distributed among the students who shall attend 
 the said Yeshiba two nights in each week, which 
 shall be Monday and Wednesday, two hours and a 
 half each night, from eight days after Sucoth until 
 after Purim, except on holidays or fast days, to 
 read therein Arambam and his Commentators. 
 
 2nd. The distribution of the said money, as well 
 as the election of persons to belong to the Yeshiba, 
 shall be vested in the Treasurer and Parnas of 
 Heshaim, whose duty it shall be to perpetuate this 
 good purpose.
 
 99 
 
 3rd. And if any person should be inclined to 
 give or leave any sum for the benefit and increase 
 of this Yesliiba, provided it be not to alter its 
 object, the same may be accepted and added to 
 its funds.
 
 100 
 XXXIII. 
 
 The late Moses de Benjamin Nunes Lara, having 
 in his life time placed in trust and presented to the 
 Congregation certain funds and effects, to be applied 
 in the establishment of various charitable and other 
 objects, to take effect after the demise of himself 
 and his wife, and the Elders having accepted the 
 same under the conditions stipulated by the bene- 
 volent donor, as set forth at length in a Deed of 
 Trust, bearing date the 13th December, 1827, 
 which is deposited in the archives of the Synagogue, 
 for the due execution of such Trust in conformity 
 with the intentions of the deceased, it is resolved: 
 
 1st. That the said funds and effects now stand- 
 ing in the names of four trustees, shall always con- 
 tinue invested in four names, and on the death or 
 resignation of any of them, the Elders shall appoint 
 another to fill up such vacancy, so that the funds 
 may always remain in the names of four trustees. 
 
 2nd. That the entire management and disposition 
 of the interest of said Trust funds shall, in con- 
 formity with the stipulations of the said donor, be 
 placed under the administration of the Gentlemen 
 of the Mahamad, together with the said four 
 trustees, who shall be designated, " The Special 
 Committee for Benevolent Purposes."
 
 101 
 
 3rd. That the said Committee shall, in the ad- 
 ministration of the said Trust funds, follow the 
 orders and directions set forth in the aforesaid 
 Deed of Trust, both with regard to the institutions 
 to be established, and the persons to be selected 
 for the benefits thereof, and conform in every 
 respect to the instructions laid down. 
 
 4th. That the Gentlemen of the Mahamad shall 
 lay before the Elders, at every annual meeting, a 
 statement of the funds of this Trust, and of any 
 additions or alterations which may be made therein 
 by virtue of the powers delegated to them.
 
 102 
 
 XXXIV. 
 
 Crust oi % hit fxrtmlr (Sueballa. 
 
 The Elders of the Congregation having by their 
 resolution, confirmed on the 28th Tebet, 5616, 
 accepted the Trust of 3,000 Consolidated 3 per 
 cent. Annuities, presented by Judah Guedalla, Esq., 
 for certain religious and charitable purposes (which 
 sum has been placed in the names of Trustees) 
 in order therefore to fulfil the pious intentions of 
 the donor), it is hereby enacted : 
 
 1st. That the dividends on 2,700 consols, 
 part of the said capital, be applied as follows 
 60 15s. per annum to the payment of the 
 students in the Yeshiba, or College, founded by the 
 donor in Jerusalem, entitled Beth Guedalla, to be 
 remitted half-yearly, say, in the months of Adar 
 and Elulj in each year, according to the agreement 
 made with the Rabbaniin, which agreement is 
 deposited in the archives of our Congregation, 
 and that the residue of the said dividends, after 
 defraying all incidental expenses of the College, 
 including those of administering the Trust, shall 
 accumulate, and from time to time be applied to 
 such purposes connected therewith, as in the dis-
 
 103 
 
 cretion of the Trustees arid Gentlemen of the 
 Mahamad may be deemed advisable. 
 
 3rd. That the interest or dividends on 300 
 consols, other part of the said capital of 3,000 
 Consolidated, 3 per cent. Annuities, shall be paid 
 annually in the month of Elul, to the Committee of 
 the National and Infant School, to be by them 
 applied in the purchase of articles of clothing for 
 the children in that school. 
 
 4th. That the management of all matters con- 
 nected with this Trust shall be vested in the 
 Trustees, jointly with the Gentlemen of the 
 Mahamad, who shall keep a due record of all its 
 proceedings, and report thereon annually to the 
 Meeting of Elders.
 
 f
 
 ALTERATIONS MADE IN ASCAMOT 
 
 Since their revision in the year 1872. 
 
 A SCAM A IV. 
 
 CLAUSE 1. The words "and guards for the 
 safety of the bodies " omitted. 
 
 CLAUSE 5. Rescinded, and the following sub- 
 stituted : 
 
 " That the Keeper be responsible for the due 
 care of the Ground." 
 
 ASCAMA V. 
 mtfr wites of fyt U 
 
 CLAUSE 4. Rescinded. 
 
 CLAUSE 10. The word " January " substituted 
 for that of " Kislev." 
 
 CLAUSE 11. Rescinded.
 
 ASCAMA VI. 
 
 of fibers of % Congregation. 
 
 CLAUSE 3. Rescinded. 
 CLAUSE 5. Rescinded. 
 
 CLAUSE 10. The following words omitted: 
 
 " And if at the opening of any Meeting there 
 should not be the said number present, the 
 absentees shall be fined or excused at the 
 next Meeting." 
 
 ASCAMA VIII. 
 (Bletfrons atto ^eplaitorcs matting tire "Uoibos 
 
 CLAUSE 1. Rescinded, and the following sub- 
 stituted : 
 
 " The Mahamad shall annually elect, at least 
 eight days before the Sabbath preceding 
 Rosh Ashana, two Yehidim to serve as 
 Hatan Torah and Hatan Beresheet; the elder
 
 of the two elected being Hatan Torah, and 
 the younger Hatan Beresheet. And the 
 Mohamad shall at the same time elect two 
 other Yehidim to serve the said offices in 
 the Branch Synagogue. And the elections 
 shall be proclaimed in the two Synagogues 
 on the Sabbath preceding Rosh Ashana" 
 
 CLAUSE 3. Rescinded. 
 
 CLAUSE 4. Rescinded, and the following sub- 
 stituted, to be numbered 3 : 
 
 " That in case of non-acceptance by those 
 elected, the said Misvot shall be fulfilled by 
 any persons offering themselves, who shall 
 be approved by the Mohamad, and if no 
 one so offers, then by the Members of the 
 Mohamad themselves." 
 
 CLAUSE 5. Rescinded, and the following sub- 
 stituted, to be numbered 4 : 
 
 " That in case any person, after his election 
 to this Misva, should lose by death any rela- 
 tion for whom he or his wife should take 
 Abel, he shall be exempt from serving, and 
 his place shall be supplied as declared in 
 Clause 3."
 
 ASCAMA XI. 
 
 Electrons ano gutbs of % Officers of % |iaal. 
 
 CLAUSE 3. In the 3rd line, after the word 
 " Mahamad," to omit the word " and " ; in the 4th 
 line, after the word li appointed," to add the words, 
 " and of the Board of Guardians " ; after the words 
 " Rosh Hodesh " to add the word " and" ; after the 
 word " OflBcers," to omit the remaining words of 
 the Clause. 
 
 CLAUSE 5. After the word "Committees," to 
 add the words, "and Meetings of the Board of 
 Guardians." 
 
 ASCAMA XIV. 
 
 (Bltdiam of % ||arnassi:m of jfcsfmim, ;l)ebra, 
 Santa antr (ftautrfros. 
 
 In this Ascama the portions relating to Cautivos 
 rescinded. 
 
 ASCAMA XVIII. 
 
 Initiations of tljt ^ffjerings for Ccrra Santa 
 antr Caittibos. 
 
 In this Ascama the portions relating to Cautivos 
 rescinded.
 
 ASCAMA XXIV. 
 
 <)tstribitticm of % glmitjjlir gllofoantes anb 
 Charities of tlje 
 
 CLAUSE 1. Rescinded, and the following sub- 
 stituted: 
 
 1 'The charities of the Sedaca shall be admi- 
 nistered by a Board of Guardians, consist- 
 ing, (1st) of not more than twelve Members 
 to be elected by the Yehidim from their 
 own body; (2nd) the Gentlemen of the 
 Makamad for the time being. The Board 
 of Guardians so constituted shall have 
 power to add to their own body Repre- 
 sentatives of the following Institutions, 
 provided satisfactory arrangements can be 
 made with them, viz. : 
 
 Mehil Sedaca. 
 
 Honen Dalim. 
 
 Mahasim Tobim. 
 
 Trustees of the Lara Fund. 
 
 CLAUSE 2. Rescinded, and the following sub- 
 stituted : 
 
 " No person shall be deemed eligible to re- 
 ceive relief except they be of the Spanish 
 and Portuguese Jews, or others accustomed 
 to congregate with them."
 
 G 
 
 ASCAMA II. 
 
 Regulations respecting % J-inta anb Election of 
 Jfinhiborcs- 
 
 CLAUSE 1. The word " Sebat" substituted in lieu of 
 the word " Tebet." 
 
 CLAUSE 3. The words "1st Adar" substituted in 
 lieu of the words " 15th Sebat." 
 
 CLAUSE 4. The words "25th Sebat" substituted in 
 lieu of the words " 10th Sebat." 
 
 March 12th, 1882. 
 
 A Resolution passed abolishing all Fines for non- 
 acceptance of Offices and non-attendance at Meetings. 
 
 ASCAMA I. 
 
 (Election of tljc Iparnassim anb 6abay of tin $\m\L 
 The following Clause added : 
 
 " Tliat any Yahid elected to the office of Parnas or 
 Gabay shall only become an Elder of the Con- 
 gregation when he shall have accepted and duly 
 served the office." 
 
 ASCAMA VI. 
 
 greetings of fibers of tljc Congregation, 
 
 CLAUSE 2. Rescinded, and the following substi- 
 tuted :
 
 Every third year there shall be an election of 
 Two Elders to act as President and Vice- President 
 of the Chamber of Elders. The President shall 
 preside over their Meetings, and in his absence 
 the duty shall devolve on the Vice -President. 
 The election shall take place at the last Meeting 
 of the Annual Session, and be for a term of three 
 years. The said President or Vice-President 
 shall be referred to on all disputed points, and 
 his decision on such points shall be without 
 appeal. The President for the time being shall 
 declare the votes on every question, and vote 
 himself only when the numbers are equal, as 
 provided for in Section 9. Whenever at any 
 Meeting the said President and Vice-President 
 are absent, the first business entered upon shall 
 be the election of an Elder to preside in their 
 stead for that Meeting only. In case of a 
 vacancy in the office of President or Vice- 
 President, by resignation or death, such vacancy 
 shall be filled up at the first subsequent meeting, 
 and the Elder so elected shall continue in office 
 during the remainder of the said term of three 
 years. The election of President and Vice- 
 President shall be made separately and by ballot, 
 and the two Elders having respectively the 
 largest number of votes shall be declared duly 
 elected President and Vice-President respec- 
 tively."
 
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