A S C A M O T ; 
 
 OK, 
 
 autlr 
 
 THE CONGREGATION OF SPANISH AND 
 PORTUGUESE JEWS, 
 
 ENTITLF.P 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 i: !: r i s E D A N n A M K N n ED. 
 56101850. 
 
 ILoniron : 
 
 PRINTED BY E. VARTY, 27, CAMOMILE STREET, BISHOPSGATE.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 ASCAMOT OF THE YEHIDIM. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 1 . Union of the congregation vii 
 
 2. Institution of the Finta, penalties incurred by non- 
 
 payment of the Finta and Offerings, and mode of 
 election of Fintadores . . ix 
 
 ASCAMOT OF THE ELDERS. 
 
 1. Election of the Pamassim and Gabay of the Kaal, 
 
 penalties incurred by refusal to accept, and duties 
 attached to the offices ...... 1 
 
 2. Regulations respecting the Finta, and election of 
 
 Fintadores 7 
 
 3. Admission of Yehidim, their qualifications, and causes 
 
 for which they may be excluded . . . .10 
 
 4. Eegulations respecting the Fintas for Bethaim, the 
 
 purchase of reserved graves, and the guards of the 
 burial ground . . . . . . .13 
 
 5. Meetings and duties of the Mohamad 17
 
 IV INDEX. 
 
 VAGE 
 
 6. Meetings of the Elders ; Election of their president, 
 
 their authority, their duties, and the mode to be 
 adopted for calling meetings of Yehidim . . 23 
 
 7. Presidency in Synagogue ; authority of the President, 
 
 and penalties of disobedience . . . .29 
 
 8. Elections and Regulations respecting the Noivos de 
 
 Ley .... ... 33 
 
 9. Elections and duties of the Hazanim . . .35 
 
 10. Elections of Hdham and Betlidin, and their duties . 39 
 
 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 Bethaim, and 
 Keeper of the Bath 42 
 
 12. Offerings and Collections in the Synagogue . . 46 
 
 13. Distribution of the seats in Synagogue . . .48 
 
 14. Elections of the Parnassimof Heshaim, Hcbra, Terra 
 
 Santa and Cautivos, and fines for not serving . . 50 
 
 15. Regulations for the government of Hcshaim . . 54 
 
 16. Authority of the Parnassim of Hebra, their duties, 
 
 objects of that Society, and regulations for preserving 
 order in Bethaim .59 
 
 17. Elections of Treasurer and I'arnassim of Beth-jffolim, 
 
 their duties, fines for not serving, and objects of the 
 Society . . 61 
 
 18. Regulations of the offerings for Terra Santa and 
 
 Cautivos 65 
 
 19. Equality of Sepultures, honors to deceased persons, and 
 
 dimensions of the graves and tombstones . . 66 
 
 20. Prohibition against making proselytes, against clan- 
 
 destine marriages, and marrying with persons of 
 
 another faith 70 
 
 21. Register of Births, Marriages, and Burials . . 72 
 
 22. Regulations respecting the Board of Deputies . . 74 
 
 23. Regulations respecting the properties of the Synagogue 79 
 
 24. Distribution of the Monthly Allowances and Charities 
 
 of the Sedaca . . 82
 
 INDEX. V 
 
 PAGE 
 
 25. Administration to the effects of poor persons dying 
 
 without heirs ....... 86 
 
 26. Regulations respecting Life Annuities . . .87 
 
 27. Disobedience to the Penalties of the Ascamot . . 89 
 
 28. Regulation of the Dower left by Abraham Rodriques 
 
 Marques ........ 90 
 
 29. Regulations of the School of Isaac da Costa Villa Real 92 
 
 30. Regulations of the legacy of Moses Lamego . . 94 
 
 31. Regulations of the Society of Mahassim Tobim . . 95 
 
 32. Regulations of the Institution of Shaare Tickva . 96 
 
 33. Institution of the Yesiba of Mahane Rcphael . . 97 
 
 34. Institution of the Yesiba of Assifat Haberim . . 99 
 
 35. Gift of Moses Lara for benevolent purposes . . 101
 
 The following Laws were chiefly promulgated 
 in Portuguese, and in the year 5579 (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 
 rather fidelity of version, than elegance of lan- 
 guage. Hence, a foreign idiom is discernible in 
 many parts of the Work, obviously demonstrating, 
 a translated, not an original, work.
 
 AS C AM O T 
 
 THE Y E H I D I M 
 
 I. 
 
 V" 
 
 gtmon of tlif 
 
 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 preser- 
 vation of this Union is essential, not only to our 
 present, but to our future welfare; it is resolved, 
 that there be not allowed in this City of London 
 and its suburbs, (that is, within six miles distance 
 from our holy Synagogue,) any other than this our 
 Synagogue 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- 
 
 A 2
 
 Vlll 
 
 gogue, within the limits above mentioned, shall be 
 deemed a violator of this Ascama, and become sub- 
 ject to the following penalties : 
 
 To pecuniary fines, according to the gravity of 
 offence ; to exclusion from the list of Yehi- 
 dim, and forfeiture of all rights as a member 
 of the Congregation ; and to refusal of burial 
 in the Carreira of our Bethaim 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 no Yahid or Congre- 
 gator, shall be permitted to assemble for prayers 
 with Minyan, in any private residence, on the 
 mornings when the law is read, except on per- 
 mission first obtained from the gentlemen of the 
 Mohamad ; and any person violating this rule shall 
 be fined c10., for the Sedaca, for each offence. 
 Also, 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.
 
 IX 
 
 II. 
 
 limitation of tye 
 
 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 
 1400 per annum, always subject to the determina- 
 tion 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 Nation shall every 
 two years fix the amount that shall be raised as 
 Finta for the service of the congregation for the en- 
 suing 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 purpose ; 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 
 Mahamad, shall be supplied by the Yehidim, at the 
 aforesaid meeting of election. 
 
 2nd. The following shall not serve together as 
 Fintadores, viz., fathers and sons, brothers, uncles 
 and nephews, brothers or uncles by marriage, nor 
 shall either of the three classes consist of more than 
 two first cousins, either by blood or affinity. 
 
 3rd. Every Fintador shall consider himself pledged 
 not to suffer favour, and affection, or antipathy, to in- 
 fluence him or his votes, but shall act to the best of 
 his deliberate judgment, for the benefit of the Syna- 
 gogue ; and he who does not accept being a Fin- 
 tador, or does not join his associates in the class 
 meetings, as well as in the meeting for making the 
 division of the lists, shall pay a fine of 5 to the 
 Sedaca. 
 
 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 gen- 
 tlemen of the Mohamad and their Adjuntos, those 
 who assist at the election of Parnassim (seven to 
 form a quorum), 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
 
 XI 
 
 or persons evading the payment of the said Fintaand 
 offerings, or any part thereof, and at the end of the 
 year not having paid the Synagogue, 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 
 incur the forfeiture of his seat (of which notice shall 
 be given him) unless the Mohamad receive a satis- 
 factory reason for the non-payment of his debt to 
 the Sedaca.
 
 ASCAMOT 
 
 OF 
 
 THE ELDERS. 
 
 I. 
 vL-ir rtion of tiir iiJarua00tm *v atiai> of UK 
 
 It being highly essential for the good government 
 of this J&aal, that its Mohamad consist of persons 
 of capacity and respectability, fearing God; the 
 election of the four Parnassim and one Gdbay, of 
 which the said "Mohamad is to be composed, should 
 be made with all possible consideration and so- 
 lemnity; to which end, 
 
 1st. The said election shall be made as follows : 
 of two Parnassim, two days before Shabat Agadol; 
 and of two other Parnassim and one Gabay, two 
 days before the sabbath preceding Rosh Ashana,for 
 which purpose the Mohamad shall summon in writ- 
 ing, three days before the day of election, eight 
 Adjuntos, being those who last served the office of 
 Parnas or Gabay, preferring the elder of those who
 
 went out at the same time ; but if any of the Adjuntos 
 so to be summoned, be residing or be absent, thirty 
 miles from London, the Mohamad may in such case 
 summon, in addition to the said eight Adjuntos, 
 an equal number to those so absent or residing at 
 such distance, following the same rule and order 
 of selection ; and should one or more of the said 
 Adjuntos, or of the Parnassim and Gdbay who may 
 be serving in the Mohamad, fail to attend, each one so 
 failing, shall be charged twenty shillings fine, unless 
 ill at home, in Abel, or thirty miles distant from 
 London. 
 
 2nd. Those present shall proceed to the election, 
 not being less than seven in number ; and in case 
 there are not seven, the Mohamad shall summon, in 
 writing, on the same day, for the following, all the 
 Elders, solely as Adjuntos, for the same election. 
 
 3rd. The said election shall be made in the 
 Chamber of the Mahamad in the following form : 
 they shall put into a bag, in the presence of all, five 
 balls of equal size, four white and one coloured, or 
 with a mark, of which, each of the Parnassim and 
 the Gdbay shall draw one, those having the priority 
 who are going out of office ; and should the number 
 of the Mohamad be deficient by one or more, such 
 of the Adjuntos shall proceed to draw, as went out 
 last, the priority being with the eldest of those who 
 went out at the same time, and he who draws the 
 coloured or marked ball, shall nominate the person
 
 to serve the office of Parnas or Gabay ; and all 
 present shall vote upon the said nomination, which 
 shall only be deemed carried by a majority of votes ; 
 and, in case of equal numbers, the presiding Parnas 
 shall have the casting vote ; and in any case where 
 the person nominated shall not have a majority of 
 votes, his name shall not be proposed a second time 
 at that meeting. The election of Gabay shall always 
 precede that of the Parnassim. 
 
 4th. No person can be elected without having 
 been a Yahid, at least two years, nor unless he 
 be above the age of five-and-twenty years, for 
 Gabay, or thirty-five years for Parnas, except he 
 has already been elected Gabay. The following 
 shall not serve together in Mohamad: fathers with 
 sons, sons-in-law or 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 ; and no person shall be again elected 
 Parnas in less than four years from the day of his 
 former election as Parnas or Gabay, nor a second 
 time for Gabay, except he offer himself for either of 
 the above offices ; and should it be a second or 
 subsequent election, the four years shall be reckoned 
 from the day on which the first was made; any 
 election made by error, in contravention of any of 
 the above rules, shall be void.
 
 5th. If any person offer himself to serve any of 
 the said offices, the Mohamad shall assemble with 
 the Adjuntos^ in the same manner as for elections, 
 and decide by a majority of votes whether the said 
 offer shall be accepted. 
 
 6th. Any person elected refusing to serve the 
 office, or neglecting to inform the Mohamad within 
 eight days, of his intention to accept it, shall be 
 fined <30, which fine, as well as all others men- 
 tioned in this Ascama, shall be for the Sedaca ; but 
 if the person elected be above seventy years of age. 
 and shall, within four days from the day of his 
 election, declare to the Mahamad that it does not 
 suit him to accept the office, he shall be exempt 
 from the said fine ; but if he accept the office and 
 should subsequently resign it, he shall pay the 
 same fine as if he were not of that age. 
 
 7th. When any person elected shall refuse to serve 
 any of the said offices, or when any election shall be 
 null, another election shall be made in its stead ; 
 the Mahamad calling together the Adjuntos as for 
 the first election, under the same penalties, and if 
 seven persons do not attend, they may call the 
 same Adjuntos a second time, before they convene 
 the elders as Adjuntos^ observing that for Gdbay 
 there shall not be made more than a second election; 
 and if the person then elected shall refuse to accept, 
 and no other shall offer and be approved of for the 
 said office of Gabay, all the duties of that office shall
 
 devolve on the Parnas who presides, during the 
 time of his presidency, under the same penalty of 
 30. 
 
 8th. 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 the Mohamad shall not, 
 prior to any election, admit solicitations nor protests 
 from any person wishing to be exempted from any 
 of the said offices ; nor can the meetings of the 
 Elders ever interfere in the election of Parnassim or 
 Gabay, except it be to relieve any person from the 
 fine for not serving the said offices ; and at any 
 time when it shall appear to the Mohamad for the 
 time being, that any election of Parnas or Gabay, 
 made within the antecedent one month, is wholly 
 improper, for very important reasons, the said Moha- 
 mad shall have the power to propose in a meeting 
 of Elders, to annul the said election ; but no indivi- 
 dual 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 confirmation, as in 
 the first instance. 
 
 9th. 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 col-
 
 (5 
 
 leagues, in all the offerings in which the Mohamad 
 are accustomed to offer jointly, not exceeding five 
 shillings each time ; but in Ascabot an offering of 
 one shilling shall be made when the family offer but 
 one shilling, or two shillings and sixpence when that 
 sum or more be offered, and each one of the Paruas- 
 sim shall preside three months, namely, from Shabat 
 Agadol till Rosh Hodesh Tamuz, from that day to the 
 sabbath preceding Rosh Ashana, from that day till 
 Rosh Hodesh Tebet, and from that day till Shabat 
 Agadol, beginning with the eldest of those elected, 
 in the antecedent six months. 
 
 10th. Every person who has served or fined for 
 the office of Parnas or Gabay, shall, from the time 
 of his election, be summoned to all meetings of the 
 Elders, as an Elder of the Congregation, during the 
 time of his continuing Yahid. 
 
 llth. In the event of there being no person serv- 
 ing in the Mahamad, all the duties of Parnas shall 
 devolve on the eldest Adjunto of those who last went 
 out of office ; and in his absence, on the next in suc- 
 cession, and so on, following the order prescribed 
 by the Ascama of Elections, until there be a meeting 
 of the Elders, which he shall call within fourteen 
 days from the day on which the duties of the office 
 devolve on him.
 
 II. 
 
 Uc gulattou* rwrcting tf)e dFtttta, anU IBIrctton 
 of 
 
 To provide for the expences of our Synagogue, 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 1400 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 1400, and in the month of 
 Tebet ensuing, notices shall be issued to the Yehi- 
 dim to meet in the Chamber of the Mohamad, on 
 the day and hour which the said Mohamad 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 not less than two hours nor more 
 than three. 
 
 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 
 the degrees of relationship, which, according to the
 
 8 
 
 Ascama of Yehidim, No. 2, prevent their serving toge- 
 ther. And he who shall refuse to accept the office of 
 Fintador^ or shall not declare his intention to accept 
 it within eight days of his election, of which imme- 
 diate notice shall be given him, shall pay a fine 
 of 5 to the Sedaca, and the like fine shall be paid 
 by any Fintador, not joining with his associates in 
 the class meeting, as well as in the meeting for 
 making the division of the lists, and new elections 
 shall be made by the Yehidim in all such cases. 
 
 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 Mohamad forming 
 one, and if there be not five persons in the Mohamad 
 the Yehidim shall also elect, besides the ten Finta- 
 dores, the number of persons wanting to complete 
 the Mohamad, 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 Mohamad may elect another in 
 his stead, under the same restrictions as regards 
 relationship; and the person so elected shall be 
 subject to the same fine for refusal, and his answer 
 shall be given within four and twenty hours. 
 
 5th. When, at a meeting of the Elders, any new 
 Yahid is admitted, the Mohamad, immediately after 
 the confirmation, shall call together the same Ad- 
 juntos that serve for the election of Parnassim, and, 
 together with them, shall assess the said new Yahid ; 
 which assessment shall serve until the period of 
 making the new general Finta ; and if any one of 
 the Gentlemen of the Mohamad or Adjuntos, do 
 not attend, having been summoned in writing for 
 that purpose, he shall pay a fine of twenty shillings 
 to the Sedaca, save with the same exceptions as 
 there are in the elections of Parnassim of the Kaal. 
 
 6th. Also, if any person represent to the Moha- 
 mad, that in consequence of his capital or business 
 being diminished, subsequently to the establishment 
 of the last Finta, he cannot pay the whole Finta 
 imposed on him, the Mohamad in complete Moha- 
 mad, may lessen it for the future, as shall appear 
 just to them, until a new Finta be made.
 
 10 
 
 III. 
 
 of l>rljtUtm. 
 
 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 he 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 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 married
 
 11 
 
 ladies, or those 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 favor, 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 Yahid; 
 also, when any Yahid shall be indebted for three 
 years' Finta, and offerings, his name shall not be 
 put in the new list, provided that he shall have 
 received at least three months' notice of his position. 
 
 6th. 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 said gentlemen may impose on 
 him, according to his circumstances; and should 
 he die, without having given such satisfaction, he
 
 12 
 
 shall not be buried in the Carreira of our Bethaim, 
 except his executors or representatives, shall for- 
 mally engage to pay what the Gentlemen of the 
 Mohamad, in complete Mohamad, shall impose, be- 
 sides his debt to the Sedaca. 
 
 7th. Should any Yahid of this Congregation 
 depart from our religion (which God avert), either 
 by being baptized, publicly professing some other 
 religion, or publicly profaning the Sabbath, such 
 person shall be immediately excluded from the list 
 of Yehidim, provided that the Elders shall be con- 
 vinced 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.
 
 13 
 IV. 
 
 lirguUtion* rreprr ting tlir ^Ttnta for ttr tliatm. 
 
 The expenses we are at for the cost and mainte- 
 nance of our burial grounds being very considerable, 
 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 expense : 
 
 1st. When any person, either man or woman, 
 being the head of a family, of the Jews that congre- 
 gate with us, shall come from abroad to settle within 
 the district of this our Congregation, the said person 
 shall pay a rate of five pounds to the Beth Haim, 
 which shall serve for the said head of family and his 
 or her descendants ; and should it be a man, also for 
 his wife. Every person coming from abroad shall 
 pay the same rate (not being son or daughter of a 
 family that has already paid it,) at the time of mar- 
 riage or death, and it shall be at the option of the 
 Gentlemen of the Mohamad, 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 refuse to pay it, 
 not giving a satisfactory excuse to the Mahamad, no 
 seat shall be given to him in the Synagogue, nor 
 when he dies, shall he be buried in the Carreira of 
 Bethaim ; and, in the event of the decease of any
 
 casual resident amongst us, not having paid the above 
 rate, the Mahamad, in complete Mahamad, shall have 
 authority, previously to the burial of such person, to 
 demand of his or her representative, any sum they 
 may think just, not exceeding twenty pounds. 
 
 2nd. And when any one shall be admitted Yahid 
 of this Congregation, and assessed, he shall pay the 
 first year for once only, besides his Finta for the 
 Sedaca, the half of the said rate for Bethaim, notwith- 
 standing that, having come from abroad, he may have 
 already paid the five pounds rate above-mentioned, 
 and under the same penalties which he incurs that 
 does not pay the Finta of the Sedaca ; but the 
 widows of the Yehidim of this Kaal, when they 
 shall be assessed, shall be exempt from paying the 
 said half-rate. 
 
 3rd. If any Yahid or Congregator choose to buy 
 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, pre- 
 viously to depositing the body therein, or who may 
 purchase reserved graves with the intention of having
 
 15 
 
 a foundation made, shall pay fifty shillings extra to 
 Bethaim. 
 
 4th. Be it understood, that neither the payment 
 of the rate of Bethaim, 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. 
 
 5th. There shall be kept in the books of the 
 Sedaca, an account of the expenses and receipts of 
 Bethaim, in which the said Bethaim shall be always 
 valued at fifty pounds, and this account shall be 
 debited, with expenses of repairs, taxes, salaries to 
 the Keepers, and Hazan of Hebra, and other contin- 
 gent 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. 
 
 6th. The Mohamad shall appoint guards for the 
 safety of the bodies in Bethaim, to be one man every 
 night except Friday night, when a Christian 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
 
 16 
 
 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 
 Bethaim.
 
 17 
 V. 
 
 jftteettnga antt Dutirs of t()e 
 
 The institution of the Mohamad in this Congre- 
 gation is very ancient, and its continuance has 
 tended greatly to our prosperity, and it being ne- 
 cessary that the said Mohamad, (which is com- 
 posed of the four Parnassim and a Gdbay, elected 
 annually, according to Ascama of Elders No. 1,) 
 should meet frequently, as well to regulate the ma- 
 nagement of our Synagogue, as to relieve the neces- 
 sities of our poor. 
 
 1st. It is the duty of the presiding Parnas, by a 
 written summons signed by the Secretary, to convene 
 the other Gentlemen of the Mohamad 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 Ma- 
 hamad, 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 of the Gentlemen of the 
 Mohamad, shall have authority to convene it. 
 
 2nd. The notice for meetings of the Mohamad 
 shall be delivered to each Gentleman of the said 
 Mohamad, or be left at his house at least one day 
 before the day appointed for the meeting, and every
 
 18 
 
 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 Mohamad 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 pre- 
 sides shall have the casting vote ; and at all times 
 when the Mahamad shall be deficient in number, 
 they shall call in to complete 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 relation- 
 ship, which prevent their serving together ; and 
 should there be time to give them notice in writing 
 at least the day before, each person so called 
 shall be obliged to come or pay twenty shillings fine 
 for the Sedaca, except he send a satisfactory excuse 
 for his non-attendance, in that meeting or the fol- 
 lowing. 
 
 4th. In the meetings of the Mahamad 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
 
 19 
 
 the regulations of the Ascamot, as well with respect 
 to the age, as to 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 de- 
 serving persons or families. 
 
 5th. Also shall the Mohamad distribute the chari- 
 ties which either by will or by gift have been left to its 
 administration, or that shall in future be left or given, 
 and have been accepted in a meeting of 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 be obliged to 
 receive and pay all sums under its administration ; 
 and, whenever the said Gabay shall report to the 
 Mohamad that he is in advance more than 100., 
 they shall adopt such measures as may be necessary 
 to reimburse him. 
 
 7th. The Mohamad 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
 
 20 
 
 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 <5., 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 same infliction of 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 may be 
 made therein, provided it be done in complete 
 Mohamad. 
 
 9th. The Mohamad shall have under its manage- 
 ment and control, the Synagogue, the Bate Haim, 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 Synagogue, and all the buildings belonging 
 thereto, which shall be made at one of the public
 
 21 
 
 offices ; the Mahamad, in complete Mahamad, shall 
 have the distribution of the seats in Synagogue, con- 
 forming to the Ascama on that subject. 
 
 10. The Mohamad shall summon a meeting of 
 the Elders, annually, within three weeks after Shabat 
 Bereshith, also within eight days after they shall 
 have been required so to do, in writing, by eight 
 of the said Elders, not being of the Mahamad; 
 and further, at all other times when it may be 
 deemed necessary by a majority in complete 
 Mahamad ; and no meeting of the Elders shall be 
 summoned for evening, except it be for a very urgent 
 cause, which does not admit of any delay ; and 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 confirmation 
 thereof. 
 
 llth. A Board of Guardians of the Poor, consist- 
 ing of four elders and four Yehidim having been 
 established, to aid the Mahamad in the distribution 
 of relief to the poor, whether pecuniary or otherwise ; 
 the said Board shall be renewed by the Annual 
 Election of two Elders and two Yehidim, to replace 
 the like number vacating their office ; the Elders to 
 be elected by the meeting of Elders, and the Yehidim 
 by the Mahamad, such Board, jointly with the 
 Mahamad, having power to make rules and regu- 
 lations for the administration of relief, or for im-
 
 22 
 
 proving the condition of the poor, in any way they 
 may deem expedient. 
 
 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.
 
 23 
 .VI. 
 
 jHrrtmg<$ of Htin0 of UK <f ongrrgatton. 
 
 The meetings of 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 Congre- 
 gation," 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 appointment,) 
 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, left at his house, office, 
 or last known place of residence, 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 election 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 disputed points respecting 
 the order of the proceedings, and his decision on such 
 points shall be without appeal. He shall be invited
 
 24 
 
 to attend all the meetings of the Mahamad, where 
 the speech of the Mohamad or presiding Parnas is 
 to be taken into consideration; he shall open all 
 meetings of the Elders during the term of his presi- 
 dency, 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 business 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. And 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. The 
 election of President shall be by ballot ; and the 
 Elder to be elected, must have an absolute majority 
 in his favour. 
 
 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 up- 
 wards, or be in Abel, or thirty miles distant from 
 the Synagogue ; also, he may be exempted who feels 
 himself entitled to claim excuse, either in conse- 
 quence of his infirm state of health, or any other
 
 25 
 
 cogent cause, provided such be signified by letter or 
 made through 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 one of the Elders can vote in any meet- 
 ing, if he be indebted to the Sedaca for two years 
 arrears, (unless, previously to each Annual Meeting, 
 he give a satisfactory excuse to the Mahamad in com- 
 plete Mahamad) a list of the Elders so circumstanced 
 shall be placed before the President at each meeting, 
 in order that he may enforce this regulation. 
 
 5th. The meetings of the Elders shall be held in 
 the Chamber of the Mahamad, and precisely one 
 hour after the time appointed in the summonses, 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 declaring 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 business 
 which the Gentlemen of the Mahamad may have to 
 submit, shall take precedence of all others, and their
 
 26 
 
 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 pro- 
 position 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; also, if in
 
 the Confirmation of any resolution, any amendment 
 be made to it, it shall not, on that account, require a 
 fresh Confirmation. 
 
 10th. The summonses sent to the Elders for any 
 meeting, shall always state for what purpose it 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 competent to act 
 when less than ten in number ; and, if at the open- 
 ing 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 limit 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 Mahamad eligible for admission. The petitions 
 for assistance shall be considered, and finally, all 
 further regulations shall be made that may be con- 
 ducive 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 requisi- 
 tionists may have to propose.
 
 28 
 
 13th. General meetings of the Yehidim of the 
 Congregation shall be convened, either by a resolu- 
 tion of the Elders, or by a requisition of fifteen 
 Yehidim, addressed to the Gentlemen of the Ma- 
 hamad (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. 
 
 14th. 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, except 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. That any Elder who shall become a bank- 
 rupt, or shall apply for, or take the benefit of an Act 
 of Parliament for the relief of Insolvent Debtors, or 
 shall be convicted of any criminal offence, then, and 
 in every such case, he shall immediately become 
 disqualified and cease to be an Elder ; but the Elder 
 so disqualified, shall (except in the case of a con- 
 viction 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.
 
 29 
 
 VII. 
 in 
 
 In order to ensure that decorum and devotion 
 which should always prevail in our holy Synagogue, 
 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 follow- 
 ing 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 the Parnas 
 
 of Cautivos. 
 The Elders of the nation, according to seniority 
 
 in age. 
 
 The Haham of the Kaal. 
 The Gentlemen of the Bethdin, according to 
 seniority in office.
 
 30 
 
 And the Yehidim of the Congregation, accord- 
 ing to seniority in age. 
 
 2nd. The presiding Parnas shall give leave in 
 Synagogue at the accustomed time to begin prayers ; 
 he shall also distribute the Misvot among the Yehidim 
 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 ; but if these three Misvot, and that of 
 saying the Zemirot, shall have been given by the 
 Parnas Presidente, no one else shall have them, ex- 
 cept 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 ad- 
 mitted a Levantador, except with the approbation of 
 the Levantadores, and with permission of the Ma- 
 hamad. 
 
 3rd. When any person shall have presided at the 
 commencement of prayers, and, subsequently, another 
 should enter who is before him in the presidency, 
 such latter person shall give the Misvot, unless the 
 previous President had already gone to the JSckal or 
 Theba for the purpose. 
 
 4th. It shall not be permitted to any person to 
 refuse a Misva given to him by the presiding Parnas, 
 and he who so acts shall be subject to a penalty of
 
 31 
 
 5., unless he give a satisfactory excuse either to the 
 said President, or to the Mahamad. 
 
 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 Mahamad may 
 deem proper, but not in any case exceeding 5. ; 
 and this fine, as well as that mentioned in the last 
 section, shall only be imposed in complete Mahamad ; 
 and the said Mahamad 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 belong- 
 ing to any of the recognised Congregations in this 
 city ; and the same may be done at any other time, 
 on application made to, or by a member of such con- 
 gregations. On occasions of Sura, it shall not be per- 
 mitted to call to Sefer more than two persons in 
 addition to those usually called up on that day, 
 except on Simha Tora and Sabat Bereshit. 
 
 7th. In the prayers of Rosh 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 
 of the Bethdin, or of the Hazanim of the Kaal, or of 
 the Helm, or the Students of the Bet-amedrash , 
 whom the presiding Parnas shall appoint. 
 
 8th. In all cases where a Rogativa may be desired 
 for a person of our Congregation suffering under 
 illness, permission must be obtained of the presiding 
 Parnas for such purpose.
 
 33 
 
 VIII. 
 ISlrctton* antr UrguUtiona reaming tfjr 
 
 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 
 
 1st. The Mahamad, in complete Mahamad, shall 
 elect annually, two days before the Sabbath preceding 
 Rosh Ashana, two persons to serve as Hatan Tora 
 and Hatan Bereshit, 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 Tora, and the 
 younger Hatan Bereshit. 
 
 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 ; 
 and the presiding Parnas, and the next in rotation, 
 shall accompany the said Noivos to Synagogue, seat- 
 ing 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 Mohamad his intention of accepting it within 
 seven days after his election being proclaimed in 
 Synagogue, he shall pay a fine of 15. 
 
 4th. Should no one offer himself by the eve of 
 Kipur, of whom the Mohamad 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 Mohamad 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.
 
 35 
 IX. 
 Election anH Duties of ttir 
 
 As the elections of the Hazanim 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 there shall happen a vacancy of either 
 of the Hazanim of this Kaal, the Mohamad shall call 
 a meeting of the Elders as early as possible, to con- 
 sider whether it be necessary to elect another ; and 
 if they resolve and confirm to have an election, the 
 said Mohamad 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 to put himself on probation, 
 unless the Haham, or, in his absence, the Gentlemen 
 of the Bethdin, shall declare by writing that, accord- 
 ing to Din Tora, 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 depart 
 from the established order of our prayers by increas- 
 ing or altering any portion of them, except with 
 
 D 2
 
 30 
 
 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 Mahamad shall appoint a day 
 for election by the Yehidim, which election shall be 
 made in the Chamber of the Mahamad, within twenty 
 days after the conclusion of the probations, and in 
 presence of the Gentlemen of the Mahamad, 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 candidate voted for, in a 
 folded paper, and delivering it to the presiding 
 Parnas, who shall deposit it unopened into a vessel 
 had for that purpose. 
 
 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 expi- 
 ration of the time limited, the Mahamad, with the 
 Haham, 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. 
 
 5th. All persons buying or selling any vote or 
 votes at any election shall be excluded from voting 
 on that occasion. 
 
 6th. It shall be the duty of the Hazanim of the
 
 37 
 
 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 appearing 
 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 Mahamad, in com- 
 pany of the Haham, or one of the Gentlemen of the 
 Bethdin. He shall not say a Rogativa at any time, 
 nor an Ascdba 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 or Mahamad. 
 
 8th. If either of the Hazanim neglect any part of 
 his duty, the Mahamad, in complete Makamad, may 
 inflict a fine on him, not exceeding 10., or they 
 may 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
 
 38 
 
 suspend him for a period not exceeding six months 
 from his post and its profits ; no greater punishment 
 shall be inflicted, but by a meeting of the Yehidim. 
 Also, in case of necessity, the Mohamad 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. And if either of the Hazanim 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 fined 
 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 HaSan of 
 the Kaal shall pay forty shillings fine to the Sedaca. 
 
 10th. In case of an application to elect a Hazan 
 for any other Kaal, the Mahamad, in complete Mo- 
 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 Mohamad may, in their discre- 
 tion, think proper.
 
 39 
 
 X. 
 <lrttion0 of ttje 3i>al)am auto tJrtD&in. 
 
 The office of Haham, as one of the most impor- 
 tant in this Kaal, 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 MaKamad 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 summoned 
 at least eight days previously, declaring its purpose; 
 and should there be more than one candidate, each 
 shall be balloted 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 favor, 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 resolution of the Elders, which 
 shall not be called until the expiration of six months.
 
 40 
 
 Whoever may be finally elected shall be named in 
 Synagogue. 
 
 3rd. The Haham 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 deter- 
 mined according to Din. He shall preach in Syna- 
 gogue when the Mahamad may require it, and attend 
 therein, and at the Medrash as much as possible. He 
 shall marry all persons of our Congregation by per- 
 mission, in writing, from two of the Mahamad, and 
 not without such permission ; he shall provide all 
 the Quetabot, and copy them in the register kept in 
 the Mahamad Chamber. 
 
 4th. He shall not intercede in favor of any can- 
 didate for an office in the Kaal, or applicant for 
 assistance from the Sedaca, lest the respect due to 
 him should induce a deviation from impartial justice. 
 
 5th. Should the Haham at any time commit any 
 dereliction of his duty, a meeting of Elders shall be 
 convened to consider of 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, 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, re-
 
 41 
 
 quires to be decided by more than three, the said 
 Bethdin 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 com- 
 plete 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 con- 
 nected with their office, such person may be con- 
 demned in complete Mahamad, in a sum not exceed- 
 ing five pounds.
 
 XL 
 
 iL*lrrtton0 anH Dutirg of tljr cOtfirn of UK 
 ftoal* 
 
 The following officers of this jSToa/ shall be ap- 
 pointed by the Elders, as vacancies may occur 
 from time to time : The Secretary ; the Hazan of 
 Hebra ; the Samas of the Synagogue ; the Physician 
 and Surgeon of the Sedaca ; the Keeper of Bethaim, 
 and the Keepers of the Baths. 
 
 1st. When there shall be a vacancy in either 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 Gentle- 
 men may immediately proceed to an election, follow- 
 ing the same method as for the office of Haham, 
 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 Mahamad 
 may appoint another person to serve in his stead,
 
 43 
 
 and the same during the vacancy or suspension of 
 any of them. 
 
 3rd. The particular obligation of the Secretary 
 shall be to attend all the meetings of the Elders, 
 and likewise those of the Mahamad, or 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 
 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 accounts 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 pay- 
 ments to the Gabay of the Kaal, and to attend in the 
 Mahamad Chamber two days in each month, either 
 those immediately preceding Roshhodesh, or on the 
 days of Roshhodesh, to pay the salaries to the officers, 
 the monthly and quarterly allowances, and other 
 charities to the poor. 
 
 4th. The Hazan of the Hebra shall accompany to 
 the grave every deceased person who shall be buried 
 in the Carreira, or in a reserved grave, in any of
 
 44 
 
 our BaUhaim, 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 completion 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, Mohamad, and Committees, that may be 
 appointed to attend at the circumcisions and wed- 
 dings 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 allow- 
 ances, and alms of the Sedaca among the poor. 
 
 6th. The physician and surgeon of the Sedaca 
 shall visit the sick poor, and the officers of the Kaal, 
 each one in his profession, prescribe for them, and 
 perform the surgical operations that may be neces- 
 sary, either in the hospital, or at 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 Parnasssim of Beth-Holim.
 
 45 
 
 7th. The duties of the keepers of the burial- 
 grounds shall be to attend, each one in his ground ; 
 they shall have an exact register in a book of all the 
 persons buried in them ; they shall take care that 
 the grave-stones do not exceed the limits appointed 
 by Ascama, and that the graves be made in rows in 
 the usual manner, and that these likewise do not 
 exceed the limits mentioned in the said Ascama of 
 the Elders, No. 19. 
 
 8th. The keepers of the baths shall be obliged to 
 have them ready for all the women of our Nation, 
 but from the poor they shall not take any payment. 
 
 9th. No officer of the Kaal shall intercede or 
 make interest with the Elders or Yehldim, 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 Mohamad in complete 
 Mohamad shall have power to suspend them for a 
 time, not exceeding three months, or to represent 
 their neglect to the said Elders.
 
 46 
 
 XIT. 
 Offerings antr ifollrrttons in tfje 
 
 As the great and necessary expense of our Syna- 
 gogue, 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 Heskaim, Hebra, Beth 
 Holim, Shaare TicJcva, Terra Santa, and Cautivos, 
 and for repairs of the Synagogue. The same order 
 shall be observed at the house of Noivos or Baal-a- 
 Berit. On occasion of Berit, 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 Sabatot preceding the three Festivals, the
 
 47 
 
 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 Shaare 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 Guedalla, 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.
 
 48 
 
 XIII. 
 Dietvtimtiou of Ujr ~rai& in 
 
 That the distribution of the seats in Synagogue be 
 made with equity, and to avoid the confusion or dis- 
 pleasure which the failure thereof might cause to 
 any of the Yehidim. 
 
 1st. The said seats shall always be granted in a 
 meeting of complete Mohamad, to the Yehidim or 
 Congregantes, as the said Mohamad 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,
 
 49 
 
 or to whom may hereafter be given seats in Syna- 
 gogue. 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 Gdbay 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 Mohamad may have autho- 
 rity to dispose of it to another person.
 
 50 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Kir; tiono of Uir iparmi0$im of ?l}r$l)iitnt, 3l)ftir,i, 
 Cerra $*nta, anti if autibos. 
 
 The elections of Parnassim of Heshaim, Hebra, 
 Terra Santa, 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, a Parnas of Terra Santa, and a Parnas 
 of Cautivos, for which the Mahamad 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 they shall have the nomination each one, 
 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 succeed him in his office, he shall pay forty
 
 51 
 
 shillings fine to the Sedaca : and likewise, if any 
 one of the Mohamad should fail to be present at 
 any of the said elections, without sending a satis- 
 factory excuse, or being in Abel, or distant thirty 
 miles from London, he shall pay twenty shillings to 
 the said 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 Parnassim of Terra Santa and Cautivos 
 respectively, in the elections for their Misvot; and 
 on the nomination being made by the Treasurer or 
 Parnassim of the said societies and Misvot, each 
 one of a person to succeed him in his office, it shall 
 be decided by majority of votes ; and 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 nomina- 
 tion, in case the Treasurer or Parnas whose turn it 
 is to go out should not attend or send such nomina- 
 tion in writing. 
 
 3rd. And for the Treasurer of Heshaim, or 
 first Parnas of Hebra, there shall always be no- 
 minated one of the Elders, (those having always the 
 preference who have not served the said offices); 
 
 E 2
 
 unless any one of the Elders should offer himself 
 and be approved of by the said meetings ; and for 
 the second Parnas of Hebra and Parnas of Heshaim, 
 Terra Santa, or 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 preceding 
 Rosh Ashana. And the election of Treasurer and 
 Parnas of Heshaim, and of Parnassim 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 Parnassim of Terra Santa and Cautivos 
 shall take an account of and receive the offerings 
 that may be made for the said Misvot, respectively, 
 before quitting their office, and give in their
 
 53 
 
 accounts, and deliver to the Gabay of the Sedaca 
 what they may have received for the said Misvot. 
 
 6th. When any person elected shall refuse to 
 serve either of the above mentioned offices, or 
 shall not declare to the Mohamad his intention to 
 serve it within eight days after his election^ he 
 shall pay a fine of Ten Pounds ; and the fines for 
 Treasurer and Parnas of Heshaim shall be for 
 Heshaim, and for the Parnassim of Hebra for Hebra, 
 and for Parnassim of Terra Santa and Cautivos for 
 Sedaca. 
 
 7th. And in case of refusal to serve either 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.
 
 54 
 
 XV. 
 lirgulatton* for tl)r cretin nmrnt of 
 
 Conscious of the obligation we are under to 
 patronize the study of our holy law, as a most 
 necessary step to its proper observance ; and a Bet- 
 amedrash, under the title of Heshaim, having been 
 instituted for this purpose, from a period of time 
 nearly coeval with our holy Synagogue, which insti- 
 tution was originally under the government of the 
 Society of Heshaim, but requiring increased support, 
 has been placed under the direction of the Elders of 
 the congregation ; the better, therefore, to secure the 
 permanency thereof, and provide for its future man- 
 agement in strict accordance with the conditions 
 entered into with the Governors of Heshaim, it is 
 enacted, 
 
 1st. That the Medrash, as the most important 
 institution in the Congregation, is placed under the 
 special protection of the Elders. 
 
 2nd. That its present funds, which consist of 
 ,4303 10s., South Sea Stock, and 74 11s. 4d., 
 Reduced Three per cent. Annuities, shall always 
 stand in the names of at least four Trustees ; and 
 at all times when any one of the said Trustees shall 
 be deficient, the Elders shall appoint another to 
 supply such vacancy. That the capital of said fund
 
 55 
 
 is declared to be inviolable, thereby forbidding, 
 under any circumstances, the disposal of any part 
 thereof, the interest alone being applicable to the 
 use and benefit of the institution, and not to any 
 other purpose whatsoever. And that in future all 
 legacies bequeathed, or donations given, be added to 
 the capital, as a permanent investment, unless the 
 persons so giving or bequeathing the same, shall 
 otherwise direct. 
 
 3rd. That the institution shall be supported by 
 the interest or dividends on its funded property, by 
 the annual subscriptions of its members (which is 
 fixed at twelve shillings per annum for gentlemen, 
 and six shillings per annum for ladies, payable on 
 the 1st of Elul in each year, and redeemable by a 
 payment, at one time, of five guineas for the former, 
 and three guineas for the latter), by the offerings 
 and Nedaba for Heshaim allowed in the Synagogue, 
 and by such annual assistance from the Elders as 
 they may be pleased to grant. 
 
 4th. That its government be vested in the Gen- 
 tlemen of the Mahamad, assisted by the Treasurer 
 and Parnas of Heshaim for the time being, and 
 three Inspectors, who must be members of the insti- 
 tution, selected every two years by the Elders, these 
 jointly shall administer the affairs of the institution 
 under the designation of "the Committee for the 
 affairs of Heshaim;" five members shall form a 
 quorum, three of whom must be of the Mohamad.
 
 56 
 
 5th. That the number of students in the Medrash 
 shall not be less than six, provided fit and proper 
 persons to compose that number be attainable, pos- 
 sessing a knowledge of the English language. And 
 that in future the highest pay at which any student 
 can arrive shall not exceed three pounds per month ; 
 that on admission no one be allowed more than forty 
 shillings per month (except a majority of three- 
 fourths of the Meeting of Election shall determine 
 to exceed that sum, which may be done to the ex- 
 tent of ten shillings additional per month, and no 
 more), and that the pay of each student shall, if 
 deserving, be increased by the sum of five shillings 
 per month every two years, until it reaches the 
 aforesaid highest rate of pay. 
 
 6th. That the Medrash shall be opened daily 
 from nine to eleven in the morning, and five to 
 seven in the afternoon from Pesah until Hosh Ash- 
 ana ; and from ten to twelve in the morning, and 
 for two hours after the afternoon service at Syna- 
 gogue, from Rosh Ashana until Passover, except on 
 the days usually kept as holidays, which shall be 
 regulated by the Committee. 
 
 7th. That the election of Students be by votes of 
 the subscribers, the Treasurer and Parnas of Hes- 
 haim, and the Gentlemen of the Mahamad, being 
 always deemed such ; that the candidates for admis- 
 sion be first approved of in a meeting of the Com- 
 mittee, and their names inserted in the summonses
 
 57 
 
 for the meetings of election; no subscriber being 
 entitled to vote, unless he shall have been such for 
 at least one year, and not in any arrear for either 
 subscription or offerings. 
 
 8th. That any student not present at the Medrash 
 by fifteen minutes after the appointed hour of meet- 
 ing, or quitting, without reasonable cause assigned, 
 before the expiration of the time devoted to study, 
 shall be subject to a fine of one shilling, and a book 
 shall be kept for the daily entry of the students' 
 attendance, which shall be removed by the Samas, 
 at latest half an hour after the time of meeting. 
 
 9th. That a select number of boys from the public 
 schools, in no case exceeding six, shall be allowed 
 to attend occasionally at the Medrash, for the pur- 
 poses of study, under the sanction of the Committee, 
 who shall be at liberty to award them such small 
 monthly stipend as they may deem proper, as a 
 stimulus to their advancement. 
 
 10th. That the meetings of the Committee shall 
 be held quarterly, for the transaction of any business 
 that may offer; and general meetings of the sub- 
 scribers shall take place half-yearly, for the admis- 
 sion of students, and for general purposes; such 
 general meetings to be convened in the last week 
 of the months Hesvan and lyar in each year, and 
 seven members present to constitute a quorum. 
 That at the meeting in lyar, the Treasurer shall 
 present an account of the income and expenditure of
 
 58 
 
 the year, for the information of the subscribers, it 
 being the province of the Treasurer to receive and 
 pay all monies on account of the institution ; special 
 general meetings may be called whenever deemed 
 necessary by the Committee. 
 
 llth. That any of the Gentlemen of the Maha- 
 mad, and the Treasurer and Parnas of Heshaim, 
 failing to attend either the quarterly or the general 
 meetings, shall incur a fine of twenty shillings for 
 the institution, unless confined at home by illness, 
 or be in Abel, or thirty miles distant from the 
 Synagogue; and they, together with the three In- 
 spectors, shall establish a rota for visiting at the 
 Medrash weekly. 
 
 12th. That the Committee shall have power to 
 suspend students for neglect of duty, or other reason- 
 able cause, reporting the same to the first general 
 meeting. 
 
 13th. That the Committee shall provide a person 
 to fulfil the duties of Secretary to the institution, a 
 Librarian to have the care of the books, who shall 
 be one of the students, and a Samas, if necessary, to 
 attend the duties of that department. 
 
 14th. That at no time shall the Sedaca be respon- 
 sible for any part of the expenses of the institution, 
 beyond what the Elders may grant towards its 
 support.
 
 59 
 
 XVI. 
 3utbo vit j> of ttic iJarna$$im 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 
 Bate-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 
 fined forty shillings for the Sedaca. 
 
 2nd. In the Arrodeamentos which it is customary 
 to make in Bate-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 Bate-haim to order what 
 they may think best, and whoever shall oppose the 
 said orders, shall be fined in a sum not exceeding
 
 60 
 
 forty shillings for the Sedaca, which fine, as well as 
 that in the preceding section, shall be imposed in a 
 Meeting of the Mohamad, 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 Ma- 
 hamad 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.
 
 61 
 
 XVII. 
 
 v-lmioua of vr a<mm- aim iJarna0$tm of 
 
 fijolim. 
 
 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 Rosh Ashana, an election shall be made of a 
 Treasurer and a Parnas of Beth Holim; and two days 
 before Shdbat Agadol, of another Parnas of the said 
 Charity: for these elections, the Mahamad shall con- 
 vene 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 nomina- 
 tion in writing. At such meetings not less than 
 four persons shall act, and the name or names sub- 
 mitted shall be balloted for, and decided by a ma- 
 jority of votes, the President having the casting 
 vote, when the numbers are equal. Should the 
 nomination be negatived, the Meeting of Beth Holim
 
 62 
 
 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 Mahamad 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 Askana, and on the day of Shabat Agadol, and 
 should it be a second election, within seven days 
 afterwards. 
 
 3rd. Besides the House Committees to be held 
 in Beth Holim, for the regulation thereof, there
 
 63 
 
 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 have 
 authority to recommend patients to the said Hos- 
 pital, and the same power shall extend to the Phy- 
 sician and Surgeon of the Sedaca, and the said Phy- 
 sician and Surgeon shall be obliged to visit con- 
 stantly the patients who may be in the said Hospital, 
 and to conform to its internal regulations in what 
 regards the said patients. 
 
 5th. The Society of Beth Holim, 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 Hos- 
 pital, 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 excluded 
 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. 
 
 7th. At no time shall the Sedaca be responsible 
 for the engagements of Beth Holim, except for what
 
 64 
 
 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.
 
 65 
 
 XVIIt. 
 
 of t&e Offering** for Cerra 
 aufc 
 
 As the Gabay of the Sedaca is to receive annually, 
 from the Parnassim of Terra Santa and Cautivos, the 
 amount of the offerings for the said Misvot, there 
 shall be an account in the Sedaca books with each 
 of them. 
 
 1st. And as respects those of Terra Santa the 
 Mohamad shall be obliged to remit their 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. And in respect to the offerings for Cautivos, 
 the Mohamad, in complete Mohamad, 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 authorize the Mohamad, 
 in complete Mohamad, to apply a sum from the said 
 fund, in aid of any distressed Jewish Congregation, 
 if at the time there be no claims on it from captives.
 
 XIX. 
 
 * 
 
 i()ua(in> of r)iultuiT0, aim ii)onottr0 to 
 DrrraseU 
 
 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 Bethaim. 
 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, observing 
 that whoever shall be interred in a reserved grave, 
 purchased before death, shall in all respects be con- 
 sidered 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
 
 67 
 
 adult persons, except it be to cover 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 
 Bethaim shall have to his charge to give notice to 
 the Mahamad whenever 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 quar- 
 ters if with a foundation and a half foot between 
 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 four feet, and for a child's at least 
 three feet. 
 
 3rd. Each deceased person buried in the Carreira 
 shall be accompanied to the grave by the Hazan of 
 Hebra, and have the usual ceremonies performed in 
 Bethaim, according to age and sex, and time of 
 burial; an Ascaba 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 Abehtt ,
 
 68 
 
 in the morning, in case prayers are not read with 
 Mini/an, 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 Ascaba to he 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, and also the Makamad shall 
 offer in the said Ascaba whether present or not, but 
 should there be more than one Ascaba on the same 
 day, the Mohamad shall not be obliged to offer except 
 in the last. 
 
 5th. An Ascaba may likewise be said in Syna- 
 gogue for any Jew not buried in our Bethaim, if 
 any one desire it, and make an offering therein, but 
 for the first time it shall not be done without per- 
 mission from the presiding Parnas ; and should there 
 be two or more Ascabot on the same day, they shall 
 give precedence to those, buried in our Bethaim, 
 and to those for men, over women, and where 
 other circumstances are equal, to the person first 
 buried. 
 
 6th. On each Sabbath afternoon Ascaba shall be 
 said for all those who have had the first Ascaba in 
 the customary manner, until the completion of eleven 
 months after decease ; likewise for all the deceased
 
 69 
 
 who shall have left, or whose relations have paid for 
 them, a Legacy for the Sedaca of ten pounds or 
 upwards, Ascaba shall be said every month during 
 the afternoon service ; dividing their number between 
 the several Thursdays of each month, and likewise 
 on Kipur night after Harbit, 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 Theba, (and the Ma- 
 hamad shall also be obliged to offer in the said 
 Honras.} 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 Synagogue, and then only with the per- 
 mission 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 Ascaba shall be said for a person 
 dying under thirteen years of age.
 
 70 
 
 XX. 
 
 ih olittmion against matung tfrogrlijtrg, against 
 trianUf stinr iHavrtagr 0, antt j-Hamnng toitf) a 
 Ii)rr0on of Slnotiirr 
 
 1st. It is expressly prohibited to every Yahid 
 or Congregante of this Jifaa/ 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 Kidusim without 
 their consent and sanction. It is also forbidden to 
 any one in any way to act or assist in the celebration 
 of such marriage. Nor is it permitted to any Yahid 
 or Congregator to marry, except through the recog- 
 nised officer of the congregation, and with the proper 
 authority obtained from the gentlemen of the Ma 
 hamad. 
 
 4th. In all cases where it shall appear that parties 
 seeking permission to be married have rendered
 
 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 recognized Jewish congregation may, with 
 the sanction of the gentlemen of the Mohamad, have 
 his marriage solemnized by the Hasan of that con- 
 gregation; but in all cases where the appointed 
 officer for marriages, and the Secretary, as Registrar, 
 sjiall 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 Mohamad, in company 
 with four Adjuntos, the last who served the office of 
 Parnas, 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 the meeting 
 of Elders for their decision; and at such meeting 
 of the Mohamad and Adjuntos five shall form a 
 quorum, and each person failing to attend shall be 
 subject to a fine of twenty shillings.
 
 72 
 
 XXI. 
 of tfirtfje, ^Watttage0 t anfc tturtato. 
 
 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 Mahamad 
 chamber a book, wherein the Secretary shall registe^ 
 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 
 Mahamad may think proper ; for the reimbursement 
 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 unable to 
 pay it. 
 
 2nd. There shall also be kept a register of the 
 marriages celebrated in our congregation, which
 
 73 
 
 shall consist of a copy of the Ketubot, 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 Mohamad 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 Bate-haim> with 
 the date of their burial, both by the Hebrew and 
 common calendar; which particulars the keepers 
 of the said Bate-haim shall give in, every three 
 months to the Secretary, and this register shall also 
 be kept in the Mohamad chamber.
 
 74 
 
 XXII. 
 Ur giUation$ rr 0prrting tijr Dcputir* of tl)r 
 
 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, 1 ' 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 seven 
 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 Mohamad 
 (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 Mohamad 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
 
 75 
 
 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 vote, or be returned 
 a deputy, who shall be in arrear with the Syna- 
 gogue for more than eighteen months Finta and 
 offerings; and every deputy must be at least twenty- 
 five 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-
 
 76 
 
 lives 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 c100, 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 on the first 
 Sunday 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.
 
 77 
 
 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 deputies rela- 
 tive to any legislative or municipal enactments, and 
 in all matters of importance, they shall, fourteen 
 days previously to taking any measures founded 
 thereon, report their intention to the Parnas presi- 
 dent, who shall forthwith 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- 
 pensible, and report forthwith to the Parnas presi- 
 dent, who shall communicate the same to the 
 Yehidim, as before mentioned. 
 
 10th. That on a requisition in writing, signed 
 by fifteen 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.
 
 78 
 
 llth. That the body of deputies shall be the only 
 medium of communication (for the purposes of their 
 appointment) with the government of the country. 
 
 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.
 
 79 
 
 XXIII. 
 
 Ur gulations rrsprrting tlif Droprrtife of 
 
 For the due security and preservation of the pro- 
 perties of the Synagogue, it is resolved, 
 
 1st. The real property of the Synagogue being 
 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, whose orders in regard to the 
 said property they engage to abide by. 
 
 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 ; but the capital 
 shall always continue permanent, and shall not at 
 any time be sold, except it be to relieve the con- 
 gregation 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 pur- 
 pose, there not being any other fund or income to 
 recur to. 
 
 3rd. When any sums of money shall in future
 
 80 
 
 be bequeathed or given to the Sedaca, the Mahamad 
 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. At any time when the fund appropriated for 
 the repairs of the Holy Synagogue and its buildings 
 shall be reduced to less than 2,000 capital, the 
 Elders shall adopt some method to supply such 
 deficiency, either by reserving for that purpose some 
 part of the annual income, or by any other mode 
 that may appear to them advisable, in order that 
 the said fund may always be / sufficient for its 
 purpose. 
 
 5th'. As well the securities belonging to the two 
 funds above mentioned of legacies, and for repairs 
 of the Holy Synagogue, as all others that may be 
 the property of Sedaca, shall stand in the names of 
 four persons appointed by a meeting of the Elders ; 
 and at any time when a vacancy may occur by 
 death, or any other cause, the Mahamad shall re- 
 present it to the Elders at their first meeting, in 
 order to the appointment of another person or per- 
 sons to supply the deficiency ; and the same shall 
 be done with all the other securities under the 
 administration of the MaJiamad, except those which, 
 for reasons that have occurred, are placed in trust in 
 the names of persons appointed for that purpose.
 
 81 
 
 6th. In regard to the securities placed in trust in 
 the names of persons appointed for that purpose, at 
 any time when a vacancy may occur by death or 
 any other cause, the same course shall be followed 
 as with the funds belonging to the Sedaca. And it 
 is declared and understood that all trustees in whose 
 names may be placed any funds belonging to the 
 congregation, are bound to resign their trust when- 
 ever called upon so to do by a resolution of the 
 Elders.
 
 82 
 
 XXIV. 
 
 DiatritwiiOH of tljr iHont1)U> auotoanrr* 
 Oavitif of ttir 
 
 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 congregation, it 
 has been found necessary to establish the following 
 regulations : 
 
 1st. The charities of the Sedaca shall be adminis- 
 tered by the Mohamad, assisted by a Board of 
 Guardians consisting of four Elders and four Yehi- 
 dim, the Elders to be named by the meeting of 
 Elders, and the Yehidim appointed by the Mahamad, 
 two Elders and two Yehidim to go out annually by 
 rotation. Such Board of Guardians shall have power 
 to make rules and regulations for the administration 
 of relief as they may deem conducive to the improve- 
 ment of the condition of the poor, subject always 
 to the restrictions in the following sections. 
 
 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
 
 83 
 
 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 
 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 
 whom in his place officiates, 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 leave this kingdom, the Mohamad 
 may grant them as Despaclio, to the amount of one 
 year of the monthly or other allowance which they 
 receive from the Sedaca ; and if they desire to pro- 
 ceed 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 of one year, or for the term 
 
 a 2
 
 84 
 
 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 pas- 
 sage to Holland or France, or the nearest port in 
 the route of their destination. 
 
 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 satis- 
 factory 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 poor 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 Mohamad 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 Mohamad may think proper. 
 
 7th. 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
 
 85 
 
 benefits which he receives, or might receive from 
 the Sedaca or Synagogue, until he have given 
 satisfaction to the said Elders or Mohamad whom 
 he have summoned.
 
 86 
 
 XXV. 
 
 to ttif ii-ffrrts of $00 r 
 Djnng untftout 
 
 As well as it is the duty of the Mahamad to 
 distribute 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 expence 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 Mahamad 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 re- 
 serve, 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.
 
 87 
 
 XXVI. 
 
 Lirgulanou* respecting Htfe lnnmtte*. 
 
 It having been found expedient to take from 
 Members of the Congregation certain sums of money, 
 or government securities, and grant them in return 
 annuities on their lives, as well on account of the 
 increase which, in the course of years, would accrue 
 to the capital of Sedaca, as for the purpose of pre- 
 venting persons of limited property from spending it, 
 and afterwards becoming a charge on the Congrega- 
 tion, it is resolved, 
 
 1st. When any person of our Congregation may 
 desire to lay out money on his own life, or that of 
 another, and shall offer it to the Sedaca, the Maha- 
 mad, in complete Mahamad, may accept to the 
 amount of three hundred pounds, provided that the 
 person, on whose life it is to be placed, be not under 
 forty years of age, and they shall fix the annuity to 
 be paid as they may think just; and the capital 
 which they receive they shall immediately invest in 
 government securities, in the names of trustees, and 
 the amount shall be credited in the books of the 
 Sedaca, in the account of funds belonging to life 
 annuities, and shall not be sold except by a resolution 
 of the Elders. 
 
 2nd. Should any person offer a larger sum than
 
 88 
 
 the above three hundred pounds, or for more than 
 one life, or for the life of a person under forty years 
 of age, the Mohamad shall submit the proposition to 
 a meeting of the Elders, for their decision, provided 
 that the sum offered do not in any case exceed five 
 hundred pounds, and that where it exceeds three 
 hundred pounds, the person or persons requiring 
 the said annuity be fifty years of age or upwards.
 
 89 
 
 XXVII. 
 to tf)f tiirnaitirs of Uir 3$camot. 
 
 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 Mahamad, in complete Maha- 
 mad, 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 an offering of 
 more than a shilling be accepted from him, and that 
 only for the Sedaca, nor shall any benefit from the 
 Sedaca be granted to him except Matsot, but if at 
 any time afterwards he shall profess himself ready to 
 submit to the said penalty, and to what further the 
 Mohamad and their Adjuntos shall impose on him, 
 in consideration of the time he persisted in his con- 
 tumacy, he shall be relieved from the above named 
 penalties.
 
 90 
 
 XXVIII. 
 Regulation of tljr Douier left tip aimifiam 
 
 The late Abraham Rodriques Marques, having 
 left by Will, one thousand pounds, that out of the 
 Interest thereof the Mohamad of this Kaal should 
 give annually a dower of fifty pounds to a female 
 orphan, and the funds bought with this sum, being 
 under the administration of the Court of Chancery, 
 and their annual dividend amounting only to forty- 
 six pounds and twopence ; to fulfil in the best 
 manner the Will of the Testator, the following is 
 resolved : 
 
 1st. That the Mohamad 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 Mohamad 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 deter- 
 mine, observing, however, 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.
 
 91 
 
 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 approved of 
 by the Makamad, she shall lose the said dower ; and 
 in no case shall the money be withdrawn from 
 Chancery until such marriage be arranged, and the 
 papers signed. 
 
 3rd. The Mohamad shall not dispose of any such 
 dower, without there being sufficient funds in Chan- 
 cery at their disposal for that purpose, and whenever, 
 owing to parties not marrying within the limited 
 time, there shall be enough for two dowers, the said 
 Mohamad may give them away at the same time.
 
 92 
 
 XXIX. 
 lir gulations of ttjr $c!jool of Baar Da f osta 
 
 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 instruc- 
 tion 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 Misva being one thou- 
 sand six hundred and fifty pounds capital of New 
 South Sea Annuities, and five hundred and eighty- 
 three pounds capital in the Stock of the said South 
 Sea Company, which stand in the names of four 
 trustees : 
 
 1st. At all times when any of the said four trus- 
 tees 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 produce 
 shall be applied for the instruction and clothing 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 Moha- 
 mad shall elect the girls to be admitted into this 
 school, except that out of the twenty the said heirs
 
 93 
 
 of the donor may make choice of four ; and for the 
 task of purchasing the clothing for the said girls, 
 and whatever else may be necessary for this Misva, 
 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 every thing 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.
 
 94 
 
 XXX. 
 Regulation* of ttir ?lr gan> of ittosre lumrgo. 
 
 The late Moses Lamego having given, in the year 
 5517, five thousand pounds capital of Bank Reduced 
 Annuities, for the Mohamad to pay over the interest 
 of four thousand pounds annually to the adminis- 
 trators and treasurer of the Orphan Society, entitled 
 Shaare Ora Veaby Yetomim, 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 abo- 
 lished, the Elders, by virtue of the authority dele- 
 gated to them by the deceased donor, resolve, that 
 the dividends on the said one thousand pounds Re- 
 duced 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.
 
 95 
 
 XXXI. 
 Regulation of tfjc S>onrti> of jttafjiWim rotum. 
 
 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 Gover- 
 nors, who, to be admitted shall always be approved 
 of by the Mahamad ; and to all general meetings 
 held of the said Society, the Gentlemen of the Ma- 
 hamad shall be summoned, and have a vote therein.
 
 96 
 
 XXXII. 
 Rrgtilatton of tljc institution of *fjaarr flTi 
 
 The schools under the management of Heshaim, 
 having been abolished, and a society established in 
 lieu thereof, under the name of Shaare 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 pro- 
 mote so laudable a purpose, have resolved, 
 
 1st. That the said Institution of Shaare Tickva 
 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 Mahamad 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.
 
 97 
 
 XXXIII. 
 Xnetttution of ttir e0itia of iHafjanr 
 
 The late Benjamin Mendes da Costa having, with 
 the approbation of the Elders of the Congregation, 
 in the year 5494, founded a Yesiba entitled Mahane 
 Rephael, for the maintenance and government 
 thereof after his demise, the following regulations 
 were adopted and established. 
 
 1st. That the funds of this Yesiba (which were 
 originally .1900 South Sea Stock, and afterwards 
 changed into 71 8s. 8d. per annum, Long Annui- 
 ties, and by a subsequent exchange are now 
 2094: 12s., reduced 3 per cent, annuities) be 
 always held in trust in the names of three persons 
 appointed for that purpose ; and on a vacancy occur- 
 ring, the Elders shall appoint another to supply such 
 vacancy. That the said fund be not at any period 
 sold, except to exchange it for some other more 
 advantageous and of equal security, and then only 
 by a resolution of the Elders. 
 
 2nd. That the dividends on the said funds shall 
 be paid over to the Gabay of the Sedaca, who shall 
 pay therewith the Aspacot, or monthly allowances, 
 to the Rosh and students of the said Yesiba, the 
 whole of which shall not exceed 5 per month, in 
 order that in the present state of the income they
 
 98 
 
 may also be enabled to pay for the rolls which are 
 given to the junior boys of the public schools ; and 
 that the remainder of the income, to the amount of 
 6 per annum, if so much remains, be for the pur- 
 chase of books for the use of the Yesiba and the 
 boys in the public schools. 
 
 3rd. There shall be held annually two days before 
 the Sabbath preceding Sebuoth, a meeting of the 
 Mohamad with the Treasurer and Parnas of He- 
 shaim, for the regulation of this Yesiba, and the 
 admission of students thereto. 
 
 4th. The principal object of this Yesiba is for the 
 students to study therein the reading that is to take 
 place in the Medrash ; for which purpose they shall 
 always meet one hour in the morning after the 
 Medrash hours of attendance, and the Haham of 
 the Kaal shall always be Rosh thereof, and have 
 one guinea per month for his Aspaca. The students 
 on entering shall have two shillings and sixpence 
 per month, and their pay shall go on increasing 
 according to their merits, their number, and the 
 income of the Yesiba. The rolls to be given to 
 the boys of the public schools shall be limited to 
 the younger boys. 
 
 5th. Should any person be inclined to give or 
 leave a sum for the benefit of this Yesiba, provided 
 it is not to alter the object thereof, it shall be 
 accepted, and the money be added to its funds.
 
 99 
 
 XXXIV. 
 f:it*titmton of ttjr Yr 0ttia of &0$tfat 3i)alirvtm, 
 
 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 Yesiba 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 Yesiba two nights in each week, which 
 shall be Sunday 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 Yesiba, 
 shall be vested in the Treasurer and Parnas of 
 Heshaim, whose duty it shall be to perpetuate this 
 good purpose.
 
 100 
 
 3rd. And if any person should be inclined to 
 give or leave any sum for the benefit and increase 
 of this Yesiba, provided it be not to alter its 
 object, the same may be accepted and added to 
 its funds.
 
 101 
 
 XXXV. 
 (Bitt of ifHoses fUra Cor JSeite&olent 
 
 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 benevolent 
 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 standing 
 in the names of four trustees, shall always continue 
 invested in four names, and on the death or resigna- 
 tion of either 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 conformity 
 with the stipulations of the said donor, be placed 
 under the administration of the Gentlemen of the 
 Mohamad, together with the said four trustees, who 
 shall be designated, " The Special Committee for 
 Benevolent Purposes."
 
 102 
 
 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 he 
 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 Mohamad shall 
 lay before the Elders, at every annual meeting, a 
 statement of the funds of this Trust, and of any ad- 
 ditions or alterations which may be made therein by 
 virtue of the powers delegated to them.
 
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