Xaws OF THE BOARD FOB ADMINISTERING THE AFFAIRS ESTABLISHED 5564-18O4. L O X D X : WERTHEIMER. LEA k CO., ;;. I.ONIH..V \V.\i.i,. AND CLIFT< \ Hoi >!:. WOHSHU- STKKKT. ]:.('. 50611901. 5661-19O1. /Members of tbe JSoarfc. Representatives of the Spanish and Pni-fuyuegc Synagogue, A. E. J. ABRAHAM. MANUEL CASTELLO, Vice- President of the Board. JOSEPH HE CASTRO. JOSHUA M. LEVY. ABM. H. PINTO. Representative! of the United Synagogue. H. P. ARNHOLZ. LEOPOLD FARMER. ELLIS A. FRANKLIN. HENRY HYMANS. ASHEH ISAACS. DANIEL JACOBS. W. T. LEVIANSKY. LEWIS LEVY. HEXRY LUCAS. FRANK I. LYONS. S. MOSES. M.A. M. A. ROZELAAR. A. SAUXDERS. ISAAC WEBER. ALBERT M. WOOLF. Representative! of the Federation qf Sgitagngnc*. 8. ALEXANDER. J. M. LISSACK. MARK MOSES. SIR SAMUEL MONTAGU, BART., President of the Jtotird. DEXXIS E. SAMUEL. Representative of the Western Synagogue. B. MARCUS. Representative of the Maiden Lane HEXRY EMANUEL. tbonorars BuDttors. LEOPOLD FARMER. | W. T. LEVIANSKY. professional Bufcitor. ALFRED HENRY. F.C.A. Investigating fficer. M. VAN THAL, !), Great Alie Street. Whiteehtipcl. E. Secretary. SAML. I. COHEN, Vestry Office.*, Henemje Lane, Her in ^f(lrl^!t. E.C. PREFACE. r I iHE pious Israelite has, at all times, been impressed -*- with the importance of the dietary precepts incul- cated with such solemn emphasis by our Divine Law. He has ever acknowledged that the observance of these ordinances has mainly contributed to preserve our dis- tinctive nationality ; that it has engendered those habits of moderation, temperance, and sobriety, which so eminently characterize our race, and endowed us with that vitality and resistance to climatic influences \vhich have elicit' 1 '! the admiration of learned authorities on the subject. \\Y can, therefore, readily understand that, when our fathers, both Sephardim and Ashkenaziin, began to settle again in this country, towards the end of the seventeenth century, they did not rest satisfied with the erection of houses of worship and the establishment of schools for the education of children. They also made arrangements for faithfully carrying out the various laws relating to the supply of Kosher meat. Shochetim were appointed, and, as the number of Jews in this country increased, and new congregations were formed, each Synagogue elected its own officers to fulfil the functions of Shechita. But it was found that, owing to the multiplicity of officials, no proper supervision could be exercised, and that much time and money were needlessly wasted. It was, therefore, deter- mined, in 1792, to make some attempt at concerted action. ft was then proposed to establish a special institution t<> 'leal entirely with the question, and each of the three 02 German Synagogues in the City deputed two representa- tives to a conference to discuss the matter. The late Lyon de Symons proposed a plan for the foundation of a joint Board, in which all the London Jewish congregations should be represented, and for the construction of a Hall for the sale of meat. The Secretary of the Great Synagogue, Bing, drew up a scheme which was submitted to the Spanish and Portu- guese community, accompanied by plans and estimates. The Hall to be built was intended to contain twenty shops, to be let to the butchers, and it was represented that the Sephardim would not only save 100 per annum, expended in providing Kosher meat, but would actually obtain a yearly profit. The Sephardim were willing to join a general body for the management of the Shechita, but declined to accept the scheme of the Central Hall. They alleged that the building would be useless if erected ; that it would be inconvenient for families living at a distance ; that on Sundays it would prove a scandal to Christian neighbours, and that non-Jewish butchers would refuse to pay the tax to be levied upon them. The Ashkenazim declined to separate the two parts of the scheme, and de- clared their intention to proceed alone. Vain efforts were made to raise funds to build the Hall, which has remained an unfulfilled project to the present day. After being in abeyance for more than ten years, the question of a Shechita Board was revived in 1804. The trouble and expense of divided counsels and partial arrangements became more apparent ; and steps were taken in a vigorous way to bring the matter to a success- ful issue. The Portuguese Mahamad held a Conference on the 1st lyar, 5564 (12th April, 1804), at which all the City Synagogues were represented. Five delegates from the Bevis Marks Synagogue met three delegates from the Great Synagogue, and an equal number respectively from the New and the Hambro' Synagogues. At this Con- ference, after much discussion, the Shechita Board, as we have it now, was formally constituted. Among the Sephardim who took part in the movement we find the well-known names of Isaac Mocatta, Alexander Lindo, and Gabriel Israel Brandon, whilst amongst their Ashkenazim colleagues figure Moses and Samuel Samuel, Levy Solomons, and Lyon de Symons. The whole arrangements for pro- viding Kosher meat for the Jews of London were placed under one management, and the new Board was deputed to superintend the dispositions for slaughtering and in- specting animals according to Jewish Law. The religious supervision was confided to Dr. Hirschell, the German Chief Rabbi, and to Dr. Meldola, the Portuguese Haham, and points of Jewish Law have, at every subsequent period, been referred to the spiritual authorities of the two communities. The Board of Shechita found no easy task in reducing chaos to order, in reforming abuses, and in suppressing irregularities. Soon a beneficial system was initiated ; the public were spared much inconvenience and annoyance, and the Synagogues effected a considerable saving. After the Board of Shechita had been in existence a very short time, it began to accumulate funds. The surplus in hand, resulting from the sums received during the first fifty-two weeks of its establishment, was invested in 3 per cent, annuities, in the names of David Abarbanel Lindo, Eleaser I. Keyser, Levy Salomons, and Raphael Harris. These gentlemen were requested to sign a deed of trust, declaring the stock to be held by them for the Portuguese and the three German congregations already mentioned, in the ratio of one-fourth part each. The surplus profits derived from the Shechita are still divided 6 in the proportion of one-quarter to the Sephardim and three-quarters to the United Synagogue. The Secretaries of the Bevis Marks and of the Great Synagogue, De Castro and Bing, officiated at first as joint Secretaries of the Board, and their services do not appear to have been rewarded at a high rate, from the fact that, between Tishri, 5566, and the same month in 5568, the remuneration allotted to those two officials for that period only reached the modest sum of 40. The constitution of the Board for administering the affairs of Shechita has not been materially altered since the day of its establishment, but the administration has been modified so as to render its rules suitable to the wants of the day. While our ecclesiastical autho- rities are called upon to decide questions of religious observance, the secular administration is entirely in the hands of the representatives of the Spanish and Portu- guese and of the United Synagogue. The duties of the Board have been difficult and onerous. Its members are anxious that every Jewish resident in London, who desires it, should be supplied with Kosher meat. They have to watch that the various regulations relating to the prepara- tion of such meat be scrupulously observed ; they have to consult the convenience of households, and the interests of a numerous body of tradesmen licensed by them, and have also to superintend a large number of employes.* The Board had long felt the inconvenience resulting from the want of a code of laws to guide it in its delibera- tions and and administration. It was therefore suggested by Mr. Samuel Montagu, in At present ten D'"Dnit}> and seven D*~ID1B> are in the employ of the Board of nOTltJ' ; eighty-live butchers and twenty-five poulterers are licensed by the Board. November, 1879, that a Constitution of the Board be drawn up. A sub-Committee, consisting of the following gentlemen : Messrs. Henry Solomon, S. Montagu, M. Castello, L Pariente, H. A. Israel, I. Pick, M. Samuel, J. Goldhill, and D. Davis, was accordingly appointed for this purpose. The sub-Committee was aided in its labours by the experience of Dr. Asher, Secretary of the United Synagogue, and of Mr. E. H. Lindo, Secretary of the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation. The Laws were submitted to the Board at a Meeting held on the 17th of March, 1880, and adopted by them. It is confidently anticipated that these Laws will contribute to uphold the pious object for which the Board of nia^ntP was originally constituted. LONDON, 56401880. Consequent on the admission of Representatives to this Board from the two very old-established Congre- gations, the Western and Maiden Lane Synagogues, and also from the Federation of Synagogues, various altera- tions in the Laws became necessary, and were made at a Special Meeting held on the 18th December, 1900, when it was also resolved to reprint the book of Laws, so as to embody these and previous alterations found necessary since the Laws were last printed in 1880. LONDON, 56611901. TITLE AND PURPOSE OF THE ASSOCIATION. 1 . This Association shall he called " The Board for Administering the Affairs of rreyntt?" and shall take cognisance of, and administer the affairs of the nirTttt? in the Metropolis. NUMBER OF MEMBERS. '2. The Board shall consist of twenty-seven Members, to he elected in manner following : five Members shall be elected by the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue ; fifteen Members shall be elected by the Council 'of the United Synagogue ; five Members shall be elected by the Federation of Synagogues, and one Member each shall be elected v Co by the Western Synagogue and the Maiden Lane Synagogue. No retail or carcass butcher, poulterer, or anyone who has been in the service of the Board, is eligible to serve as a Member of this Board. 3. The elections shall take place at such times as the above-named Synagogues shall determine, and shall be held biennially. The persons elected as Members of the Board shall take office at the first Meeting of the Board. In the event of a vacancv by death, resignation, or other cause, the Synagogue a 5 10 in whose representation there is a vacancy, shall be requested to fill up the same, and the gentleman then elected shall serve for the unexpired term. GOVERNMENT. 4. A President and Vice-President (both of whom shall also act as Treasurers), shall be elected by ballot from the Members of the Board biennially, at the first Meeting held after the elections by the Synagogues. 5. The President and Vice- President shall be ex officio members of all Committees. 6. All religious matters connected with nt^nttf shall be under the control of the Ecclesiastical Authorities of the Spanish and Portuguese Syna- gogue and of the United Synagogue. 7. The said Ecclesiastical Authorities shall be invited to attend all Meetings of the Board (and, if necessary, Meetings of the Executive Committee) for the purpose of deciding upon all religious questions. COMMITTEE. 8. There shall be an Executive Committee for general purposes, consisting ot five Members of the Board, to be elected at the same Meeting at which the President and Vice- President are elected. 9. The Executive Committee shall meet once in every month, and at such Meetings three shall form a quorum. 11 10. The Executive Committee shall, inter alia, investigate all complaints against butchers, poul- terers, and employe's of the Board, referring all matters involving religious questions to the Eccle- siastical Authorities. The Committee, or the Ecclesiastical Authorities, shall have power to tem- porarily withdraw any license or temporarily suspend any employe of the Board from the performance of his duty ; and should the gravity of the offence neces- sitate, in their opinion, permanent withdrawal of license, or dismissal, they shall at once report to a Meeting of the Board, to be immediately convened for the purpose. MEETINGS. 1 1. The usual place of Meeting of the Board shall be the Vestry Room of the Spanish and Por- tuguese Synagogue. 12. The Board shall meet once in three months. The President or Vice-President shall call Special Meetings when he may deem it necessary, or when requested to do so by a requisition signed by five Members of the Board. 13. The President, and, in his absence, the Vice-President, shall preside at all Meetings : and in the absence of both, the Members of the Board pre- sent shall elect a Chairman from amongst them- selves. 12 14. All acts, matters and questions, to be done, determined and decided by the Board, shall be done, determined and decided by a majority of persons present at a Meeting of the said Board, except as provided for by Law 33A. Elected Members of the Board only shall be entitled to vote at all Meetings thereof, seven of whom shall form a quorum at any Meeting of the Board. 15. The Chairman shall be entitled to speak and vote on all matters, acts, and questions, in addition to having the casting vote in cases of equality of votes. 16. The ruling of the Chairman on all points of order shall be conclusive. 17. The Secretary shall read the minutes of the preceding Meeting, which shall be confirmed if they have been correctly recorded, and upon the motion to confirm such minutes being put from the Chair, no discussion thereon, except as to their correctness, shall be allowed. 18. A notice of the time for holding a Meeting of the Board, with particulars of the business to be transacted, shall be forwarded to every Member of the same at least seven days prior to a Meeting, unless the urgency of the business necessitates shorter notice. 19. Any resolution passed at a Meeting relating 13 to a matter of which notice has not been given in a summons convening the same, must be ratified or rejected at the next ensuing Meeting ; notice of such proposed ratification or rejection being given in the summons convening the said next ensuing Meeting. O o o TRUSTEES. 20. No Trustee shall be appointed except on the recommendation of the Executive Committee. '21. All real and funded property of the Board shall be conveyed to, or invested in the names of, the Trustees. 22. Each Trust-property shall be invested in the names of not less than four Trustees. 23. No person shall be eligible as Trustee unless he be a Member of the Board at the time of his appointment as Trustee. '24. The Board shall have power, by resolution, to remove any Trustee ; and notice in writing shall be given by the Secretary of such resolution to the Trustee so removed. L'.~>. In the event of the removal, death, inca- pacity, unwillingness to act, or resignation of a Trustee of the funded or other property of the Board, or if any such Trustee shall go to reside permanently abroad, the Board shall, at the next Meeting after 14 the vacancy shall have been brought to the notice t/ of the President, proceed to elect a Trustee in the place of the Trustee so removing, dying, becoming incapable, or unwilling to act, resigning, or residing permanently abroad. 26. Notice of the intention to remove a Trustee or appoint a new Trustee, shall be given in the summons convening the Meeting at which the election is to take place. 27. At the Meeting succeeding the election of a new Trustee, a report shall be made to the Board by the President, whether all necessary acts have been done for vesting the property or fund in the Trustees for the time being. 28. The Resolutions of the Board shall be a sufficient authority and indemnity to a Trustee for anv act done by him in pursuance thereof. 29. At the Biennial Meeting for election of Honorary Officers, the list of Trustees shall be examined by the Board, and all steps necessary for keeping the property and funds invested in accord- ance with the foregoing Resolutions, shall be adopted. AUDITORS. 30. Two Auditors shall be appointed by the Board, who shall from time to time inspect the books 15 and investigate the accounts of the Board, and shall, as soon as possible after June 30th and December 31st in each year, examine the Treasurers' Balance Sheet, so that, when duly vouched by the signature of the Auditors, it may be presented to the Board at its Meeting in ttn and rota. When the 30th of June or 31st of December does not fall on Thursday, the accounts shall be made up to the preceding Thursday, 31. A banking account, at such Bank as the Executive Committee shall determine, shall be kept in the names of the President, Vice- President, and Secretary. 32. All moneys received by the Board shall be paid into this account, and all payments shall be by cheque only, to be signed by any two of those in whose names the account stands. 33. Out of the portion of the surplus of each half-year which the Board resolve on distributing, the Board shall make a grant of a sum not exceeding 15 (Fifteen Pounds), to the Western Synagogue, and a grant of a sum not exceeding 10 (Ten Pounds), to the Maiden Lane Synagogue. Out of the then existing balance of the portion of the surplus of the half-year which the Board resolve on distributing, three-fifths shall be allotted to the United Synagogue, one-fifth to the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation, and one-fifth to the Federation of Synagogues. 16 33A. Xo alteration shall be made in future in Laws 1 to 33c, unless such alteration be carried by a majority of at least three-fourths of the Members present at a Meeting convened, after fourteen da vs' notice, such proposed alteration being duly set out in the summonses convening the Meeting. 33u. Under no circumstances shall the Capital of any of the Invested Funds be applied to any purpose other than as a reserve for the payment of superannuation allowances to retired officers or employes of the Board, or to representatives of the same, or for or towards any of the objects of the Board's operations. 33c. The participation by the Western and Maiden Lane Synagogues and the Federation of Synagogues in the surplus, shall give them no claim on the present properties of the Board, whether funded or otherwise, or the properties for the time being representing the same. SECRETARY AND INVESTIGATING OFFICER. 34. A person who understands Shechita shall be elected to act as Investigating Officer and Collector to the Board by the Members thereof, by whom his salary and duties shall be regulated. His whole time shall be at the disposal of the Board. 35. It shall be the duty of the Investigating 17 Officer immediately to report to the President, Vice- President, or Chairman of the Executive Com- mittee, any dereliction of duty on the part of any employe of the Board. 13(5. The Investigating Officer shall, subject to the instructions of the Board, Executive Committee, or 1 1 onorarv Officers, arrange the duties of the c^ma; ^ O rmnittn ; he shall take care that the regulations of the Ecclesiastical Authorities and of the Board are observed ; he shall immediately report to the Ecclesiastical Authorities any infraction of the reli- gious regulations on the part of any one licensed or employed by the Board ; and shall take especial care that the necessary preparations for slaughtering are conducted as humanely as possible. o7. The Secretary shall have charge of all documents and papers belonging to the Board. He shall issue notices for Meetings, and keep minutes of the proceedings at such Meetings in a book to be provided for that purpose. .'J 212? from 7 a.m. till one hour before the time of Evening Service. 49. They shall attend for the performance of their duties on t3 f/< n raw 'MSia, and such other time as they may be directed. 50. Thev shall attend at such poultry shops as the Investigating Officer may direct. 51. No ttrnrp shall kill poultry except on the delivery of a ticket. 52. The resident mia? must officiate at all times on production of a ticket. 53. Every wrrw shall, after killing at a poul- terer's shop, hand an account of all birds killed to the poulterer and to the Investigating Officer. 54. Every -ifcirc must be able to porge both fore and hind quarters. 55. The imai37 shall commence their duties at 9.45 a.m. ; but one of the enow, in rotation, shall also attend at Whitechapel Market at the following hours: From 5.30 a.m. till 8 a.m. between March 1 and Oct. 31. 5 8 Nov. 1 Feb. 28. One now shall attend daily from 7 to 9 a.m., and one shall commence his dailv duties at 9 a.m. 21 56. Such of the c^i^iE 1 as may be required shall attend for the performance of their duties on ta'Ti ma; 57. In case of emergency, the "law who attends from 5.30 till 8 may be called upon to return to his duties at 9 instead of 9.45 a.m. 58. The D-nairc shall seal all meat which is pro- nounced "ittfD by the c^rntp ; shall porge the hind quarters ; and shall especially see that no ns-ita meat is taken from the Market bv Jewish butchers tf or purveyors. 59. A "inTO, to be called the Foreman law, who shall receive five shillings per week extra, shall be annually elected by the Board. He shall be on duty, from March 1st to October olst, at .">.;>() a.m., and from November 1st to February 28th, at 5 a.m. until p.m., and shall not leave the Market except one hour in the morning for breakfast and one hour for dinner. His duty shall be to keep a strict watch over the whole Market, and to report to the Investi- gating Officer any neglect or dereliction of dutv bv any employe* of the Board. 60. The Foreman IEIE? shall furnish any Butcher requiring hind quarters or any of the other portions of the animal, with a ticket stating the quantity and parts required ; such ticket shall be given up to the Divisional -raw upon the removal of the meat, etc., and no hind quarters or anv part of the 22 animal shall be taken from the Market without the delivery by the Butcher of such ticket. The penalty of twenty shillings shall be paid by any Butcher transgressing this law. 61. All employes shall daily enter the time of their arrival at the Market in a book provided for that purpose, under penalty of a fine of sixpence : and any employe arriving a quarter of an hour after his appointed time, shall also be subject to a fine of sixpence. 62. Any Officer absenting himself from his duties without the permission of the Investigating Officer, shall forfeit his salary during the period of such absence, unless prevented from attending by illness, duly certified by a registered medical practitioner. Notice shall be given to the Investigating Officer before 9 a.m. on the first day of absence. 6.H. All employes of the Board shall follow the directions of the Investigating Officer in matters relating to their duties. 64. The whole of the time of the employes shall be at the disposal of the Board. 65. The Board shall have power, in such cases as they may deem necessary, to grant a superan- nuation allowance to any of its Officers, or make an allowance to his widow. 23 66. Any person desirous of being taught the duties of -mtp or ~>ttUP, must apply to the Board in writing : and when such person is approved of by the Ecclesiastical Authorities, the Board may, from its funds, expend such sum for his tuition as they mav think tit. LICENSES. 67. No person preparing or selling meat or poultry for the use of Jews shall be recognised by the Board or by the Ecclesiastical Authorities as being authorised so to do in the Metropolis, unless holding the license of the Board. 68. Applications for leave to sell meat or poultry must be made in writing to the Board, and shall be placed before the first meeting of the same. 69. A license, signed by the Investigating ( )m'cer or anv Honorary Officer of the Board, shall be issued V \J to every applicant approved by the Ecclesiastical Authorities and by the Board, such license to be revocable, if deemed necessary, by the Board. 7(). No Butcher or Poulterer shall have meat or poultry killed or porged by persons other than those who are in the employment of the Board, and have been empowered by the Ecclesiastical Authorities, under penalty of forfeiture of his 24 71. Should the Ecclesiastical Authorities decide, for religious reasons, that any person licensed by the Board is unfit longer to hold such license, the Board, on the representation of the Ecclesiastical Authorities, shall revoke the license issued to such person. APPENDIX. The following shall, in future, be the Scale of Salaries per week paid to the D'naitP and nrtsrntp of the Board. Shochetim. Stiomerim. Poultry Shocheti in. First year ... 45s. per week. 35s. per week. 35s. per woek. Second ,, ... 45s. ,, 35s. ,, 35s. Third ... 45s. 35s. 35s. Fourth ... 50s. 40s. 40s. Fifth ... 55s. 45s. 40s. Sixth ... 55s. 50s. 42s. 6d. , Seventh ,, ... GOs. 50s. 47s. 6d. ., Eighth ,, ... 05s. 55s. 47s. 6d. Ninth ... 70s. ,, 60s. 50s. Tenth ... 75s. 65s. 55s. After 10 years... 80s. 70s. 60s. SCHEDULE OF CHARGES. The following charges shall be paid by the Car- cass Butchers to the Board, and shall be collected weekly : For each ox slain and found ~*wz 4s. 3d. u calf > Is. (3d. sliee P Os. 6d. No fees shall be charged for affixing seals to the various parts and pieces. The following charges shall be paid for the killing of poultry : By the public 2^d. for every turkey or goose. ,, ,, Id. ,, ,, other bird. trade 2d. ,, ,, turkey or goose. ,, ,, ,, Id. ,, ,, other bird. Should anv Butcher or Poulterer be more than one */ week in arrear in payment of his charges, no nt^nttf shall be performed for him till such arrears of charges be paid. acting at Deptford shall be allowed IDs. per week extra from the Board in lieu of travelling and other expenses, and those sent to assist, Is. per day each for the same. Whenever the supervision of a IDIE? is required in the shop of a Butcher or Poulterer, such Butcher or Poulterer shall pay to the Board the sum of not less than 30s. per week for the services of the