On Beholding the New Synagogue, a poem by Penina Moïse (Ḳ.Ḳ. Beth Elohim, Charleston 1840)

Contributor(s):

Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription) and Penina Moïse

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14 April 2023 under the Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication

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Homes & Community Centers

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57th century A.M., Synagogues, dedications and consecrations, synagogue consecration, 19th century C.E.

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Contribute a translation	Source (English)
	On Beholding the New Synagogue, 1840.
	Ere Hebrew Minstrel’s hands were chained Or Harps on willows slept; Idolatry his chords had strained, Though prophets warned and wept. The wreath that bound his brow sublime Fell withering at their curse Captivity avenged the crime, Of all his race perverse.
	He sings again beneath the star Of Freedom’s Holy Land; And Hallelujahs heard afar Resound from Israel’s band. Lips are the only censers now. To waft the heart’s oblation On these, Eternal Ruler! throw Thy spirit’s radiation.
	Behold, O! Mighty Architect, What love for Thee, has wrought; This Fane arising from the wrecked, Beauty from ashes brought. Oh! when we glance with finite eye, From Stars to Ocean’s shells, A Temple each, where Deity, Magnificently dwells.
	How shrink the noblest works of man And all his boasted powers, Before Creation’s glorious plan From satellites to flowers. But Hope yet brighter far than these, Sister of Faith divine By her own light a blessing sees Descending on this shrine.
	From Angel now to Angel flies Amen! in sweet accord: Ye mortal choristers arise And echo Mercy’s word.

“On Beholding the New Synagogue, 1840” was published in Secular and Religious Works of Penina Moïse, With Brief Sketch of Her Life (Council of Jewish Women, Charleston Section, 1911), pp. 269-270.

Source(s)

. Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication . 1.0 . Universal .

“On Beholding the New Synagogue, a poem by Penina Moïse (Ḳ.Ḳ. Beth Elohim, Charleston 1840)” is shared through the Open Siddur Project with a Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication 1.0 Universal license.

Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription)

Aharon Varady (M.A.J.Ed./JTSA Davidson) is a volunteer transcriber for the Open Siddur Project. If you find any mistakes in his transcriptions, please let him know. Shgiyot mi yavin; Ministarot naqeni שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי "Who can know all one's flaws? From hidden errors, correct me" (Psalms 19:13). If you'd like to directly support his work, please consider donating via his Patreon account. (Varady also translates prayers and contributes his own original work besides serving as the primary shammes of the Open Siddur Project and its website, opensiddur.org.)

Penina Moïse

Penina Moïse (1797-1880) was born to a large and wealthy family in Charleston, South Carolina, the progeny of her merchant father, Abraham Moïse (1736-1809), originally from Strasbourg in Alsace, France, and her mother Sarah from the Jewish community on the Caribbean island of Sint Eustatius in the Netherlands Antilles. Her brother, also named Abraham, was a leader in the Reformed Society of Israelites, and so we imagine she was closely associated with the reformist wing of the congregation it wished to and ultimately succeeded in reforming, Ḳ.Ḳ. Beth Elohim. Moïse wrote at least 187 prayers for Beth Elohim's hymn books published in 1842 and in 1856. Moïse was also a gifted teacher and, in 1845, became head of Beth Elohim’s religious school. Moïse was a prolific writer, earning praise for her 1833 collection of poems, Fancy’s Sketch Book, as well as her articles for various newspapers across the country. After the Civil War, she returned to Charleston and ran an academy with her sister and niece. Though her eyesight eventually deteriorated into blindness, she continued to work and write until the end of her life. (This short biographical sketch includes material adapted from her entry in the Jewish Women's Archive by Jay M. Eidelman.)

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Works of related interest:

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“Know Before Whom Thou Standest,” a poem on the inscription above the Aron haḲodesh by Penina Moïse (Ḳ.Ḳ. Beth Elohim, Charleston, ca. 1840)

📖 Hymns Written for the Service of the Hebrew Congregation Beth Elohim, Charleston, South Carolina (Penina Moïse et al., 1842)

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📖 Hymns Written for the Use of Hebrew Congregations (Penina Moïse et al., Ḳ.Ḳ. Beth Elohim, Charleston, South Carolina 1856)

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When Faith Too Young for a Sublimer Creed, a hymn by Penina Moïse for the consecration of her synagogue (Ḳ.Ḳ. Beth Elohim 1842)

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Israel! To Holy Numbers Tune Thy Harp, a hymn by Columbus Moïse (Ḳ.Ḳ. Beth Elohim, Charleston, South Carolina, 1842)

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Lift, Lift the Voice of Praise on High – a hymn on “Devotion” by Penina Moïse (Ḳ.Ḳ. Beth Elohim 1842)

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Eternal, Almighty, Invisible God! – a hymn on “Praise and Thanksgiving” by Penina Moïse (Ḳ.Ḳ. Beth Elohim 1842)

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ויהי נעם אדני אלהינו עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננה עלינו ומעשה ידינו כוננהו "May the pleasantness of אדֹני our elo’ah be upon us; may our handiwork be established for us — our handiwork, may it be established." –Psalms 90:17