On Beholding the New Synagogue, a poem by Penina Moïse (Ḳ.Ḳ. Beth Elohim, Charleston 1840)
Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=50045
open_content_license: Creative Commons Zero (CC 0) Universal license a Public Domain dedication date_src_start: 1840-00-00 date_src_end: 1840-00-00 languages_meta: [{"name":"English","code":"eng","standard":"ISO 639-3"}] scripts_meta: [{"name":"Latin","code":"Latn","standard":"ISO 15924"}] Date: 2023-04-14
Last Updated: 2025-04-21
Categories: Homes & Community Centers
Tags: 19th century C.E., 57th century A.M., dedications and consecrations, synagogue consecration, Synagogues
Excerpt: "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. . . .
Content:
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On Beholding the New Synagogue, 1840.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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From Angel now to Angel flies
Amen! in sweet accord:
Ye mortal choristers arise
And echo Mercy’s word.
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“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)
Contributor: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
Co-authors:
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Name: Penina Moïse
Bio: 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.)
Website: https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/moise-penina
Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/penina-moise
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Name: Aharon N. Varady (transcription)
Bio: 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.)
Website: https://aharon.varady.net
Profile Link: https://opensiddur.org/profile/aharon-varady-transcription
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