THE

BRITISH JEWS.

INTRODUCTION.

A FULL historic review of the Jews in Great Britain would require a volume-consequently, in this introduction, we shall only allude to a few facts, and that very briefly.

From an early period they found a quiet home in this island, until Popery was matured, and began to exert its influence in this country. The first decree on record, of a menacing character to the Jews, is that of Egbert, Archbishop of York, in the year 740, prohibiting the Popish population to appear at Jewish feasts. From that period their interest became very insecure. At times they found peace under the protection of the reigning sovereign; but anon a storm of persecution would arise, followed by the greatest cruelty and rapine. In these barbarities the priests generally took the lead. At last,

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in the reign of Edward I. a decree was issued that all the Jews should immediately quit the country. In this measure government and people united. Many of the Jews were put to death, their property confiscated, and upwards of 16,000 were banished, to seek a home in some other land. Their valuable libraries at Oxford and Stamford, as well as their Synagogue in London, were appropriated by the monks. From the year of their exile (1290) until 1655, not a single son of Abraham trod upon British ground. The time, however, had now arrived, and divine providence had prepared the man to introduce the exiled once more to find a habitation on our happy shores. The celebrated Menasseh Ben Israel was the son of a Joseph Ben Israel, a native of Portugal, but who, with many of his co-religionists, had to flee his country on account of religious persecution. Joseph settled in Amsterdam, and had his son educated at the Jewish institution there. Menasseh made rapid progress, especially in languages, and when he had attained manhood he was master of Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, Latin, Spanish, and Portuguese, and well acquainted with their literature. He was by nature a noble-minded man; and deep learning, with a knowledge of the world, made him exceedingly kind and urbane. He had raised himself above the prejudices

of his nation, and courted the friendship of enlightened Christians. About the year 1651 he became acquainted with John Thurloe, who was, at that time, at the Hague. When Thurloe was made Secretary of State under Cromwell he introduced Menasseh to the notice of the Protector. The liberty and kindness which Protestantism was extending to the Jews on all hands, had attracted the attention and aroused the fondest expectations of Menasseh for years. He looked with anxiety to Britainthat his persecuted race might find in it an asylum. The interest which his friend Thurloe had taken in the Jewish cause gave him infinite gratification; and the invitation which he received to appear before the Protector in 1655 was accepted with the greatest alacrity. He came over-and his learning, urbanity, and the justness of his cause, found full sympathy in the bosom of Cromwell. We shall not review the convocations held on the occasion, but merely add, that the object of Menasseh was attained. A number of Spanish and Portuguese Jews came over and settled in London. In the following year (1656) they erected a Synagogue in King Street, Duke's Place-and prepared a cemetery in Mile End, where their Hospital now stands.

Soon after, a number of German Jews arrived and settled in London. In the year 1692 they also built a

Synagogue in Duke's Place, on the site of the present one. Since this period the Jews have multiplied from year to year; and although some persons have, from time to time, endeavoured to fan persecutions, the government, in every instance, has protected them, and grants to them the same liberty and safety as to the other portion of her Majesty's subjects.

From what has been said we see that the two emigrations above mentioned erected two separate Synagogues. And here our readers must observe that the Spanish and Portuguese Jews separate themselves from those of the German and Polish. Thus, in Great Britain, as elsewhere, the Jewish people constitute two distinct communities-those of the Spanish and Portuguese under the general name Sephardim; and those of the German and Polish under the name Ashkenasim. The Sephardim hold that they are the descendants of the tribe of Judah -the aristocracy of the nation. They look back with delight upon their ancestors—the illustrious Jews of Spain and Portugal; and from our acquaintance with a goodly number of their families, we believe them to inherit, to a very great degree, the noble qualities attributed to their fathers. This community is not numerous—nor does it increase much, owing, perhaps, to its too great exclusiveness. There are but few families out of London;