In 1766, Gershom Mendes Seixas became the leader of Shearith Israel, New York City's first and oldest Spanish and Portuguese congregation, and remained its minister for about a half century. Although not ordained as a rabbi, Seixas served as hazzan and religious leader to the congregation and was among the first leaders of the Jewish community who had been born and educated in the United States. As the British fleet approached New York Bay in August, 1776, Seixas preached an emotional sermon in English, warning that that day's services might be the last held in the historic edifice. His Patriot loyalties provoked Shearith Israel to seal its entrance as the British approached, and Mendes Seixas left New York rather than remain under British rule. He rescued the scrolls of the Law and other ceremonial items as he fled for Stratford, Connecticut, where several members of the congregation joined him. In 1780, patriots who had fled to Philadelphia wanted to establish the city's first permanent congregation and selected Mendes Seixas to officiate. He thus helped establish historic Congregation Mikveh Israel. Many important politicians attended the synagogue's dedication, including the governor of Pennsylvania, and Seixas invoked "the blessings of Almighty God on the Members of these States in Congress assembled and on his Excellency George Washington, Commander-General of these Colonies". While living in Philadelphia, Mendes Seixas zealously defended religious liberty. He and several members of his congregation addressed the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Council of Censors in December 1783, opposing the adoption of a religious test for prospective office holders. He characterized these as "unjust to the members of a persuasion that had always been attached to the American cause and given a support to the country, some in the Continental army, some in the militia, and some by cheerfully paying taxes and sustaining the popular cause." Mendes Seixas returned to New York on March 23, 1784, and resumed his former position at the reopened Shearith Israel. He was one of the first ministers to preach a regular Thanksgiving Day sermon. He was also among the fourteen clergymen honored to be chosen to participate in George Washington's 1789 inauguration ceremony as president of the United States. In 1787 Seixas became the first member of his faith to be elected a trustee of Columbia College in New York City and remained such until 1815. He was also one of the College's incorporators. In 1802, he helped found "Hebra Hased Ve Amet", charitable organization. He served on the Board of Regents of what became New York University and as a trustee of the Humane Society of New York. Mendes Seixas enjoyed the friendship of many religious leaders and frequently was asked to speak to Christian congregations. He later supported the War of 1812 as well as aid to those suffering from those hostilities.
Death and legacy
Gershom Mendes Seixas died on July 2, 1816, and was buried in his congregation's first cemetery, then in the Bowery, now Chinatown. A memorial sermon delivered by Emanuel Nunes Carvalho of Congregation Mikveh Israel and printed in Philadelphia became the first Jewish sermon published in the United States. Congregation Shearith Israel prominently displays a tablet in Seixas's honor. Today, members of the Seixas family are leaders of the American Sephardi community.
