Gershom Mendes Seixas (1745–1816)

Gerta Ries Wiener (Germany 1898-2000 New York)
USA, 1975
Bronze, h. 1 ¾ x w. 1 ¾ in.
Cincinnati Skirball Museum, Jewish-American Hall of Fame Collection, gift of Mel and Esther Wacks, Debra Wacks, and Shari Wacks, 2019.7.13

Among the earliest Jewish communal leaders born and educated in the United States, Gershom Mendes Seixas (son of Moses Seixas) was the first American Jewish clergyman to give a sermon in English. He became the religious leader of Congregation Shearith Israel in New York City in 1766. Although he was not an ordained rabbi, he served the historic Spanish and Portuguese synagogue for about 50 years. In late August 1776, when news came that the British were approaching New York, Mendes Seixas decided to close the synagogue rather than keep it open under British rule. He saw to it that the ceremonial objects, including the Torah scrolls, were taken away for safekeeping. He relocated to Philadelphia where he helped establish Mikveh Israel Congregation. While living in Philadelphia, he became a zealous defender of religious liberty. He joined members of his congregation in addressing the State’s Council of Censors in December 1783, opposing Pennsylvania’s adopting a religious test as a qualification for office. Mendes Seixas returned to New York in 1784 and resumed his former position at the reopened Shearith Israel. He was one of 14 clergymen participating in George Washington’s first inaugural (1787) and continued to be a vigorous defender of the much-maligned James Madison administration during the War of 1812. Mendes Seixas was active as a trustee in the Humane Society and as one of the first Regents of the New York State University. He was the only non-Episcopalian to serve as a trustee of Columbia University, from 1787 to 1815.