‘The voice of the minister heard in words of exhortation and instruction’: Abraham de Sola and the Jewish sermon in Victorian Montreal, and beyond

Abstract

On April 26, 1846 members of Board of Shearith Israel, Portuguese Congregation of Montreal, approved recommendation of their hiring committee engage Abraham de Sola, from London, as their minister. But there were conditions. First, Trustees wanted be sure that enough money could be raised actually pay minister. They also wanted reassurance that twenty-one year old had the requisite qualifications give English discourses addition other duties required of him.1 On this, there was a meeting of minds between Trustees and candidate: Abraham de Sola had already informed Congregation that he was eager deliver sermons his new community.2 Preaching English was not a new phenomenon Sephardic community, but neither was it commonplace.3 In early nineteenth century, ordinances of Sephardic community of London called only for Sephardic Chief Rabbi, or Haham, deliver sermons Spanish twice a year. After Abraham's father, David Aaron de Sola delivered his first English sermon 1831, Elders of Congregation resolved words of David Aaron that in future, Sermons English language should be frequently delivered at synagogue, order afford congregation religious instruction only way it could prove useful.4 These sermons became a regular feature two years later when David Aaron was commissioned deliver a talk on one Sabbath each month.5 In Montreal, Trustees of Shearith Israel had stipulated on March 13, 1844, that de Sola's predecessor, David Piza, be required to deliver two sermons English language appropriate approaching festival of Passover.6 But phenomenon of hazan, or minister, who could address, instruct, and/or rebuke his congregation was still noteworthy. London's Jewish Chronicle reported with favour late 1846 on modern qualifications of A.P. Mendes, who was off serve as minister Kingston, Jamaica, and Abraham de Sola. The paper especially commended Mendes for agreeable effect produced upon his auditors few discourses we had pleasure of hearing Portuguese Synagogue [that] left no doubt their mind