THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA
367
Hue reads: "These pillars and the lintel came from the door of the siiiictuary and tliis is tlie door ti) support it iii)oii them for a memorial," A partieular treasure' of this synagogue is a liebrew Hihle in elegantly written sepiaru characters, the work of a veritalile artist. Each column or page .
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surroundc<l with elahorate ornaniiiitation consisting of the ilasora, hoth "Great " and " [Small. " written in llic most microscopic Hebrew letters, which are legible oidy with a magnify ing-glass; the readings of Hen Aslicr and I5en Naphlali are also given. The last page bears the inscription, "The proi)erty of David ha-Kohen, called Kutina, oliT " (13()7). The name of the writer and date are unknown. There is also a I'enlateucli, together with the early prophets, wrilt<-n upon parchment of larger size, of about the same period, Holh these valuable manuscripts are jealously guarded, an<l are taken from the ark only upon the annual festival of the "Rejoicing of the Law," to he borne around Ihe synagogue in the customary Procession of the Scrolls. In 1880 this sj'nagogue was repaired and restored, (3) A synagogue named " A/.uz "; date imknown, smaller in size Ihan the "Zeradel," In addition to these there are Ihe following; (4) The Franks' (lliat is, the Eurojiean Spanish) synagogue, founded in The building is hired, not owned, by the con184t», gregation, (.")) A hired room used as a bet hd-inidnish (college) and a synagogue by the Moroccan Jews, (6) A bet ha-midrash named after Jedidiali, a former rabbi of the cilv. (7) The Gohar svnairngm' lounded by Klijah Cohar, (H) Two halls hi'red'liy the Ashkenazi Jews for worship according to their own particular riti', (!)) The .Menasce synagogue, founih'd in 1878 by Haron J. L. de Menasee: a handsome building with marble ark. pillars, and pavement, costing about f8.(M)() (§40.000), It is supported by the revenues of two houses set apart by the Paron for this purpos*'. In 1!)(I0 Ihe president was .M, Joseph Tilche. who has so carefully managed Ihe fundseleriveil from the synagogue ollVrings and fees that Ihe interest received from their investment is sullicient to defray Ihe expenses of Ihe sciiool connected wilh il, (10) A synagogue, projecled by Abraham Green, lo be creeled in a suburb where there has been a steady settlement of Jews for the past twenty-tive years. The hall hilherlo hired for i)rayerineetings becoming too small, -M, Green purchased (I'JOO) a site in a suitable location and will erect a building to cost is
about
.tr),00() (Si.l.OOO).
The community ])os.sesses several schools, Imt owing to the lack of those conducted upon modern children of the upi>er and middle-class Jews attend the Chrislian privale schools of the city. Thi' most important Jewish schools are (1) that established by Baron .1. I,, de Minasce at a cost of more than This is pleasjintly siluateil in am£5.000 (if','."i. (HMD ple grounds. In I'.'iHi ii had I'iO pupils, who received free eduealion in Ihe Penlaleuch and se< ular gllbjecis, French, .rabic(lhe language of Ihi' country), and. of c(iirsi', Hebrew were laiighl. The director was Joseph Tilche; and associated wilh him was .M. Si>lonion Harda, Sclio(d maleriais are sup plii'd gniluilously to Ihe (lupils. Ihe c.penses being defraycil from lhcre<<iplsof Ihe Menasee synagogue. Needy pupils ri'ceive clolhing twice a vr'ar, CJ) A Talmud 'I'orah s<hool. called Hie .ghion School, establisliiil aboul the year Is.Sll by lln' brolhirs Moses and Isaac .Vghion. owing lo Ihe fact Ihal llii' Meiia.sce School was unidile for want of r<M>m to ai'commodale all applicanls. On thedealii oflhese broihers Iheir children set aside '.JO.OIKI fr. (;j:t,!HK)) as a sinking fund for ils support; and Mo,ses Jacob lines. Ihe
Schools.
Alexandria, £^ypt (Modernj
Aghion gave an additional sum of 20,000 fr, for a school for girls. In 1900 there were about 280 pupils, of both se.xes. who received free education in religion, Hebrew. French, and Arabic, The salaries of teachers anil expenses for maleriais amount to i'880 (§4,400) annually; clothing-supplies, shoes, etc, cost i'lGO (.§800) more, (3) Other small (demenlary schools teaching tlie Pentateuch, prayer-book, etc, according tolhi' grades of Iheir pupils, (4) A,mIiooI established about 18"J(i by the xMliance Israelite Universelle for boys and girls, at which a moderate charge was made for tuition. In ils lirst year the school was allended by more than 200 boys'and M girls; hut owing lo freipient changes in Hie leaching slafT, due to a dearlh of capable teachers. Ihe atleiidance fell rapidly, French. English, and Arabic were taught, as well as Hebrew and religious subjecls; Ihe girls were inslrucled additionally in .sewing. Anew teacher was secure<l in 1000; and there was then every indication of a return of the .school's original prosperity. A number of eleemosynary inslitulions have been founded in the community, and of these the following are the most important (1) An as:
Charitable Institutions.
.socialion, "
Ezrat Ahim," lo aid poor and deserving Israelites, which e.xpends annually t700 (.'S3.r)0n) in dona-
lions of money, tlour. and meat. It is by 370 memliers. who contribule three francs or more monthly. The president is Abrannno Tilche, and its secretary Zemal.i Amram. a son of Pabbi Xal hail Amram, (2) The a.ssoeiatiou " Berit Abraham." founded aboul 1880. extends assistance in obslelric cases among Ihe poor, who receive medical atleiidanci' and small grants of money. It is
supported
supported by voluntary conlribulions. (3) The .so"Haklinasat Orhim" (fare of Slningers) founded. 18H2. to assist poor travelers: il hires a house as a "refuge" anil shelters and feeils them during their .sojourn. It was eslablished by subscriplion. but is now maintained bv the Order of B'ne H'rilh. (4) The Order of Bne IVrilh, Ihe well-
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ciely
known
.lewish-Ainerican order, was established here wilh a membership of |."iO, Il opened a trade school which, however, gradually diclined and has now only a feeble support, ("i) In 1885 a Dowry Association was established, toas.sist eight poor girls annually, wilh adowry of .'iOOfr, (§97,50) each, When the annual outlay of 4,000 fr, (§780) was no longer though, by easily obtained from Ihe membership reason of the growth of population, the number n{ Joseph Tilche deserving candidates had increa.sid and Moses Aziz cxerli-d Ihemselves in behalf of Ihe in
1802.
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as.socialion,
and through
a colleclion
amounting
to
provided a fund, the income of which secures every year a donation of £10 (§50) to each of (tl) The Jleforty maidens on her wedding-day, nasce Hospital biiill by Baron J, L. de Menasee and his brolher Felix, in memory of their father. Pechor. is a spacious edilice wilh ample grounds, siliialeil oiilside Ihe cilv proper, in a well stiecleil lixation. ,t(i,000 (§30,000)
Thi- buililiiigand appoiiilinenlseost i'.'>.IKMI(§25.(MK»). Annual expenses are 30.000 fr. (§5.^01, Il is supported by a one-percent ta.x, levied on all marriage dowries i>f I' 100 (.§5(MI) and over. An annual eiilertainment is given in ils behalf. The hospital is providiil wilh a dispensary for Ihe poor. (7) A Ilome for the Aged, devoted in pari also lo the reccplion of convalesceiils from Ihe Menasee llospilal. who freipnnlly need more care and nourishment Ihan Iheir own homes alTord, At Ihe laying of the corner sloneof thcGn'cn Synagogin the chief rabbi look Ihe opporlunily lo urge the attention of thosi' assembled to llii' mailer, A subscription was taken up ut oucu anil beadol by Burou Jacipies de Menius«'e,
