Moses Gaster History of the Ancient Synagogue of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews

Annotation

In studying the work of the congregation, that which strikes one most forcibly, is the thoroughly systematic way in which it was taken up from the very start. One can see that they were experienced men, who knew the world and its requirements, who took into careful account the peculiar position in which the Jews found themselves in this country; men with broad views and deep interests in the spiritual welfare of the Com munity, ready to bring any sacrifice, as tolerant towards one another as they expected others to be, moved by a spirit of unselfish love to their nation - this alone made their work enduring, and their memory everlasting. Though living here from 1650, the number was too small, and the conditions anything but favourable, for the establishment of a community. But as soon as they decided to form one, they did not try experiments, but took as their model the institutions and regulations of Amsterdam, from which place the majority of the original founders had come.