173. A RARE AND IMPORTANT AMERICAN COIN SILVER...
173. A RARE AND IMPORTANT AMERICAN COIN SILVER KIDDUSH CUP GIVEN TO RABBI JAQUES JUDAH LYONS (Surinam, Dutch Guiana 1813 – New York, 1877). Probably New York, c. 1850. On a round base with U shaped chasings. Upper portion embossed with flowers, leaves and C scroll designs. Engraved " Presented to the Rev. J. J. Lyons by his pupil Moses M. Ritterband ”. Rabbi J.J. Lyons was a rabbi, chazzan and Jewish community leader. He became a chazan at Congregation Nevie Shalom in Surinam. In 1837, he was appointed rabbi of Congregation Beth Shalom of Richmond, Virginia. In 1839 he was elected rabbi of Congregation Shearith Israel of New York City, at the time, the most important and influential orthodox synagogue. Three years later, Lyons married Grace Nathan, the daughter of Seixas Nathan and Sarah Mendes Seixas. He was an advocate of Orthodox Judaism; co-authoring A Jewish Calendar for Fifty Years, leading Shearith Israel’s Talmud Torah, Chevrah Kadischa, and was one of the founders of the Jew’s Hospital, now known as The Mount Sinai Hospital. In 2010, the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, recognized his humanitarian efforts during her visit to New York City when she visited Congregation Shearith Israel and recounted Lyons’ heroic act of raising aid for the starving Irish people following the failed potato crop of 1846. Deaccessioned from the High Museum, Atlanta, GA. The donor, Moses M. Ritterband was born in NYC in 1848 and died in Los Angeles in 1921. 7.1” tall.
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