Jacques Judah Lyons

from Publications of the American Jewish HIstorical Society, part 22, 1813

JACQUES JUDAH LYONS. Jacques Judah Lyons was born in the city of Surinam, Dutch Guiana, on Menahem 25, 5573 (August 25, 1813). His father, Judah Eleazar Lyons, and his mother, Mary Asser Lyons, who before her marriage was Mary Asser Levy, were born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and there they were married. In the early part of the last century they went to Surinam, Parimaribo, Dutch Guiana. Their son Jacques received the ordinary common school education afforded by the colony, there being neither university nor college in the place. Besides Dutch (the language of the country), he spoke Hebrew, English, German and French fluently and could also read and understand Spanish. Four years prior to his coming to the United States, Mr. Lyons was one of the Hazanim of the Congregation Nevie Shalom. This was then the synagogue of the Spanish-Portu guese Jews, but it was subsequently acquired by the Ash- kenazim, who, however, retained the Spanish and Portuguese or Sephardic Minhag.

1n 1837 he left Surinam and came to the United States, and within a few months after his arrival, he received a call from the Congregation Beth Shalome of Richmond, Virginia, then worshipping on Mayo Street of that city. What he achieved there, and the esteem in which he was held may be gathered from the following extract from an article printed, at the time of his death, in The Daily Dispatch, a newspaper published in Richmond, Virginia.

Rev. Jacques Judah Lyons came to this country .... from Surinam or Dutch Guiana .... he landed in Philadelphia in 1836 and within a few months thereafter came to Richmond, then the home of the largest, wealthiest and most intelligent Hebrew popu lation in America. Educated for the ministry, Mr. Lyons at once found a field for his talents, as the Congregation Kal Kadoshe then and now worshipping on Mayo Street, had long been without a minister, and the usual results had followed in the indifference and luke-warmness of the people. The new minister thoroughly in fused with his love for his faith, and armed with the divine en thusiasm of youth, at once addressed himself to the task of waking the memories of the ancient creed in the hearts of the faithless, and summoning her people again to their neglected affairs. In a brief period he had gathered the scattered flock, comforted the strong, encouraged the weak, recalled the wandered, aroused the indifferent and compacted the congregation which has probably never been equalled in influence and respect among the dwellers of this city. For years he labored with unflagging zeal, continued success winning the devoted affection of his own people, and the sincere respect of all.

In 1839 after the death of the Rev. Isaac B. Mendez Seixas, the Rev. Mr. Lyons received a call from the Congregation Shearith Israel of New York City, then worshipping on Crosby Street. In the fall of that year, he was elected its minister. The congregation had been established in Colonial times and was still the only Spanish and Portuguese congre gation in the city. After serving for two years he was elected its minister for life. At the time of his death, he had ministered to its members for thirty-eight years. On November 23, 1843, Mr. Lyons married Grace Nathan, a daughter of Seixas Nathan and Sarah Mendes Seixas. , He died Elul 4 (August 12), 1877, in the sixty-third year of his age. His funeral services on Elul 7 (August 15), 1877, were held in the synagogue in West Nineteenth Street, and were conducted by the Rev. Dr. Henry Pereira Mendes, his successor (who had been previously chosen as his assist ant), Rev. Dr. Abraham De Sola, of Montreal, Rev. Samuel M. Isaacs, of the Congregation Shaarai Tefilla of New York, and Rev. Sabato Morais of the Congregation Mikve Israel of Philadelphia. His remains were interred in the burying ground on Long Island belonging to his congregation.