THE
ORGAN
On
October 31, 1864, some five months after the first separatists had resigned
their membership in Mikvé Israel to establish a Reform Congregation,
a Committee of Eleven was appointed to recommend how to make the Synagogue
ritual more appealing. Two of their recommendations were the formation
of a choir and the installation of an organ. To finance the new organ,
the long vacated NEVÉ SHALOM Synagogue property in Breedestraat
(O) 295 was placed on sale. It was sold on November 28, 1864, to Mr. J.
D. Rib, the highest of four bidders, for fls.4,655.00.
On
February 6, 1865, the PARNASSIM approved one of the three bids received
for a pipe organ from Europe, deciding among others: that the organ was
to be installed in the center of the women’s gallery across from the BANCA.
This would have meant installing the organ in the middle of the southern
gallery! A year later, however, we read about the construction of the western
gallery- specifically for the organ! A decision must also have been taken
in the mean time to extend the gallery around to the northern side: “to
make it symmetrical with the southern gallery and to avoid an L-shaped
structure.
On
April 28th, 1865, the PARNASSIM signed a contract with Flaes
and Brünjes, organ-builders from Amsterdam. To decorate their organ’s
mahogany cabinet, the Parnassim chose the verse from Psalm 92 5:1 “It is
good to give thanks to the Lord” to appear below the right hand vase “and
to sing praises to Thy Name O Most High” under the left one. In the center,
above the harp, they inscribed the Hebrew word HALLELUYA. They also had
the Hebrew words MIKVÉ ISRAEL carved out of the center of the organ’s
two mahogany wings. The organ was finished and shipped on schedule within
a year. Costing fls.5, 812.89- excluding renovation expenses- the new organ
was assembled on the especially constructed western gallery. Invitations
were extended in the local newspaper and the Snoa’s pipe organ was inaugurated
on October 24, 1866.
 The vase
decorating the left cornice of the organ with the Hebrew words UL'ZAMER
L'SHIMCHA ELYONE (to sing praises to Thy Name Oh Most High) along the base.
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 A
composition of musical instruments at the center top of the organ with
the Hebrew word HALLELUYA at the crown.
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 The vase
decorating the right cornice of the organ with the Hebrew words L'HODOT
LADONAI (It is good to give thanks to the Lord) along the base.
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By
this time, a choir numbering almost forty men and women had been organized
by Choir Directors S. Curiel and M. Capriles. Seating in the choir seems
to have been mixed, even in Orthodox Mikvé Israel! Mr. S. de Casseres
wrote three letters to the CONSEJO in May, 1884, complaining that religious
laws were thereby being violated. The Board finally acceded to Mr. de Casseres’
complaints and, in February 1885, ordered the Choir Directors to have balustrades
made to separate the men from the women. This separation proved most impractical,
however, and did not last past the turn of the century.
The
1866 contract with the Snoa’s first organist, Mr. Christiaan Ulder, states
that “he was required to play at all SHABBAT and holiday services and their
eves.” The listing of the holidays did not include YOM KIPPUR, as the organ
was not to be played on that day. Also, “that the playing of the organ
should not disturb the religious fervor of the Rabbi or the Chazzan while
he was praying”. Having received many petitions over the years for the
playing of the organ on YOM KIPPUR, the Board finally acceded in 1930.
After long consultations with all concerned (as they felt that this could
be considered a change in ritual), the matter was brought to a General
Assembly on August 7, 1930, and was approved by a vote of 44 to 4!
Chacham
Chumaceiro had ruled in 1866, that “no Jew would be allowed to be the congregational
organist as Jews were prohibited from playing a musical instrument on the
SHABBAT”. As a non-Jew could not be found to replace Mr. Ulder after his
demise, the PARNASSIM- out of necessity- reversed the Chacham’s ruling
on August 28, 1895, by a vote of 7 to 2. They contracted A. Charlouis in
1901 and non-Jews (among them E. Palm for 42 years) have been employed
ever since.
The
Choir Directors employed a young boy to pump the foot pedal of the air
bellows for the organ pipes until an electrical air pump was installed
in 1930. Although many attempts were made to maintain and even restore
the old pipe organ, these were to no avail as time and weather had taken
their toll. The pipe organ had to be replaced by a Hammond electric organ
in 1947; this, in turn by an Allen computerized digital electronic organ
in 1980. Both of these “modern” organs were financed in the traditional
way: by fundraising from within the membership. Since its complete restoration
in 2003, the 1866 pipe organ has once again resounded as of old in the
Snoa. Some 60 years of silence have been broken! (RDLM).
| The
Thebah | The
Heychal | The
Banca | Benches
and Chairs
Illumination | “Levantar” | The Torah | Torah Ornaments Crowns and Breastplate | Finials | Ceremonial Silver for other Occasions |
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All Rights Reserved. |
