Tribute to the first American-born rabbi–Rabbi Gershou Mendes Seixas–who served for 30 years as a trustee of Columbia College, was paid today by Dr. Grayson Kirk, acting president of the Columbia University. Dr. Kirk emphasized that Rabbi Seixas “played a very large part in the intellectual life of New York and an effective part in the guidance and development of Columbia College” at the close of the 18th century.
The tribute was offered during a brief ceremony held before the portrait of Rabbi Seixas, which hangs in Columbia’s Earl Hall. The ceremony took place in connection with the 70th anniversary of the founding of the New York Board of Rabbis which begins this Friday. A delegation of the New York Board of Rabbis participated.
Rabbi Seixas’ portrait was unveiled at Columbia University in 1929 on the 175th anniversary of the founding of the university. He was born in New York on Jan. 14, 1745, and was the son of Isaac Mendes Seixas, who had escaped from the Inquisition in Portugal.
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