Archief van de Portugees-Israëlietische Gemeente
Item
Country
NL
Name of institution (English)
Amsterdam City Archives
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
dut
Contact information: postal address
Vijzelstraat 32, 1017 HL Amsterdam
Contact information: phone number
0031 202511511
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
stadarchief@amsterdam.nl
Reference number
334
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (English)
Portuguese Jewish community archive
Title (official language of the state)
Archief van de Portugees-Israëlietische Gemeente
Language of title
dut
por
spa
Creator / accumulator
Portugees-Israëlietische Gemeente
Date(s)
1614/1943
Language(s)
dut
por
spa
Extent
60 linear meters
Type of material
Textual Material
Graphic Material
Cartographic Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
The Archief van de Portugees-Israëlietische Gemeente (Portuguese Jewish Community Archive) comprises information produced from 1614 to 1943. It contains eight major archives, including those of the three initial Jewish Congregations of Amsterdam: Bet Jacob (1614-1632), Neve Shalom (1616-1639), and Beth Israel (1618-1648). The Bet Jacob archive includes the book of the Bet Haim cemetery of the Bet Jacob Congregation (1614-1630), containing regulations, decisions, and income and expenditure records; the decision of the Talmud Torah congregation in Venice regarding a dispute within the Bet Jacob congregation (1618); a ledger book (1621-1623); a Sedaka journal (1619-1621); and records of contributions, namely the "fintas" and "promessas" (1618-1623 and 1616-1632). The Neve Shalom archive contains a treasurer's book with records from 1616 to 1639. The Bet Israel archive comprises a book of the resolutions of the Mahamad from 1618 to 1639, and a record of contributions ("fintas" and "promessas") from 1626 to 1639.
In 1639, the three communities were merged into one, the Kahal Kados Talmud Torah. Documentation related to this merging process is comprised in another archive of this fonds: Archief van het college van afgevaardigden van de drie gemeenten betreffende de impost van de gezamenlijke lidmaten.
One of the most comprehensive archival collections is related to the Talmud Torah congregation. This archive is divided into two parts. The first part aggregates "escamot" (by-laws) and other regulations, minute books of the Parnassim meetings (including the "Livros dos Acordos"), income records, correspondence, privileges given to the community, and resolutions from Dutch authorities regarding the Jewish population. The second part is organised according to a functional criterion, in consonance with the different dimensions of the community, such as the household, the staff, finance management, administration of members, jurisdiction, kashrut laws and practices, management of the cemetery, aid and assistance, and relations with other congregations (containing documents related to other Jewish communities in Amsterdam, the Hague, Maarssen, as well as in Curaçao, Surinam, Venice, Jerusalem).
Another part of the Archief van de Portugees-Israëlietische Gemeente comprises archives of different confraternities and organisations. The first section aggregates those related to the Talmud Torah congregation, namely:
- Talmud Torah and Ets Haim (yeshivah, Jewish school);
- Santa Companhia de Dotar Órfãs e Donzelas (brotherhood founded in 1615 to provide dowries to orphans and young women);
- Honen Dalim (confraternity founded in 1625 with the aim of extending loans on buildings for underprivileged Jews);
- Vestiaria and Vestiaria dos Talmidim (brotherhoods to provide clothing for the underprivileged);
- Gemelut Hassadim (confraternity founded in 1639 to support expenses with burials of impoverished members and provide assistance to the ill);
- Hesed Weemet (burial confraternity);
- Abodath Ha-Chesed (brotherhood founded in 1641 to provide support to German and Polish Jews);
- Aby Jetomim (confraternity founded in 1648 to provide support and education to fatherless boys and support needy travelers and foreign co-religionists);
- Temine Darech (brotherhood founded in 1665 to provide legal assistance and care for the sick);
- Asuta Habraya Ugbul Almana (confraternity established in 1688 to support ill teachers of Ets Haim);
- Sjomerim La-Boker (brotherhood engaged in law practice and entrusted with the organisation of early morning services);
- Mishenet Zequenim (brotherhood founded in 1750 with the aim of establishing a home to accommodate and provide care to people over 60 years of age);
- Hase Hamaharacha (brotherhood founded in 1713 to provide firewood to the underprivileged members of the congregation);
- Meil Sedaca (brotherhood created in 1735 to distribute winter coats to underprivileged members);
- Notem Lechem La-Dal (brotherhood probably founded about 1750 with the twofold purpose of distributing bread to underprivileged members and holding religious lectures on Sabbaths and holidays);
- Haberim Magsibim (confraternity founded before 1768 to hold lectures and distribute bread to underprivileged members);
- Hanagath Ha-Neharim (brotherhood founded in 1790 with the aim of holding Sabbath lectures and distributing shirts to the underprivileged);
- Matsebet Aben (burial confraternity established in 1800);
- Mahoz-Ladal and Hukat Apasah (brotherhoods founded in 1806 to distribute bread to the impoverished members of the congregation);
- Portuguees-Israëlietische Armenschool (Portuguese Jews' School for the Poor);
- Oude Vrouwen-en Ziekenhuis Mesib Nefes (Hospital for Old Women);
- Portugees-Israëlietische Bewaarschool (Portuguese Jews' Care School).
The second section aggregates archives from other congregations and organisations, including the Portuguese Jewish congregations of Recife in Brazil (a record book of regulations and decisions from 1648 to 1654) and Naardem.
A final part of the Archief van de Portugees-Israëlietische Gemeente comprises miscellaneous documentation, namely:
- various manuscripts and copies related to the Talmud Torah congregation and its institutions, including the regulations of the Companhia de Dotar Órfãs e Donzelas (1615), lists of Parnassim (1639-1746), copies of the Mahamad decrees (c. 1700), a diary of an anonymous member who held positions in the congregation (1728-1770), copies of privileges granted to the Portuguese Jews in Amsterdam (18th century), discourses and sermons (18th century), descriptions of tombstones and a map of the cemetery in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel (19th century), David Franco Mendes's notes concerning the settlement of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews in Amsterdam (1769), and a manuscript concerning the Pinto family (19th century).
- Family papers, including documentation related to the Boas family from the Hague (1764-1939), bonds due to planters in Suriname, Essequibo, etc. (1765-1803), Isaac Haim Abendana de Brito's diploma of his degree in Medicine at the University of Leiden (1778), an insurance policy of Moses Israel Ricardo (1780), among various other documents.
- Property deeds (1693-1844);
- Diverse records related to colonisation and trade, including records on privileges granted to people settling on the Wild Coast (17th century), documents concerning the slave trade on the African coast (18th century), an 18th-century copy of the privileges granted by the Grand Duke of Tuscany to foreign merchants in 1593, considerations on the granting of a patent by the States General to the colony of Berbice (Guyana).
In 1639, the three communities were merged into one, the Kahal Kados Talmud Torah. Documentation related to this merging process is comprised in another archive of this fonds: Archief van het college van afgevaardigden van de drie gemeenten betreffende de impost van de gezamenlijke lidmaten.
One of the most comprehensive archival collections is related to the Talmud Torah congregation. This archive is divided into two parts. The first part aggregates "escamot" (by-laws) and other regulations, minute books of the Parnassim meetings (including the "Livros dos Acordos"), income records, correspondence, privileges given to the community, and resolutions from Dutch authorities regarding the Jewish population. The second part is organised according to a functional criterion, in consonance with the different dimensions of the community, such as the household, the staff, finance management, administration of members, jurisdiction, kashrut laws and practices, management of the cemetery, aid and assistance, and relations with other congregations (containing documents related to other Jewish communities in Amsterdam, the Hague, Maarssen, as well as in Curaçao, Surinam, Venice, Jerusalem).
Another part of the Archief van de Portugees-Israëlietische Gemeente comprises archives of different confraternities and organisations. The first section aggregates those related to the Talmud Torah congregation, namely:
- Talmud Torah and Ets Haim (yeshivah, Jewish school);
- Santa Companhia de Dotar Órfãs e Donzelas (brotherhood founded in 1615 to provide dowries to orphans and young women);
- Honen Dalim (confraternity founded in 1625 with the aim of extending loans on buildings for underprivileged Jews);
- Vestiaria and Vestiaria dos Talmidim (brotherhoods to provide clothing for the underprivileged);
- Gemelut Hassadim (confraternity founded in 1639 to support expenses with burials of impoverished members and provide assistance to the ill);
- Hesed Weemet (burial confraternity);
- Abodath Ha-Chesed (brotherhood founded in 1641 to provide support to German and Polish Jews);
- Aby Jetomim (confraternity founded in 1648 to provide support and education to fatherless boys and support needy travelers and foreign co-religionists);
- Temine Darech (brotherhood founded in 1665 to provide legal assistance and care for the sick);
- Asuta Habraya Ugbul Almana (confraternity established in 1688 to support ill teachers of Ets Haim);
- Sjomerim La-Boker (brotherhood engaged in law practice and entrusted with the organisation of early morning services);
- Mishenet Zequenim (brotherhood founded in 1750 with the aim of establishing a home to accommodate and provide care to people over 60 years of age);
- Hase Hamaharacha (brotherhood founded in 1713 to provide firewood to the underprivileged members of the congregation);
- Meil Sedaca (brotherhood created in 1735 to distribute winter coats to underprivileged members);
- Notem Lechem La-Dal (brotherhood probably founded about 1750 with the twofold purpose of distributing bread to underprivileged members and holding religious lectures on Sabbaths and holidays);
- Haberim Magsibim (confraternity founded before 1768 to hold lectures and distribute bread to underprivileged members);
- Hanagath Ha-Neharim (brotherhood founded in 1790 with the aim of holding Sabbath lectures and distributing shirts to the underprivileged);
- Matsebet Aben (burial confraternity established in 1800);
- Mahoz-Ladal and Hukat Apasah (brotherhoods founded in 1806 to distribute bread to the impoverished members of the congregation);
- Portuguees-Israëlietische Armenschool (Portuguese Jews' School for the Poor);
- Oude Vrouwen-en Ziekenhuis Mesib Nefes (Hospital for Old Women);
- Portugees-Israëlietische Bewaarschool (Portuguese Jews' Care School).
The second section aggregates archives from other congregations and organisations, including the Portuguese Jewish congregations of Recife in Brazil (a record book of regulations and decisions from 1648 to 1654) and Naardem.
A final part of the Archief van de Portugees-Israëlietische Gemeente comprises miscellaneous documentation, namely:
- various manuscripts and copies related to the Talmud Torah congregation and its institutions, including the regulations of the Companhia de Dotar Órfãs e Donzelas (1615), lists of Parnassim (1639-1746), copies of the Mahamad decrees (c. 1700), a diary of an anonymous member who held positions in the congregation (1728-1770), copies of privileges granted to the Portuguese Jews in Amsterdam (18th century), discourses and sermons (18th century), descriptions of tombstones and a map of the cemetery in Ouderkerk aan de Amstel (19th century), David Franco Mendes's notes concerning the settlement of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews in Amsterdam (1769), and a manuscript concerning the Pinto family (19th century).
- Family papers, including documentation related to the Boas family from the Hague (1764-1939), bonds due to planters in Suriname, Essequibo, etc. (1765-1803), Isaac Haim Abendana de Brito's diploma of his degree in Medicine at the University of Leiden (1778), an insurance policy of Moses Israel Ricardo (1780), among various other documents.
- Property deeds (1693-1844);
- Diverse records related to colonisation and trade, including records on privileges granted to people settling on the Wild Coast (17th century), documents concerning the slave trade on the African coast (18th century), an 18th-century copy of the privileges granted by the Grand Duke of Tuscany to foreign merchants in 1593, considerations on the granting of a patent by the States General to the colony of Berbice (Guyana).
Archival history
According to the registers of the Parnassim's resolutions, the Portuguese Jewish congregation of Amsterdam started to produce lists of its records since at least 1677. By comparing the first list with the current holdings of the archive, it is clear that an important part of the archive has been lost since then. Another list drawn up in 1815 already exposed the loss of several documents. Nevertheless, the minutes of the Parnassim meetings show some care given to the archives at the time. Commissions were often appointed to organise the archives of the Parnasssim. An inventory from 1868 lists the documents stored in the cabinets plank by plank, showing that they were arranged quite randomly.
Until 1940, the archives of the Portuguese Jewish community were kept in the Secretarie van de gemeente (Secretarial office of the community), located in one of the buildings surrounding the synagogue at 197 Rapenburgerstraat. During World War II, an important part of the documentation was transferred to the City Archives of Amsterdam in order to protect them. In the Summer of 1956, new classification and description of the documentation was carried out. Two years later, some documents from the Portuguese Jewish community — a total of six metres of records in a rather bad condition — were transferred to the City Archives. At last, in October 1961, all documents up to 1870 that were still under the custody of the Portuguese Jewish Congregation were finally transferred to the City Archives. They also included archival materials from the Ets Haim library.
Until 1940, the archives of the Portuguese Jewish community were kept in the Secretarie van de gemeente (Secretarial office of the community), located in one of the buildings surrounding the synagogue at 197 Rapenburgerstraat. During World War II, an important part of the documentation was transferred to the City Archives of Amsterdam in order to protect them. In the Summer of 1956, new classification and description of the documentation was carried out. Two years later, some documents from the Portuguese Jewish community — a total of six metres of records in a rather bad condition — were transferred to the City Archives. At last, in October 1961, all documents up to 1870 that were still under the custody of the Portuguese Jewish Congregation were finally transferred to the City Archives. They also included archival materials from the Ets Haim library.
Sources:
Administrative / Biographical history
The majority of the Jewish population of Iberian origin that settled in Amsterdam came from Antwerp, especially after the latter was conquered by the armies of the Duke of Parma (1545-1592) in 1585.
Once settled in Amsterdam, the Jewish communities intended to continue their trade and commerce. The freedom of religion introduced in the Northern Netherlands after the Union of Utrecht (1579) also influenced the choice of the location of their establishment. The emigrés from Antwerp probably formed the core of the Portuguese Jewish congregation Bet Jacob (House of Jacob) founded in Amsterdam around 1600. In 1608, a second congregation, the Neve Salom (Residence of Peace), was established by Jews who came mostly from Spain.
Initially, the knowledge of the Jewish religion and rites among the members of both Sephardic congregations was very limited, and their rabbis were recruited from elsewhere. In 1618, religious disputes among their members resulted in the foundation of a third congregation, the Bet Israel (House of Israel), composed of former members of the Bet Jacob congregation. In spite of such disputes, the three congregations worked together in certain areas. For instance, from 1614, they owned a joint cemetery at Ouderkerk aan de Amstel.
Little is known about the division of the administration of the
these initial congregations, because the books of the Parnassim's resolutions of the Bet Jacob and the Neve Salom have been lost. The oldest register of "termos" (decrees) that has survived belongs to the Bet Israel congregation and dates from 1618, the year of its foundation. From the decisions of the Board of Deputies of the three congregations, it appears that each one was governed by five Parnassim, one of whom held the position of Gabay (treasurer).
In 1639, the three Portuguese Jewish congregations merged into one, the Talmud Torah (Study of the Law), which remains to the present. This merger probably occurred as a reaction to the growing importance of the German congregation founded in Amsterdam in 1635.
After the union of the three congregations, it was decided that the Bet Israel synagogue would be used by the Talmud Torah. Among the terms of the union, there were many articles intended to preserve unity. For instance, it was determined that it was forbidden to establish another synagogue in Amsterdam, under the penalty of a ban (art. 2); non-Sephardic Jews were only allowed to enter the synagogue with the permission of the Mahamad (governing body) (art. 3); elections were held twice a year, each time of three parnassim; the president was drawn by lottery bimonthly (art. 12); litigation was only allowed if the parties were unable to reach an agreement, no one should have books printed without the Mahamad's permission (art. 37), etc.
In general, the Talmud Torah congregation managed to maintain its independence, even in the French period (1795–1813), when repeated attempts were made to unite the German and Portuguese congregations. The mutual relationship between both congregations was regulated in the so-called 'Concordat' of 1810. On February 26, 1814, a Consultative Commission was appointed under the chairmanship of the "commissaris-generaal voor Binnenlandse Zaken" (Commissioner General for the Interior). Representatives of the Portuguese and German congregations sat on this committee. In this same year, an organic decree was reached whereby the Opperconsistorie (Supreme Consistory) was replaced by the Hoofdcommissie voor zaken der Israëlieten (Main Commission for Jewish Affairs). Furthermore, the Netherlands was divided into twelve main synagogues, with the congregations of Maarssen, Naarden and Vreeland coming under Amsterdam.
In 1870, it was decided that the state authority should cease to intervene in the ecclesiastical affairs of the Jewish communities. Since then, the Portuguese Jewish congregation in Amsterdam has had a separate organisation, headed by a Hoofdcommissie (Main Committee).
Once settled in Amsterdam, the Jewish communities intended to continue their trade and commerce. The freedom of religion introduced in the Northern Netherlands after the Union of Utrecht (1579) also influenced the choice of the location of their establishment. The emigrés from Antwerp probably formed the core of the Portuguese Jewish congregation Bet Jacob (House of Jacob) founded in Amsterdam around 1600. In 1608, a second congregation, the Neve Salom (Residence of Peace), was established by Jews who came mostly from Spain.
Initially, the knowledge of the Jewish religion and rites among the members of both Sephardic congregations was very limited, and their rabbis were recruited from elsewhere. In 1618, religious disputes among their members resulted in the foundation of a third congregation, the Bet Israel (House of Israel), composed of former members of the Bet Jacob congregation. In spite of such disputes, the three congregations worked together in certain areas. For instance, from 1614, they owned a joint cemetery at Ouderkerk aan de Amstel.
Little is known about the division of the administration of the
these initial congregations, because the books of the Parnassim's resolutions of the Bet Jacob and the Neve Salom have been lost. The oldest register of "termos" (decrees) that has survived belongs to the Bet Israel congregation and dates from 1618, the year of its foundation. From the decisions of the Board of Deputies of the three congregations, it appears that each one was governed by five Parnassim, one of whom held the position of Gabay (treasurer).
In 1639, the three Portuguese Jewish congregations merged into one, the Talmud Torah (Study of the Law), which remains to the present. This merger probably occurred as a reaction to the growing importance of the German congregation founded in Amsterdam in 1635.
After the union of the three congregations, it was decided that the Bet Israel synagogue would be used by the Talmud Torah. Among the terms of the union, there were many articles intended to preserve unity. For instance, it was determined that it was forbidden to establish another synagogue in Amsterdam, under the penalty of a ban (art. 2); non-Sephardic Jews were only allowed to enter the synagogue with the permission of the Mahamad (governing body) (art. 3); elections were held twice a year, each time of three parnassim; the president was drawn by lottery bimonthly (art. 12); litigation was only allowed if the parties were unable to reach an agreement, no one should have books printed without the Mahamad's permission (art. 37), etc.
In general, the Talmud Torah congregation managed to maintain its independence, even in the French period (1795–1813), when repeated attempts were made to unite the German and Portuguese congregations. The mutual relationship between both congregations was regulated in the so-called 'Concordat' of 1810. On February 26, 1814, a Consultative Commission was appointed under the chairmanship of the "commissaris-generaal voor Binnenlandse Zaken" (Commissioner General for the Interior). Representatives of the Portuguese and German congregations sat on this committee. In this same year, an organic decree was reached whereby the Opperconsistorie (Supreme Consistory) was replaced by the Hoofdcommissie voor zaken der Israëlieten (Main Commission for Jewish Affairs). Furthermore, the Netherlands was divided into twelve main synagogues, with the congregations of Maarssen, Naarden and Vreeland coming under Amsterdam.
In 1870, it was decided that the state authority should cease to intervene in the ecclesiastical affairs of the Jewish communities. Since then, the Portuguese Jewish congregation in Amsterdam has had a separate organisation, headed by a Hoofdcommissie (Main Committee).
Access points: locations
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
System of arrangement
The archive records are described according to the ICA rules: ISAD(G) and ISAR(CPF) and are entirely digitized. Both description and digitation are available to be downloaded. All the information has to be searched in the Dutch language.
Access, restrictions
Digital copies of the records are available online:
Links to finding aids
Existence and location of copies
Author of the description
Kevin Soares, 2022
Bibliography
Published primary sources
Linked resources
Filter by property
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Stadsarchief Amsterdam | Collections (official language of the state) |
| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| I. S. Révah | Existence and location of originals | |
| Collectie Joshua Mozes Levy Maduro | Existence and location of originals | |
| Samuel Oppenheim Papers | Existence and location of originals | |
| Netherlands - Copied Material | Existence and location of originals |