Familie

Our history in manuscript sets forth in detail our haham's activities in the community, his relation with Haham Jessurun, his attitude during the dispute of 1746-1750, and his sermons. For the present, we are limiting ourselves to particulars within the scope of this work.

Already before our Haham's arrival in Curacao in 1745 a certain Aron Mendez Solas had been living on the island since 1729 (OAC 3, May 18, 1729). Aron's descendants remained in Curacao until the beginning of the nineteenth century. Our Semuel apparantly belonged to another branch of this family. According to his statement on the registration of his marriage, Semuel was born in Lisbon around 1699. He was one of at least four other children: Jacob, Joseph, Rachel and Esther, who was born in Portugal in 1708. His father David had a hard time supporting his large family and lived in constant fear of falling in the clutches of the Inquisition. When our Semuel was a lad of nine or ten years, his father fled with him from Portugal. Once they arrived in Amsterdam, Semuel attended the Talmud Torah school and later the Ets Haim Seminary.

Unlike the Hahamim Lopez and Jesurun who did not marry before attaining twenty nine and thirty years respectively, our young student took the step when he was twenty-four. He married Lea, daugther of Jeoshuah Isac Henriques, 23, a native of Nice, on the 5th of Sivan 5483 (1723), in the company of their respective fathers who were then well over sixty. As his bride brought no dowry, he gallantly provided her with of 1,000 florins. On blessing this marriage, Haham Aelyon called our Semuel hamaskil venabon, a title accorded to talmide Hahamim, or students. Semuel signed the ketubah in Hebrew (PJCAA, Ket., vol.9, no.191; DTB 713, f.220v). There were at least five children of this union: David, who died in Curacao shortly after his arrival; Isaac married Abigael, daughter of Jacob Lopes da Fonseca; Rachel married to Jahacob Lopes da Fonseca, future haham of Curacao; Esther married Eliau Lopes, and Abraham who was born in 1736. On the 14th of Nisan, his sister Rachel, 26, born in Trancosa, married Moses, son of Daniel Mendes de Sola, 22 also of Trancosa. Perhaps Moses was her cousin. As Rachel brought no dowry, her husband gave her one of 1,000 florins (PJCAA, Ket.Vol.10, no.9; DTB 71 S, f.112v). Six years earlier Rachel's father-in-law Daniel had arrived with his wife ffrom Portugal. After going through the delicate operation of circumcision, he married his wife religiously in Amsterdam. She was thereafter known as Deborah. Since she did not bring a dowry, Daniel provided her with one of 1,000 florins (PJCAA, Ket., vol.9, no.120). On this occasion a son of theirs born in Portugal was also circumcised and given the name David Mendes de Sola (PCJAA, Bundle, Circumcisor Abraham Semah Aboab)

Semuel's sister Esther was thirty six when she married Joseph Henriques, 38, son of Sarah Mendes, on the 4th of Sivan, 1744. Both bride and groom born in Portugal. She was accompanied by Semuel since their father David no longer lived. Ester brought a dowry of 900 florins provided by relatives and relatives (PCJAA, Ket. vol.12, no.245; DTB 7276,f.79v). At the Ets Haim Seminary of Amsterdam, as well as in the large yeshiboth of Salonica, the talmide Hahamim distinguished themselves in one field or another. The author of this work vividly remembers talmide Hahamim during his youth in Salonica ho knew different books of the Midrash thoroughly; others who were eminent authorities on the Bible with its commentaries or in rabbinal decisions, and still others who, in spite of their limited talmudic attainments, could entertain large audiences with their sermons.

In Amsterdam our Talmid Haham Semuel was recognized as one of the spell-binding orators of his time. The auther of this epitaph was therefore not exaggerating in calling him "Famozo Pregador". He was only nineteen years old in 1718 when he delivered his first sermon in the Amsterdam synagogue in thanksgiving to God for having brought his mother and brothers safely from Portugal. This speech which he dedicated to Jacob Telles da Costa, was printed in Amsterdam the same year in a 31-page pamphlet by Mosseh Diaz under the titel: "Sermam Moral Em accam de Gracas ... por haver D(eus) \E2'trazido em pax a Senhora Sua May, e Hirmaos". It is prefaced by the approbation of Haham Aelyon and several eulogies. Hakhani Aelyon pointed out that this sermon, made on "Sabtah de Kedusim"[6 yar], "is demonstrative of the glorious result of his studies". Ribi David Israel Athias Guemara instructor of the sixth class, expressed his joy on hearing the sermon and declared that only by a miracle Semuel and his family had escaped the flames of the Inquisition so that they could be "reborn in the observance of the Holy Law". Our Semuel also earned the praises of his brothers Jacob and Joseph. Jacob dedicated a sonnet to him, and Joseph a decima jocoza (ten-line lyric). Both poems were published by Remedios who erroneously associated them with Semuel's sermon of 1724.

Three other admirers dedicated poems to our Semuel on that occasion. His friend, Abraham Gomes Silveyra, wrote a eulogy in Spanish; Jacob Gomez da Silva, a sonnet in Spanish; and Jahacob de Aharon Sasportas (grandson of Haham Sasportas), a mizmor letoda (song of praise) in Hebrew.

Whem Hazan Isaac Cohen de Lara of Amsterdam died in 1729, the Mahamd sought candidates to fill the vacancy. Our Semuel applied and took the week-long tests required. Out of 282 votes he obtained only three; Imanuel Abendana, seveteen; and Aron Cohen de Lara, brother of the deceased hazan, 262. This dismal failure in his vocal ability made him concentrate all the more on oratory. It was precisely for this outstanding talent that the Parnassim of Amsterdam recommended him as senif (assistant) to Haham Jesurun of Curacao. A few weeks after his arrival in Curacao, he lost his eldest son David. From then on until 1750 he found himself involved in the difficulties which broke out among several members of the Community. As superintendent over the rubissim (teachers) of Curacao, he realized the importance of sending his son-in-law Jahacob Lopes da Fonseca to study at the Ets Haim Seminary in Amsterdam. He knew that only with such a background Jahacob could later command the authority deserving to a spirtual leader of the Curacao Community. Convinced of that necessity, the Panassim sent Jahacob off in 1761 to study at the community's expense. During Jahacob's absence, our Haham took care of his daughter Rachel and her two children. The community's chest contributed in part toward her maintenance. Two years before Jahacob's departure for Amsterdam our Haham felt very weak and listless. Believing his end near, he made a statement before the notary in favour of his son Isaac. He declared that he expected no payment for Past en future lodging in his house from Isaac and his family who had been living with him since their marriage. Further he forbade his heirs from making any deduction for such lodging out of Isaac's share of our Haham's estate (OAC 837, Dec.19, 1758). During his last illness our Haham was given the name Rephael. He died in the neighbourhood of sixty-two years, a victim of the epidemic of 1761.

A few month's after his death, his widow Lea Henriquez made a irrevocable gift to her son Isaac of an unfinished Holy Scroll of the Law and of a closet - with all its books and manuscripts (OAC 883, Nov.27, 1761). Isaac left with his family for Europe. In Bordeaux he apparently served as preacher. Later he went to Amsterdam where in 1771 he published his father's sermon, "Oracao Funebre as postumas Memorias de .... Guilhermo IV Principe de Orange & Nassau". He died in Amsterdam in 1773. In 1767 his mother sold the widow of Aron Mendes de Solas a canoekje of garden with a house and dovecote in the Boven Altena district for 900 pesos (OAC 901, no.137). She died on august 28, 1770. Since her son Isaav had been away from Curacao for many years and her daugthers Rachel and Esther were dead, the Parnassim had Gouvernor Rodier appoint Parna of Hebrah Elias Haim Parera to take charge of the burial and administration of the estate (OAC 941, no.393; OAC 200, plakaat no.18). A week after her death he took an inventory of her possessions, which could be estimated at about 700 pesos. Among the listed items in the 7-page inventory were two slaves, 100 pesos in currency, several pieces of jewelry, a portrait of her son Isaac Mendes de Sola, a hanukkiah, a Sabbath lamp, an old gun and a small box of handwritten papers (OAC 941, no 394).

Lea's grandson, Samuel de Isaac Mendes de Sola later distinguished himself as dayyan of the Amsterdam community.

Out Haham composed most of the prayer-book for rain entitled Seder.