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While writing about the history of the Jewish community of Charleston,
SC, I came across the following. It is from <br><br>
<font size=3><b>The Charleston Organ</b> <b>Case</b> by Allan Tarshish,
Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society, 54, 1965. This
article is available at no cost at
<a href="http://www.ajhs.org/reference/adaje.cfm">
http://www.ajhs.org/reference/adaje.cfm</a> . The quotes below are from
this article. <br><br>
Beginning in 1825 there were efforts on the part of some to introduce
reforms in the davening at Kahal Kodesh Beis Elokim (KKBE). This
synagogue was founded in 1749, and, like all synagogues founded in
America during colonial times, followed the Spanish/Portuguese Sephardic
ritual.<br><br>
Beginning in 1841 an organ was used as part of Shabbos and Yom Tov
services. When the membership voted to have an organ, the more
traditional minded members of KKBE left and formed their own synagogue,
Shearith Israel.<br><br>
Of course, the organ was not the end of the changes that the reformers
wanted.<br><br>
"Emboldened by their control of the congregation and Board, the
Reform group began to make and suggest a number of other changes such as
the modification of the Maimonidean creed and various traditional prayers
and hymns, to the extent that the more moderate Reformers within Beth
Elokim, although satisfied with the organ, became alarmed that things
might go too far."<br><br>
One of the things that the "moderate Reformers" strenuously
objected to was the attempt to eliminate the saying of Tikkun Leil
Shavuous!<br><br>
"</font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3>Surely enough, on
May 7, 1842, the Reformers, in the words of the Traditionalists, wanted
"to abolish the long established and time honored service on the
Festival of Weeks called Tecun [Tikkun</font>],
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3>which caused great excitement,
and was considered too great an innovation, even to command a majority of
their own party."<br><br>
I know of many Orthodox shuls that today do not have a public reading of
Tikkun Leil Shavuous. Is it not a historical irony that we who would not
even think of having an organ in our shuls are not at all disturbed by
the elimination of Tikkun Leil Shavuous?<br><br>
YL<br><br>
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