Order of the prayer held in the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in this city of London on Friday, December 13, 1776—corresponding to the 3rd of Tevet, 5537.

Moses Cohen D’Azevedo

On December 13, 1776, with the American Revolution well under way, London’s synagogues followed the lead of the kingdom’s churches and conducted special services on behalf of England’s efforts to subdue the rebels. Moses Cohen D’Azevedo (1720-1784), the rabbi of the Sephardic community, summed up the purpose of the service in a special prayer, shown here, that he composed for the occasion:

"We are sensible, that it is not by strength that man prevaileth, nor is the victory obtained by the valiant only; but it is thy right-hand, O Lord, which exalteth, thy right-hand, O Lord, that assisteth the valiant: Therefore, we thy servants implore thee this day in behalf of our Sovereign Lord King George, against those American Provinces that have rebelled against their lawful Prince, and withdrawn their allegiance from his Government, and the constitution of these kingdoms."

D’Azevedo published the service together with his sermon for the day in Hebrew-English and Hebrew-Spanish editions. 

London: printed by William Gilbert, [1777]

Printed 260:11