בכורי הים - ירחון הקהילה היהודית בג'מייקה, 1844 - כל הגליונות

בכורי הים - The First Fruits of The West. Monthly Jewish Magazine, monthly edited by Rabbi Moses N. Nathan (M. N. Nathan) and Dr. Lewis Ashenheim. Kingston, Jamaica, 1844. Printed by R. J. De Cordova. English, with titles, verses and quotations in Hebrew. Issues 1-10 (February-November 1844; Shevat תר"ד-Cheshvan תר"ה). No additional issues were printed. [Signatures and stamp: H. S. Henry]. Printed covers for each issue, on greenish-brown paper [bearing advertisements of publisher and printer De Cordova]. The Jewish community in Jamaica is among the oldest in America, founded in the mid-16th century by Anusim who immigrated from Spain and Portugal and established a worldwide trading network in place. When it came under British rule, it was among the first refuge places for Jews in the "New World". A large and established community developed in the place, which had several synagogues and educational institutions at its disposal. At the end of the 18th century, Ashkenazi communities were also founded in Jamaica, following immigration of Jews from Eastern Europe. At the height of its power, the community numbered over two thousand souls, Jews enjoyed full equal rights and a significant portion of members of the local parliament were Jews, and for this reason the parliament sat on the Day of Atonement. The editor of the magazine, Rabbi Nathan (1801-1883), served as rabbi of the Sephardic community in Jamaica and St. Thomas, and the sermons he delivered in the synagogues were printed in several issues. This journal reflects the life of the Jewish community in Jamaica at the height of its power, and it also incorporates articles on Judaism, Jewish History and other subjects. Complete volume, all issues. Continuous page count, 426 pages. Bound with printed covers for each issue. 20 cm. Good condition, slight staining, occasional tears. Library stamps. Very rare. There is no complete copy in the Library of Congress and in other major libraries.