Sarah Abigail Seixas was born in Stratford, Connecticut, where herparents, Elkaleh Myers-Cohen and Gershom MendesSeixas, had fled when New York had fallen to the British. Herfather was hazan of congregation Shearith Israel and famedspiritual leader of the colonial Jewish community. Sarah, or Sally asher father always called her, was the couple’s first child tosurvive infancy and, by most accounts, her father’s favorite. Hermother died when she was seven years old, leaving Gerhsom to care forSarah and her two siblings. He soon remarried, to Hannah Manuel, andSarah would eventually gain twelve stepsiblings, including David.G Seixas.
In 1804 Sarahmarried German born Israel Baer Kursheedt,a merchant and Talmudist who had studied in Frankfurt with celebratedcabalist Rabbi Nathan Ben Simeon Adler.Israel had arrived eight years prior, and had developed a deepfriendship Gerhsom, in no small part based on their mutual love ofJewish learning. “My son Kursheedt,” Gershom would say, “I knowhim to be far my superior in the knowledge of the laws, both sacredand profane.” Gershom officiated at their wedding on January 18,1804.
In 1812, after thebirth of their fourth child, the couple relocated to RichmondVirginia, where Israel had been offered to serve as hazan ofcongregation Beth Shalome. They spent twelve years in Virginia, whereIsrael developed a friendship with Thomas Jefferson. During theseyears, Gershom wrote frequently, sending news from New York and fromthe congregation, talking about family, health, food and holidays. Hedescribed the difficulties and shortages in New York as a result ofthe British blockade during the War of 1812. His love and admirationfor his daughter is always evident in these letters, referring to her“power of intellect” and “exalted mind.” Sarah was also afavorite correspondent of her aunt Grace SeixasNathan, who kept her abreast of marriages, pregnancies,births, and the health of various family members, especially herhusband, Simon Nathan.
Itwas with nine children that Sarah and Israel returned to New York in1824, among them Gershom and Asher.There they remained for the rest of their lives. Israel would helpfound a new congregation, one founded on the practices and liturgy ofthe growing numbers of German Jews, B’naiJeshurun.
