Joao Moises Benabides Dinis

Background

He was a descendant of David ibn Yaḥya ben Solomon.

Career

Juan was one of two sons of Ricardo Moises Benabides Dinis. Juan was frequently in Street Eustatius, Street Kitts, Nevis and Hispanola prior to arriving in Richmond, Virginia. He applied for a passport in 1818.

According to the date of his passport application, he came ashore to Virginia in 1816.

His occupation was As a vendor of hardware for plantation owners (plows, shovels, chains). When he arrived in United States of America he lived in Richmond until 1822.

In 1823 he moved to Charlottesville. In 1789 a group of Jews established Kahal Kadosh Beth Shalome (The Holy Congregation, House of Peace), a congregation based on Sephardic tradition (the Jewish culture that began in medieval Spain and spread through the Mediterranean basin).

lieutenant became the first congregation in Richmond and the sixth and westernmost Jewish congregation in the United States.

By 1822 K.K. Beth Shalome members worshipped in the first synagogue building in Virginia. (This building on Mayo Street unfortunately no longer exists). Joao Moises Benabides Dinis helped build this Synagogue.

Joao Moises Benabides Dinis had three children by Elizabeth Brooks.

Guillerme Moises (b 1825), Iacobo Hezekia (b 1823), and Francesca (b 1820). The children were adopted by a neighbor, John Augustus Harlow, who changed their names to William Edward Harlowe, James Hezekiah Harlowe, and Frances "Frankie" Harlowe.

Joao Moises Benabides Dinis was a Scottish Rite Freemason who was in the same lodge as John Augustus Harlow (Widow Son"s Lodge Number 60).

Connections

Cousin:

Ben Israel