Penina Moïse (1797-1880).

Penina Moïse

Penina Moïse (1797-1880) was probably the first American Jew (man or woman) to publish a volume of poetry. Her volume, Fancy's Sketch Book appeared in Charleston in 1833. Moïse was self-taught and through her reading became a person of education and culture. Moïse was deeply concerned with and troubled by the sufferings of her people in Europe and Asia. Her verses were published in a number of America's outstanding women's periodicals. In addition, Penïna was a prolific hymn writer; some of her hymns are still sung today. Congregation Beth Elohim published her hymnal in 1856.