Sidney,

I did aim my comment where I intended it.  The only reason I thought you might be from Charleston is that sesame seed candy is considered a Charleston sort of thing, at least by Charlestonians.  Actually, the sesame seeds are called benny seeds, but I don't know the etymology of that phrase.  Or, rather, I didn't until just now, when I ran downstairs and checked my 1925 Webster's Unabridged.  Apparently it comes from a Malay word. 

 

Hope you didn't get hit too hard by the snow.  It was a bit milder here on the Cape.

Shalom Sidney,
I will check out those web sites you mentioned for more information. Thank You.

I have a slave narrative entitled 'The narrative of Peter and Vina Still' after forty years of slavery by Maxwell Whiteman.I t was published by The Jewish Publication Society of America in 1970,and has an introductory essay on Jews in the anti-slavery movement.

What I found interesting is that in the intro it speaks of African American Jews. Some were slaves who came to America after the slave uprisings in the 1790's in the Islands(Haiti I presume),whose masters,in Philadelphia had to free them,but who had"spared no energy in making Israelites of their slaves".

There is also mention of a Black Jewish woman by the name of Lucy Marks,who was a member of the Congrgation Mikveh Israel.Upon her death in 1838 she was provided a Jewish burial,which was denied to a white member,Mary Gratz, in 1841because her mother wasn't Jewish,despite the fact she was observant and from an eminent family.

Yes, I am on Facebook and I live in the Bronx.

Can't help but notice your favorite candy. Are you by any chance from Charleston SC?