Touro Synagogue

The Touro Synagogue is a 1763 synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island , that is the oldest synagogue building still standing in the United States, the oldest surviving Jewish synagogue building in North America and the only surviving synagogue building in the U.S. dating to the colonial era .

The Touro Synagogue is a 1763 synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island , that is the oldest synagogue building still standing in the United States, the oldest surviving Jewish synagogue building in North America , and the only surviving synagogue building in the U.S. dating to the colonial era . In 1946, it was declared a National Historic Site. National Register of Historic Places .

The Touro Synagogue or Congregation Jeshuat Israel ( ) is a synagogue built in 1763 in Newport, Rhode Island . It is the oldest synagogue building still standing in the United States, the only surviving synagogue building in the U.S. dating to the colonial era , and the oldest surviving Jewish synagogue building in North America . In 1946, it was declared a National Historic Site . The first congregation was made up of Sephardic Jews, who are believed to have come via the West Indies, where both the Dutch and English had settlements. They practiced a Spanish and Portuguese Jewish liturgy and ritual. Later some early Ashkenazim joined the congregation. In the late eighteenth century, when warfare threatened, the congregation transferred the deed and Torah scrolls to Congregation Shearith Israel in New York for safekeeping. In the late 19th century, the congregation was primarily Ashkenazim, but they continued to practice the Sephardic liturgy at the synagogue. In 2012 the two congregations went to court to try to resolve which owned the synagogue and its contents, as the Newport congregation wanted to sell some items to raise money for restoration of the building. In 2017 the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled that the New York congregation owned it; as the US Supreme Court declined to hear the case, this ruling stands. National Register of Historic Places . Gordon, American Jewish History 84.1 (1996) 11-27 [1] . 2019 article update .

Historic synagogue in Rhode Island, United States This article is about the synagogue in Rhode Island. The Touro Synagogue or Congregation Jeshuat Israel ( ) is a synagogue built in 1763 in Newport, Rhode Island . It is the oldest synagogue building still standing in the United States , the only surviving synagogue building in the U.S. dating to the colonial era , and the oldest surviving Jewish synagogue building in North America . In 1946, it was declared a National Historic Site . The first congregation was made up of Sephardic Jews , who are believed to have come via the West Indies , where they participated in the triangular trade along with Dutch and English settlements. They practiced a Spanish and Portuguese Jewish liturgy and ritual. In the late eighteenth century, when warfare threatened, the congregation transferred the deed and Torah scrolls to Congregation Shearith Israel in New York for safekeeping. Since the late 19th century, the congregants have been primarily Ashkenazi . In 2012 the two congregations went to court to try to resolve which owned the synagogue and its contents, as the Newport congregation wanted to sell some items to raise money for restoration of the building. In 2017 the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled that the New York congregation owned it; as the US Supreme Court declined to hear the case, this ruling stands. National Register of Historic Places . Gordon, American Jewish History 84.1 (1996) 11–27 [1] . 2019 article update . The Newport Daily News . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).

Historic synagogue in Rhode Island, United States This article is about the synagogue in Rhode Island. The Touro Synagogue is a synagogue built in 1763 in Newport, Rhode Island . The building has been occupied by several different congregations over the years. The current occupant is known as Congregation Ahavath Israel ( Hebrew : ק״ק אהבת ישראל ). As the only surviving synagogue building in the U.S. dating to the colonial era , it is the oldest synagogue building still standing in the United States and North America . In 1946, it was declared a National Historic Site . Touro Synagogue represents a profound symbol of religious freedom , a cornerstone of Rhode Island’s founding principles under Roger Williams . Rhode Island was established as a haven for those seeking freedom of conscience , and the synagogue’s existence is a testament to the colony’s early commitment to religious tolerance. The first congregation was composed of Sephardic Jews , believed to have migrated from the West Indies , where they had been part of the thriving trade networks connecting Dutch and English colonies. They followed the Spanish and Portuguese Jewish liturgy and customs, preserving their distinct cultural and religious heritage. Amid the upheaval of the late 18th century , when threats of war loomed, the congregation entrusted the synagogue’s deed and Torah scrolls to New York's Congregation Shearith Israel for safekeeping. Over time, the demographic shifted, and by the late 19th century, the congregation became predominantly Ashkenazi , reflecting the broader changes in Jewish immigration patterns to the United States. The synagogue was built by Aaron Lopez and numerous other ethnic Jews that were involved in the slave trade. They owned ships, like Aaron Lopez, who owned 150 ships for four decades. In recent years, Touro Synagogue became the subject of a legal dispute over its ownership. In 2012, the Newport congregation sought to sell artifacts to finance the building's restoration, leading to a court case with Congregation Shearith Israel. In 2017, the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled in favor of the New York congregation, a decision that was left standing when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case. National Register of Historic Places . American Jewish History . 84 (1) ([2019 update ed.): 11– 27. The Newport Daily News . There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).