| Touro Synagogue (Congregation Jeshuat Israel) | |
|---|---|
Hebrew: קהל קדוש ישועת ישראל | |
 Touro Synagogue, in 2017 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism |
| Rite | Sephardic |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Ownership | Touro Synagogue Foundation |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Newport, Rhode Island |
| Country | United States |
  Location in Rhode Island | |
| Geographic coordinates | 41°29′22″N 71°18′43″W / 41.48944°N 71.31194°W |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Peter Harrison |
| Type | Synagogue |
| Date established | c. 1658 (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1763 |
| Direction of façade | East |
| Website | |
| tourosynagogue | |
Touro Synagogue National Historic Site | |
| Area | 0.23 acres (0.00093 km2) |
| Part of | Newport Historic District (ID68000001) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000927[1] |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHLDCP | November 24, 1968 |
The Touro Synagogue or Congregation Jeshuat Israel (Hebrew: קהל קדוש ישועת ישראל) is a synagogue built in 1763 in Newport, Rhode Island. 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.[2][3][a] In 1946, it was declared a National Historic Site.[4]
Touro Synagogue represents a profound symbol of religious freedom, a cornerstone of Rhode Island’s founding principles under Roger Williams.[5] 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.[6] 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.
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 Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
- ^ Gordon, Mark W. (1996). "Rediscovering Jewish Infrastructure: Update on United States Nineteenth Century Synagogues". American Jewish History. 84 (1) ([2019 update ed.): 11–27.
- ^ Buescher, John. "Jewish Immigration During the Revolutionary War." Teachinghistory.org, accessed September 25, 2011.
- ^ Sean Flynn (December 1, 2013). "Touro celebrates milestone". The Newport Daily News. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
- ^ "Roger Williams, Religious Freedom, and a Jewish Legacy (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
- ^ Russo, Amy. "RI's Touro Synagogue, icon of religious liberty, has a lot to teach you during tours". The Providence Journal. Retrieved September 13, 2024.
Cite error: There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or {{efn}} templates on this page, but the references will not show without a {{reflist|group=lower-alpha}} template or {{notelist}} template (see the help page).