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CANADIAN JEWISH REVIEW
September 13, 1963
The Famous, Noble Touro Synagogue Of Newport, Beautiful Legacy Of Early Settlers, Living Memorial To Religious
Liberty And Culture
In the picturesque city of Newport, Rhode Island, there stands an historic edifice, the Touro Synagogue, which testifies eloquently to the early settlement of Jews in America. It is an unpretentious building, set back from the street, yet it is so typically colonial that it attracts the attention and the admiration of all passers-by.
In the Spring of 1658, fifteen Spanish Portuguese Jewish families arrived in Newport. Historians are not agreed as to the point of origin of these early Jewish settlers. Some are of the opinion that they came from Holland, others believe that they came from New York. The view'most widely held, however, is that they came from Curacao, in the West Indies. This is most plausible as trade was frequent between the West Indies and Newport in the 17th century and, no doubt, the sailors from Newport-based merchant vessels, extolled the natural beauty of the city and the advantages of life in a free society.
These Jews, some of whom were Marranos. wanted to start a new
life in a land where they could live as free men and women and practice the religion of their fathers without hindrance or fear. They believed this to be possible in the Colony of Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations because of the assurance of freedom of religion and liberty of conscience promised by Governor Roger Williams to all who came within its borders. They were further strengthened in their hope for religious freedom by the Code of Laws drawn up in 1647 which concluded with these words: "And otherwise than what is herein forbidden all men may walk as their consciences persuade them, everyone in the name of his God."
In such a climate of religious freedom these early settlers hoped to resurrect their broken lives and to become useful citizens in the New World and at the same time carry out the practices and traditions of Judaism. For a hundred years, the members of the Congregation, few in number and modest in means, worshipped in private homes. But by 1759 the Congrega-
tion had substantially increased to undertake the building of a Synagogue, which would also incorporate provision for the religious instruction of the young. Aa this was an ambitious undertaking beyond the means of the community, an appeal was addressed to other congregations for funds.
It is interesting to note that in the letter of appeal to Congregation Shearith Israel, in New York, reference is made to the urgency of procuring proper facilities for educational purposes. In this letter, dated March 21, 1759, the Newport Congregation wrote, "When we reflect on how much it is our duty to instruct children in the path of virtuous religion and how unhappy the portions must be of those children and their parents who through necessity, educated in a place where they must remain totally uninstructed in our most holy and Divine Law, our rites and ceremonies, we can entertain no doubt of your zeal to promote this good work." The appeal was successful, for three months later, on June 30, 1759, a lot for the erec-
tion of a Synagogue was purchased, on what was then Griffin Street, from Ebenezer Allen, of Sandwich, Massachusetts.
The architect selected for the work was the renowned Peter Harrison. There is no record of his ever having asked for or receiving payment for his work. It must have been a labor of love to him. With consummate skill, he applied his great talents to his assignment and succeeded in erecting a synagogue of outstanding beauty, dignity, and impressiveness. The Synagogue, built of brick imported from England, stands at an acute angle to the street. This is because of the desire to have the Holy Ark facing towards the East, towards Jerusalem.
The interior architecture is of classical colonial style, incorporating some features of traditional Spanish Portuguese synagogues. Some similarity is evident between the Sephardi Synagogue that was erected in Amsterdam, Holland, in 1675, and the Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, particularly in the seating arrangement and in
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