Newport’s Jewish Colonial Roots: Touro Synagogue

The first Jewish congregation in New England was established in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1658. Known as the Hebrew Congregation, it later became Congregation Nephuse Israel—believed to be Sephardic in origin—and is recognized as the second-oldest Jewish congregation in the United States, after New York City’s Congregation Shearith Israel.

You can find their website here: Touro Synagogue

Touro Synagogue, Library of Congress
 

One of the oldest Jewish cemeteries in the country, the Old Jewish Cemetery in Newport, dates to 1677. (Also known as Colonial Jewish Cemetery of Rhode Island and Touro Cemetery) The land for the burial ground was purchased by the Hebrew Congregation, marking the early presence and permanence of Jewish life in colonial New England. You can learn more about the Colonial Jewish Burial Ground on the Touro Synagogue's website.

Find a Grave on Colonial Jewish Burial Ground

The Touro Synagogue, completed in 1763, became the most visible symbol of Newport’s Jewish community. It remains the oldest standing synagogue building in the United States and holds deep significance not only for Jewish history but also for American history. In August 1790, President George Washington visited Newport. Moses Seixas, then president of the congregation—by then renamed Congregation Yeshuat Israel—wrote a letter of welcome to Washington expressing concerns about religious liberty and the importance of separating church and state. Washington’s response, now considered a foundational document for American religious freedom, echoed those sentiments and helped shape the values reflected in the First Amendment.

The synagogue later became known as Touro Synagogue in honor of Abraham Touro, who oversaw the building's care during the American Revolution. He left a bequest of $10,000 to the state of Rhode Island for its upkeep. The Rhode Island legislature referred to the building as the “Old Jewish Synagogue,” and eventually, the name “Touro Synagogue” stuck. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a symbol of religious freedom in America. 

A Complicated Chapter: Who Owns the Synagogue?

During a recent visit to the Newport Historical Society, I learned more about the modern-day complexities surrounding Touro Synagogue. Although the synagogue still stands proudly in Newport, the congregation that currently uses it—Congregation Jeshuat Israel (formerly Ahavath Israel)—was involved in a long-running legal dispute with Congregation Shearith Israel of New York City, the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States and the legal owner of the Touro Synagogue. There’s a considerable amount of media coverage and documentation available on the case. At the heart of the lawsuit was a disagreement over who had the right to control the synagogue and its historic items, including a set of valuable Colonial-era finial bells called Rimonium made by colonial silversmith, Myer Myers. These bells would have been placed on the handles of a Torah scroll. They were valued at approximate $7.4 million dollars. Jeshuat Israel, which had been using the synagogue for many years, attempted to sell the Torah bells, prompting Shearith Israel to intervene. Ultimately, the court ruled in favor of Shearith Israel, confirming their ownership of both the synagogue and its contents.You can find the RI Supreme Court decision on the case here if you’d like to read it.

Torah Finials - photo credit: Boston Museum of Fine Arts

Where Are the Records Now?

As a result of the court ruling, Congregation Jeshuat Israel was required to turn over all its historic items and records to Congregation Shearith Israel. Curious about what genealogical materials might still exist from the colonial era, I reached out to Zachary Edinger, Sexton and Ritual Director at Shearith Israel, to inquire about any surviving records.

He kindly responded and confirmed that they do have records related to births, deaths, and marriages among Newport Jews from the colonial period through the end of the 19th century. These records are not part of a single, unified Newport archive; instead, they are scattered across various collections. For example, some death records appear sporadically in 19th-century registers, and there are occasional documents from the renewed Jewish community in the late 1800s.

While they currently don’t have a full-time archivist, researchers are welcome to reach out to inquire about materials. The best way to do so is by contacting Zachary Edinger directly at zedinger@shearithisrael.org or by using their request form, available at https://www.shearithisrael.org/resources/our-archives. Researching historical records can require a little patience, but they’re happy to help and will do their best to track down anything that applies to your request. 

For genealogists researching early Jewish families in New England, the Touro Synagogue and its affiliated records offer a rare and meaningful glimpse into colonial American life. If your research leads you to Newport’s Jewish roots, reaching out to Congregation Shearith Israel is a valuable step toward uncovering your family's past.