The first Jewish residents of Newport, Rhode Island seemed to have settled there as early as 1658. A group of Jews came to Newport from Barbados. The community was comprised of Jews of Spanish and Portuguese origin. They lived in Amsterdam and London, then moved to Brazil before relocating to the islands of Suriname, Barbados, Curaçao and Jamaica and then finally settling in Newport. When the new settlers made Newport their home, they started the Yeshuat Israel congregation, the second oldest Jewish congregation in the United States.

The Jews in Newport prospered in the shipping and mercantile trades. In 1759 they began constructing a new building to house their congregation. It was completed in 1763 and dedicated during Chanukah of that year.

The Touro Synagogue is rich in the history of the Jewish people from the colonization period until 1946 when it was designated a National Historic Site.

The synagogue remains an active house of worship and is also toured by thousands of visitors every year.

Posted: August 13, 2017

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