Touro Synagogue: The Oldest Synagogue in the US
Rhode Island today is not particularly known for its Jewish culture. With its Jewish population just under 20,000, not even 2% of the state’s total population is Jewish. However, Rhode Island is a state that was founded upon religious freedom and as I will discuss later, that is literally the reason why it became a state. One relic from the past that immortalizes Rhode Island’s trailblazing history of religious tolerance is the Touro Synagogue, the oldest surviving synagogue in the country.
The History
As you may have guessed, the Touro Synagogue has a pretty lengthy history. While the congregation of this synagogue was founded in 1658, construction did not begin until 1759. Ultimately it is said to have been fully built by 1763, which is the first year it began services. Just for some temporal perspective, George Washington did not begin his presidency until 1789 — 26 years after the Touro Synagogue was built! I can not tell a lie, that is quite old!
Detouring from the Touro Synagogue for a brief moment, I just want to quickly talk about Rhode Island’s state history as a whole for some context. Officially founded as a state in May 1776, the smallest state was a place of religious refuge for over a century prior. After being expelled by intolerant Puritan leaders in the Massachusetts Bay colony, religious and political leader Roger Williams sought a home elsewhere. Williams was a staunch supporter of religious freedom and toleration and he spread his beliefs in founding what would eventually become Rhode Island. Williams’ colony was a religious haven for not just Jews, but also Quakers, Baptists, and other religious minorities.
Since Rhode Island was known for its religious tolerance, people from the Congregation Jeshuat Israel proposed funds for a place of worship. Aaron Lopez, a prosperous merchant and philanthropist laid the cornerstone for the synagogue in 1759. The congregation leader at the time was Isaac Touro, for whom the synagogue was named when it was completed. Those that founded the Congregation Jeshuat Israel were Sephardic Jews, meanwhile the congregation in recent centuries has been largely made up of Ashkenazi Jews.
Fun Facts
Once again, the Touro Synagogue first opened in the year 1763. On what day was the synagogue first dedicated you may be thinking? It just so happened to be December 2 — the first day of Hanukkah that year! Along with the local Jewish population, many Christians were in attendance.
Today the Touro Synagogue is listed as a National Historic Site; it received this honor in 1946 by US Congress.
A restoration project from 2005–2006 rebuilt, replaced, and reimposed roughly 150 antique metal artifacts present at the synagogue.
George Washington visited the Touro Synagogue in 1790 and wrote a brief letter to the congregation, primarily emphasizing a message against bigotry and persecution. The letter Washington wrote is read every year to this day as a triumphant declaration and reminder of religious freedom.
Simon Says
Since I am not Jewish, the Touro Synagogue is not a site that holds as much significance or importance to me than I know it does for many others. Regardless, it is an incredible experience and one that I would recommend to just about anyone whether you are Jewish or not. I visited this site in middle school as a part of a field trip. I have the distinctive memory of me and all the other boys in my class being given paper kippahs that we wore while inside the synagogue. While my young, feeble mind did not appreciate the gorgeous Palladian architecture at the time, I remember thinking to myself something to the effect of “hey this place is pretty cool.”
In retrospect, it is a privilege to be so local to this and many other unique historical sites growing up. I would rate the Touro Synagogue an 8.5/10 and one that I feel as though I need to revisit now that I’m much older and therefore wiser.
References
Berggruen, T. (n.d.). Touro Synagogue. EnCompass. Retrieved February 15, 2023, from http://library.providence.edu/encompass/immigration-to-rhode-island/primary-sources/touro-synagogue-judaism-and-portuguese-immigration-to-rhode-island/
Touro Synagogue. (n.d.). Retrieved February 15, 2023, from https://www.loebvisitors.org/touro-synagogue