Touro synagogue, Newport, Rhode island, interior view, 1998

In December 1763, the Touro synagogue was inaugurated. It was partly financed by the Curacao congregation. The building is the oldest Jewish house of worship in the United States. It is clearly modelled after the Curacao "Mikweh Israel" synagogue, which in turn is modelled after the Amsterdam synagogue.

excerpts from "History of Touro Synagogue" by Rabbi Dr. Theodore Lewis: (available in the synagogue gift shop)

.....In the spring of 1658, fifteen Spanish Portuguese Jewish families arrived in Newport. Historians do not agree 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, 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 ...

... For a hundred years the members of the Congregation, few in number and modest in means, worshipped in private homes. But by 1759 the Congregation had sufficiently increased to undertake the building of a Synagogue, which would also incorporate provision for the religious instruction of the young. As this was an ambitious undertaking, beyond the means of the community, an appeal was addressed to other congregations for funds ...

... A positive response to the appeal must have been forthcoming for three months later, on June 30, 1759, a lot for the erection of a Synagogue was purchased on what was then, Griffin Street, from Ebenezer Allen of Sandwich, Mass ...

... 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 labour 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, toward which all Jewish prayer is directed ...

.....The interior architecture is of classical colonial style, incorporating some features of traditional Spanish Portuguese synagogues. Some similarity is evident between the Sephardic Synagogue that was erected in Amsterdam, Holland in 1675 and the synagogue in Newport, R. I., particularly in the seating arrangement and in the imposing columns. The columns, which support the women's gallery and the ceiling, are twelve in number and symbolize the twelve tribes of Israel. The upper columns are Corinthian and the lower ones Ionic, each one being made out of a solid tree trunk.

... Suspended from the ceiling are five beautiful candelabra. The centre one, a twelve-branched candelabra, was a gift of Jacob Pollock in 1769. An unusual feature of this candelabra is what appears to be four monks heads which can be clearly seen in the centre stem. Of the other four candelabra, one was a gift in 1760 from Naphtali Hart Myers, one in 1770 from Aaron Lopez and two in 1765 from Abraham Rodriguez Mendez ...

......During George Washington's visit to Newport in 1781, a town meeting was held in the synagogue. In 1790 Washington was the recipient of an address by Moses Seixas, warden of the synagogue. In reply Washington sent the famous letter "To the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, R. I." which since has become the classical expression of religious liberty in America. In this letter Washington wrote, "For happily the Government of the United States which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens in giving it on all occasions their effectual support." A facsimile of this historic document is exhibited on the west wall of the Synagogue.

Sources: