The Denver Jewish news., 1919-11-26
OLDEST JEWISH CONGRxGATfON
m NEWPORT, r. I.
interesting Sidelights on History Of
Jews in Ameriea.
BY MISS JESSIE COHEN.

| ~ &&AA0o SOAAS.N.
It was in Rhede Island, the smallest
of the thirteen original colonies found
ed by Roger Williams, the pioneer Of
religious liberty in the New World,
that the Oldest Jewish congregation in
North America was established at New
pOrt In 1888.
This city soon became one Of the
most important cities in the colonies
even SURPRISING New York as com
Inercial center and port of entry I'M
til after the Revolution.
The earliest authentic record of
Jews in Newport was in 1858, when
fifteen Jewish families are said to
have arrived there from Holland,
bringing with them the first degrees
CT Masonry in this country, which
they conferred on Abraham MOses in
the house Of Mordecai Campanall.
There is reason to believe that Jews
settled there from New Amsterdam
and Curacao year or two before. A
Congregation was organized in 1858
under the name Jeshuat israel. The
cemetery, which has been immortal
ized by Longfellow and Emma Laza-
rus, was acquired in 1877 by Camp
ANAL and Moses Jeckeckee, but an
earlier Jewish cemetery may have eN-
listed.
Many Jewish settlers arrived from
the West Indies in 1904, and 1t was
the Portuguese Jews who gave the
great impulse to the commercial ac-
tivity which raised Newport to the
zenith Of its prosperity in the middle
Of the eighteenth century. Among the
most prominent was Jacob Rodrigues
Rivera, who introduced the manu-
facture Of sperm oil in Ainericn, hav-
ing brought the art from Portugal. Mr..
Rivera arrived here in 1745 and died
in 1850. Manufacturing sperm oil
soon became a leading industry In
Newport. The Inhabitants of Newport
who were engaged in whale, fishing
had seventeen manufactures of oil and
candles, enjoying practical monopoly
Of this trade down to the Revolution.
Aaron Lopez, the son-in-law Of Ri
vera, who died May %. 1852, was the
great merchant prince Of New Eng
land. He was probably surpassed by
no other merchant in America. This
sagacious merchant saw the advan-
tages Of this seaport town and induced
forty Jewish families, whore heads
were men Of wealth, mercantile sag
acity and high intelligence, to settle
there Fourueen yetlrs after Lopez
settled there Newport had $50 vessels
engaged in trade with the West In
dies, Falkland islands and Africa.
Isaac Touro, who came to Newport
from Jamaica in 1700 to become the
Rabbi of its prosperous Congregation.
occupied that position till the out
break Of the Revolution, when he re-
turned to Jamaica, where he died in
:7S3. He was the father of Judah
Touro. the great philanthropist. Until
the arrival Of Isaac Touro, worship
was conducted in private houses. but
in 1762 the Congregation, which num-
Tered about sixty members, decided to
erect Synagog. which is still stand
ing. 1t was completed and dedicated
IN 1903.
There is evidence that there were
German and Polish Jews In Newport
before the Revolution, and the Jewish
population before the outbreak Of war
numbered 1,175, which was probably
the majority Of Jews in all the colo.
nies.
Meyer Hart and his wife, Rachel,
and son, Michael, are among the first
eleven families settling in Easton. Pa.
Mr.. Hart led the list of those furnish
ing material for the erection of the
first school house in Easton in 100.
The first male white child born In
the colony of Georgia, which was
founded II 1733, was Jewish child
named Isaac Minis.
Abraham de LYON OF Portugal intro
duced the culture of grapes while oth-
er early Jewish settlers engaged in the
culture and manufacture of silk. the
knowledge of which they brought from
Portugal. Joseph Ottolenghi came
from Portugal to Georgia to superih-
tend the silk industry of the colony.
He soon attained prominence in the
political life of Georgia and was elect
ed member of the general assembly
where he served from 1861 to 116o.
Several prominent Jews of London
purchased large tracts of land III
South Carolina near Fort Ninety siN'
which was known as "The Jews Land.
Moses Lindo. who came from Lon
don in 1TGG, engaged in the man'ifac'
ture of indigo. which he made one OF
q L. ~ ,.A-