In the 18th century, the United States had a small but significant Jewish community. Some of those Jews settled in New Amsterdam (present-day New York City), but others, went to Rhode Island seeking freedom from persecution. They settled in the port-town of Newport and after some hardship, were finally able to be open with their Judaism. Their economic prosperity even enticed Jews form New York City to move there in 1740. The Jewish community in Newport was so prosperous that it was able to establish the Touro Synagogue in 1763, the oldest existing Jewish house of worship in the nation. …
