6 days ago
Public tours of historic Touro Synagogue halted amid ongoing dispute between Newport and New York congregations
The synagogue remains open to the public for prayer and worship during services, according to Paul Tobak, president of Congregation Ahavath Israel, the synagogue's tenant congregation.
The foundation, which has brought tour groups through the historic synagogue for 78 years, was the only entity providing tours inside the building for members of the public who are not worshipping there, Freedman Pedrick confirmed.
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The tours are now on hold indefinitely, although the foundation said it is still providing presentations of the synagogue's history 'in the Loeb Visitors Center or, weather permitting, outdoors in Patriots' Park, overlooking the synagogue.'
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'I can't tell you enough how upsetting it is that we have been denied access for exactly that reason: To be able to share the story [of the synagogue] in that space,' Freedman Pedrick said.
Built in 1763, the synagogue has long stood as a symbol of religious freedom in the United States, especially after President George Washington visited Newport following Rhode Island's ratification of the US Constitution in 1790, and assured the Jewish congregation in a letter that the newly formed country would give 'to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance.'
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Inside Touro Synagogue in Newport, R.I.
David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
In recent years, the synagogue has been at
The Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled in April the former could
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Michael Pimental, co-president of Congregation Jeshuat Israel, has called the allegations 'meritless.'
Louis M. Solomon, president of Congregation Shearith Israel, did not return requests for comment.
But according to Tobak, some members of the synagogue foundation's board also belong to Congregation Jeshuat Israel's litigation committee.
'With these issues outstanding, Shearith Israel did not want people from the leadership of CJI and also the leadership of the Touro Synagogue Foundation … having keys and other things for the synagogue,' Tobak said.
Pimental said 'there has always been, historically, some overlap as it relates to either membership or maybe board representation' between the foundation and Congregation Jeshuat Israel.
'I can't speak to the basis for which [members of Congregation Shearith Israel] justify continuing to harass all the Newport community,' he said.
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According to Tobak and Freedman Pedrick, Congregation Shearith Israel and the Touro Synagogue Foundation attempted to negotiate to allow the tours to continue, but could not reach an agreement.
'They wanted to dictate how we were going to tell the story and the history of Touro Synagogue, of religious freedom, of the history of what went on in that building,' Freedman Pedrick said.
She declined to provide more details, but added, 'That was not how we were willing to go forward.'
Tobak said Congregation Shearith Israel wants to have tours available, and had reached out to the Newport Historical Society about spearheading the tours.
In an email, Lauren Craig, the society's membership engagement and social media coordinator, confirmed the congregation reached out to the organization.
'But our walking tour schedule is currently full and there are no plans for Newport Historical Society to take over tours of Touro Synagogue,' Craig wrote.
According to the foundation, through its publicly-available presentations on the synagogue's history visitors will 'learn about Touro Synagogue, Newport's colonial Jewish community, the origins of religious freedom, and the separation of church and state in the United States.' There is no admission fee, but the foundation is accepting donations.
Freedman Pedrick said the foundation remains focused on sharing the history 'because we think it's so important to America.'
'In the biggest scheme of it all … I'm hopeful that and I anticipate that that building is going to outlast all of us, right?' she said. 'They are the stewards right now. I hope that they take good care of that building, because it's so significant.'
Touro Synagogue is the oldest standing synagogue in the US.
David L. Ryan/Globe Staff
Christopher Gavin can be reached at
