5 days ago
Tours of historic Touro Synagogue in Newport, R.I. to restart, now led by N.Y. congregation
Congregation Shearith Israel brought the
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Members of both congregations confirmed earlier this week there is an overlap in membership between the foundation's board and Congregation Jeshuat Israel.
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Louis M. Solomon, president of Congregation Shearith Israel, said Tuesday that because Congregation Jeshuat Israel could not commit to returning items it allegedly took from the synagogue, he would not provide the foundation access to the building for the tours.
Instead, Congregation Shearith Israel will now offer tours of the synagogue, a National Historic Site, beginning Friday, according to the
'Shearith Israel is pleased that tours will be continuing,' Solomon wrote in an email. 'It was always our intention to do so – just not with [the foundation] and its controlling entity CJI until the Court decides whether CJI has wrongfully misappropriated religious objects from Touro Synagogue.'
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Solomon added Monday and Tuesday were Jewish holidays, which 'both precluded tours on those days but set us back a day in getting an excellent replacement.'
According to the website, tours are now scheduled for various times between Friday and June 23, and a handful of times in July, although additional dates are coming soon.
'We will have even greater coverage after the near term,' Solomon wrote.
Registration is required for the approximately 45-minute tours, which are free of charge 'but donations of any amount are appreciated,' the website states.
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.'
After the synagogue foundation was barred from the building, the not-for-profit organization said it has been providing presentations of the synagogue's history in the nearby Loeb Visitors Center and in Patriots' Park.
Despite the dispute over tour access, the synagogue has remained open to the public for prayer and worship during services, according to Paul Tobak, president of Congregation Ahavath Israel, the synagogue's new tenant congregation.
Material from previous Globe stories was used in this report.
Christopher Gavin can be reached at
