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The Story of the Jews of Newport

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  • Subtitle:  Two and a Half Centuries of Judaism, 1658-1908
  • Author:  Morris Aaron Gutstein
  • Publisher:  Block Publishing Co., 1936 – 393 pp.
  • LOC Permalink:  http://lccn.loc.gov/37001024
  • Availability:  out of print and very expensive; recommend finding in a library

Review

The story of Congregation Yeshuat Israel is actually the story of two wholly separate entities:  a Sephardic group that flourished from 1658-1792 and built what is now the oldest surviving synagogue structure in the US, and an Ashkenazic group that has existed in one form or another since the synagogue reopened in 1883.  Although he was the spiritual leader of the modern community, Rabbi Gutstein focused primarily on the Sephardic congregation in this book, which is the first monographic attempt at exploring the history of Newport's Jews.

Because of its age, the text is methodologically dated.  Nevertheless, it is a font of information about Newport's lay and professional leaders, their extensive relationships with gentile society, and the construction of the now-famous synagogue and school.  Rabbi Gutstein highlights the centrality of Newport in colonial life before the Revolution, which might well have eclipsed New York had Rhode Island not been the first target of England's retribution in 1776.  It was in this cosmopolitan environment that America's second Jewish community was born, and readers will find the book to be an enjoyable experience that leaves them hungry for more.

Contents

The dim beginnings
Dawn
Progress
From Inquisition to freedom
The synagogue
A glimpse at Jewish Life
Visitors
The Jew in the community
Uproar, dispersion and decline
Evacuation and revival
The close of a colorful chapter
Noble memories
Reconsecration
Adjustment
Immortality

  19
  28
  48
  58
  79
111
146
157
173
191
214
228
256
268
281

Appendices:
   The will of Abraham Touro
   Bequests of Judah Touro
   The inscriptions on the tombstones in the old cemetery
   Extract from the will of Jacob Rodrigues Rivera
   Extract from the will of Moses Levy
   Deed of trust of conveying synagogue to Shearith Israel
   Extract from the will of Moses Seixas
   List of rabbis, cantors, and shochetim since 1883
   List of presidents and other officers since 1893
   The Congregation Jeshuat Israel community center
   The Touro funds
Notes
Glossary
Bibliography
Index

291
293
295
321
322
323
324
325
326
328
329
339
377
383
387