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A new lawsuit filed in Rhode Island marks the latest chapter in a legal battle spanning over a decade over Newport’s Touro Synagogue — the oldest operating synagogue in the United States and a powerful symbol of religious freedom in America.
Shearith Israel, a Spanish-Portuguese congregation based in New York and the oldest Jewish community in the U.S., holds the legal title to the historic property. Last month, it filed a new lawsuit against Jeshuat Israel, a modern Ashkenazi congregation in Newport that was evicted from the synagogue in April by order of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
The suit accuses Jeshuat Israel of neglecting the building’s maintenance, misusing a $1.6 million preservation trust fund and stealing valuable ritual objects, including Torah scrolls, silver Torah crowns and finials.
According to the complaint, Jeshuat Israel had for decades operated as a tenant at Touro Synagogue. Over the years, the group allegedly withdrew funds from 19th-century trusts designated for building upkeep and rabbinic support but failed to make necessary repairs, submit reports to authorities or safeguard synagogue property.
Upon the group’s eviction, the lawsuit claims, two Torah scrolls and other valuable items disappeared without explanation. Jeshuat Israel, which now includes about 100 families, has denied the allegations as baseless and continues to hold daily services in a nearby community building in protest.
A dispute rooted in history
At the heart of the dispute lies a familiar question: who holds rightful claim — the legal owner or the longtime caretaker? On one side is Shearith Israel, which holds the deed and has documented ownership. On the other is Jeshuat Israel, which kept the synagogue functioning for generations and sees itself as the building’s true steward.
The origins of the conflict stretch back more than a century. Touro Synagogue was built in 1763 by Sephardic Jews who settled in Newport in 1658 after fleeing the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal. The effort was led by Isaac Touro, a community leader from Amsterdam, who raised funds from Jewish congregations across North America and the Caribbean, especially from Shearith Israel in New York.
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Letter written by George Washington after visiting synagogue
(Photo: Touro Synagogue Foundation)
Architect Peter Harrison designed the building in a Georgian colonial style, incorporating elements from Sephardic synagogues. The sanctuary features 12 Greek columns symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel. It also houses one of the world’s oldest Torah scrolls — 500 years old and written on deer parchment.
During the American Revolution, British forces occupied Newport and burned much of the town. Only two buildings were spared: the Anglican church, which had supported the crown, and the Jewish synagogue — despite its members being known revolutionaries.
One legend says a British soldier mistook the three Torah crowns on the ark as a sign of royal loyalty, prompting officers to preserve the building and repurpose it as a hospital.
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After U.S. independence, President George Washington visited the synagogue in 1790. Days later, he sent a now-famous letter to the congregation promising that the new American government "gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance." That letter would later help inspire the Bill of Rights. In 1966, the synagogue was designated a National Historic Site, granting it federal protection and recognition.
But Newport’s Jewish population dwindled as the city declined economically. Many Jews moved to New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts and the synagogue closed. It was only in the mid-19th century — thanks to a bequest from Isaac Touro’s sons, Judah and Abraham — that the building was restored and reopened.
In 1903, Shearith Israel formally took ownership as a legal trustee charged with preserving the property. The New York congregation continued sending valuable items to the synagogue, including a pair of 18th-century silver Torah finials crafted by famed silversmith Myer Myers.
By the late 1800s, Jews had begun returning to Newport and Jeshuat Israel — established around that time — was granted permission to use the synagogue. Legally, it remained a tenant, but in practice, it functioned as the synagogue’s resident congregation for more than a century, holding regular services.
The previous lawsuit and its aftermath
In 2012, facing financial strain, Jeshuat Israel attempted to sell one pair of the silver finials to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston for $7.4 million. Leaders said the sale would fund a synagogue maintenance endowment. Shearith Israel objected, claiming the finials were its property, part of the synagogue's historical trust and not subject to sale.
It argued that selling them violated its religious values — even if its members no longer worshipped there. The court sided with Shearith Israel, ruling it owned not only the synagogue but also its contents. The attempted sale was blocked.
That decision reignited tensions between the two congregations. Jeshuat Israel saw itself as the spiritual successor of the original 18th-century community, while Shearith Israel pointed to its longstanding financial and legal responsibility for preserving the site — even during its decades of dormancy.
In the years that followed, allegations mounted. Shearith Israel accused Jeshuat Israel of breaching lease terms, neglecting repairs, and failing to provide financial transparency. Jeshuat Israel portrayed itself as the local community that had kept the synagogue alive for generations.
In 2023, after failed mediation, Shearith Israel filed for eviction. Following a months-long trial, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled decisively in April 2025 that Shearith Israel is the rightful owner and could evict Jeshuat Israel.
Despite protests from the local community, the eviction was carried out shortly afterward. For the first time in nearly 140 years, Jeshuat Israel ceased holding services at Touro Synagogue. It has since moved its religious activities across the street to the Levi Gale House, a community building it owns. But the congregation has not abandoned its stance and continues to accuse Shearith Israel of staging a hostile takeover of a Jewish-American landmark.
Now, with its new lawsuit — which includes accusations of theft, financial mismanagement and disinformation — Shearith Israel is seeking to recover missing ritual objects and further solidify its control over the historic synagogue.