This synagogue, which is the oldest standing synagogue building in the U.S., was built under the leadership of Isaac Touro who is buried in Jamaica.
Born in Amsterdam, Isaac first came to Jamaica at the age of 20 in 1758 before heading to Newport in 1760 where he served as the hazzan and spiritual leader of the Portuguese Sephardic congregation. A Loyalist, he fled to Jamaica with his family in 1782 and died a year later in 1783.
The Touro name has existed in Jamaica since the late 1600s/early 1700s and a few of them are buried at the Hunts Bay Jewish Cemetery. It would be fascinating to discover where Isaac Touro is buried.
Born in Amsterdam, Isaac first came to Jamaica at the age of 20 in 1758 before heading to Newport in 1760 where he served as the hazzan and spiritual leader of the Portuguese Sephardic congregation. A Loyalist, he fled to Jamaica with his family in 1782 and died a year later in 1783.
The Touro name has existed in Jamaica since the late 1600s/early 1700s and a few of them are buried at the Hunts Bay Jewish Cemetery. It would be fascinating to discover where Isaac Touro is buried.
The Touro Synagogue marks 250 years since its inauguration during Hanukkah on December 2, 1763.
Initially the synagogue served the small community of about 20 families in the Yeshuat Israel congregation. The building was designed by Peter Harrison in American colonial style.
The Touro Synagogue was declared a National Historical Site in 1946.
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