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Edited by: TJVNews.com
A recent ruling by a Rhode Island judge has added a new chapter to the long-standing legal battle between two Orthodox Jewish congregations, Congregation Shearith Israel of New York City and Congregation Jeshuat Israel (CJI) of Newport, over the leadership of Newport’s iconic Touro Synagogue, as was reported by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. The historic Touro Synagogue, America’s oldest synagogue building, has become the epicenter of a contentious dispute that has lasted over a decade, highlighting the clash between preserving historical legacies and addressing contemporary stewardship concerns.
The legal feud revolves around the ownership and management of Touro Synagogue. According to the JTA report, Congregation Shearith Israel, also known as the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, owns the Touro building and asserts that CJI, which has been holding services there since the early 1900s, has not been a responsible steward of the site. Tensions reached a boiling point when CJI attempted to sell valuable Torah adornments from Touro’s collection in 2012, triggering a series of legal battles that eventually made their way to the U.S. Supreme Court, the JTA report added.
The recent ruling, delivered by Superior Court Judge Maureen Keough, supports Congregation Shearith Israel’s claim and orders the eviction of CJI’s leadership from the Touro Synagogue. The JTA report indicated that the decision has been met with mixed reactions, as it evicts CJI from a site it has occupied for over a century. However, the JTA report also indicated that the judge in the case has granted a stay of eviction until September, allowing CJI to remain in place at least through the upcoming High Holidays.
Louis Solomon, the parnas, or president, of Shearith Israel, welcomed the ruling, the JTA reported. Louise M. Teitz, CJI’s co-president, did not respond to a request for comment from the JTA.
“We’re committed to not only reviving the community but reviving the place Touro has in the hearts and minds of Jews all over America,” he told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Touro Synagogue holds immense historical significance beyond being the oldest synagogue building in America. The JTA report noted that its legacy is marked by a letter written by President George Washington in 1790, which upholds religious freedom and tolerance. This legacy contrasts starkly with the ongoing legal dispute that reflects the complexities of managing and preserving historical sites.
Congregation Shearith Israel’s concerns about CJI’s stewardship of Touro Synagogue extend beyond disputes over artifacts and property ownership. As was reported by the JTA, the New York congregation contends that CJI has not been transparent about the financial requirements for the building’s repairs and has made decisions without consulting Shearith Israel. This lack of collaboration has strained the relationship between the two congregations.
Services at CJI are currently led by an interim rabbi, Stephen Belsky. According to Solomon, Shearith Israel has been in conversation with another congregation in Providence, Ahavas Israel, that is interested in holding services at Touro, the JTA reported.
Ahavas Israel was incorporated as a Rhode Island nonprofit corporation on April 4, 2023, and, according to a website called Jewish Newport, is not currently holding services.
Despite the ruling in favor of Shearith Israel, both congregations have expressed a desire to move forward and heal. JTA reported that Congregation Shearith Israel is already planning for the future, aiming to establish a new board of overseers and initiate programming to enrich the site’s cultural and spiritual significance.
