Newporters delighted with Touro decision

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Newporters were very excited to learn of U.S. District Court Judge Jack McConnell’s decision giving Congregation Jeshuat Israel, of Newport, control of Touro Synagogue. The decision begins:

“Bricks and mortar of a temple, and silver and gold of religious ornaments, may appear to be at the center of the dispute between the two parties in this case, but such a conclusion would be myopic.  The central issue here is the legacy of some of the earliest Jewish settlers in North America, who desired to make Newport a permanent haven for public Jewish worship. Fidelity to their purpose guides the Court in resolving the matters now before it.”

As a Newport native, I was excited to learn about the historic decision, and I was far from alone. Michael Davis, whose mother, Eleanor, lives in Newport, observed:

“Jewish history is replete with stories of right over might, of small, committed believers triumphing over seemingly overpowering foes. The result? A life-giving victory for the keepers of the flame in Newport, a chance at security and stability. Kein yehi ratzon. May it ever be so.”

Phyllis (Chickie) Friedman recalled a time when things were different with Shearith Israel:

 “... For years, the people from New York came down for the reading of the George Washington letter, and they invited members of the congregation to come up to New York for different events. We had a good relationship. I hope we can get back to work and rebuild the friendship. 

“I remember things … because [my late husband] Sam was so active when he was president of the congregation [Jeshuat Israel]. … I came to Newport as a bride of 20 in June 1949 and have been a member since then, and now am 88.” 

Friedman said of the judge’s decision: “It was an expected conclusion.”

Newporters Rita Slom, David Bazarsky and Saul and Bernice Schweber were elated by the ruling.

“I’m delighted,” Slom said. “I was born here, as were my husband and children. My mother was eight years old when she came here and prayed in the synagogue the first time. This has been our synagogue for years and I’m glad we don’t have to fight about it anymore.”  

Past president, current director and congregant David Bazarsky said, “We are thrilled that Touro Synagogue will be preserved for future generations of congregants and visitors. It’s been a long three-year struggle and we’re glad that at least this chapter has come to an end. We think the decision is important for Touro Synagogue and for America.”  

“We’re delighted and very pleased! It turned out the way we wanted it,” said Saul and Bernice Schweber, members for over 60 years.

Past president and board member Saul Woythaler remarked, “I’m very happy with the way the decision went … much better than we ever hoped and expected. I’m just hoping that this is the end of it and that we can go forward with our lives. I think that we all believed that this was the right judgment.

“We did absolutely the right thing …. Shearith Israel has been trying to tell us what to do and how we conduct ourselves here and I’ve always thought that we have no reason to be told, that we’re our own entity. They don’t own us. They did theoretically. We were renting the place from them. It was ridiculous. They just wanted to exert their power over us without having any real concern for the local community ….”

Woythaler said it was the right time to decide the ownership issue once and for all.    

“We had a very strong board in the last few years, with strong leadership, and we do not know … if we would continue to have strong leadership …,” he said. “And it appears to be right because the judge has sided with us .…”

AARON GINSBURG is a native of Newport. He can be reached at aaron.ginsburg@gmail.com 

Touro, Jeshuat Israel