Public Laws of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Including: “An Act to Secure and Appropriate the Touro Jewish Synagogue Fund (pp. 476-78).

AUCTION 60 | Thursday, November 14th, 2013 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Printed Books, Manuscripts, Autograph Letters, Graphic Art and Ceremonial Objects

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Lot 23
(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

Public Laws of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. Including: “An Act to Secure and Appropriate the Touro Jewish Synagogue Fund (pp. 476-78).

Browned. Needs rebinding. Thick 4to.

Providence: 1844

Est: $3,000 - $4,000
By the first quarter of the 19th century the synagogue of Newport Rhode Island (established in 1763) was used infrequently as the community there had dwindled. It was Abraham Touro’s bequest to the legislature of the state for “supporting the Jewish Synagogue in the State” that spurred the town to safeguard this architectural jewel. Endowing the building, even when it was not in use, protected it. It would come into regular use again when Eastern European immigrants reconstituted the Newport Jewish community. See Benton H. Rosen, The Touro Synagogue Fund, A Fiscal Review in: Rhode Island Jewish Historical Notes, pp. 236-44.