Congregation Shearith Israel (New York, N.Y.)

This historical sketch is divided into the following subject headings: Founding Congregation; First Mill Street Synagogue; Revolutionary War; Kashrut; Charity; Children's Education; Second Mill Street Synagogue; Crosby Street Synagogue until Today; Prayer Books; Religious Leadership; Involvement in New York Jewish Institutions; Women's Work Pre-Sisterhood; Shearith Israel Sisterhood; Shearith Israel League; Adult Education; Cemeteries; and List of Ministers.

Founding Congregation The history of the oldest congregation in the United States is intertwined with the United States' first settlement of Jews. The first Jew to come to the New World was most probably Louis de Torres, a Marrano, who accompanied Christopher Columbus on his exploration, in order to interpret the assumed ancient tongue Hebrew for the natives. 1 More adventurers, who either stayed or continued their journeys, followed. The arrival of twenty-three penniless men, women, and children in 1654 marked the first settlement of Jews. From this "Remnant of Israel," a congregation was born, named "Shearith Israel."

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