America's Dusty Files December 17, 1728 Land Purchased for First North American Synagogue

A Year of Colonial American Frontier History

December 17, 1728 Land Purchased for First North American Synagogue
The Jewish congregation Shearith Israel had immigrated to New York in 1654 and been granted the right to establish a burial site on February 22, 1656. It would take until 1728 before they would gain the right to build their own synagogue.
Land Acquired
The Jewish Congregation Shearith Israel was the only Jewish congregation in New York from the time of their arrival in 1654 until 1825. During the years 1654 until 1730, they met for worship in rented quarters. The congregation had petitioned the government on several occasions for permission to build a synagogue, always to be rebuffed. Finally, in 1728 the New York government relented and allowed them to build a house of worship. The congregation purchased land on lower Manhattan Island on Mill Street and began construction of the synagogue that they would consecrate in 1730.

Indiana's history begins many decades before December 11, 1816 when Indiana became a state. The first foundations of Indiana's were laid with the voyages of Christopher Columbus and the settlement that came later. The American History A Day at A Time - 2015 series is in an easy to read "This Day in History," format and includes articles by the author from that series. The reader may read the articles as they appear, or purchase the book:
A Year of Colonial American Frontier History

© Paul Wonning 2016