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8� 0titt there ........ ............................... Touro Synagogue: A National by fames Vaughan, National Trustvicepresident forstewardship ofhistomproperties Historic houses of worship are rarely set aside as historic sites. While churches, synagogues, and mosques may be open to vis- itors, when needed for religious observance they go back to what they were meant to be: a place for people to worship together. The National Trust is delighted to add a very significant house of worship, the Touro Syn- agogue in Newport, R.I., to its collection of historic sites. Touro Synagogue is the Trust's first sacred site and fulfills a long- standing goal in the diversifica- tion of our collections. It is also the first National Trust site in Rhode Island and only the sec- ond in New England. More importantly, it is one of the nation's premier sites for inter- preting freedom of religion and, as such, is an excellent example of why preservation is so important. The congregation that built Touro Synagogue was founded in 1658 by Jewish families fleeing the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions, drawn to the Rhode Island colony by its religious tolerance and by its excellent seaport. By 1763, they had built a graceful and dignified synagogue. Designed by Peter Harrison, the foremost architect of his day, the building is a masterpiece of American colonial design. George Washington visited in 1781 while inNewport to plan the march to Yorktown. In 1790, a year before the Bill of Rights was adopted, he sent the congre- gation the now - famous letter that assured the freedom the syn- agogue's founders had longed for. "May the children of the Stock of Abraham, who dwell in this land, continue to merit and enjoy the goodwill of the other inhabitants, while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid," he wrote. Washing- ton then promised that the new United States would "give to big- otry no sanction, to persecution no assistance." Later the congregation dwindled and the building ......................... Trust Historic Site closed. In the 1890s it was reopened after a glorious restora- tion in one of the nation's earli- est preservation efforts. It is the only remaining synagogue from the colonial era and a National Historic Landmark. Today Touro Synagogue plays dual roles as a house of worship for the Jeshuat Israel congregation and a historic site attracting visitors from around the world. The Society of Friends of Touro Synagogue, a nondenominational nonprofit organization, supports the preservation and education pro- grams, including an extensive schedule of tours. Now the National Trust will help the society do an even better job by providing technical expertise in such areas as interpretation, educational programming, col- lections management, market- ing, and development. The site agrees to meet National Trust standards in all of these areas. The co- stewardship agree- ment between the National Zuro S),nagogue in Neztport, R.L - photgcozzrtery ofLudwigAotograph�t Trust, Congregation Jeshuat Israel of Newport, and the Soci- ety of Friends of Touro Syna- gogue was celebrated at the 2001 National Preservation Confer- ence in Providence before a large audience of conference atten- dees. It was a joyous moment when Andrew W. Teitz, presi- dent of the society, broke a glass (as is done at Jewish weddings) to mark the formation of the three -way partnership. And at least one audience member shouted "Mazel Tov!" .................................. ............................... F O R U M A — — " Periodicals M� / t.. BB "° Postage Paid 111 rim NATIONAL TRUST Washington, DC I HISTORIC PRESERVATION,. 1785 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20036 71241483 Ms. TINA MOON ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT 306 REVERE RD STE F HILLSBOROUGH NC 27278 -2067 I11I11111( 11111111 /1111 III I11111111111111111 11111111,1111 lu U