The 1654 Society

Congregation Shearith Israel, the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in the City of New York, was founded in 1654, the first Jewish congregation to be established in North America. The Congregation has a wealth of archival material and historic artifacts reflecting the American-Jewish experience for almost three and a half centuries.

Members of Shearith Israel struggled for and won religious and civil freedoms for Jews in America. They played an important role in the American Revolution, and were actively involved in civic life. As the only Jewish congregation in New York until 1825, Shearith Israel provided for all the needs of the Jewish community for over one hundred seventy years.

Reverend Gershom Mendes Seixas
Patriot American religious leader during the American Revolution

Benjamin Mendes Seixas, Ephraim Hart and Alexander Zuntz
Founders of the New York Stock Exchange

Commodore Uriah Phillips Levy
First Jewish flag officer in the United States Navy

Emma Lazarus
Distinguished American poet

Alice Menken
Pioneer in social welfare work

Justice Benjamin Nathan Cardozo
United States Supreme Court Justice

Judge Edgar J. Nathan Jr.
Borough President of Manhattan and New York State Supreme Court Justice

Dr. Henry Pereira Mendes
Rabbi of the Congregation and founder of numerous institutions including the Orthodox Union, Montefiore Hospital and the Lexington School for the Deaf

Reverend Dr. David de Sola Pool
Minister of the Congregation and a leading figure in American Jewish life during the 20th century

The historic treasures of Shearith Israel are a source of pride and inspiration to all American Jewry. The Congregation is planning to develop a museum/archives center in order to make its collections more accessible to the public. By exploring the past, American Jews will have a stronger basis for building the future.

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We are pleased to welcome all 1654 Society participants, those who have renewed their membership as well as new members. The 1654 Society is a society of individuals who support the work of our congregation, although they may be members of other congregations or live at a distance from Shearith Israel. Currently we have over 700 participants in the 1654 Society, in 23 states and seven foreign countries.

We welcome all who wish to be part of our congregation’s extended family. For more information about the 1654 Society, please call the synagogue office. 212-873-0300.

1654 Categories:

$52 | Friend
Receives mailings, plus 2 copies of Grace after Meals Booklet.

$100 | Contributing Friend
Receives the above, plus a copy of Rabbi M .D. Angel’s new book “Foundations of Sephardic Spirituality”

$250 | Patron
Receives the above, plus a copy of Rabbi H. Angel’s book of Biblical Studies.

$500 | Sponsor
Receives the above, plus a copy Rabbi Angel’s book on the teachings of Rabbi H.D. HaLevy.