When people think of Rhode Island, they may not think of its Jewish population. However, Rhode Island has long been known as a bastion of religious freedom. The state was, after all, founded by an outcast of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, cast out by the puritans for not sharing their religious convictions. Rhode Island has, ever since, maintained a strong commitment to religious freedom.

1. When people think of Rhode Island, they may not think of its Jewish population. However, Rhode
Islandhaslongbeenknownasa bastionof religiousfreedom.The state was,afterall,founded by an
outcast of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, cast out by the puritans for not sharing their religious
convictions. Rhode Island has, ever since, maintained a strong commitment to religious freedom.
Peter Anjos lives and works in Rhode Island and is aware of the state's lengthy history of religious
freedom. However, most people would be surprised to find out that Rhode Island is home to the
United States' oldest synagogue, despite being the smallest state in the union and not having a
particularly strong Jewish population locally. However, in 1658 fifteen Jewish families who were
expelled from Spain moved to Rhode Island.
The Touro Synagogue was founded in 1759, named after the Jewish congregation's local spiritual
leader, Isaac Touro, a Dutch Jew. The beautiful building stands as a testament to Rhode Island's
commitmenttoreligiousfreedom.Rhode Island's founders, Rogers Williams and Anne Hutchinson,
were themselves expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for religious reasons. So they
understood how desperate one could be in such a situation. Peter Anjos has seen the Touro
Synagogue ona numberof occasionsand isalwaysimpressedbythe size andbeautyof the building,
as well as its twelve columns.