Press Release
Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly
350th Anniversary of Jews in America
Feature, Original Broadcast Date: September 17 2004 (Show #803):
In September 1654, the nation's first Jewish settlers arrived in New York -- in what was then known as New Amsterdam. And although they faced discrimination in this new land, the 23 Dutch immigrants who had been living in Brazil, helped change the face of America. To commemorate the significance of this historic event, the City is celebrating the 350th anniversary of their arrival with song, dance and a special prayer service at the oldest synagogue in America founded by the 1654 pioneers. RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY takes its cameras to Manhattan's South Street Seaport for the kick-off festivities during the weeklong New York Jewish Music and Heritage Festival, and to Congregation Shearith Israel, the historic Spanish and Portuguese synagogue of the City of New York, for readings and tributes to the first settlers by their descendents. Rabbi Marc Angel with Congregation Shearith Israel explains, "The 350th anniversary is a significant event, not only for our congregation, but for American Jewry and for all of America. It shows the possibility of a small minority coming to this land, fighting for freedom, fighting for its basic civil rights, winning those rights, developing into a fine, beautiful community spread out throughout the entire country, where the Jewish people have not only true to their own faith and had the freedom to celebrate their own faith, but they were able to contribute to the entire American community."
Featured (in alphabetical order):
Rabbi Marc D. Angel, Congregation Shearith Israel
Michael S. Miller, Jewish Community Relations Council
In September 1654, the nation's first Jewish settlers arrived in New York -- in what was then known as New Amsterdam. And although they faced discrimination in this new land, the 23 Dutch immigrants who had been living in Brazil, helped change the face of America. To commemorate the significance of this historic event, the City is celebrating the 350th anniversary of their arrival with song, dance and a special prayer service at the oldest synagogue in America founded by the 1654 pioneers. RELIGION & ETHICS NEWSWEEKLY takes its cameras to Manhattan's South Street Seaport for the kick-off festivities during the weeklong New York Jewish Music and Heritage Festival, and to Congregation Shearith Israel, the historic Spanish and Portuguese synagogue of the City of New York, for readings and tributes to the first settlers by their descendents. Rabbi Marc Angel with Congregation Shearith Israel explains, "The 350th anniversary is a significant event, not only for our congregation, but for American Jewry and for all of America. It shows the possibility of a small minority coming to this land, fighting for freedom, fighting for its basic civil rights, winning those rights, developing into a fine, beautiful community spread out throughout the entire country, where the Jewish people have not only true to their own faith and had the freedom to celebrate their own faith, but they were able to contribute to the entire American community."
Featured (in alphabetical order):
Rabbi Marc D. Angel, Congregation Shearith Israel
Michael S. Miller, Jewish Community Relations Council