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Revision as of 22:40, 20 May 2026

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Spanish-Portuguese Jews are the oldest Jewish community in the United States.[1][2]

History

Template:Further

Gomez Mill House in Newburgh, NY, USA. One of the earliest known residences of a Jew in the future United States of America.

The first Jews to arrive in North America were 23 Sephardim fleeing the Portuguese conquest of Dutch Brazil in 1654.[3][4]

Culture, traditions, and customs

Language

Despite the name, most Spanish-Portuguese in the United States do not speak Spanish nor Portuguese, and any vestiges of either language remain only in the Hebrew pronunciation and traditional liturgy.[5] An example, Benjamin Nathan Cardozo, a notable Spanish-Portuguese lawyer and traditionalist, "confessed in 1937 that" after centuries in British North America, "his family preserved neither the Spanish language nor Iberian cultural traditions".[6] His ancestors had lived in England, the British colonies, and the United States since the 17th century.

Some Spanish table songs, most famously Bendigamos, are still sung by many Spanish-Portuguese.[7][8] However, Bendigamos is believed to have originated among the S&P community of Bordeaux, France and originally was sung in French.[9]

Clerical terminology

Hazzanim in the S&P rite are given the title of "Reverend". For much of the community's history in America, communities were led by hazzanim who were not ordained rabbis.[10]

Dress

R' Henry Pereira Mendes wearing the traditional robes of Spanish-Portuguese clergy.[11][12]

Traditionally, Spanish-Portuguese clerical attire consists of canonical robes, a top hat, and/or tricorn depending on the specific community and occasion.[13]

Silk prayer shawl

The traditional material used in the production of tallitot (prayer shawls) in Spanish-Portuguese communities in the United States, as well as others, is silk. It is theorized that the material contributed to the unique S&P way of donning the shawl.[14][15][16]

Traditionalism

Spanish-Portuguese communities place a heavy emphasis on the preservation of Western Sephardic liturgical customs and religious traditions, despite the fact that Spanish-Portuguese communities in the US have always included Ashkenazim.[17]

Thanksgiving service

Congregation Shearith Israel has been conducting Thanksgiving services since President George Washington first instituted the holiday in 1789.[18][19][20]

Architecture

Traditionally, Spanish-Portuguese synagogue architecture was based off of older structures, such as the Portuguese Synagogue of Amsterdam and the Great Synagogue of Livorno.[21]

Memorial Day

Every year, Shearith Israel hosts a Memorial Day ceremony in honor of veteran members of the community, notably those who perished during the American Revolutionary War.[22] The event is attended by the Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York color guard.[23]

Halakhic approach

Though there is no uniquely Spanish-Portuguese approach to halakha, historically the predominant stream of Judaism in the community has been rationalist and Maimonidean. Kabbalah is also notably absent from the S&P rite.[24]

Modern communities

Historical communities

Institutions and organizations

Theological

Historical

Philanthropic and charitable

Political

Educational

Namesakes

Publications

Notable individuals

See also

Template:Sephardic Jews topics

References

  1. ↑ "Introduction: Origins of the American Jewish Community" (in en). https://jwa.org/article/introduction-origins-of-american-jewish-community. 
  2. ↑ "Congregational History | Congregation Shearith Israel- Manhattan Orthodox Synagogue" (in en). 2022-05-19. https://www.shearithisrael.org/about/our-history/congregational-history/. 
  3. ↑ "Jews in Colonial New York" (in en). https://www.philipsemanorhall.com/blog/jews-in-colonial-new-york. 
  4. ↑ "The New York Historical" (in en). https://www.nyhistory.org/blogs/new-yorks-first-jews-came-from-brazil. 
  5. ↑ "Shearith Israel, Oldest Synagogue Here, Rich with Hoary Memories" (in en-US). https://www.jta.org/archive/shearith-israel-oldest-synagogue-here-rich-with-hoary-memories. 
  6. ↑ Aviva Ben-Ur (2009). Sephardic Jews in America: A Diasporic History. New York: NYU Press. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-8147-8632-1. https://books.google.com/books?id=JZQwMhgF8VkC&pg=PA86. Retrieved on 2016-02-19. 
  7. ↑ "London Sephardi Music - Bendigamos" (in en-US). https://sites.google.com/site/londonsephardimusic/table-songs/bendigamos. 
  8. ↑ "Bendigamos | jewishmusic" (in en). https://jewish-music.huji.ac.il/en/node/23713. 
  9. ↑ "London Sephardi Music - Bendigamos" (in en-US). https://sites.google.com/site/londonsephardimusic/table-songs/bendigamos. 
  10. ↑ Levine, Dr Yitzchok (2013-09-11). "Reverend Henry Pereira Mendes: Orthodox Stalwart (Part I)" (in en-US). https://www.ou.org/life/community/reverend-henry-pereira-mendes-orthodox-stalwart-part/. 
  11. ↑ e, e (2016-05-19). "Kedoshim and Canonicals 5776" (in en-GB). https://www.sephardi.org.uk/kedoshim-and-canonicals/. 
  12. ↑ "‘A Most Beloved Part of Our Service’:The Slow Procession to the Ark in a Sephardic Synagogue – Covering Religion". https://coveringreligion.org/2023/03/06/a-most-beloved-part-of-our-servicethe-slow-procession-to-the-ark-in-a-sephardic-synagogue/. 
  13. ↑ "Our tradition" (in en-US). https://www.esnoga.com/en/traditions/. 
  14. ↑ Somekh, Simone (2018-12-11). "This $500 Pure Silk Tallit Is Produced In An Italian Village — Alongside Hermes Scarves" (in en). https://forward.com/life/415714/this-500-pure-silk-tallit-is-produced-in-a-village-in-northern-italy/. 
  15. ↑ "Silk Tallit - Jewish Tradition" (in en). https://talleddiseta.com/. 
  16. ↑ shalommorris (2017-06-23). "Shelah – The Western Sephardic Talet" (in en). https://shalommorris.com/2017/06/23/shelah-the-western-sephardic-talet/. 
  17. ↑ "Our Minhag | Congregation Shearith Israel- Manhattan Orthodox Synagogue" (in en). 2022-05-19. https://www.shearithisrael.org/about/our-minhag/. 
  18. ↑ "Thanksgiving at Shearith Israel | Congregation Shearith Israel - Manhattan Orthodox Synagogue" (in en). 2022-05-31. https://www.shearithisrael.org/programs/holidays/thanksgiving-at-shearith-israel/. 
  19. ↑ Zeffren, Tamar (2024-11-22). "Trustees of Congregation Shearith Israel Regarding Thanksgiving Day, 1847" (in en-US). https://ajhs.org/trustees-of-congregation-shearith-israel-regarding-thanksgiving-day-1847/. 
  20. ↑ Gilson, Grace (2025-11-28). "Oldest Jewish congregation in US launches Manhattan kosher food pantry on Thanksgiving" (in en-US). The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. https://www.timesofisrael.com/oldest-jewish-congregation-in-us-launches-manhatten-kosher-food-pantry-on-thanksgiving/. 
  21. ↑ Perelis, Ronnie (2019). "Jewish sacred architecture in the Spanish and Portuguese diaspora". https://repository.yu.edu/items/cc20b67e-6bac-43ca-b267-208a8510cfd4. 
  22. ↑ "Memorial Day | Congregation Shearith Israel - Manhattan Orthodox Synagogue" (in en). 2022-05-31. https://www.shearithisrael.org/programs/holidays/memorial-day/. 
  23. ↑ "Color Guard" (in en-US). https://www.sonsoftherevolution.org/color-guard. 
  24. ↑ Howard••, Aaron. "Jewish Herald-Voice". https://jhvonline.com/the-legacy-of-spanishportuguese-jewry-p934-89.htm. 
  25. ↑ "Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue (U.S. National Park Service)" (in en). https://www.nps.gov/places/kahal-kadosh-beth-elohim-synagogue.htm. 
  26. ↑ "Touro Synagogue" (in en-US). http://tourosynagogue.com/about-us/ourhistory/. 
  27. ↑ "History of CMI - Congregation Mickve Israel". https://www.mickveisrael.org/history-of-cmi.html. 
  28. ↑ "The Touro Synagogue - Newport, RI" (in en-US). 2025-05-28. https://www.thetourosynagogue.org/. 
  29. ↑ "Our Historic Synagogue" (in en-US). https://synagogue.vi/our-historic-synagogue/. 
  30. ↑ "History - Congregation Beth Ahabah". https://www.bethahabah.org/heritage/history/. 
  31. ↑ "History of JTS - Jewish Theological Seminary" (in en-US). 2015-09-29. https://www.jtsa.edu/history-of-jts/. 
  32. ↑ Levine, Dr Yitzchok (2013-09-11). "Reverend Henry Pereira Mendes: Orthodox Stalwart (Part I)" (in en-US). https://www.ou.org/life/community/reverend-henry-pereira-mendes-orthodox-stalwart-part/. 
  33. ↑ Markovitz, Eugene (1966). "Henry Pereira Mendes: Architect of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America". American Jewish Historical Quarterly 55 (3): 364–384. ISSN 0002-9068. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23875623. 
  34. ↑ "About Us | jewishideas.org". https://www.jewishideas.org/about-us. 
  35. ↑ "Rabbi Marc Angel - MJHI" (in en-US). https://manhattanjewish.org/2023_hall_of_fame/rabbi-marc-angel/index.htm. 
  36. ↑ "Gomez Mill House: An American Treasure". https://www.gomez.org/about.html. 
  37. ↑ "Fiftieth Anniversary of the "Hebra Hased Va Amet" Hebrew Benevolent Society." (in en-US). The New York Times. 1852-11-12. ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/1852/11/12/archives/fiftieth-anniversary-of-the-hebra-hased-va-amet-hebrew-benevolent.html. 
  38. ↑ by. "Meir Soloveichik" (in en). https://www.tabletmag.com/contributors/meir-soloveichik. 
  39. ↑ "The Meaning of Trump’s $10 Million Grant to a Jewish Nonprofit" (in en). https://jewishcurrents.org/the-meaning-of-trumps-10-million-grant-to-a-jewish-nonprofit. 
  40. ↑ "Sephardic Programs" (in en). https://www.yu.edu/JLL/Sephardic. 
  41. ↑ "About Us | The Ḥabura" (in en). https://www.thehabura.com/about. 
  42. ↑ Staff, ToI (2023-10-12). "Sgt. First Class Yosef Malachi Guedalia, 22: ‘A very gentle, sweet person’" (in en-US). The Times of Israel. ISSN 0040-7909. https://www.timesofisrael.com/sgt-first-class-yosef-malachi-guedalia-22-a-very-gentle-sweet-person/. 
  43. ↑ "RABBI SHALOM MORRIS" (in en-GB). https://www.sephardi.org.uk/about/rabbis/rabbi-shalom-morris/. 

Category:American people of Portuguese-Jewish descent Category:American people of Spanish-Jewish descent Category:Sephardi Jewish culture by country Category:Sephardi Jewish culture Category:Sephardi Jews Category:Sephardi Jews by nationality

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