Touro Synagogue Foundation announces the first program of its Winter 2022 Judah Touro Program Series, which will delve into the difficult topic of Jews and slavery in the Atlantic World of the American colonial era.

Guest speaker and distinguished scholar, Dr. Paul Finkelman, will present a talk titled “Jews, Slavery, and the Meaning of Freedom,” virtually, via Zoom. There is no fee to participate, but reservations are required to receive the Zoom login information.

In a terrible irony, the history of Newport, which was founded upon the principles of religious freedom, is also the history of those who did not find freedom there —enslaved Africans. Many Newporters, including Jews, either owned slaves or participated in some aspect of the transatlantic plantation system, which was based on the slave trade and goods produced through the labor of enslaved Africans. Dr. Finkelman’s talk will address this central paradox of America— the coexistence of slavery and freedom, along with an intermingling of noble ideals about liberty with the poison of racism. His talk will address these issues in a way that will help participants understand them clearly and honestly.

TO RESERVE: Click the “Website” link on this page or visit the “Program & Events” page at tourosynagogue.org

For more information or assistance with registration, please contact Meryle Cawley at (401) 847-4794, extension 207, or meryle@tourosynagogue.org