Join MJHI (https://manhattanjewish.org/) as we walk the neighborhood in lower Manhattan that once held the early Jewish settlers in the colony of New Amsterdam - now New York City. We will discuss the 23 Sephardic Jews that formed the first congregation in North America, and follow the path of these individuals who have made a contribution beyond measure to so many things that we find vital in society today.
On this tour, we will visit the former sites of locations relevant to the lives of the Jewish community that arrived in 1654, including the early Spanish and Portuguese rented synagogues, and the Mill Street Synagogue. Discuss influential individuals like Asser Levy, the first kosher butcher in the colony, who fought constantly on behalf of Jewish rights.
This tour, which lasts approximately 90 minutes, is led by urban historian Bradley Shaw, an experienced and licensed NYC Tour Guide who was born on the Lower East Side, and has a BA in History and Education from Brooklyn College. He shares with us his passion for history, and has been a docent, walking tour guide and manager at various museums and institutions in NYC.
This event is being sponsored by the Manhattan Jewish Historical Initiative (MJHI), a community-based project, interactive in scope, formed to explore, compile and record the extraordinary history of the Jewish community of Manhattan, and disseminate it through web, social media, etc. MJHI is known for their annual Awards program honoring Jews that have made an extraordinary contribution to Manhattan. https://manhattanjewish.org/hall-of-fame/
The tickets are free (donations accepted) and space is limited, so please register early and only if you truly plan on attending so you don't take a registration spot away from somebody else. Thank you.
