2025 - 295th anniversary of the Consecration of the first Synagogue in North America
LOWER MANHATTAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION held its Fifth Annual Ceremony honoring the 295th anniversary of the Consecration of the first Synagogue in North America on Friday, April 4, 2025, at 26 South William Street co-named ‘Mill Street Synagogue & Seixas Way.’
THE GERSHOM MENDES SEIXAS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AWARD
The Mill Street Synagogue, located approximately on what is today the corner of South William Street and Mill Lane in Lower Manhattan, was critically important to the development of the Jewish Community in New York City and America. It was from this synagogue that Gershom Mendes Seixas, the “patriot rabbi”, led the Jewish community in New York in support of the American Revolution and participated in George Washington‘s Inauguration.
The ceremony included remarks by Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President and the presentation of the GERSHOM MENDES SEIXAS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AWARD to Rabbi Nissi Eber, Director The Chabad Jewish Center of FIDI who has fostered Rabbi Seixas’ ideals of religious freedom. The program also included remarks by Michael Cavanaugh, President New Amsterdam History Center, Joseph Lerner, Manhattan Community Board 1, Reverend Zachary Edinger Shamash/ Assistant Hazzan Congregation Shearith Israel, Joshua Mack, Vice President for Marketing Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, previous awardee Bill Tingling, Founder and CEO of the Tour for Tolerance. and James S. Kaplan, Co-Founder & Chair, Lower Manhattan Historical Association. The program concluded with the reading of the Letter from George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, RI (August 18, 1790) by Caroline Kaplan.
Financial District, Friday, April 4, 2025.
Event Program
2024 - 294th anniversary of the Consecration of the first Synagogue in North America
LOWER MANHATTAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION held its Fourth Annual Ceremony honoring the 294th anniversary of the Consecration of the first Synagogue in North America on Friday, April 12, 2024, at 26 South William Street co-named ‘Mill Street Synagogue & Seixas Way.’
THE GERSHOM MENDES SEIXAS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AWARD
The Mill Street Synagogue, located approximately on what is today the corner of South William Street and Mill Lane in Lower Manhattan, was critically important to the development of the Jewish Community in New York City and America. It was from this synagogue that Gershom Mendes Seixas, the “patriot rabbi”, led the Jewish community in New York in support of the American Revolution and participated in George Washington‘s Inauguration.
The ceremony included remarks by Chris Marte, New York City Council District 1 and the presentation of the GERSHOM MENDES SEIXAS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AWARD to Gemma Birnbaum Executive Director, American Jewish Historical Society who has fostered Rabbi Seixas’ ideals of religious freedom. The program also included remarks by Reverend Zachary Edinger Shamash/ Assistant Hazzan Congregation Shearith Israel, Rabbi Nissi Eber, Director The Chabad Jewish Center of FIDI, and James S. Kaplan, Co-Founder & Chair, Lower Manhattan Historical Association. The program concluded with the reading of the Letter from George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, RI (August 18, 1790) by Caroline Kaplan.
Financial District, Friday, April 12, 2024.
Event Program
2023 - 293rd anniversary of the Consecration of the first Synagogue in North America
LOWER MANHATTAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION held its Third Annual Ceremony honoring the 293rd anniversary of the Consecration of the first Synagogue in North America on Friday, April 14, 2023, at 26 South William Street co-named ‘Mill Street Synagogue & Seixas Way.’
THE GERSHOM MENDES SEIXAS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AWARD
The Mill Street Synagogue, located approximately on what is today the corner of South William Street and Mill Lane in Lower Manhattan, was critically important to the development of the Jewish Community in New York City and America. It was from this synagogue that Gershom Mendes Seixas, the “patriot rabbi”, led the Jewish community in New York in support of the American Revolution and participated in George Washington‘s Inauguration.
The ceremony included remarks by Mark Levine, Manhattan Borough President and the presentation of the GERSHOM MENDES SEIXAS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AWARD to Bill Tingling, the Founder & CEO of the Tour for Tolerance who has fostered Rabbi Seixas’ ideals of religious freedom. The program also included remarks by Tammy Meltzer, Chair, Manhattan Community Board 1, Reverend Zachary Edinger Sexton Congregation Shearith Israel, Rabbi Nissi Eber, The Jewish Learning Experience, Jack Kliger, President & CEO Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust and James S. Kaplan, Co-Founder & Chair, Lower Manhattan Historical Association. The program concluded with the reading of the Letter from George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation of Newport, RI (August 18, 1790).
Financial District, Friday, April 14, 2023.
Event Program
2022 - 292nd anniversary of the Consecration of the first Synagogue in North America
LOWER MANHATTAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION held its Second Annual Ceremony honoring the 292th anniversary of the Consecration of the first Synagogue in North America on Friday, April 8, 2022, at 26 South William Street.
The ceremony included remarks by US Congressman Nadler and the presentation of the GERSHOM MENDES SEIXAS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AWARD to Rabbi Joseph Potasnik who has fostered Rabbi Seixas’ ideals of religious freedom. In addition, the Letter from George Washington to the Hebrew Congregation (August 18, 1790) was read after remarks from Rabbi Zachary Edinger, Sexton, Congregation Shearith Israel; Rabbi Nissi Eber, The Jewish Learning Experience; Rabbi Ari Fridkis, Temple of Universal Judaism and Joshua Mack, Museum of Jewish Heritage-A Living Memorial to the Holocaust.
Financial District, Friday, April 8, 2022.
Event Program
2020 - 290th anniversary of the Consecration of the first Synagogue in North America
LOWER MANHATTAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION held its Annual Ceremony honoring the 290th anniversary of the Consecration of the first Synagogue in North America on Friday, April 6, 2020, at 26 South William Street.
The Mill Street Synagogue, located approximately on what is today the corner of South William Street and Mill Lane in Lower Manhattan, was critically important to the development of Jewish Community in New York City and America. It was from this synagogue that Gershom Mendes Seixas, the “patriot rabbi”, led the Jewish community in New York in support of the American Revolution and was instrumental in encouraging George Washington to issue his famous “Newport Letter” calling for religious tolerance for Jews and other minorities.
The ceremony of co-naming will involve presentations by City officials, and the presentation of the Inaugural Gershom Mendes Seixas Religious Freedom Award to Rabbi Joseph Potashnik who has fostered Rabbi Seixas’ ideals of religious freedom.
Financial District, Friday, April 6, 2020.
Event Invitation
2019 - 289th anniversary of the Consecration of the first Synagogue in North America
LOWER MANHATTAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION held its Annual Ceremony honoring the 289th anniversary of the Consecration of the first Synagogue in North America on Friday, April 5, 2019, at 26 South William Street.
The Mill Street Synagogue, located approximately on what is today the corner of South William Street and Mill Lane in Lower Manhattan, was critically important to the development of Jewish Community in New York City and America. It was from this synagogue that Gershom Mendes Seixas, the “patriot rabbi”, led the Jewish community in New York in support of the American Revolution and was instrumental in encouraging George Washington to issue his famous “Newport Letter” calling for religious tolerance for Jews and other minorities.
The ceremony of co-naming will involve presentations by City officials.
Financial District, Friday, April 5, 2019.
