Esther Oppenheim

Congregation Shearith Israel was the first Jewish congregation established in North America, and the only Jewish congregation in New York City from 1654 until 1825. Between 1654 and 1730, it met in rented quarters, consecrating its first building in 1730 on Mill Street. To meet the needs of a steadily growing membership, the congregation moved into five different buildings over the centuries. The American Jewish architect Arnold Brunner designed Shearith Israel’s present location, which it has occupied since 1897.