02 August 1654 1st Jewish Settlement in North America New York

Greetings To All:

The subject matter for 02 August 1654 is about Jacob Barsimson the 1st Jew to arrive and settle in the North America. His life is quite interesting. He was a Dutch Sephardic Jew. Who was sent by the large Jewish community of Amsterdam to seek and to investigate the potential of establishing a new Jewish community in a New World. This was due to the Portuguese government overtaking all the Dutch colonial possessions which were based in Brazil. Brazil was their most prominent place for immigration up until that time. It has been a safe and profitable place for them. The Jews were now forced to seek another place for emigration which then drove them to the tantalizing North American shores. Shortly after Jacob’s arrival another 23 Jews followed in his footsteps two months later. It was the first Jewish settlement in Neuw Amsterdam, North America.

What is very interesting to note is Emma Lazarus, the Jewish poetess and the writer of the inscription on the Status of Liberty, her family was part of those 23 new Jewish arrivals into Neuw Amsterdam. Her linage is traced back to that first establishment of a Jewish Settlement of Neuw Amsterdam, i.e., better known as New York. We honor both Jacob and Emma as we are about to celebrate our 250th Birthday of the United States of America.

Thank you….more to come.

Patti