In September 1653, 23 Jews arrived for the first time in New York, then known as New Amsterdam, just before Rosh Hashanah, marking the beginning of an immigration to America that now spans more than 350 years.
The group came from Recife, a city in northeastern Brazil that had previously been under Dutch rule but was reconquered by the Portuguese in 1654, prompting a resumption of Jewish persecution. The Jews of Recife built the first synagogue in America, Kahal Zur Israel, on the former Rua dos Judeus and now Rua do Bom Jesus. Over time, these immigrants also founded the congregation Shearith Israel, the first synagogue in the United States.
Recently, the New York City Council announced that it is about to vote on a resolution to officially recognize “Disembarkation Day,” commemorating the arrival of these first Jews in the city.
Councilwoman Gale Brewer, who represents the Upper West Side, sponsored the bill to give this date formal recognition in city records, underscoring the continued importance of the Jewish community in New York life.
The resolution was sponsored by Howard Teich, founder of the Manhattan Jewish Historical Initiative, and has the support of 22 sponsors on the Council.