Topic: Around Town
The first Jew to settle in New York, Jacob Barsimon, arrived from Holland on July 8, 1654. In August of that year, 27 Jews arrived from Brazil, descendants of Jews who had been expelled from Spain and Portugal in 1492, and soon more Jews arrived from Curaçao. The first Rosh Hashanah service in North America was held secretly on September 12, 1654, marking the beginning of Congregation Shearith Israel, which continues to this day.