Rebecca Touro Lopez

In 1824, Rebecca Touro Lopez petitioned the Rhode Island General Assembly to preserve Newport’s Touro Synagogue. Upon his death in 1822, her brother Abraham left money to restore the building, which had closed during the American Revolution. Although there were no Jews living in Newport at the time, her brother’s bequest was carried out following Rebecca’s intervention. Her actions represent one of the first efforts in the United States to restore and maintain an unoccupied historic structure. Touro Synagogue is the oldest synagogue building in North America today.