The Breakaways: Shearith Israel – Charleston 1841

Beginning in 1818, exactly two centuries ago, many of the West’s first breakaway synagogues were founded. Different motivations guided these moves, including tradition, reform, custom, and location – however, all sparked controversy and division, and each impacted their original local Spanish & Portuguese congregation. This history series looks at these developments and the leading role that Sephardic Jews took in debating them.