At trial over oldest US synagogue, trustee says board was offended by bell-selling idea

Published May 03, 2016

A trustee from the congregation that owns the nation's oldest synagogue has testified its leaders were offended and appalled when the congregation that worships there tried to sell a pair of ceremonial bells to a Boston museum for $7 million.

The trial over control of the Touro Synagogue in Newport entered its second week Monday.

Michael Katz is a trustee at New York's Congregation Shearith Israel, the nation's first Jewish congregation. It owns the 250-year-old Rhode Island synagogue.

Another congregation worships there. Its members say the building is held in trust for their benefit.

Katz says the New York congregation also owns the bells, which the Newport congregation disputes. He also said it violates their beliefs to sell religious objects.

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https://www.foxnews.com/us/at-trial-over-oldest-us-synagogue-trustee-says-board-was-offended-by-bell-selling-idea