A Jewish homeland in Palestine or New York?

Mordechai Manuel Noah was a prominent Jewish-American who advocated creating a Jewish State in the Land of Israel. But in the interim, he created Ararat, City of Refuge in New York State. Thousands attended the inauguration but no one actually moved there. The Ararat cornerstone can be seen today at the Buffalo History Museum. Learn about this fascinating figure and hear in his own words his passion to see the Jewish people return to their indigenous homeland decades before the modern Zionist movement came into prominence.

The 400-pound cornerstone for Ararat is now housed in the Buffalo History Museum.

NOTES:

• Ararat City of Refuge exhibit - Jewish Buffalo History Center

• Mapping Ararat augmented reality project from 2019

• Discourse on the Restoration of the Jews by Mordechai M. Noah - Full text

• Travels in England, France, Spain, and the Barbary States by Mordecai Manuel Noah - full text

• Major Noah: An American Patriot, American Zionist by Jerry Klinger