Jewish Heritage Sites In The Caribbean

Written by Amy Gordon

Wednesday, 27 May 2009 19:00

Easily accessible by plane from JFK, the islands of the Caribbean offer sun, sand, and a variety of Jewish cultural sites that welcome visitors from all over the world. Take a look below, plan your trip, and pack your bags!

CuraÃ§ao

In 1651, Joao d'Yllan, a Jewish merchant who migrated to Holland from Portugal as a result of the Inquisition, convinced the Dutch West Indies Company to colonize CuraÃ§ao. He and a small group set sail for the island that summer, and soon several independent Jewish businessmen from Amsterdam followed. In the spring of 1659, another group of Jewish immigrants brought CuraÃ§ao's first Torah scrolls.

Since that time, the Jewish community of CuraÃ§ao has remained one of the most active in the Caribbean islands. CuraÃ§ao boasts the region's oldest synagogue in continuous use and the Caribbean's longest running active Jewish community. Mikve Israel Synagogue, the #1 tourist attraction in the country, was established in 1651. Today, over 350 years later, sand still covers the floor and summons mental images of the desert, a reminder of the ongoing struggles and ever-present hope of the Jewish people.

Mikve Israel now includes a Jewish Cultural Historical Museum, home to a permanent collection of art and artifacts. Among other treasures, here you can view the original Torah scroll brought to CuraÃ§ao in 1659. Founded in the same year, nearby Blenheim Cemetery is the oldest Jewish cemetery in the Western Hemisphere, with more than 5,000 buried on its grounds. The cemetery now stands as a national historic site and information center (www.snoa.com).

Aruba

In 1754, Moses Solomon Levie Maduro, a prominent member of a Sephardic Jewish family in CuraÃ§ao, established himself in Aruba with his wife and six children. There, Levie Maduro founded a branch of the Dutch West Indies Company. Over 250 years later, Maduro and Sons operates as the main shipping company in Aruba.

Today, Aruba is home to Beth Israel Synagogue, a not-to-be-missed spot built in 1962. Rather than separating the Sephardic and Ashkenazic sects, Beth Israel blends both traditions, respecting the common aspects of the two cultures and celebrating the differences. With about 70 local and 180 overseas members, the small congregation instills the feeling of a close-knit Jewish community. Aruba is also home to a longstanding Sephardic cemetery, with graves dating back to the 19th century (www.ujcl.org/aruba.html).

Jamaica

When the first Jewish settlers arrived in 1511, Jamaica was a Spanish territory ruled by the family of Christopher Columbus. The island welcomed Jews, and when England conquered Jamaica in 1655, there was no attempt to expel or limit the Jewish presence. Jewish life flourished, and during the 17th century a small synagogue was established.

The United Congregation of Israelites in Kingston recently celebrated its 350th anniversary with a permanent exhibition on Jewish contributions to Jamaica. A visit to the newly instated Jewish HerÂitage Center offers travelers a glimpse of important Jewish artifacts, an art exhibition featuring works from Jewish Jamaican artists, a family history center, and a reference library. Outside, the center's Memorial Garden includes a unique display of Jewish grave art. The synagogue and heritage center are open to visitors Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (www.ucija.org).

Nevis

The Jewish history in Nevis is vast and has had a prominent impact on the United States. It is suspected that Sephardic Jews first came to Nevis as traders from Barbados sometime after 1654. By the late 17th century, the Nevis Jewish community established a complete enclave, including a cemetery, a synagogue and a Jewish school. In fact, Alexander Hamilton, the first secretary of the treasury of the United States, was born in Nevis and attended Jewish day school. Though its numbers have since dwindled, at one time the Jewish community constituted one fourth of the island's population.

Today, travelers can walk through a walled-in Jewish cemetery dating back to February 1679. The cemetery, located on Government Road in CharlesÂton, was revitalized and rededicated in 1971 by a group of Philadelphian philanthropists. It houses graves marked in Hebrew, English, and Portuguese, a testament to the fusion of different racial and ethnic groups in the development of Nevisian culture. Across the street from the cemetery, a long trail leads to a now empty lot where some believe there might have once been a synagogue (www.nevisisland.com).

Barbados

The British first colonized Barbados in 1627 and actively promoted Jewish settlement during the years that followed. Later, Barbados became the first British territory where Jews obtained full political rights. In 1654, the Jewish community in Bridgetown established a Sephardic synagogue, and by 1679, nearly 300 Jews lived on the island. Many Jewish settlers engaged in sugar and coffee cultivation, and soon tensions between Jewish and British merchants rose. In 1668, the government forced Jews to live in a Jewish ghetto and forbade them from engaging in retail trade; the discriminatory laws were removed in the early 19th century. Despite persecution, the Jewish community thrived in Barbados until 1831, when a massive hurricane caused significant damage to the island, displacing some residents.

Today, Bridgetown Jewish SynaÂgogue stands as one of the "Seven Wonders of Barbados." Though its operation has been sporadic over the years, the synagogue remains in use today and is protected as a part of the Barbados National Trust. Almost every element, from the chandeliers to the bima, has a story, as artifacts were gathered from all over the island to restore the temple (www.barbados.org/jewish.htm).

U.S. Virgin Islands

Jews first settled on the then Danish-ruled island of St. Thomas in 1655. After granting Jews religious freedom in 1685, the island has since had three Jewish governors. At its peak, around 1850, the Jewish population made up half of the island's white community. After the opening of the Panama Canal, however, the number of Jewish residents declined.

St. Thomas boasts the oldest synagogue in continuous use in a U.S. territory. Known as the Congregation of Blessings and Peace, the St. Thomas Synagogue was originally established in 1796 and was later rebuilt several times. The present synagogue was built in 1833 in the Sephardic style.

Everything in the historic building is original, and the menorah behind the bima even dates back to the 11th century. The synagogue stands as a historic national landmark and has become a trendy spot for American Jews to celebrate bar/bat mitzvahs and weddings.

In 1996, a small museum was added to the synagogue. The museum chronicles the history of the congregation and the synagogue and displays artifacts of Jewish history on the island (www.usvi.net/usvi/syngogue.html).

St. Thomas is also home to one of the only kosher resorts in the Caribbean. Guests at Sapphire Beach Resort and Marina can keep kashrus with food that can be prepared in private kosher kitchens. From large groups to intimate romantic getaways, visitors are welcomed year-round (www.kosherbeach.com).

Aside from Sapphire Beach Resort, kosher hotel offerings in the Caribbean unfortunately are lacking. However, this scarcity need not discourage Jews from visiting the region. Many supermarkets throughout the islands now carry kosher products, so travelers willing to prepare their own meals should have no problem. In addition, kosher meals are available for preorder and purchase at Chabad centers on several of the islands.

Amy Gordon is a freelance writer born and raised in Lawrence.