Curacao’s Jewish Archives and Cemeteries
You can’t have a Caribbean Jewish history like Curacao’s Mikve Israel-Emanuel without leaving a footprint. These physical echoes not only tell us about the past, but they also can tell […]
Tag Archives: Caribbean
Mikve Israel-Emanuel – Curacao
There is a magical feeling in Curacao’s Mikve Israel synagogue (‘Snoa’). Constructed in 1732, it is the oldest surviving synagogue in the Americas. It is gorgeous. With its sand floors and […]
Curacao – The Caribbean’s Jewish Island
Even today, the signs are all still there. The Maduro and Curiel’s bank, the Senior Curacao Blue liquor, the Gomez store, the Penha building, and the Jewish year 5466 written […]
Vayhi – The S&P and Ashkenazim
Narratives are important. The same series of events can take on a completely different meaning depending on how they are told. A prime example of this is the story of Yosef and […]
Nidhe Israel – Bridgetown, Barbados
With its white sandy beaches, blue skies, and year-long warm weather, it’s difficult to imagine that the island of Barbados was once home to a thriving Spanish and Portuguese Jewish […]
Sha’are Shalom – Kingston, Jamaica
I finally made it to my first sand-floored Caribbean synagogue! Originally constructed in 1885, and then rebuilt in 1912, Sha’are Shalom delights with an absolutely stunning edifice and sanctuary. It […]
