Jews of the Caribbean

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20 June 2011 | 18 Sivan 5771

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Home Jewish Roots Caribbean Jews in the Caribbean Part II

Jews in the Caribbean Part II

As we continue our journey in the Caribbean we find that Jews are

not only choosing to live on the Island but contribute to their

culture and economy.

Take C osta Rica most Jews migrated there from Jamaica, Panama

and the rest of the Caribbean soon followed. A large group soon

went in around the end of world war one. The countrys first

synagogue, the Orthodox Shaarei Zion was built in 1933 in the

capital San Jos. The Jewish community now consists of 2,500 to

3,000 people, most of them living in the capital. The San Josesuburb of Rohrmoser has a distinct Jewish presence. A couple of

synagogues are located here, as well as a kosher deli and

restaurant. The Plaza Rohrmoser shopping centre has the only

kosher Burger King in the country talk about Having it your way.

Then theres Cuba, Jews, have lived on the islan d of Cuba for

centuries. Some Cubans trace Jewish ancestry to crypto-Jews

derisively called Marranos-who fled the Spanish Inquisition,

though few of them practice Judaism today. There was significant

Jewish immigration to Cuba in the first half of the 20th century.

There were 15,000 Jews in Cuba in 1959, but many Jews le ft C uba

for the United States after the Cuban revolution. In the early

1990s, Operation Cigar was launched, and in the period of five years, more than 400 Cuban Jews

secre tly immigrated to Israel In February 2007 the New York Times estimated that there are about 1,500

Jews living in Cuba, most of them (about 1,000) living in Havana.

In the Dominican Republic converso Merchants of Sephardic origin arrived in southern Hispanola during

the 16th and 17th centuries, fleeing the outcome of the Spanish Inquisition. Over the centuries, manyJews and their descendants assimilated into the general population and some have converted into the

Catholic religion, although many of the countrys Jews still retain elements of the Sephardic culture of

their ancestors.

Curaao has the oldest active Jewish congregation in the Americas - dating to 1651 - and the oldest

synagogue of the Americas, in continuous use since its completion in 1732 on the site of a previous

synagogue.

Haiti has quite the history, when Christopher Columbus arrived in Haiti, he had an interpreter, Luis de

Torres. Luis was one of the first Jews to settle on Haiti in 1492. When Haiti was conquered by France in

1633, many Dutch Jews came from Brazil, who has arrived in 1634. In 1683, the Jews were expelled

from Haiti, and the other French colonies. But a few remained as leading officials in French trading

companies. In the mid-18th century the Jews that were expelled returned. When the slave revolt

happened, many people of the Jewish community were murdered, and some were expelled. A few years

ater, Polish Jews arrived due to the civil strife in Poland and settled down in Casal, in the region of

Grand-Anse. Most Jews attempted to settle in port cities. In 1881 a crowd in Port-au-Prince attacked a

group of Jews but was drawn back by militia men. It was a few years ago when archaeologists

discovered a synagogue of C rypto-Jews in Jrmie. In Cap-Haitien, Cayes and Jacmel, a few Jewish

tombstones have been uncovered. By the end of the 19th century, Jewish families immigrated from

Lebanon, Syria and Egypt. These Jews brought their Sephardic culture. In 1915, there was a population

of 200 Jews in Haiti. During the 20 years of American occupation, many of the Jews left to the United

States. In 1937, the government issued passports and visas to Jews in Eastern Europe, to escape the

Nazi persecution. During this time, 300 Jews lived on the island. Most of the Jews stayed until the late

1950s. As of 2010, the number of known Jews in Haiti is estimated at 25, residing in the relatively

affluent suburb of Petionville, outside Port au Prince.

The first major Jewish immigration to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago occurred in the late 18th

century. Then a second wave of Portuguese Jews arrived in the late 19th century, with a few also arriving

from C uracao. Nevertheless, many of these Jews assimilated and intermarried with locals. By the

beginning of the 20th century, only 31 practicing Jews remained on the island. Today, the Jewish

community numbers around 25-67 people, depending on who is inquired. Occasionally, communal

services are held for Shabbat and holidays.

Jews were first recorded living in Guadeloupe in the late 14th century, also in 1654, three shiploads of

Jewish refugees from Brazil settled in Guadeloupe. During that time, the Jews were welcomed by theFrench owner of the island. During the latter part of the 20th century, many Jews began to arrive from

North Africa and France. In 1988, the Jewish community consecrated the first synagogue in Guadeloupe,

Or Sameah. Later the congregation added a Talmud Torah, community center, kosher store, and Jewish

cemetery. Today, approximately 50 Jews live in Guadeloupe.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines must have the least amount of Jews if any no demographics report any

Jews in this area, while the US Virgin Islands have a few synagoges.

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Jews in the Caribbean Es su nombre de Origen Sefardita?

Puerto Rico is currently home to the largest Jewish community in the Caribbean, with over 3,000 but the

majority of the current population are descendants of Jews who fled from Cuba (once home to 15,000

Jews) after Fidel Castros C uban Revolution in 1959. Once the conversos had arrived in Puerto Rico,

Judaism was declared illegal, as it was in Castile and A ragon. Keeping the Sabbath could have resulted in

serious persecutions, including and not limited to the relocation of children to be raised by non-Jews.

While Puerto Rico has officially claimed that Jewish life in Puerto Rico began with the European Jewish

mmigration during the 1930s and 1940s, those Puerto Ricans who claim a crypto-Jewish heritage believe

Jews have lived in Puerto Rico since the time of C olumbus.

It just goes to show Jews have lived everywhere and eve rywhere they went persecution followed,

perhaps its time to encourage these Jews to take Aliyah, there is no need to suffer under the burdens of

the Goyim. The Caribbean isnt only filled with Afro-Latino culture but it also has such deep roots in

Judaism and if you take the time to check you y ourself may be surprised of your Judaic roots. Before I

wrap this up I would however like to say a small word about the Jewish Pirates. Yup! I was a little

shocked myself but after learning about the Spanish inquisition it all made sense. Jamaica has a rich

history in pirates, these Jews were said to have outdone the merchants of Port Royal to the point where

they were accused of bad business practices.

Although many pirates disguised their Judaism, many Jews did not disguise their piracy. In many Jewish

graveyards in the C aribbean, graves are decorated with skull-and-crossbones engravings. Yaakov

Mashiach, for example, buried in Barbados, left no mention of his history other than a testament to his

audacious marine activities. His grave, as well as his wifes, bears a skull, crossbones, and an hourglass.

Kritzlers research proves that there were many more Jewish pirates than was previously believed.

However, he told the Los Angeles-based Jewish Journal, determining the exact number of Jewish pirates

s difficult because many of them traveled as Conversos (converts to Christianity) and practiced their

Judaism in secret.

Today, approximately 200 Jews reside in Jamaica, predominately in Kingston. Only one synagogue

remains, the Shaare Shalom Synagogue in Kingston. Nevertheless, there are remains of the old

synagogues on the island. The floor is covered in sand, a tradition from the Inquisition period of

the late 15th century (see Picture here). This tradition began when Marranos would cover the floorwith sand during prayer services to conceal the noise.

Like What You've Read? Help expand our great Messianic Jewish content for the whole world to use.Please donate and learn more about tzedakah and tithing (maaser), and learn to give and be blessed.

Filed Under: Caribbean, Jewish Roots, Jewish Studies

Tags: 17th centuries, catholic religion, converso, crypto jews, cuban jews, cuban revolution, island of

cuba, Jewish Ancestry,jewish immigration,jewish presence , kosher deli, living in cuba, marranos, new

york times, rohrmoser, sephardic culture, shopping centre, some cubans, spanish inquisition, world war

one

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