Home

About

Our Menu

Espaol

Donate

Contact us

Categories

Search:
20 June 2011 | 18 Sivan 5771 Beth HaDerech Local Time 07:07 PM

Like

Share

22

Share

This Website is Powered by HaShem

Home Jewish Roots C aribbean Jews in the Caribbean Part II

Jews in the Caribbean Part II

As we continue our journey in the C aribbean 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 C aribbean 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 Jose suburb 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 C uba, Jews, have lived on the island of C uba for centuries. Some C ubans 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 C uba in the first half of the 20th century. There were 15,000 Jews in C uba in 1959, but many Jews left C uba for the United States after the C uban revolution. In the early 1990s, Operation C igar was launched, and in the period of five years, more than 400 C uban Jews secretly immigrated to Israel In February 2007 the New York Times estimated that there are about 1,500 Jews living in C uba, 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, many Jews and their descendants assimilated into the general population and some have converted into the C atholic religion, although many of the countrys Jews still retain elements of the Sephardic culture of their ancestors. C uraao 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 C hristopher C olumbus 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 later, Polish Jews arrived due to the civil strife in Poland and settled down in C asal, 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 C ap-Haitien, C ayes 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 the French 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.

Join our Messianic Jewish Weekly Newsletter. Please enter your name and email address below to subscribe to our mailing list. Lista en Espaol Your name Your email

Posting

Comments

Tags

Dressing for the King A Cut Above / Brit Milah Prophet Daniel and Mashiach The Correct Behavior Messianic Jew ish Emuna: Meat and Milk Emuna (fe), Bitajon (confianza) HaShem's 7,000 year redemptive plan Mosh, Yehosha Bin Nun, Maran Melej HaMashiaj Prostitutes and Princes

FOLLOW US ON TWITTER Beth Haderech said: "From Israelnn.com " NATO: Stray Bomb May Have Killed Libyan Civilians: NATO "regrets the ... http://tinyurl.com/3rzzktb " Yala Mashiach!" about an hour ago

converted by Web2PDFConvert.com

Puerto Rico is currently home to the largest Jewish community in the C aribbean, with over 3,000 but the majority of the current population are descendants of Jews who fled from C uba (once home to 15,000 Jews) after Fidel C astros C uban Revolution in 1959. Once the conversos had arrived in Puerto Rico, Judaism was declared illegal, as it was in C astile and Aragon. 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 immigration 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 everywhere 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 C aribbean 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 yourself 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 is difficult because many of them traveled as C onversos (converts to C hristianity) and practiced their Judaism in secret.

Beth Haderech said: "From Israelnn.com " Jonathan Pollard Denied Attendance at Father's Graveside: Prof. Morri... http://tinyurl.com/3u9bdm6 " Yala Mashiach!" about an hour ago Beth Haderech said: "Mashiach now: Dressing for the King http://tinyurl.com/3zbn5mc Yala Mashiach! [Like it? http://goo.gl/tXW2O ]" about 3
hours ago

JEWISH CATEGORIES
Anusim (52) Bat Torah (34) C astellano (171) HaDerech (10) Hebrew (1) How to Videos (7) Judaismo Mesianico (84) Mashiach (145) Mashiaj (67) Messianic Judaism (65) News (101) Newsletter (22) non-jews (6) Tor en Espaol (77) Torah (365) Torah Video (139) Video of the Week (24) Zionism (40)

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 floor with sand during prayer services to conceal the noise.

Islam (29) Israel (76) Jewish Prayer (42) Jewish Roots (206) Jewish Studies (171) Jokes (12)

ARTICULOS EN ESPAOL
Mosh, Yehosha Bin Nun, Maran Melej HaMashiaj El hogar consagrado, el hogar Judo Los Judos Espaoles (Sefarditas) La fiesta de Shavuot (Videos) La Palabra Kadosh Sabado o Domigo? El Descanso Biblico Yom Yerushalayim Dia de Jerusaln Qu significa en realidad YAHshua en Espaol?

BO O KMARK

PRINT THIS PO ST

EMAIL THIS PO ST

W RITE TO US

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.

Jews in the Caribbean

Es su nom bre de O rigen Sefardita?

Filed Under: C aribbean, 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 Tiny Url for this post: http://tinyurl.com/23js8xp Share this on Twitter More Related Articles: A C ut Above / Brit Milah Prophet Daniel and Mashiach Messianic Jewish Emuna: Meat and Milk Empowered Experience: Laying Tefillin

converted by Web2PDFConvert.com

 His Yeshuah! (Salvation) C onversing with HaShem - Hitbodedut How to put on Tefillin - Phylacteries (Video) The Luach - Jewish calendar

Comments
There are no comments posted yet. Be the first one!

Login

Buzz It

Post a new comment

Enter text right here!

Comment as a Guest, or login: Name

Displayed next to your comments.

Email
Not displayed publicly.

Website (optional)
If you have a website, link to it here.

Subscribe to None

Submit Comment

PAGES About Beth HaDerech Bet HaDerej Internacional C ontact us / C ontacto Donate / Donaciones Jewish C alendar Visit us

MESSIANIC LINKS Bet HaDerej Mexico HaDerej Venezuela Mesianicos Ecuador Mesianicos C olombia Directorio Mesianico Sukkat David - Israel Messiah C omes

SPECIAL LINKS Israel Hands of Mercy Faith Based Trips to Israel Sephardi Publications (Sephardi Tree) Sephardim Hope Human & Social Development C ommunity Outreach Programs Tortilleria La Mexicana

SPECIAL ISRAELI LINKS Israel National News The Temple Institute Kumah - Aliyah Revolution Re-established Sanhedrin Daily Tehillim C ity of David - Jerusalem

C opyright 2008 Beth HaDerech; Messianic Jewish C ongregation, Toronto, C anada. Designed by Directorio Judo Mesinico | Beth HaDerech of Toronto: Bringing the Besorah HaTova / HaGeula (Good News of Mashiach and Redemption) at the hand of the Messiah, the anointed one, the Redeemer of Israel and the world! We offer information about the coming / return of the Holy Jewish Messiah! Donate Online / C ontact us / ! / Bienvenidos a Sinagoga Juda Mesinica Tor Observante Bet HaDerej, C asa del C amino; Toronto, C anada. Nuestro propsito es aprender mas de la esperanza de Israel, el Mesas, / Maran Rabeinu Yesha Melej HaMashiaj. C ontactenos / Visite Bet HaDerech / Articulos en Espaol / Judos Mesinicos unidos en la Tor de Maran Rabeinu Yesha Melej HaMashiaj! | Messianic Jews, united in the Torah of Maran Rabeinu Yeshua Melech HaMashiach! | !| . ":' Messianic Judaism: Learning the Jewish Roots of the Faith. Learn about the Hebraic Roots of your Faith. Volviendo a las Raices Judias. Races Hebreas de la Fe. | C all us 647-800-4443 |

converted by Web2PDFConvert.com