The Virtual Jewish History TourJamaica By Ariel Scheib
In 1494, a Marrano named Luis de Torres arrived on the island of Jamaica as the interpreter of Christopher Columbus. Jamaica was a Spanish colony from the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1494 until the British conquest in 1655. Numerous Portuguese Jews first settled in Jamaica during the Spanish colonization. In 1530, the first ship load of Portuguese-Spanish Jews entered Jamaica. They settled in Spanish Town (formerly St. Jago de la Vega), the only operating town at that time. Many of the Jews that arrived were Conversos, fleeing Europe to openly practice Judaism.
After the British gained control of the island, Jews were permitted to worship in public. In 1660, Jews were granted citizenship by King Charles. Shortly thereafter, in 1662, Jews arrived from Brazil, England (1663), British Guiana (1664), and Surinam (1673). Jewish communities began establishing synagogues, schools, Jewish markets and shops. Most of these immigrants were Sephardim. During the 17th century one of the greatest Sephardic poets of the period, David Lopez Laguna (1635-1730), lived in Jamaica. Laguna is most recognized for converting biblical Psalms into poems. His book of poems, Espejo Fiel de Vidas (“The True Mirror of Life”), was the first book published in Jamaica under British rule in 1720.
In 1671, the citizens of Jamaica petitioned the British officials to expel the Jewish community from the island, but Governor Lynch opposed this request and it was not enacted. In 1693, however, a special tax was imposed on the Jews. By 1700, Jews were considered second-class citizens because of their religion. In 1703, Jews were forbidden from using Christian servants. Finally, in 1783, Jews were prohibited from holding public office, they were required to work on the Sabbath, and again had to pay extra taxes.
Despite all of these restrictions, the Jewish community continued to grow and prosper. During the 17th and 18th centuries, Jews were very involved in sugar and vanilla industries of the island. As early as 1530, the Jews had introduced sugar cultivation to the island. They were also leaders in the island’s international trade and shipping companies.
Jews Gain Full Rights
For many years, the Jewish community demanded emancipation and full political rights. On December 19, 1831, the Privy Council in England granted the Jewish community official recognition and equality on the island. Jews were then permitted to vote in the elections and, by 1849, eight of the 47 members of House of Assembly were Jewish, including the Speaker of the House. Jews became so prominent in society that in 1849, the House of Assembly did not gather on Yom Kippur. By 1881, the Jewish population reached 2,535.
Synagogues were erected in Kingston, Port Royal, Spanish Town and Montego Bay. Two synagogues were built in Spanish Town, the Sephardi K.K. Neveh Shalom (Habitation of Peace) consecrated in 1704, and the Ashkenazi K.K. Mikveh Yisrael (Hope of Israel) erected in 1796. In 1844, the two congregations merged due to the exodus of Jews from Spanish Town to Kingston. The first Haham, or spiritual leader, of Spanish Town Jewry was Josiahu Pardo, who arrived from Amsterdam in 1683. The synagogue in Montego Bay was built in 1840, but destroyed by a hurricane in 1912. The Kingston congregation is believed to have begun after the earthquake of 1692, but the old Portuguese synagogue in Kingston, Shaar Hashamayim, was not completed until 1744. The Kingston Ashkenazi synagogue was completed in 1787. Both were destroyed in the Great Kingston Fire of 1882.
During the 18th and early 19th century, Jews emigrated from Curacao and Germany. After that influx, immigration subsided, but rose again in the late 19th century with the arrival of Jews from Egypt and Syria. By the early 20th century, the economic prosperity witnessed during the 19th century began to decline; consequently, many Jews immigrated to the United States and England.
The Shaar Hashamayim Synagogue in Kingston was destroyed by a fire in 1882. Over the next several decades, many Jews began to intermarry and assimilate, causing the Ashkenazi and Sephardic synagogues to attempt to merge, but they were unsuccessful. In 1885, Shaare Shalom was built by the United Congregation of Israelites. The original Shaare Shalom was ruined by an earthquake in 1907 along with the Neveh Shalom synagogue in Spanish Town. In 1911, the community of Kingston reconstructed the Shaare Shalom building. In 1921, the Ashkenazim finally agreed to amalgamate with the Shaare Shalom congregation.
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 Shaare Shalom synagogue can accommodate 600 congregants. The community is led by Ernest de Souza, who is the spiritual leader, although not an ordained rabbi. The ark contains 13 Torah scrolls, many of which have been preserved from past synagogues on the island. The floor is covered in sand, a tradition from the Inquisition period of the late 15th century. This tradition began when Marranos would cover the floor with sand during prayer services to conceal the noise. The services use to be Orthodox, but are now a combination of Liberal-Conservatist and conducted in English. During every service the congregation recites the Portuguese prayer, “for our brethren who are imprisoned by the Inquisition.”
Various Jewish communal organizations are active, including WIZO, B’nai B’rith, a home for the elderly, and a school (the Hillel Academy). Twenty one Jewish cemeteries are scattered across Jamaica. The oldest Jewish cemetery, Hunts Bay Cemetery, is located in Spanish Town. In the late 1990s, the Neveh Shalom Institute was founded to protect and purchase old Jewish remains from Colonial Jamaica.
Since Jamaica’s independence in 1962, Israel and Jamaica have maintained full diplomatic relations. The Israeli ambassador in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic represents the government of Israel’s interests in Jamaica.
Contacts
United Congregation of Israelites
Shaare Shalom Synagogue Duke & Charles Street P.O. Box 540, Kingston 6 Tel. 1-809-927-7948 Fax: 1-809-978-6240
Neveh Shalom Institute
58 Paddington Terrace, Kingston 6 Jamaica W.1 Tel. 1-876-928-9777 Fax: 1-876-927-4369 Sources: World Jewish Congress“Jamaica.” Encyclopaedia Judaica - CD ROM Edition Judaica Multimedia (Israel) Ltd. Zaidner, Michael. Jewish Travel Guide 2000. Intl Specialized Book Service, 2000. “Hamilton leader maintains Jewish roots in Jamaica” by Moura Wolpert International Jewish Cemetery Project-Jamaica “History of the Jews of the Caribbean” by Ralph G. Bennett “Kahal Kadosh Neveh Shalom: Holy Congregation Dwelling Place of Peace” “The Jews in Jamaica” by Dr. Rebecca Tortello Map: CIA. |  |
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