The Jewish Community of Jamaica

Jamaica

A Caribbean island nation.

Though some estimate that thousands of Jamaicans have some Jewish heritage, there are few Jews remaining in Jamaica as of the 21st century. Estimated Jewish population in 2018: 200 out of 2,900,000. 

Shaare Shalom, which was originally built in 1885 and rebuilt in 1912, is Jamaica's only remaining synagogue and is located in the country's capital of Kingston. According to legend the synagogue's sand floor, common among Caribbean synagogues, was originally for the purpose of muffling the noise of the gathering crypto-Jews, who were practicing their religion in secret. The congregation uses a unique siddur designed by Rabbi Henry Silverman in 1935 that blends their Spanish-Portuguese heritage with practices from the British Reform, British Liberal, and American Reform movements.

The Hillel Academy is a private elementary and high school. Though it was originally founded by the Jewish community, it is a non-denominational and independent school. The school also serves as the meeting place for the community's children for weekly classes about Judaism.

There are approximately 21 known Jewish cemeteries throughout Jamaica. The oldest cemetery is located in Hunt's Bay and dates back to 1672. Among the travel packages offered through the tourism board to those visiting Jamaica is the Falmouth Jewish Heritage Walks. The tour includes a visit to Falmouth's 200 year old Jewish cemetery, and visitors can view buildings that once housed Jewish merchants.

United Congregation of Israelites – Shaare Shalom Synagogue
Phne: 809 927 7948
Fax: 809 978 6240
Website: http://www.ucija.org/

HISTORY

Jews first arrived in Jamaica during the Spanish occupation (1494-1655), fleeing the inquisition in Spain and Portugal. On their arrival they continued to practice their religion secretly and referred to themselves as "Portuguese" or "Spanish." When the British conquered the island in 1655 they allowed the Jews to remain. They were also allowed to openly practice their religion. Oliver Cromwell granted the Jews of Jamaica British citizenship, which King Charles confirmed in 1660.

During the 17th century Jews arrived in Jamaica from a number of different areas. In 1662 many Jews came to Jamaica from Brazil. In 1663 they were arriving mainly from England, in 1664 from British Guiana and in 1673 from Surinam. From the mid-17th century until the earthquake of June 7, 1692, most Jews lived in Port Royal. Though there is no mention of a synagogue, it is possible that one existed and was destroyed in the earthquake. Bryan Edwards, in his "History Civil and Commercial, of the British Colonies on the West Indies" (3 volumes, London, 1793-1801), wrote that "the Jews enjoyed almost every privilege possessed by the Christian whites." Edwards concluded: "They have the liberty of purchasing and holding lands as freely as other people and they are likewise allowed the public exercise of their religion; and I have not heard that Jamaica has any reason to repent of her liberality towards them."

After the earthquake of 1692, a tidal wave completely destroyed the city of Port Royal. As a result, Spanish Town became the island's capital and the Jews who once lived in Port Royal moved to the new capital, as well as to the newly-built Kingston, Montego Bay, as well as to other areas. Two synagogues were built in Spanish town: the Sephardic Neveh Shalom, established in 1704, and the Ashkenazi Mikveh Yisrael, established in 1796. Later these two congregations would merge when Jews began leaving Spanish Town for Kingston. In 1744 the synagogue Sha'ar HaShamayim was built in Kingston, followed in 1787 by the English-German synagogue Shaare Yosher. Both buildings were destroyed by a fire in 1882, and the synagogues that replaced them were destroyed in the earthquake of 1907.

The island's capital was moved from Spanish Town to Kingston in 1872, and the city's Jewish community began to grow. Kingston had separate Ashkenazi and Sephardi communities, which would eventually merge and be known as the United Congregation of Israelites. The United Congregation of Israelites built the Shaare Shalom synagogue in 1885, but it was destroyed by an earthquake; Shaare Shalom was rebuilt by the Henriques brothers in 1912. The rebuilt synagogue has continued to function as a synagogue through the 21st century eventually becoming the only active synagogue in Jamaica. The Ashkenazi community merged with Shaare Shalom in 1921.

Jews were granted full civil rights, including the right to vote, on July 13, 1831. By 1849 a sixth of the members of the House of Assembly were Jews, including the Speaker of the House, prompting the House to adjourn for Yom Kippur. In 1866 thirteen of the 47 House of Assembly members were Jewish.

During the 18th and early 19th centuries Jews came to Jamaica from Curacao and Germany. The influx appears to have ceased, or at least to have diminished considerably, until a new wave of immigration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries from Syria and Egypt, among other countries.

Most Jews began leaving Jamaica beginning in 1962 when Jamaica achieved independence, and during the political unrest of the 1970s.

A Hillel School was founded in 1969 by the United Congregation of Israelites in Kingston. In 1997 the Neveh Shalom Institute was established in order to preserve the Jewish sites remaining on the island, and in 2006 the Jamaican Jewish Heritage Center was opened, in celebration of the 350th anniversary of Jewish life in Jamaica.

In 1700 there were 400 Jews living in Jamaica. In 1881 there were 2,535 Jews living on the island. During the mid-20th century in 1957 there were 1,600 Jews living in Jamaica, in 1969 there were approximately 600 Jews, and in 1997 there were 300 Jews in Jamaica out of a total population of 2,429,000. In 2004 there were approximately 280 Jews living in Jamaica.