Jewish Communities in Caribbean May Be Lost Unless Aided by U.S. Jews

Roots of the 300-year old existence of the Jewish community in the Caribbean may be completely lost unless restored by American Jews and their institutions. Rabbi Dr. Malcolm Stern, a historian and genealogist, told the 69th annual meeting of the American Jewish Historical Society this weekend that synagogues, cemeteries, monuments and other markings of early Jewish life in this part of the world are “rapidly disappearing.” He said, “only the enthusiastic interest of American Jews in finding and restoring these lost Caribbean communities can bring about their survival or revival.” Rabbi Stern, Curator of the Jewish Historical Society, observed that discoveries of ancient Jewish sites were being made by Jewish families vacationing in the islands or purchasing homes in the area. He called for a study by the Historical Society to determine the funds needed for immediate and long-range restoration. Rabbi Stern told the meeting about one such restoration which took place recently, when Mr. and Mrs. Robert Abrahams of Philadelphia purchased an old plantation on the Leeward Island of Nevis as a vacation home.

In the island’s capital city of Charlestown, the couple discovered the remains of a 300-year old Jewish cemetery with gravestones engraved in Portuguese, Hebrew and English, and the ruins of a synagogue. According to Dr. Stern, Alexander Hamilton received his elementary education at this synagogue since his illegitimate birth prevented his attendance at the Anglican school. At a cost of $4,000 to the Philadelphia family, the cemetery has been restored and this February was rededicated by Rabbi Stern. Rabbi Stern indicated that within the last century Jews have mainly considered the Caribbean a “temporary stop-over.” He said “those that remained were mostly without communal or rabbinic leadership and either assimilated or moved elsewhere.” He told the Historical Society members, “We must not only perpetuate Jewish life in the western hemisphere, but make certain that our part in the development of this continent is not lost for future generations.”