A year long celebration to mark the 250th anniversary of the continuous use of the synagogue building of Congregation Mikve Israel-Emanuel began here on Passover, April 19 and will culminate in March 1982, it was reported by L. Capriles, chairman of the 250th anniversary celebration committee, and J.S. Taytelbaum, president of the Congregation. The Jewish community here was established 330 years ago. Both the synagogue and the congregation are the oldest in the Western Hemisphere.
The first stone for the present building was laid in 1730. Two years later, on the first day of Passover (15 Nisan, 5492) the synagogue building was officially consecrated. It was the fourth synagogue building to be used by Congregation Mikva Israel-Emanuel.
In 1982 celebrations will highlight many local and international events. The issuance of a special series of postal stamps by the Netherlands Antilles Postal Authority and of a gold coin by the Central Bank are being planned. A symposium will be held March 21, 1982 featuring internationally recognized scholars on Western Sephardim. In addition, the World Union for Progressive Judaism will hold its governing council conference here,” thus adding further international recognition to this important celebration for Jews throughout the world, Capriles and Taytelbaum said.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
