Nidhe Israel Synagogue

Nidhe Israel Synagogue בית הכנסת נדחי ישראל
Street view of synagogue exterior
Basic information
Location	Synagogue Lane Bridgetown, Barbados
Affiliation	Conservative Judaism
Rite	Sephardic
District	St. Michael
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Active

The Nidḥe Israel Synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת נדחי ישראל‎ Bet Knesset Nide Yisrael, lit. Synagogue of the Scattered of Israel) is currently the only synagogue situated in Bridgetown, Barbados. It also holds the distinction of being one of the oldest synagogues in the western hemisphere and a Barbados National Trust property.

History

Built in 1654, it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1831, was rebuilt, fell into disrepair until it was sold in 1929.

Haim Isaac Carigal was in Barbados, perhaps acting as rabbi of the congregation, at the time of his death in 1777.

About 300 Jewish people of Recife, Brazil, persecuted by the Portuguese, settled in Barbados in the 1660s. Skilled in the sugar industry, they quickly introduced the sugarcane crop and passed on their skills in cultivation and production to the Barbados land owners.

With their help, Barbados went on to become one of the world's major sugar producers and one of the richest European territories in the West Indies.

Present day

From the time that the synagogue was deconsecrated in 1929, it underwent numerous changes. The women's gallery that looked down on the altar was converted into a full second floor. Arches around the windows and the original floor was replaced. The building changed ownership many times as well and the Jewish cemetery outside became a dumping site.

In 1983, the building was seized by the Barbados Government, which intended to raze the building and erect a courthouse. Two years later, it turned the building over to the Barbados National Trust, in thanks to petitioning by the local Jewish community. In 1986, the renovation process began led by Paul Altman. The building was returned to use as a synagogue when the renovation was complete, though it is still owned by the National Trust.

In 2008, an American architect, Michael Stoner, was trying to uncover a former rabbi's house on the premises. As he was digging, two Israeli tourists happened by and uttered the word mikvah. After excavating for three weeks, Stoner discovered a 17th century Jewish ritual bath.^[1]

The Nidhe Israel Museum was also opened in 2008. [1]

See also

• Barbadian Jews
• Dutch Brazil
• History of the Jews in Latin America

Footnotes

1. ^ Borns, Patricia (2008-06-01). "Saving traces of the Jewish diaspora in Barbados". The Boston Globe. http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2008/06/01/saving_traces_of_the_jewish_diaspora_in_barbados/. Retrieved 2008-06-20. 

References

• Sharkey, Nancy (1988-12-11). "A Barbados Synagogue is Reborn". The New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=travel&res=940DE3DF1E31F932A25751C1A96E948260. Retrieved 2008-06-20. 
• Harrison, Donald H. (2001-04-06). "Who were the 'Bearded Ones?'". San Diego Jewish Press. http://www.jewishsightseeing.com/barbados/bridgetown/sd4-6barbados_synagogue.htm. Retrieved 2008-06-20. 
• Kramer, Lauren (2006-11-12). "Jewish island spirit". The Jerusalem Post. http://fr.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=1&cid=1162378360038&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull. Retrieved 2008-06-20. 

External links

• Barbados World Heritage Sites > CULTURAL ZONE > Jewish Synagogue, The Ministry of Community Development & Culture, Barbados.
• Archaeologist in Mikvah Excavation, The Jewish Synagogue, The Ministry of Community Development & Culture, Barbados.
• Video of the grounds of the Jewish Synagogue /w interviews.