Beracha Veshalom Vegmiluth Hasidim

Beracha Veshalom Vegmiluth Hasadim is a synagogue in St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands, founded in 1796. The name means "Blessing, Peace, and Loving Deeds".

It is built as a Sephardic style synagogue. There is one interesting part of this synagogue and that is on the floor there is sand that symbolizes the Israelite exodus from Egypt. In 2001 it underwent a massive restoration project. Everything in the historic St. Thomas Synagogue building is original, dating back to 1833. The benches, the Ark and the bima are all made from mahogany wood that used to flourish on the islands. The big chair to the left of the Ark, known as Elijah's chair, is for the circumcision ceremony. It was carried from house to house when the joyous event was called for. The Menorah behind the bima is of Spanish origin and dates back to the 11th century.

External links

* [http://www.onepaper.com/synagogue/?v=d&i=&s=St.+Thomas+Synagogue:Our+Synagogue&p=%28null% Synagogue website]