Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Curaçao, N.A.

The Curaçao Jewish Community Today

For close to three centuries, the Sephardic Jews (i.e. Jews of Spanish–Portuguese origin) of Congregations Mikvé Israel and Emanu-El were the only Jews on Curaçao. For over 200 years, they were united in one congregation, Mikvé Israel. Then, in 1864, there was a rift and Sephardic Jewish Reform Congregation Emanu-El was founded, constructing their own building on the Wilhelminaplein, just a couple of blocks from their “mother” synagogue. In 1964, after exactly 100 years of separation, the two Sephardic congregations reunited, creating United Netherlands Portuguese Congregation Mikvé Israel-Emanuel, which follows the Reconstructionist philosophy.

Since the 1920’s, there has been an influx of Ashkenazi (Central and East European) Orthodox Jews on Curaçao. In 1933, they founded “Club Union”, their social center. In 1959 they consecrated a synagogue building, “Shaarei Tzedek’, next door. Both the club and the Synagogue, first located in a compound in the old Jewish residential area of Scharloo, are today situated at Lelieweg # 1a in Mahaai, a suburb of Willemstad.

[Scharloo is well worth a visit as, along Scharlooweg- the main street of this small area just a few minutes drive from the old Synagogue- one can see the ornate mansions in which many of the old Curaçao Jewish and (white) Protestant families lived in former generations.]

Some 450 people now belong to the two Curaçao Jewish congregations; 75% of them are members of Mikvé Israel and the remaining of Shaarei Tsedek. Regular Shabbat and Festival services are held in both synagogues. Both congregations have an expanding program of religious education for children and adults. There is a B’nai B’rith Lodge, a local chapter of W.I.Z.O. and a B’nai B’rith Youth Organization for the teenagers. Today, as they have for more than three and a half centuries, members of the Curaçao Jewish community continue to play a vital part in Curaçao’s economic, commercial, cultural and social life.

The visitor should make an effort to visit both of the historic cemeteries of Congregation Mikvé Israel-Emanuel. Historic “Beit Haim (“House of Life”, a traditional euphemism for cemetery) Blenheim” was consecrated in 1659. This historic cemetery located some twenty minutes from Willemstad, contains hundreds of fascinating monuments with unique examples of Jewish sepulchral art and interesting inscriptions in Portuguese, Spanish, Hebrew and other languages. Approximately one hundred (of the 2,500, 17^th and 18^th century] still visible grave markers, are recognizable/readable today. Originally laid out in open country near the first agricultural settlements belonging to the original Sephardic settlers, the cemetery is unfortunately surrounded today by a tremendous oil refinery and its stones are perpetually subjected to the deteriorating and corrosive influence of this refinery's fumes. The last burials held in this cemetery were in the 1950s.

The newer, “modern” cemetery located on Berg Altena, is much closer to Willemstad. Originally much smaller than it is today, Reform Congregation Emanu-el purchased and consecrated “Beit Haim Berg Altena”, for its own use after the rift in 1864. Some twenty years later, Orthodox Congregation Mikvé Israel purchased a large piece of land adjacent to the cemetery and started burying there (as well) in 1888. It should be here noted that the boundary walls physically separating the Mikvé Israel and Emanu-El cemeteries, were demolished as the first act of the “de jure” merger of the two Sephardic congregations in 1964.

Congregation Shaarei Tsedek- after its founding- buried its dead in Beit Haim Blenheim. When Blenheim was no longer available for burials, they continued their burials in the northeast corner of the Mikvé Israel’s cemetery on Berg Altena.

Mention should also be made of the Curaçao Community Hebrew School which is housed in quarters in the newer residential area of Curaçao. Classes are conducted here four times a week in the afternoons. The premises are also, among others, used by Mikvé Israel-Emanuel for its adult (education) classes and meetings. The BBYO has its own Club House (in a separate building) on the premises and various other activities are organized there.

This, briefly, is the story of the historic synagogue and the Curaçao Jewish Community today. Anyone who wishes to study the history of Curaçao Jewry in greater detail, should consult the two excellent, scholarly works by Rabbi Dr. Isaac and Suzanne Emmanuel. Rabbi Emmanuel was a former Rabbi of Congregation Mikvé Israel. The first of these, Precious Stones of the Jews of Curaçao, was published in 1957. A History of the Jews of the Netherlands Antilles, the second- and even larger work in two volumes- was published in 1970. Both of these monumental works are out of print and are no longer available for purchase. They can, however be consulted in most of the major libraries of the world.

To all our friends from near and far who want to visit our island, we wish you a warm welcome. We hope that you will enjoy your visit to Curaçao, home of the oldest active Jewish community and the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Americas.” To those of you who visit our Synagogue (and we know you will), we extend the traditional blessing– as inscribed over the courtyard portals: “Blessed may you be in your coming, and blessed may you be in your going.” - Deut. 28:6.

Let them give glory unto the Lord.

and declare his praise in the islands.

-ísaíah 42:12

Aerial photograph of Willemstad 1982 showing the fortress (Fort Amsterdam) and the city walls of Willemstad 1732

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