History of the Jews in Sint Maarten

The history of the Jews in Sint Maarten started before 1735, when two Jewish families already lived in Sint Maarten, most likely descendants of refugees that fled the Spanish Inquisition.[1][2] A Jewish congregation existed by the 1780s. This community operated a synagogue that was located in Philipsburg, between Front Street and Back Street.[3] After Hurricane San Mateo hit Sint Maarten on September 21, 1819, the synagogue was destroyed and the island's Jewish community dwindled[3] (although the process probably started around 1800). Remnants of the synagogue can still be found behind what is now the Guavaberry Emperium on Front Street. Whether a Jewish cemetery existed in Philipsburg is debated.[1][3][4] In the early 1850s, only 3 Jews lived in Sint Maarten.[5] This was only 0.1% of the total population (the majority of the population, 56.8%, were slaves).[5] Eventually, all Jews left the island.

Jews resettled on the island beginning in 1964.[4] With the steady growth of the Jewish population and tourism on the island, initially, rabbis would visit for the holidays or for special occasions. Beginning in 2009, there has been a permanent rabbi on the island.[6] The temporary synagogue was replaced by a new synagogue off Billy Folly Road in Simpson Bay. A daily minyan operates in the building, interrupted by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Sint Maarten. The number of Jews who permanently live on Sint Maarten has been estimated to number 200.[7] The community provides services to Jews who live on Sint Maarten as well as Jews who visit it, the Collectivity of Saint Martin, and Anguilla. The Chabad branch also provides services to students and staff at the American University of the Caribbean on Sint Maarten. The neighboring island of Saint Barthélemy has had its own Chabad presence since 2015.

References

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  1. ^ a b Bremmer, Marius (November 10, 2006). "David droomt van sjoel en rustplaats". Trouw. Amsterdam: DPG Media. Retrieved April 29, 2020. In 1735 vestigt zich de eerste Sefardische Jood op Sint Maarten: Jacob Gomes, een man met vier slaven. In de 18de eeuw – voornamelijk vanwege wapenhandel rond de Amerikaanse Vrijheidsoorlog – stijgt het aantal Joden, daarna vertrekken de meesten weer. De Robles: 'Downtown staat nog de ruïne van hun kleine synagoge, gebouwd van heuse Hollandse ijsselsteen. Tijdens bouwwerkzaamheden in de jaren zeventig van de vorige eeuw vond men grafresten bij een steeg, die in de volksmond "Jewish Cemetary [sic] Alley" heette, de joodse begrafenisstraat. De beenderen die ze er vonden, gaven ze met de vuilnisman mee.'
  2. ^ Johnson, Will (June 29, 2016). "The Jews in the Dutch West Indies". The Saba Islander. Retrieved April 29, 2020. In 1735 a Jacob Gomes lived there with his four slaves; besides him the widow Silva with her son and daughter. Already in 1783 there was an organized Jewish community, considering that their Parnassim in that year requested legalization from the West India Company. A synagogue was built on the 'East end of the Back Street on the South Side.' M.D. Teenstra [visited] around 1828 the ruins of the building. The Jewish population declined since the end of the 18th century.
  3. ^ a b c Weiss, Steven; Weiss, Beth (January 3, 2019). "Jewish History of St Maarten". Jerusalem: Shavei Israel. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Conn, Stephen (25 February 1990). "St. Martin's Jewish community, in search of a rabbi". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 1, 2020. Tourists and residents alike know of yet another myth, namely the Jewish cemetery where Jews from an earlier era supposedly lie at rest. Those who claim that such a cemetery exists say that Joodsche Kerkhof Straat in Philipsburg was named for the burial ground. Yet no one knows exactly where the street is. [...] When Julio Meit came to St. Martin from Curacao on Jan. 1, 1964, with his wife, Ruth, and son, Moshe, the Meits became the first Jewish family to live in St. Martin in 200 [sic] years.
  5. ^ a b Groen, J.A. (1854). Handleiding bij de Christelijke Zendingskaart [Guide to the Christian Mission Map] (in Dutch). Vol. 1. Leiden: J.H. Zitman. p. 337. In het Nederl. gedeelte van dit eiland worden 1235 vrijen en 1626 slaven aangetroffen, onder welke zich 125 R. Kathol., 1095 vrije Protest. en 3 Joden bevinden. [In the Dutch part of this island 1235 freedmen and 1626 slaves can be found, among whom 125 are Roman Catholics, 1095 free Protestants and 3 Jews.]
  6. ^ Fridman, S. (August 17, 2009). "First Chabad House Opens in St. Martin/St. Maarten; Chabad Couple Leaves For St. Martin Today". Chabad Lubavitch Headquarters. New York City. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  7. ^ Huriash, Lisa (March 11, 2013). "Broward team helps crack Jewish mystery in St. Maarten". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
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