Friday, March 20, 1964 — THE DETROIT JEWISH NEW S 40
2zilLntai, Jamaican Jewry, Test of Survival
(Continued from Page 2)
in Jamaica: it was further increased by considerable
accessions from Surinam upon the British withdrawal
from that district in 1675, and by direct migration from
England, beginning in 1663, and later from Curacao and
Germany. In 1700 the Jews bore the bulk of the taxes
of the island. through the avowed Jewish population at
that time is figured as only 80. No fewer than 151 of the
189 Jews in the American colonies whose names have
been handed down as naturalized under the Act of
Parliament of 1740 between that year and 1755, resided in
Jamaica. The vanilla and sugar industries of Jamaica, and
in fact almost the entire foreign and intercolonial trade
of the colony during the first half of the 18th century,
were principally in the hands of the Jews, and Jamaica
was a far more important commercial center in that
century than it since has been. Among the leading
Jewish families that contributed most signally to the
development of Jamaica's trade are the following: Da
Silva, Soarez, Cardoza, Belisario, Belifante, Nunez, Fonseca,
Gutterecet, DeCordova, Bernal. Gomez. Vaz and Bravo.
Efforts were early made to establish the special taxes .
which were imposed on Jews in the colony, which efforts,
with the assistance of the crown, finally succeeded.
Attempts, inspired by local mercantile jealousy, made
during the reign of "William Ill, to expel! the Jews from
the island, also met with a vigorous royal check. In fact,
Jamaica led the way for all the present British posses-
sions in the direction of abolishing Jewish disabilities;
this had been accomplished as early as 1831, with the
result that in 1838 it was possible for Sir F. H. Goldsmid
to compile a long and remarkable list of Jews appointed
to civil and military offices in Jamaica since the Act of
1831, which list was used by him as a potent argument in
favor of Jewish emancipation - at home. The first Jew
chosen as a member of the Jamaican Assembly was
Alexander Bravo, for the district of Kingston, in 1835;
a year or two later he became a member of the 'council
of the island; afterward, receiver-general. In 1849 eight of
the 47 members of the colonial assembly were Jews; and
the legislature adjourned over Yom Kippur by a decisive
vote, the Jews not voting. Dr. C. M. Morales was elected
speaker of the House of Assembly in 1849. Numerous
other positions of importance, civil, judicial and military,
have been held by the Jews since 1831.
In 1700 Jews are referred to as having made at least
After the disastrous conflagration in Kingston in.1882,
an effort was made to unite all three of its synagogues,
especially as the decrease of the Jewish population of
Jamaica and its diminished commercial importance had
made it desirable to concentrate religious energies. Dif-
ferences as to ritual, however, induced a number of the
members of the Spanish and Portuguese congregation to
withdraw from the movement; they consecrated a syna-
gogue in East street in 1884. A number of members of the
English and German congregation also withdrew, and
finally consecrated a synagogue in 1894. The majority
Global Program Will Link
Diaspora Jewry and Israel
JERUSALEM — A policy for
"the preservation of the iden-
tity and unity of the Jewish
people in all the lands of the
dispersion and the strengthen-
ing of its emotional and ma-
terial ties with the State of
Israel" was jointly announced
by the government of Israel
and the executive of the World
Zionist Organization after a
meeting of top representatives
of both groups.
Although no countries of the
Diaspora were named in the
communique, the meeting was
announced as having been de-
voted to the "examination of
the problems facing the Jewish
people in the Diaspora, in view,
on the one hand, of the denial
to Jews in certain countries of
the religious and cultural liber-
ties and, on the other hand, of
the dangers of assimilation af-
fecting Jewish communities
elsewhere."
The statement declares in
part:
"It was explained that the
purpose of these endeavors
will be to strengthen the at-
tachment of Jewish communi-
ties in the dispersion to the
State of Israel as a center of
their spiritual life;
"To enlist their effective
sharing in the responsibility for
the further development of the
State and the safeguarding of
its future;
"To intensify among them
the consciousness of the unity
of the Jewish people, the soli-
darity of its various parts and
its vigil for self-preservation
through an organized effort;
"To assist in the extension
and development of Jewish edu-
cation with a view to imparting
to the young generation the
values of Judaism and its spiri-
tual heritage;
'To spread the knowledge of
the Hebrew language and
Israel's renascent Hebrew cul-
ture:
"And to awaken and cultivate
the mental readiness and active
desire to settle in Israel.
"On behalf of the government
of Israel, the prime minister ex-
pressed his agreement with this
analysis of the situation and the
program of action entailed
thereby . . .
"It was agreed that the ef-
fort aiming at the enhancement
of the Zionist spirit in Jewish
life is a matter of joint concern
for the State of Israel and the
World Zionist Organization."
(Continued from Page 1)
the peril of assimilation. He
urged the active participation
of the Zionist movement in
the direction of the Jewish
communities, to deepen Jew-
ish consciousness and for ef-
fective representation of the
movement in international
Jewish organizations.
Apart from direct Zionist ac-
tion, the Zionist movement
should strive to stimulate the
initiative of other Zionist or-
ganizations, he urged. He added
Religious Groups Back
Israel Touring Camp
Several major national reli-
gious organizations have endors-
ed Camp Daromah in Israel—the
boys' summer touring camp spon-
sored by the Rabbinical Council
of America.
Joining in this effort are the
Union of Orthodox Jewish Con-
gregations of America, National
Council of Young Israel, Miz-
rachi-Hapoel Hamizrachi, Mizra-
chi Women's Organization of
America and the Women's
Branch of the UOJC.
Hebrew Corner
JERUSALEM, (JTA) — Dr.
Nahum Goldmann on March 12
was presented at Lydda Airport
with Immigrants Certificate No.
222100 by Jewish Agency lead-
ers waiting for him at the air-
port. Dr. Goldmann said he in-
tended to apply immediately for
an Israeli passport.
Canadians Send
Matzoth to Cuba
N. J. Jewish Cemetery
Is Desecrated Twice
ISELIN, N.J. (JTA) — The
second vandalism in two weeks
took place at the Mount Leba-
non Cemetery. Emil Miele, the
superintendent, said eight
tombstones were overturned in
one night. He estimated dam-
ages at $800. In the vandalism
four tombstones were toppled.
MONTREAL, (JTA)—A ship-
ment of matzoth and Passover
supplies were sent to Cuba by
the Canadian Jewish Congress.
The shipment. comprises 12,800
boxes of matzoth, 4,000 boxes of
matzoh meal, 2,640 tins of
canned meat, 1,200 bottles of
wine and 200 pounds of horse-
radish.
The shipment will be received
in Havana by the Adath Israel
Congregation and will be avail-
to the entire community,
which has a coorthnating com-
mittee compriisng ali groups.
These earlier facts throw much light on the
Jamaican community of today. By virtue of earlier
data, and in view of the constantly diminishing
community which now numbers scarcely more than
250 families, one must begin to ,wonder whether
survival is possible without kashrut, without the
Sabbath, with a minimum of association with world
Jewry.
Also: can a community of Jews survive if it
is cut off from the rest of world Jewry, if its
kinship is limited to an inactive affiliation with
the World Jewish Congress, if it is isolated from
the rest of Jewry by a lack of Jewish informa-
tion?
When intermarriages began there in the latter
part of the last century, there was concern and
those who strayed were considered lost to Jewry.
Is it possible that a new era has come upon us
during which an intermarriage will no longer
be a calamity, abandonment of dietary laws will
not be crucial to our existence, isolation still will
inspire loyalists? Only time will provide the an-
swer, but that time is drawing nigh. Meanwhile
Jamaica is one of the testing grounds in Jewry's
ability to survive under freedom.
Assimilation and Survivalism Emerge
as Major Problems Facing World Jewry
Dr. Nahum Goldmann Enters Israel
Realization
as Immigrant; to Apply for Passport of Zionism
DR. NAHUM GOLDMANN
of both, however, constructed a synagogue in Duke street
under the name of "Amalgamated Congregation of Israel-
ites," consecrated in 1888. The two principal congrega-
tions were merged in December 1900, since which they
have worshiped under one roof, Rev. Joseph M. Corcos
being their minister. Several communal charitable organ-
izations are maintained in Kingston, the chief of which
is the Hebrew Benevolent Society, established in 1851.
*
three different settlements on the island, though Kings-
ton, from the time of its foundation, has been the most
important. Spanish Town, Montego Bay, Falmouth and
Lacovia have also had Jewish settlements, and Jews are,
in fact, to be encountered in all portions of the island,
though Kingston alone has now any Jewish synagogues.
Spanish Town had two Jewish congregations between
1840 and 1845. A synagogue is mentioned by local his-
torians as having been established about 1684; it is re-
ferred to in the Journal of the House of Assembly
in 1687. The Spanish and Portuguese synagogue of Kings-
ton, situated in Princess street until the time of its
destruction by fire in 1882, was consecrated in 1750.
The English and German synagogue was consecrated in
1789, a new synagogue taking its place in 1837. Hannah
Adams, in her "History of the Jews," written in 1812,
refers to two parties among the Jamaican Jews. One of
which regarded the other as heretics because they had
relaxed in the observance of the ritual and had inter-
married with Christians. A third (German) synagogue
was used for purposes of worship beginning at some time
prior to 1850, but the congregation merged in that year
with the Portuguese. Rabbi M. N. Nathan was rabbi of the
English and German synagogue at the time of the con-
secretation - of its new building in 1837, and for a number
of years thereafter, and was active in various Jewish
literary controversies and undertakings, including the
editorship of a Jewish monthly, called "First Fruits of
the West" (1845). Among other Jewish clerical leaders in
Jamaica were Joshua Pardo (went to Jamaica as rabbi
1683), Daniel Israel, Lopez Lacuna (Spanish Jewish poet,
a contemporary of Pardo), Hallam de Cordoza (went to
Jamaica about the time of the American Revolution;
died and was buried in Spanish Town in 1798), Rev. A. P.
Mendes, and Rev. George Jacobs.
When he returned from the first
Zionist Congress Herzl wrote in his
diary:
"In Basel I founded the State of
the Jews. If I were to say this today
aloud general laughter would answer
me. But in five more years, and any-
way in another fifty years, everyone
will admit it."
Fifty years after the writing of
these words the majority of the
countries of the world, at a meeting
of the United Nations, agreed to the
establishment of the State of the
Jews. Five months after that the
State of Israel was established. The
vision was realized.
From that day, on which Herzl
wrote his prophecy in his diary, until
the day the vision was realized, many
years of deeds passed. The Zionist
Organization fought for the recogni-
tion of the Jewish People's right to
settle in its land and to build a na-
tional home for itself. This recogni-
tion was given on the 12th Novem-
ber, 1917, when the British Govern-
ment published the "Balfour Declara-
tion."
Three years after that the League
of Nations confirmed the "Balfour
Declaration and recognized the World
Zionist Organization" as the repre-
sentative of the Jewish People in the
conferences on the establishment of
a national home. For this purpose the
Jewish Agency for Israel was estab-
lished in 1929.
"The Jewish Agency" was the
"Government on the way" of the
State of Israel for 20 years, until it
was established. It represented the
settlers before the British rule, and
before the countries of the world,
looked after matters of the safety of
the settlers and immigration.
Translation of Hebrew Corner
Published by the Brith Ivrith Olamith
that in view of the Israel gov-
ernment's recognition of joint
responsibility with the move-
ment for the future of Zion-
ism, the full measure of Israel's
support should be enlisted for
implementation of the program
in other countries while the
Zionist movement's cooperation
with the Israel government
ought to include promotion of
Zionism in Israel, especially
among the young generation.
Dr. Emanuel Neumann,
chairman of the American sec-
tion of the Jewish Agency,
hailed the joint Israel govern-
ment World Zionist Organiza-
tion statement as a historic
occasion which "may mark a
new era in the checkered
history of our movement."
He hailed the prof ound
understanding "displayed by
Premier Levi Eshkol on prob-
lems confronting Jewries out-
side of Israel." He stressed that
the planned intensification of
the efforts of the Zionist move-
ment was not meant to displace
"the existing agencies or com-
pete with them." He also em-
phasized the need to enhance
Zionist consciousness and ties
with other Jewries in Israel and
he urged the establishment of
an Israel-Zionist organization
or a "Council of Israel Zionists
of All Parties."
500 S. American Jews
Off to Settle in Israel
RIO DE JANEIRO, (JTA) --
The Israeli liner Theodore
Herzl sailed from this port with
500 Jewish immigrants from
South America — 66 of them
from Brazil—planning to settle
in Israel. The immigration de-
partment of the Brazilian Zion-
ist Federation announced that
a total of 868 Brazilian Jews
have settled in Israel during
the past two and a half years.
Only 14 of these have returned,
the Federation noted.
(74) Mill
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