Designed for those who dorit merely seek
challenge,but actively pursue victory.
Charlotte Amalie, we head up
expect to find a museum,
the hills towards Coral World,
which this is not."
an example of how Israeli in-
Indeed it isn't. The small
genuity created a top tourist
congregation maintains
attraction from a coral reef.
Hebrew classes for its
Walking across a bridge
youngsters, sponsors adult
spanning the Atlantic Ocean,
education classes and a public
we enter a dome-shaped
lecture program, and holds
underwater observatory — 20
Shabbat services every Fri-
feet underwater — where we
day evening.
join visitors who stand near
"For a small Jewish com-
the tank, gazing at the sea
munity," says Relkin, who
creatures of all colors and
will soon leave for a new
shapes.
pulpit in Mississsippi, "this
"It's a view you could only
one is as active as any in the
get
as a scuba diver under-
United States."
water," Kirkpatrick says, as
Its members are also active
we watch the fish and also get
in the life of this island.
close-up views of coral fronds
Though it looks like an idyllic
and rock formations.
tropical island — and the
Coral World draws 300,000
license plates of island
tourists a year to the largest
residents say "American
Caribbean reef tank in the
Paradise" — St. Thomas is ac-
world. It was patterned after
tually a thriving financial,
the original site in Eilat,
commercial and boating
Israel. "It's a unique con-
center. And the Jews of St.
cept," says Ariel Hirt,
Thomas, though they are
manager. "You need coral
fewer than 1 percent of the
reef, land, the right currents,
island's population of 15,000,
and enough tourists to sup-
exert an influence far beyond
port it."
their small numbers.
Morris Kahn and David
The colorful waterfront
Friedman, founders of Coral
shopping area, my second
World International, found
stop after I visit the
that combination in Eilat,
synagogue, is one example of
where they opened the first
the strong Jewish presence in
Coral World in 1975. Three
St. Thomas. This man-made
years later, they opened
landfill is now a major shop-
another in St. Thomas, and
ping center in the Caribbean.
more recently, a third in the
Tourists flock here for duty-
Bahamas.
free bargains and merchan-
Each site presented new
dise from around the world,
challenges. "There are things
often coming just for a day of
here that don't exist in the
shopping on the American
Red Sea. But above the dif-
Eagle commuter shuttle
ferences, marine life is
flights that leave hourly from
everywhere fascinating," says
Puerto Rico.
Hirt, who moved here from
And often these shoppers
Israel with his wife and three
buy in Jewish-owned shops.
daughters — and found a com-
"I'd say at least 60 percent of
patriot living nearby, the
the stores are Jewish-owned,"
chief technician at the
estimates Bob Kirkpatrick of
island's desalinization plant,
the Department of Economic
another Israeli project on this
Development and Agriculture
island.
of the Virgin Islands, my
Leaving Coral World, we
guide for an island tour.
visit one more place that
We stop into A.H. Riis, a
shows — literally — the
block-long gift store and St.
Jewish flavor of St. Thomas.
Thomas landmark, which
"I'll Take Manhattan" is a
carries an assortment of
classic New York deli — ex-
jewelry, china, crystal, per-
cept that it's situated on a
fume and cosmetics. Its owner
tropical island.
is Isidor Paiewonsky, a mer-
Inside the bustling deli, the
chant by occupation, but by
customers are lined up,
avocation a dedicated
holding their numbers
historian who wrote the
waiting to buy lox, sable, kip-
original monograph of the
pered salmon, brisket, herr-
congregation's history.
ing and seven varieties of
His brother, Ralph Paiewon-
bagel.
sky, is the former governor
Behind the counter owner
who is credited with St.
Mike Bakst kibbitzes with his
Thomas' economic develop-
customers as he slices
ment. "It was Governor
pastrami and corned beef. A
Paiewonsky who really
former food distributor in
started the development of
New York, Bakst left the Big
the Main Street area,"
Apple for the sweet life of the
Kirkpatrick says. "This was
Virgin Islands. Besides this
at one time all water and
deli on St. Thomas, he also
finger piers and warehouses.
owns two on nearby St. Croix.
Main Street was the primary
"I sell as much smoked fish
street, and the rest was
here as I would in New York,"
water?'
says Bakst. ❑
downtown
Leaving
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counters and a luminous inset dial and hands.
Choice of black (shown), red or blue.
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THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS 11