eva
Naturally Jewish
Exploring Jewish obligations and
responsibilities toward the environment
Barbados And
Jewish Settlers
BARBARA KINGSTONE
Fall Lecture
"A Healthy Baby Girl"
Featuring
Special to The Jewish News
Houses in pastel shades of blue and
traditional pink lead to a narrow one-
way street filled with grayish build-
ings in a state of disrepair; this is the
Synagogue Lane in Bridgetown, Bar-
bados.
The synagogue, a neo-classic beau-
ty adjacent to a well-tended burial
ground, is freshly painted in light
pink featuring sturdy white
balustrades. Originally built in 1654,
it has an impressive and dramatic his-
tory.
In 1932, Moshe Altman re-estab-
lished this once Sephardic synagogue.
Now an Askenazic shul, the record is
worhty of a book.
As of 1628, descendants of Jews
who had been forced to leave Spain
and Portugal in 1492 had taken
refuge in Brazil, which was then
under Dutch rule. However when the
Portugese reclaimed Brazil from the
Dutch, the Jews were once again on
the run and many found acceptance
in Barbados. Even though there was
discrimination, the small population
prospered and established a monop-
oly in the sugar industry. For 112
years, the Jews continued to live with
bigotry and finally in 1831 they
received permanent and practical free-
dom in civil and political matters. A
commitment to their religion led the
Kal Kodesh Nidhe Israel (the holy
scattered congregation of Israel) to
finally build a synagogue for the 300
Jews. Until then, they had wor-
shipped in homes.
A natural disaster on the island in
1831 devastated the original building.
Fund-raising took place and a 2000-
square foot synagogue was built in
1833. However, by then the Jewish
population had dwindled from 300
to 90, many moving to England and
the States.
Enter Moses Altman, a Polish trad-
er. In 1931, on his way to Venezuela,
Altman stopped and decided to stay
and within a year brought his family
to the island. At this point in Barba-
dos there were no other Jews. Altman
was instrumental in establishing a
cohesive group who continued to
worship at his home, once again
establishing a united Jewish commu-
nity. ❑
Independent Film Maker
Judith Helfand
Her humorous, yet poignant film explores what happens when science,
marketing and corporate power enter our deepest &mil* relationships.
Wednesday, December 9, 7 p.m.
D. Dan & Betty Kahn Building
Jewish Community Center, West Bloomfield
Janice Charach Epstein Museum/Gallery
Co s a onsorec by the Jewish Community Council
-
•
FOR INFORMATION AND RESERVATIONS,
CONTACT KARI GROSINGER AT (248) 203-1470.
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11/20
1998
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