Travel

FINAL CLEARANCE

BARBARA KINGSTONE
Special to The Jewish News

n

ouses in pastel shades of
blue and traditional pink
lead to a narrow one-way
street filled with grayish
buildings in a state of disrepair; this is
Synagogue Lane in Bridgetown,
Barbados.
The synagogue, a neo-classic beauty
adjacent to a well-tended burial ground,
is freshly painted in light pink featuring

population had dwindled from 300 to
90, many moving to England and the
United States.
Records show that at the turn of
the century only two Jews were prac-
ticing members of the congregation.
Because of difficult cash flow, the syn-
agogue was sold in 1925 to the gov-
ernment and the cemetery grounds
were leased to the Jewish community
for $1 a year. The building itself was
used for offices and a warehouse.
Enter Moses Altman, a Polish trad-

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sturdy white balustrades. Originally
built in 1654, it has an impressive and
dramatic history.
In 1932, Moshe Altman re-estab-
lished this once Sephardic synagogue.
Now an Askenazic shul, the record is
worthy of a book.
As of 1628, some 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 discrimina-
tion, the small population prospered
and established a monopoly in the
sugar industry But, for 112 years, the
Jews continued to live with bigotry.
Finally, in 1831, they received perma-
nent and practical freedom in civil
and political matters. A commitment
to their religion led the Kal Kodesh
Nidhe Israel (the holy scattered con-
gregation of Israel) to finally build a
synagogue for the 300 Jews. Until
then, they had worshipped in homes.
A natural disaster on the island in
1831 devastated the original building.
Fund raising took place and a 2,000-
square-foot synagogue was built in
1833. However, by then the Jewish

er. In 1931, on his way to Venezuela,
Altman stopped and decided to stay.
Within a year he brought his family
to the island.
Altman was instrumental in estab-
lishing a cohesive group who contin-
ued to worship at his home, once
again establishing a united Jewish
community.
Presently, the synagogue, which is
the second oldest in the Western
hemisphere, doesn't have a rabbi.
They did have. a bar mitzvah in 1996.
Inside the sanctuary, Barbadian
mahogany has been used for the pews,
tabernacle and bima. Delicate lattice
work circles above. Ten columns, now
painted in faux marble, flank the 300
seats and hurricane-style chandeliers
light up the room.
Very little is original, but whenever
available photos showed certain items
they were duplicated. The marble
floors are from the original building
and the newest addition, a Torah, is
from Prague.
Out in the city, past Jew Street, is
the Montefiore drinking fountain
with the names of distinguished citi-
zens. The inscriptions — justice, for-
titude, temperance, prudence — are
as relevant today as they were when
Jews first settled in Barbados. CI

Under the supervision of Detroit Council of Orthodox Rabbis.
Not responsible for typographical errors.

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