The congregation was founded in 1796 by Spanish and Portuguese Sephardic Jews who had come to the Caribbean Basin to finance trade between Europe and the New World.[1] The building was constructed in 1833, and is the second oldest synagogue in the United States (after Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island built in 1763). As a result of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Category 5 hurricanes which ravaged much of the Caribbean and St. Thomas in September 2017, the synagogue sustained significant damage, but has remained in continuous operation under the leadership of Rabbi Michael Feshbach.[4][5]
Description
Synagogue interior, showing bima, amud and sand floor
The St. Thomas Synagogue stands north of Charlotte Amalie's central business district, on the north side of Crystal Gade near its junction with Raadets Gade. It is a single-story structure, built out of rubblestone joined by a mortar mix of lime, sand, and molasses, and covered by a shallow pitch hip roof. Its front, separated from the street by an entry courtyard, has a Greek Revival temple front, but with Gothic arched window openings. The facade is recessed, with the temple pediment supported by brick pillars with Tuscan styling. On the interior, the Torah ark is located on the east wall, with the tevah (i.e. bimah or pulpit), on a dais against the west wall. The center of the chamber is demarcated by a square of four Ionic columns mounted on pedestals, and there are rows of bench pews on the north and south walls. The seating areas of men and women are separated by movable wooden partitions.[3]
^Kelly, John (September 18, 2017). "Perspective - From a Chevy Chase, Md., synagogue to one in the path of Hurricane Irma". Retrieved October 5, 2017 – via www.WashingtonPost.com.
External links
Media related to St. Thomas Synagogue at Wikimedia Commons
Official website
January 22, 2023
thomas, synagogue, historic, synagogue, 2116, crystal, gade, queens, quarters, charlotte, amalie, island, saint, thomas, virgin, islands, formal, name, synagogue, congregation, beracha, veshalom, vegmiluth, hasadim, hebrew, קהל, קדוש, ברכה, ושלום, וגמילות, חסד. St Thomas Synagogue is an historic synagogue at 2116 Crystal Gade Queens Quarters in Charlotte Amalie on the island of Saint Thomas in the U S Virgin Islands The formal name of the synagogue is Congregation Beracha Veshalom Vegmiluth Hasadim Hebrew קהל קדוש ברכה ושלום וגמילות חסדים It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1997 1 3 St Thomas SynagogueU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S National Historic LandmarkU S Historic districtContributing propertySt Thomas SynagogueLocation2116 Crystal Gade Charlotte Amalie U S Virgin IslandsCoordinates18 20 41 N 64 55 59 W 18 34472 N 64 93306 W 18 34472 64 93306 Coordinates 18 20 41 N 64 55 59 W 18 34472 N 64 93306 W 18 34472 64 93306Arealess than one acreBuilt1833 1833 Architectural styleGreek Revival Gothic RevivalPart ofCharlotte Amalie Historic District ID76001860 NRHP reference No 97001270 1 2 Significant datesAdded to NRHPSeptember 25 1997 2 Designated NHLSeptember 25 1997 1 Designated CPJuly 19 1976 Contents 1 History 2 Description 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory EditThe congregation was founded in 1796 by Spanish and Portuguese Sephardic Jews who had come to the Caribbean Basin to finance trade between Europe and the New World 1 The building was constructed in 1833 and is the second oldest synagogue in the United States after Touro Synagogue in Newport Rhode Island built in 1763 As a result of Hurricanes Irma and Maria Category 5 hurricanes which ravaged much of the Caribbean and St Thomas in September 2017 the synagogue sustained significant damage but has remained in continuous operation under the leadership of Rabbi Michael Feshbach 4 5 Description Edit Synagogue interior showing bima amud and sand floor The St Thomas Synagogue stands north of Charlotte Amalie s central business district on the north side of Crystal Gade near its junction with Raadets Gade It is a single story structure built out of rubblestone joined by a mortar mix of lime sand and molasses and covered by a shallow pitch hip roof Its front separated from the street by an entry courtyard has a Greek Revival temple front but with Gothic arched window openings The facade is recessed with the temple pediment supported by brick pillars with Tuscan styling On the interior the Torah ark is located on the east wall with the tevah i e bimah or pulpit on a dais against the west wall The center of the chamber is demarcated by a square of four Ionic columns mounted on pedestals and there are rows of bench pews on the north and south walls The seating areas of men and women are separated by movable wooden partitions 3 See also EditList of United States National Historic Landmarks in United States commonwealths and territories associated states and foreign states National Register of Historic Places listings in the United States Virgin IslandsReferences Edit a b c d St Thomas Synagogue National Historic Landmark summary listing National Park Service Retrieved June 23 2008 a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 a b National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination National Park Service January 1997 Rabbi Michael Feshbach Kelly John September 18 2017 Perspective From a Chevy Chase Md synagogue to one in the path of Hurricane Irma Retrieved October 5 2017 via www WashingtonPost com External links Edit Media related to St Thomas Synagogue at Wikimedia Commons Official website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Thomas Synagogue amp oldid 1130691208, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
