The Nidḥe Israel Synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת נדחי ישראלBet Knesset Nide Yisrael, lit. Synagogue of the Scattered of Israel) is the only synagogue in Bridgetown, Barbados. Located along Synagogue Lane, and bordered by the wider Magazine Lane, James, Coleridge and Pinfold streets, it is a part of the Synagogue Historic District.[1] In 2011 the synagogue and excavated mikveh were designated as UNESCO protected properties within the World Heritage Site of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison area. It is one of the oldest synagogues in the Western hemisphere and a Barbados National Trust property.
Built in 1654, it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1831,[1] was rebuilt, but then fell into disrepair until it was sold in 1929.
Haim Isaac Carigal was in Barbados, perhaps acting as rabbi of the congregation, at the time of his death in 1777.
About 300 Jews from Recife, Brazil, persecuted by the Portuguese, settled in Barbados in the 1660s. Skilled in the sugar industry, they quickly introduced the sugarcane crop and passed on their skills in cultivation and production to the Barbados land owners.
Present dayedit
From the time that the synagogue was deconsecrated in 1929, it underwent numerous changes. The women's gallery that looked down on the ark and bimah was converted into a full second floor. Arches around the windows and the original floor were replaced. The building changed ownership many times as well and the Jewish cemetery outside became a dumping site.
In 1983, the building was seized by the Barbados Government, which intended to raze the building and erect a courthouse. Two years later, it turned the building over to the Barbados National Trust, in thanks to petitioning by the local Jewish community. In 1986, the renovation process began led by Sir Paul Altman. The building was returned to use as a synagogue when the renovation was complete, though it is still owned by the National Trust.
In 2008, an American archaeologist, Michael Stoner, was excavating the former rabbi's house on the premises. As he was digging, two Israeli tourists happened by and uttered the word mikveh. After excavating for three weeks, Stoner had indeed discovered a mikveh, probably dating to the 17th century.[2]
The Nidhe Israel Museum was also opened in 2008.[3]
nidhe, israel, synagogue, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, 2. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Nidhe Israel Synagogue news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2022 Learn how and when to remove this message The Nidḥe Israel Synagogue Hebrew בית הכנסת נדחי ישראל Bet Knesset Nide Yisrael lit Synagogue of the Scattered of Israel is the only synagogue in Bridgetown Barbados Located along Synagogue Lane and bordered by the wider Magazine Lane James Coleridge and Pinfold streets it is a part of the Synagogue Historic District 1 In 2011 the synagogue and excavated mikveh were designated as UNESCO protected properties within the World Heritage Site of Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison area It is one of the oldest synagogues in the Western hemisphere and a Barbados National Trust property Nidhe Israel Synagogueבית הכנסת נדחי ישראל Synagogue exteriorReligionAffiliationConservative JudaismDistrictSt MichaelRiteSephardicEcclesiastical or organizational statusActiveLocationLocationSynagogue Lane Bridgetown BarbadosArchitectureCompleted1654 Contents 1 History 1 1 Present day 2 See also 3 Footnotes 4 References 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp The synagogue s bimah Built in 1654 it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1831 1 was rebuilt but then fell into disrepair until it was sold in 1929 Haim Isaac Carigal was in Barbados perhaps acting as rabbi of the congregation at the time of his death in 1777 About 300 Jews from Recife Brazil persecuted by the Portuguese settled in Barbados in the 1660s Skilled in the sugar industry they quickly introduced the sugarcane crop and passed on their skills in cultivation and production to the Barbados land owners Present day edit From the time that the synagogue was deconsecrated in 1929 it underwent numerous changes The women s gallery that looked down on the ark and bimah was converted into a full second floor Arches around the windows and the original floor were replaced The building changed ownership many times as well and the Jewish cemetery outside became a dumping site In 1983 the building was seized by the Barbados Government which intended to raze the building and erect a courthouse Two years later it turned the building over to the Barbados National Trust in thanks to petitioning by the local Jewish community In 1986 the renovation process began led by Sir Paul Altman The building was returned to use as a synagogue when the renovation was complete though it is still owned by the National Trust nbsp Bridgetown Synagogue Cemetery Bridgetown St Michael Barbados In 2008 an American archaeologist Michael Stoner was excavating the former rabbi s house on the premises As he was digging two Israeli tourists happened by and uttered the word mikveh After excavating for three weeks Stoner had indeed discovered a mikveh probably dating to the 17th century 2 The Nidhe Israel Museum was also opened in 2008 3 See also editHistory of the Jews in Barbados Dutch Brazil History of the Jews in Latin America List of historic buildings in Bridgetown and Saint Ann s GarrisonFootnotes edit Jews in Barbadoes jewish history com Retrieved 26 July 2017 Borns Patricia 1 June 2008 Saving traces of the Jewish diaspora in Barbados The Boston Globe Retrieved 20 June 2008 Jewish Ledger Retrieved 26 July 2017 References editSharkey Nancy 11 December 1988 A Barbados Synagogue is Reborn The New York Times Retrieved 20 June 2008 Harrison Donald H 6 April 2001 Who were the Bearded Ones San Diego Jewish Press Retrieved 20 June 2008 Kramer Lauren 12 November 2006 Jewish island spirit The Jerusalem Post Retrieved 9 December 2012 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nidhe Israel Synagogue Oldest known Jewish settlement in Barbados Nidhe Israel Synagogue and Museum in Barbados Archaeologist in Mikvah Excavation The Jewish Synagogue The Ministry of Community Development amp Culture Barbados Video of the grounds of the Jewish Synagogue w interviews 13 05 58 N 59 36 55 W 13 09944 N 59 61528 W 13 09944 59 61528 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nidhe Israel Synagogue amp oldid 1184001445, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
