Description
Address: Hanchi di Snoa 29
Phonenumber: (5999)-4611067 / 4611633 o Fax: 599-9-4654141
Link: www.snoa.com
Mail: [email protected]
Progressive Denomination.
The historical synagogue in Curaçao is the oldest in contiuous use in the Western Hemisphere, since 1732.
There are currently around 300 Jews with an active community life, being part of two Jewish congregations in Curazao:
* 75 % attending Mikve Israel,
* 25% Shaarei Tsedek , a modern Orthodox community.
Mikve Israel (Sephardic) of which its building is a replica of the Esnoge in Amsterdam.
The tradition of the bronze writing on the doors of the Esnoge is followed by our synagogue. Over the blue background on the door reads the following text from Genesis 9:27:
YAFT ELOHIM L-YEFET VEYISHKON B-AHOLE SHEM. (May G-d enlarge Jafeth and let him dwell in the tents of Shem).
This ancient synagogue presents a gate made out of Spanish ceramics.
The floor is made of sand, symbolizing the desert the Israelites walked through in order to get to the Promised Land.
Its interior made of mahogany and its four beautiful brass chandeliers are admired by over twenty thousand yearly visitors.
Next to the synagogue, the Jewish museum on the island includes a Torah scroll from the year 1492, two chairs made to await Elijah the Prophet in celebrations, one of them used for circumcisions for over 300 years, documents attesting marriages that were celebrated there and hundreds of family objects and heirlooms that constitute a place of great richness to learn about Jewish heritage.
The museum stands in the house where the Rabbi used to live and where the mikvah used to be active.
Curaçao is located in the non-hurricane belt.
Most people speak 4 languages: Papiamento (local language), Dutch, English and Spanish.
Price: USD 10.- (museum and synagogue)
Children under 13 are admitted free of charge.
* Accessible for wheelchairs.
Touring opening hours:
Monday to friday, from 9.00 AM to 4.30 PM
Saturdays and Sundays closed
Open for worship on the Shabbat:
* Friday evenings from 6:30 to 7:45 PM
* Saturday mornings from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon
* and on the first and last days of a Jewish Festival.
They welcome worshipers wholeheartedly, but ask fellow visitors to dress appropriately when joining the congregation in worship.
