History of the Jews in Aruba

The history of the Jews in Aruba can be traced back to the 16th century, when the first Jewish immigrants began to arrive. The first Jews in Aruba were Sephardi Jewish immigrants from Netherlands and Portugal. The first Jew to settle in Aruba was a Portuguese-Jewish worker for the Dutch West Indies Company named Moses Solomon Levie Maduro, who arrived in Aruba with his family in 1754.

The Beth Israel Synagogue was consecrated on November 4, 1962, in Oranjestad. Beth Israel also shares their house of worship with the Jewish Community of Aruba (Israelitische Gemeente).

As of 2013, the Jewish population is around 85.[1] The current Prime Minister Mike Eman is Jewish. Eman has interacted with Chabad visiting Rabbis as well as with Chabad's permanent rabbi on the island.[2] His Jewish brother Henny Eman was the first Prime Minister of Aruba.[3]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Curaçao". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  2. ↑ "Aruban P.M. Welcomes Future Rabbis to Caribbean". Chabad.org/News. Retrieved 2014-06-18.
  3. ↑ "Aruba Jewish community". Beth Israel Synagogue. Retrieved 2013-11-02.

External links

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