International Association of Jewish
Genealogical Societies - Cemetery Project
VIRGIN ISLANDS
THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas
PO Box 266
St. Thomas 00801
Tel. 1 809 774 7704
source: Select the US Virgin Islands link at
http://www.worldjewishcongress.org/comm_north.html:
"Jewish settlement was initiated in 1655 when
Spanish and Portuguese Jews came as ship owners, planters of sugar cane
and producers of rum and molasses. They arrived from Recife (Brazil),
Suriname, Barbados, Holland and France. The real growth of the Jewish
population in the islands of St. Thomas and St. Croix came as a direct
result of the destruction of the Jewish community in the nearby Dutch
island of St. Eustatius in 1781, which was attacked by the British for
having aided the American Revolution. In 1796 the synagogue Berakha
v'Shalom v'Gmilut Hassadim in St. Thomas was founded and that
congregation exists until the present day. By 1850 Jews accounted for
half the island's white population, or about 400 people.
"With
the opening of the Panama Canal, the Jewish population diminished and
most of the islands' Jews emigrated to Panama. By 1942 the Jewish
population numbered no more than 50. Today the Jewish population is
increasing due to an influx of Jews from the North American mainland."
References:
Warren Freedman, World Guide for the Jewish Traveler. NY: E.P. Dutton Inc, 1984.
American Jewish Archives
3101 Clifton Ave.
Cincinnati, Ohio 45220-2488
phone (513) 221-1875
ST. CROIX
CHRISTIANSTED:
The Jewish cemetery in the western suburb of Christiansted adjoins the
Moravian Cemetery. Epitaphs date from 1779. Source: Bernard Kouchel koosh@worldnet.att.net.
Florence Abrahams and Rabbi Bernard
Heller translated the epitaphs in 1957 and 1958 [SC-13471] found at
American Jewish Archives, 3101 Clifton Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio
45220-2488; phone (513) 221-1875.
ST. THOMAS
The Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas,
P.O. Box 266, St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, 00801 publishes a pamphlet
giving a brief history of the Jews, the two Jewish cemeteries, and the
synagogue, the "oldest synagogue building in continuous use under the
American flag." Source: MelOshins@aol.com
Sourse: select the US Virgin Islands Link at
http://www.worldjewishcongress.org/comm_north.html
Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas,
PO Box 266
St. Thomas 00801
Tel. 1 809 774 7704
and history of community. [October 2005]
299 epitaphs (in French or English) in
the Jewish cemetery in St. Thomas, 1837-1916. Find at American Jewish
Archives, 3101 Clifton Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45220-2488; phone (513)
221-1875:
Epitaphs from the Jewish Cemetery in St.
Thomas. 1837-1916. SC-3233 and Microfilm No. 3002 [location? American
Jewish Archives?]
St. Thomas Hebrew Congregation Deed for
land purchased by the St. Thomas Hebrew Congregation for use as a
cemetery. 1868. SC-13470 [location? American Jewish Archives?]
Compiled from archival records of the Jewish Community in Copenhagen,
with an index by Jul. Margolinsky. 2nd Photostat edition published in
Copenhagen, 1965. Description: 34p. 25 cm. at University of Florida,
Smathers Judaica, F2105 .T9 1965; source: Bernard Kouchel koosh@worldnet.att.net.
Listed in Tagger, Mathilde. Printed Books on Jewish Cemeteries in the Jewish National and University Library in Jerusalem: an annotated bibliography. Jerusalem: The Israel Genealogical Society, 1997.
A book documenting the Altona and Savan
cemeteries is planned [date?], as well as a book on the history of the
Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas. Katina E. Coulianos offers
accompaniment at no charge for anyone wishing to visit the cemeteries,
but would appreciate a donation to the "Hebrew Congregation Cemetery
Fund" for ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the cemeteries. Contact:
Katina E. Coulianos, Chairman, Cemetery Committee, Hebrew Congregation
of St. Thomas, P.O. Box 266, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands, 00804-0266.
Source: Rosanne Leeson: leeson1@attglobal.net
ALTONA: {10284}
- Altona Jewish cemetery lies below the Virgin Isle Hilton Hotel. Epitaphs date from 1837. Source: Bernard Kouchel koosh@worldnet.att.net. List {10284} is only of some of the last names.
SAVAN:
- Savan Jewish Cemetery: "Savan's cemetery is on a low-lying
peninsula off Waterfront Drive, west of the shopping area; epitaphs
date from 1792." Bernard Kouchel koosh@worldnet.att.net.
Enid M. Baa's History of the Jewish Community of St. Thomas mentions the Savan Jewish Cemetery and includes a sampling of tombstone inscriptions. Sept. 10, 1978. SC-13494; Source: American Jewish Archives, 3101 Clifton Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45220-2488; phone (513) 221-1875.
All individuals involved in the creation of this project are volunteers.
The right to make one copy for personal use with full citation is hereby granted;
however, no profit is to be made from the use of this website's information.
No reply will be made to inquiries about specific burials. All information that we possess is on the website. We have no other information so please do not write requesting any on either burial sites or individual burials.