Bridgetown Synagogue
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bridgetown Synagogue is currently the only synagogue situated in Bridgetown, Barbados. Built in 1654, it was destroyed by a hurricane in 1831, was rebuilt, fell into disrepair until it was sold in 1929.
In 1983, it was bought back by the Jewish community and was restored to its present state with its beautiful Gothic arches, and is now a Barbados National Trust protected building and an active synagogue.
About 300 Jewish people of Recife, Brazil, persecuted by the Dutch, 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.
With their help, Barbados went on to become one of the world's major sugar producers and one of the richest European territories in the West Indies.
