lthough there has been
no Jewish community on Nevis for perhaps two centuries, references to the "Jew's
School" and "Jew's Temple" remain part of the folk tradition.
In the early 1990s, these allusions led David Robinson of the Museum of Nevis
History to begin exploring. His discovery of a small stone building, which many
have mistakenly identified as a Mikvah (a ritual basing house for Jewish women),
led to an ongoing archaeological exploration to identify the site of the Nevis
synagogue which may be one of the earliest in the Western Hemisphere.The third season of digging at the site has just been completed. Boston University doctoral student Michelle Terrell is coordinating the ambitious project which aims to create "the first community level analysis of a Jewish community in the colonial period." Fellow graduate student Eva Hill has worked with Michelle throughout the fieldwork. They don't expect to find Jewish artifacts confirming that the synagogue was located at the site since the congregants would likely have taken such valuable articles with them when the synagogue closed. However, architectural features may provide enough information to conclude that they have indeed found the site. A footpath between the cemetery and the site is referred to as the "Jew's Walk," lending further credence to the theory.
Sections of an old stone and lime floor have been uncovered in the test pits and trenches, along with many 18th century artifacts, including Afro-Caribbean pottery. The site, which lies immediately behind the headquarters of the Nevis Island Administration, has had many uses over the centuries. As a result, sorting out what floors, walls or artifacts relate to which type and period of occupation is not an easy task.
In the mid-1600s Nevis was booming. The thriving plantation economy made the small island an early Caribbean powerhouse. Among those drawn to the prosperity were Sephardic Jews. The earliest documents describe the arrival of eight Jews by 1678, though other sources suggest a Jewish presence several decades earlier. The Jews who came to Nevis had traveled long and far to live openly as Jews and build a community for themselves. Several hundred thousand escaped Spain's Inquisition in 1492, many going to Portugal, where five years later they again faced the decision of converting or being expelled. Some emigrated to Portuguese Brazil where they became involved in the blossoming sugar industry.
The Dutch conquered part of Brazil for a 25 year period in the 17th century. During their liberalized rule many Conversos returned to Judaism. When the Portuguese regained control in 1654 they gave the Jews just three months to leave. Many fled to the Dutch or British Caribbean where tolerance and economic opportunity made the area attractive. Their expertise in sugar refining created an important economic niche.
Records in Amsterdam refer to "the Nevis Synagogue" in 1684. Until this summer, the nineteen surviving gravestones in the cemetery were dated from 1679-1768. However, Michelle and Eva recently found that the grave which had been identified as 1768 was actually from the 1680's, shortening the Jewish occupation as reflected in the surviving stones to 1679-1730, though the documentary record still indicates an occupation through at least the mid-18th century. Various correspondence, wills and other historical documents refer to the "synagogue site" or site of the "one-time synagogue." Based on the existing documentation, the synagogue closed sometime between 1763 and 1809, though Michelle hopes to greatly narrow this gap.
By the 1720's Nevis entered a long-term economic decline. A local parish priest, Rev. Robert Robertson, wrote to his superiors in England "that the Jews, who have so often been made the scapegoats, were thought by many `to be the true cause of the strange decay of this place.'" Robertson also wrote that of the "near 300 Whites" living in the capital city of Charlestown "one 4th are Jews, who have a Synagogue here."
The historical record reflects that, as in much of the world, the right of Jews to live as citizens with full rights was tenuous in Nevis. (However, compared to the overwhelming majority population of African slaves, discrimination against Jews was minor.) In the latter part of the 18th century, falling sugar prices and general economic decline in the Caribbean led the Jews of Nevis to seek brighter prospects elsewhere, with most going to the British colonies in North America.
Michelle wants not only to locate the site of the synagogue and other structures but to recreate a picture of the daily life of the Jewish residents of Charlestown. Michelle, who is not Jewish, did an undergraduate minor in Jewish Studies and wanted to combine that interest with her archaeology career. Next spring, further archaeological exploration will include remote sensing in the cemetery to search for other graves, the uncovering of the entire stone and lime floor as well as more archival work.
Due to the foresight, hard work and contributions of many people, the history of the Nevis Jews has been saved and our understanding of these people and their lives should be greatly enhanced by the research yet to come. As this process continues a little known piece of Caribbean heritage is being preserved for future generations.
