Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Historic Synagogue - Weibel Museum
The St. Thomas Synagogue (B'racha V'shalom Ug'milut
Chasadim is the official name) is one of the best-preserved
buildings here. It was founded in 1796 and is the sec-
ond-oldest synagogue in the Caribbean (Curacao's is older).
Open to the public Mon-Fri, 9:30 am-4:30 pm, this syna-
gogue has a sand floor following Sephardic tradition, as a re-
minder of the Jews' exodus from Egypt. Since some of the
earliest Danish settlers were Jewish, the synagogue played
an important role in the colony. Fire destroyed the first syn-
agogue and a second was torn down so the building could be
enlarged. Today's building in Danish colonial style was com-
pleted in 1833. Adjacent to the synagogue, the Weibel Mu-
seum has exhibits that depict the history of the Jewish
community on the island. Special events are held here as
well.
(340) 774-4312 for information about services that
are open to the public.
o
The
Synagogue and Museum
are
located on Crystal Gade (two blocks
north of Main Street) at Raadets
Gade.
Market Square & Savan
Market Square (De Market) at Main Street and Savan
Gade, once the slave auction center, is now a vegetable and
handicraft center. Check out the unusual wrought-iron roof.
It is a copy of a European railroad station. Savan Gade is the
street leading north from the market. The area here, called
Savan, was laid out in the 1700's as a residential
neighborhood for middle-class black shopkeepers and arti-
sans. You can still see the narrow streets and small houses,
now occupied by St. Thomas' Rastafarian community. Shops
in this area are owned by and cater to the tastes of Rasta-
farians.
