Congregation Mikvé Israel-Emanuel (Willemstad, Curaçao) (Small Collections)
Item
Country
US
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
eng
Contact information: postal address
3101 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
Contact information: phone number
001 513 487 3000
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
Reference number
SC-
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (official language of the state)
Congregation Mikvé Israel-Emanuel (Willemstad, Curaçao) (Small Collections)
Language of title
eng
Creator / accumulator
Congregation Mikvé Israel-Emanuel
Date(s)
1717/1831
Language(s)
dut
eng
heb
por
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
The American Jewish Archives preserve a number of small collections comprising materials related to the Jewish community of Curaçao. They are the following:
SC-2405: Stedelijk Archiv copies, 1652-1660: copies of miscellaneous documents from the Stedelijk Archiv in Amsterdam, including documents related to David Cohen Nassi, Manuel Martines Dormido, Joseph Frances, Abraham Coen, Simon Bivas, Abraham Drago, and other Sephardim in Curaçao and Cayenne (33 pages).
SC-7816: List of Amsterdam, Curaçao, and St Eustatius marriages, 1717-1796: List of marriages performed in Amsterdam, Curaçao, and St Eustatius of couples born in the United States (2 pages).
SC- 13495: Solomon C. Peixotto papers: includes a copy of Peixotto's “Dinim de Degolar” (Laws of Shechita), copied in Curaçao in 1816 and recopied in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1822; and a copy of birth and circumcision records of the Curaçao community from 1700 to 1814. According to a note by I. S. Emmanuel that introduces this collection, these birth and circumcision records were published by Arnoldus Johannes Cornelius Krafft (1951). Both documents are written in Portuguese.
SC-13503: Birthroll of female Portuguese Jews, 1743-1831 (11 pages).
SC-13504: United Netherlands Portuguese Congregation Mikvé Israel-Emanuel (Willemstad, Curaçao) register of births and deaths, 1722-1831: copies from the National Archives in The Hague (34 pages).
SC-13505: Congregation Mikve Israel-Emanuel (Willemstad, Curaçao) records, 1672-1817: photostat copies (247 pages).
SC-13609 to SC-13613: Epitaphs in Curaçao Jewish cemeteries: epitaphs from headstones in Jewish cemeteries, transcribed by Isaac S. Emmanuel (500 pages).
SC-2405: Stedelijk Archiv copies, 1652-1660: copies of miscellaneous documents from the Stedelijk Archiv in Amsterdam, including documents related to David Cohen Nassi, Manuel Martines Dormido, Joseph Frances, Abraham Coen, Simon Bivas, Abraham Drago, and other Sephardim in Curaçao and Cayenne (33 pages).
SC-7816: List of Amsterdam, Curaçao, and St Eustatius marriages, 1717-1796: List of marriages performed in Amsterdam, Curaçao, and St Eustatius of couples born in the United States (2 pages).
SC- 13495: Solomon C. Peixotto papers: includes a copy of Peixotto's “Dinim de Degolar” (Laws of Shechita), copied in Curaçao in 1816 and recopied in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1822; and a copy of birth and circumcision records of the Curaçao community from 1700 to 1814. According to a note by I. S. Emmanuel that introduces this collection, these birth and circumcision records were published by Arnoldus Johannes Cornelius Krafft (1951). Both documents are written in Portuguese.
SC-13503: Birthroll of female Portuguese Jews, 1743-1831 (11 pages).
SC-13504: United Netherlands Portuguese Congregation Mikvé Israel-Emanuel (Willemstad, Curaçao) register of births and deaths, 1722-1831: copies from the National Archives in The Hague (34 pages).
SC-13505: Congregation Mikve Israel-Emanuel (Willemstad, Curaçao) records, 1672-1817: photostat copies (247 pages).
SC-13609 to SC-13613: Epitaphs in Curaçao Jewish cemeteries: epitaphs from headstones in Jewish cemeteries, transcribed by Isaac S. Emmanuel (500 pages).
Archival history
These small collections were integrated into the American Jewish Archives at different moments and came from various provenances. SC-2405 is composed of copies of Dutch documents sent by Jacob Rader Marcus to I. S. Emmanuel in 1969. SC-13495 was received from I. S. Emmanuel on January 6, 1965. SC-13505 came from the Congregation of Curaçao in June 1953.
Administrative / Biographical history
The history of the Jewish community of Curaçao dates back to the conquest of the island from Spain in 1634 and the arrival of the first Jewish settlers, probably from Holland, shortly after. In 1650, twelve Sephardic families (De Meza, Aboab, Pereira, De Leon, La Parra, Touro, Cardozo, Jesurun, Marchena, Chaves, Oliveira, Henriquez Coutinho) were granted permission by Prince Maurice of Orange to settle there. The land assigned to these early settlers was located on the northern outskirts of the present district of Willemstad, which is still known as the "Jodenwyk" (Jewish quarter).
After the conquest of Brazil by the Portuguese in 1654, a large number of Jewish refugees came to Curaçao. This circumstance led to the effective Jewish settlement in Amsterdam. Two years later, the local community established the Congregation Mikvé Israel under the direction of the Spanish and Portuguese community of Amsterdam. In the same year of 1656, the land originally granted to the first twelve Sephardic families was appropriated for a burial ground and was consecrated to its purpose. Also, a small wooden building was rented to house regular daily services. It was only in 1692 that a synagogue was erected and consecrated on the eve of Passover. The services were read by hazzan David Raphael Lopez de Fonseca. The building, enlarged and reconsecrated in 1731, still stands at present.
A period of substantial prosperity for the Jews of Curaçao began early in the 18th century. In 1715, they established a benevolent society for the care of the sick and needy. By 1750 the number of Jews living in Curaçao had increased to about 2,000, most of them merchants and traders. By the end of the 18th century, Jews owned most of the property in the district of Willemstad.
By 1740, two communities had come into existence. A new community occupied a tract across the harbour from Willemstad, known as "Otrabanda". In order to avoid crossing the water on the Sabbath to attend divine services, those who resided in this outlying district formed themselves into the Neveh Shalom (Dwelling of Peace) congregation, and in 1745 consecrated their synagogue. For a time, this was regarded as merely a branch of the older congregation, remaining under its direction. However, after a series of disputes, the congregation became independent in 1870.
After the conquest of Brazil by the Portuguese in 1654, a large number of Jewish refugees came to Curaçao. This circumstance led to the effective Jewish settlement in Amsterdam. Two years later, the local community established the Congregation Mikvé Israel under the direction of the Spanish and Portuguese community of Amsterdam. In the same year of 1656, the land originally granted to the first twelve Sephardic families was appropriated for a burial ground and was consecrated to its purpose. Also, a small wooden building was rented to house regular daily services. It was only in 1692 that a synagogue was erected and consecrated on the eve of Passover. The services were read by hazzan David Raphael Lopez de Fonseca. The building, enlarged and reconsecrated in 1731, still stands at present.
A period of substantial prosperity for the Jews of Curaçao began early in the 18th century. In 1715, they established a benevolent society for the care of the sick and needy. By 1750 the number of Jews living in Curaçao had increased to about 2,000, most of them merchants and traders. By the end of the 18th century, Jews owned most of the property in the district of Willemstad.
By 1740, two communities had come into existence. A new community occupied a tract across the harbour from Willemstad, known as "Otrabanda". In order to avoid crossing the water on the Sabbath to attend divine services, those who resided in this outlying district formed themselves into the Neveh Shalom (Dwelling of Peace) congregation, and in 1745 consecrated their synagogue. For a time, this was regarded as merely a branch of the older congregation, remaining under its direction. However, after a series of disputes, the congregation became independent in 1870.
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Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2022
Bibliography
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| Title | Alternate label | Class |
|---|---|---|
| The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives | Collections (official language of the state) | |
| The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives | Collections (official language of the state) |