Jewish Treasures of the Caribbean

A photo essayof theoldest Jewish communities of the New World, as seen through the remaining historicsynagogues and Jewish cemeteries in theCaribbean. Thisphotographicessayhighlightsthelittle-known history of thefirstJewish communities established inthe New World datingto the 1600s.Award-winning photographer Wyatt Gallery documentsthe oldestsynagogues and cemeteries on Barbados, Curacao, Jamaica, St. Thomas, St. Eustatius, and Surinamethrough his singular style of photos withhistories written by Stanley Mirvis. Theenclaves, formed by Sephardic Jews who fled the Catholic Inquisition,becameso influential that they helped fuel the success of the American Revolution and partially finance the first synagogues inNew York City and Newport, Rhode Island. Once home to thousands,today these historic communities are rapidly dwindling and could soon disappear. Only five historic synagogues remain in use, and many of the cemeterieshave been damaged or lost to natural disasters, vandalism, and pollution. These photographsbear witness to the legacy of New World Judaism and provide arecord for future generations.