Trinidad and Tobago
Information
CJC Vice President: Barbara Malins-Smith
Community Organisation: B'nai Shalom: Jewish Society of Trinidad and Tobago
Demography
There are currently approximately 25-65 Jewish people living in Trinidad and Tobago, both Ashkenazi and Sephardi. The average age is 60 and they are mainly expatriates from Canada, Israel, the UK and the USA. Although low in number, the community remains vibrant.
History
Records of Jewish history in Trinidad and Tobago date back to the late 18th century, when the islands were first a Spanish, then British colony. French planters were encouraged to emigrate to the islands. They were Catholic but a minority had Jewish names - they were known as crypto-Jews and were descendants of ancestors who had been forced to convert to Catholicism. However, they still maintained some ancient traditions such as graves facing East, and naming their sons 8 days after birth. Some Sephardic Dutch also emigrated from Surinam.
Slavery was abolished in 1838, so the British brought in indentured labourers to work on the plantations - many were Portuguese, likely descendents from conversos during the Inquisition of 1492. They were aware of their Jewish roots and established links with Sephardi Dutch, leading to marriages. Several businesses were established by the Portuguese Sephardic Jews in the 1800s.
There was a lot of intermarriage and assimilation during the 18th and 19th centuries, so that by the start of the 20th century, there were only 31 practicing Jews in the country, and these were all British civil servants. The ancient traditions had been lost.
Many refugees fled Europe in the 1930s and were assisted by the Jewish Aid Society in the capital, Port of Spain.
By 1939, the Jewish population had reached 600. They were officially known as the Jewish Religious Society, but colloquially called themselved the 'Calypso Shtetl' or 'Calypso Jews'.
The first synagogue was built in the 1930s in Port of Spain.
A section of the Mucuapo Cemetery was reserved for the Jewish community, and this is still maintained in the present day.
During WW2, German and Austrian Jews fleeing the Nazis sought refuge in Trinidad and Tobago. They were interned in a camp in Port of Spain as 'enemy aliens'. Although they were released in 1943, they lived with restrictions until the end of the war. Many emigrated after the war, but more stayed.
The community reached its peak of approximately 700 in the 1950s, after which many youth left to study at international universities. Few returned, and of those who did, many assimilated through intermarriage.
A makeshift synagogue was erected during the 1950s but plans for a more permanent structure were abandoned in 1971 as there was not enough of a community to warrant one.
The Jewish community was integral in developing the thriving commercial district in Port of Spain. As a result, many of the streets are named after famous Jews of that era: David ben Gurion, Golda Meir, Chaim Weizmann, Theodore Herzl.
The Black Power Movement gathered momentum during the 1970s. Fearing a civil war and violence so soon after the Holocaust, many Jews left Trinidad and Tobago, the majority emigrating to Canada. Religious items such as the Torah scroll, were moved to Barbados for safe keeping.
The relationship between Trinidad and Tobago and Israel has remained strong regardless of the diminished community. Both David ben Gurion and Ariel Sharon have made State visits as Israeli Prime Minister.
Public Life
The Jewish has contributed to the wider society over the years: news, fashion, music, carnivals, business.
Sir Nathaniel Nathan was the Associate Justice of Trinidad Supreme Court 1883-1900, and Chief Justice 1900-1903.
Alfred Mendes was of Portuguese descent and the grandfather of director Sam Mendes.
A Curacaoan Jew, residing in Trinidad and Tobago, is currently serving in the Caribbean Court of Justice.
An interesting piece of information: the Police uses the Magen David as part of its insignia. It was originally designed in part to honour the contribution of the Jewish community to the wider society. It remains the only country outside of Israel to use the Magen David as a public symbol.
Community Life
The community is a mix of all streams of Judaism.
There is no synagogue, mikveh or rabbi.
Services are run by lay readers on the occasional Shabbat and High Holidays.
Chabad on other islands (especially Jamaica) offer assistance when required.
Kashrut
Education
Youth
Affiliations
Commonwealth Jewish Council