Jewish Jamaican Journeys

22/09/2025

Our beautiful Synagogue Sha'are Shalom ready to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and to bring in the new year 5786. L'Shana Tova!

22/09/2025

Dressing the Torahs for Rosh Hashanah at Synagogue Sha'are Shalom in Kingston, Jamaica. L'Shana Tova!

22/09/2025

23/05/2025

Please support JJCPF in their efforts to preserve Jamaica's Jewish cemeteries. Visit their website at jjcpf.org

21/04/2025

A very special and meaningful Bat Mitzvah in Kingston, Jamaica over the weekend. The Jewish community in Jamaica is a small one but has officially had a presence on the island for 370 years. And though this rite of passage is a belated one for these girls due to various reasons, it was important for them to maintain a connection to this historic community. Mazel Tov Evelyn and Rain!

21/04/2025

The Jewish community of Jamaica celebrating Passover at the communal Seder.

14/02/2025

Shabbat Shalom from Kingston, Jamaica.

01/02/2025

12 years ago...documenting Jamaica's Jewish heritage.

This trip was very exciting as no one was sure what would be uncovered.....the last visit was most likely over 50 years ago by Barnett & Wright when they were collecting documentation for their book "The Jews of Jamaica: Tombstone Inscriptions 1663-1880". There was probably quite a sizable Jewish population in "Sav" as there has been mention of a synagogue once existing, and there must certainly have been a larger cemetery. The 1780 hurricane just about completely wiped out the town that was established earlier that century, which was hard hit by another two in following centuries. Only in-depth research can give us further clues the Jewish community of this town.

16/01/2025

Yesterday, January 14, marked the 118th Anniversary of the Great Earthquake of 1907. Nearly 1,000 lives were lost and 10,000 left homeless. Almost all buildings in the capital city of Kingston had some sort of damage and many destroyed.

The Synagogue of the English & German Congregation suffered extensive damage as well as the Duke Street Synagogue belonging to the Amalgamated Congregation.

The Jewish community of Jamaica lost a number of members from its various congregations including:

Spanish & Portuguese Congregation
* Edmund Finzi
* Sigismund Chas DePass - Army & Navy Store
* Wyndham DePass - Army & Navy Store
* Moses Athias - auctioneer
* Bertie Cecil DaCosta - C M DaCosta
* St. Leo Delisser - Jamaica To***co Co.
* Philip Cohen Henriques - Clerk at Middleton's
* Abraham Cohen Henriques- Army & Navy Stores
* Miss Rachel Michaels

Amalgamated Congregation
* Lionel Mark Mordecai - Merchant
* Isaac Silvera Brandon - Merchant
* David I. Motta - Merchant
* Arthur Motta
* Ernest A. Samuel - Merchant
* Marcus Delgado
* Herbert Tavares
* Edgar DeCordova - Forage Store
* Ernest H. Morrice - auctioneer
* Samuel Lawton
* Michael Morais
* Ernest Morais
* Fred DaCosta Morais
* Mrs. Sophia Delisser (John)
* John Fenich

Photo courtesy of Jamaica Heritage Colonial Society