Nidhe Israel Synagogue, Bridgetown (must see)
The Nidhe Israel Synagogue is the only synagogue on the island and one of the oldest in the western hemisphere. It was built in 1654. Jews left Dutch Brazil to avoid persecution from the Portuguese and settled on the island. They were skilled in the sugar industry and introduced the sugar crop to Barbados, teaching their skills to the local land owners.
The Barbados Jewish community grew over the years as other settlements dissolved. One group came from Cayenne, French Guana, in 1664, and another from Suriname in 1674. They gathered in two communities on the island, the largest being in Bridgetown, where 54 out of 404 households were Jewish.
The building has gone through many phases. Like other buildings on the island, hurricanes have damaged it over the centuries. It was destroyed by one in 1831 and rebuilt afterward. Unfortunately, it fell into disrepair until it was sold in 1929.
The building was modified, with the upper gallery being converted to a full second level. Over the years, the building changed hands several times until 1983, when the government seized it. The plan was to bulldoze the site and build a new courthouse, but petitioning from the local Jewish community resulted in it being handed over to the Barbados National Trust.
A full renovation began in 1986, and the building returned to being a synagogue. Archaeologists discovered a mikveh on the site of the former rabbi's house in 2008. A mikveh is a ritual bath, and it was constructed over a still-running freshwater spring.
The Nidhe Israel Museum opened in 2008 to tell the story of the Jewish communities on the island and their histories.
The Barbados Jewish community grew over the years as other settlements dissolved. One group came from Cayenne, French Guana, in 1664, and another from Suriname in 1674. They gathered in two communities on the island, the largest being in Bridgetown, where 54 out of 404 households were Jewish.
The building has gone through many phases. Like other buildings on the island, hurricanes have damaged it over the centuries. It was destroyed by one in 1831 and rebuilt afterward. Unfortunately, it fell into disrepair until it was sold in 1929.
The building was modified, with the upper gallery being converted to a full second level. Over the years, the building changed hands several times until 1983, when the government seized it. The plan was to bulldoze the site and build a new courthouse, but petitioning from the local Jewish community resulted in it being handed over to the Barbados National Trust.
A full renovation began in 1986, and the building returned to being a synagogue. Archaeologists discovered a mikveh on the site of the former rabbi's house in 2008. A mikveh is a ritual bath, and it was constructed over a still-running freshwater spring.
The Nidhe Israel Museum opened in 2008 to tell the story of the Jewish communities on the island and their histories.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Bridgetown. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
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Nidhe Israel Synagogue on Map
Sight Name: Nidhe Israel Synagogue
Sight Location: Bridgetown, Barbados (See walking tours in Bridgetown)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Bridgetown, Barbados (See walking tours in Bridgetown)
Sight Type: Religious
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Bridgetown, Barbados
Create Your Own Walk in Bridgetown
Creating your own self-guided walk in Bridgetown is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Garrison Historic Area Walking Tour
St. Ann's Garrison, more commonly known simply as "The Garrison", is a small district in Barbados situated some 2 miles south of Heroes Square in the capital-city of Bridgetown.
This historic area is dominated by a horse racetrack, located on the 30 acre parade ground called the Garrison Savannah. Here, in the mid 18th century, wealthy prominent Barbadians and regiment troops... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
This historic area is dominated by a horse racetrack, located on the 30 acre parade ground called the Garrison Savannah. Here, in the mid 18th century, wealthy prominent Barbadians and regiment troops... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Bridgetown Introduction Walking Tour
Bridgetown is the largest city on the island of Barbados. It was founded on the shores of Carlisle Bay, a cove on the southwest coast. The harbor is the natural location for ships to anchor, and Barbados is one of the first landfall points after crossing the Atlantic from Europe.
Originally, the island of Barbados was visited by various Amerindian tribes. Evidence has shown that permanent... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles
Originally, the island of Barbados was visited by various Amerindian tribes. Evidence has shown that permanent... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.7 Km or 1.1 Miles