Synagogue With Sand Floor

Several explanations exist for the purpose of the sand.

Synagogue with sand floor. As already mentioned only five synagogues in the world have a sand floor. Sand floor the st. We are the oldest synagogue building in continuous use under the american flag the second oldest in the western hemisphere and only one of five synagogues in the world with sand on the floor. One visitor to the synagogue observed upon entering through a quiet courtyard viewing the azure stained glass windows and walking across a sand covered floor toward the carved mahogany holy ark that the sand floors remind congregants of how its jewish ancestors on the iberian peninsula covered the floors of their makeshift prayer houses so that their footsteps would be muffled and the suspicion of potential denouncers would not be aroused.

The oldest synagogue in continuous use in the americas mikve israel was built in 1703. Our history resonates with powerful stories. Thomas synagogue stands north of charlotte amalie s central business district on the north side of crystal gade near its junction with raadets gade. It was therefore practical to line the floor in the synagogue with sand to keep it tidy.

Thomas us virgin islands. Today there are just four synagogues that carry on the distinctly dutch portuguese tradition of sand covered floors. There are two theories behind this unusual occurrence. A synagogue drawn in the sand.

Sand floor synagogues can be found in four other locations in jamaica in surinam in saint thomas and in the portuguese synagogue of amsterdam. The esnoga synagogue was near the edge of town where most of the streets were unpaved and thanks to the weather often muddy. The synagogue hosts about a dozen bar mitzvahs or bat mitzvahs annually but it s the cruise ship visitors who supply the most substantial boost. The wikipedia page on the st.

The building is known for its solid mahogany interior 18th century. The fifth synagogue with a sand covered floor is the portuguese synagogue esnoga in amsterdam the netherlands. The shaare shalom synagogue in kingston jamaica. Our community is special.

Willemstad s mikvé israel emanuel has the largest congregation with about 200. The building is in very good condition and guests. The beracha veshalom vegimulth hasidim synagogue in charlotte amalie st. In 2015 cruise ships brought more than 565 000 people to curaçao and many of them went to see the synagogue that covers its floor with sand paying a us 10 fee to see its treasures.

It is a single story structure built out of rubblestone joined by a mortar mix of lime sand and molasses and covered by a shallow pitch hip roof.