The Canadian Jewish News, Thursday, April 19,1984 - Page 29
GORDON ALLEN
When I think of the West Indies^ 1— like thousands Of others, I'm sure — think of sun, sea and sand. I do sometimes think of the turbulent and colorful history of the region as the islands reeled between conquests, pirates and internal strife.
What I did not think of, except on the occia-sion of passing a tiny old Jewish cemetery in Mon-tego Bay, Jamaica^ is how Jewish communitieis fared in the Caribbean^
What r discovered in Barbados was that there had been a Jewiish community there 300 years ago. The island was discovered by the Portuguese who named it after the "bearded" (bart)a-dos) fig tree fbuhd on the island and, ironically, the first Jewish settlers came there because of the Portuguese, but more Of that later.
The first actual settlers were the English who retained control since 1625. The result is a peaceful, democratic.
self-governing country of about 265,000 people of whom 90% are of Afro-West Indian heritage, 5% white and 5% mixed. It is a friendly, highly lierate (less than 5% illiteracy, lowest in the West Indies) country with a high standard of education.
Accordling to the Encyclopaedia Judaica ^e fkst Jewish settlers were ex-Marranos who escaped from Brazil after it was reconquered from the Dutch by the Portuguese. The first of these were physicians: Abraham de Mercado and his son David Raphaels That was in 1655, just 30 years after the English settlement was first established.
The commimlty grew and flonrlshed for idboot 200 years, and I saw a noniber of reminders of thatperiod.
The Sepliardic synagogue, built on Maga-dne Lane fai the capital j Bridgetown, on a land grant by the Earl of Car-lyle, stiU stands, but Is now a library. Nearby Is the original Jewish cemeteiy, one of the
First grave dates back to 1660
etvsto
anS sand, whichjs^ why we went to Barbados in the first place. And I can recommend it to others. It is one of the cleaner, most welcoming of the Caribbean Islands that we have visited, and We have been to as many as a half dozen for varying lengths of time.
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oldest in the western hemisphere. The earilest identifiable grave is that of Aaron de Marcado, whodiedfail660.
In the Barbados Museum one finds a handsome marble basin for washing hands, and a charity box dating back to liB34, that were once in the synagogue^
We did not see, but were told about, the beautiful Montefiore Fountain which vras presented to,Bridgetown by one John Monteftore in 1864. Still another relic of that community and showing the Dutch influence, is a windmill which was part of an early sugar plantation owned by a member of that original community.
So much for the Jewish past in Barbados. There are presently about 100 Jews who arrived in Barbados after the Worid War H. They maintain a community' centre and hold religious services on Friday evenings at "True Blue" on Rockley New Road, about two miles east Of Bridgetown.
But, back to sun, sea
The Jewish cemeteiy at Bridgetown, Barbados is atJnong the oldest in tiie Western hemisphere, with the earliest Identifiable grave being that of Aaron de Mercado, who died hi 1660.
INTERNATIONAL AQUATIC POOL SERVICE
Alan and Marshall Kideckel would like to ivuih our Customers & Friends a Healthy and Happy
Passover
134 Doncaster Ave., Unit 5 886-1652
Each
CO
the sea
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My selection of accommodation was based on recommendation and a Canadian connection. We chose Southern Palms Beach Gub which is currently managed by a man who until recently was at Toronto's Bristol Place and prior to that managed such hotels as the Alpine Inn in the Laurehtians;
The hotel consists of a seriesi of individual 3-
A happy Passover to our patrons
FOR FINE PINING
Open Seven Days a Week
FOR RESERVATIONS, 661-5744
2375 Steeles Ave. W.
(West of Dufferin)
FULLY LICENSED
A happy Passover to the Jewish Community and to our customers
GIL STEWART
CHANDELIER MAINTENANCE
CRYSTAL CLEANING
MOVING
123 Rochman Blvd. 438-0516 SCARBOROUGH, ONT. MIH ISl
storey structures, each with a courtyard that faces the sea. There are 93 rooms and suites (some with kitchens), two dining areas, bar and two fresh-water pools. While most of these are quite modem, there, is integrated into the entire complex at least one historic former summer home with modernized interior. It makes for an interesting juxtaposition of the old and new.
A nnlqae featcne Is the 900 feet of beach front [there Is an addltfonal stretch of that accessible beach 1o a total of 1 km w V . that's a lot of heach!]. Water sports and tennis are free except for nominal chaise for night-time lighting opofdiecoarts.
Dining, entertainment (we heard an excellent steel drum band . . . danced under the stars and sympathized with those who had to remain home in the Canada deep-freeze) and the services of a most charming and helpful social hostess help to make Southern Palms one I can recommend.
Barbados in recent years has been consid-
ered rather pricely, but the Tourist Board and the hotel people have made valiant efforts to hold the line and in many instances to roll back. As a result, today, one can vacation in Barbados for as much or as little as one wishes. There are any number of guests homes, resort complexes and small hotels that are quite reasonable.
By contrast, there are such places as the spectacular Sandy Lane (very expensive), Sam Lord's Castle which is, in part, a museum housed in what was once a pirate lair (some lau-!), and near the upple-middle group.
the Southern Palms.
The island, by the way, is mainly coral... it rises from the sandy west and southern beaches in steady progression to 1,000-foot high hills on the rugged, windswept Atlantic (east) coast. -
Additional impressions. Good, but plain and often spicy cuisine, with fresh, fresh fish a mainstay. New taste experiences in this regard were flying fish and dolphin (reminiscent of tuna).
And people. Tourists from Canada, the United States and many from Britain, West Germany and Italy.
Zemon Herutenu Season of our Freedom
The Soicitor General of Canada
and Mrs. Bob Ka|dan and Familir wish you a happy Passover
A HAPPY PASSOVER TO ALL OUR MANY JEWISH CUSTOMERS
Ihe Showcase of the Ej^ities"
^^^^^^^ 1^
AlltOMATIC SCORERS 33 Samor Road
Off Dufferin Street, 2 streets north of Lawrence
inquire about our Moonlight & Video Bowling Fridays & Saturdays SPECIAL ATTRACTION
Earl Anthony Is coming April 15th 1984
Inquire for Tournaments & Ticket Information at Playtime. Watch for other Special Events.