Unravel the history of the Surinamese Jewish community

Program to unravel the the history of the Jews in Suriname 

Jodensavanne was the first and only place in the New World, where Jews were granted a semi-autonomous regime in the 17 century. The Jews that fled for the Spanish Inquisition were welcomed in Suriname. To attract more Jewish settlers, the colony offered Jews special privileges; including freedom of religion and ownership and the right for their own judicial tribunal.  In 1665 the Jews built a synagogue (Beraha Veshalom) with bricks from Europe and a cemetery near the Cassipora creek.

At the end of the 17th century, approximately 575 Jews lived in the thriving agricultural settlement of Jodensavanne with more than 40 plantations and about 1300 slaves. The Jewish community also provided protection to other plantations in the colony against rebellious slaves. Nearby the Jewish settlement, the military warehouse ‘Post Gelderland’ was situated for the ‘Cordon Pad’ defense line. In the 19th century, many Jews moved to the capital of Paramaribo as a result of the decline of the cane industry. After a major fire in 1832, the settlement was destroyed. In 1842 a new synagogue in Paramaribo was initiated, called ‘NeVe Shalom’.

The 3 cemeteries of Jodensavanne and Cassipora are from exceptional grandeur! Visit also the small wishing well! You never know!

This organized small-group day trip will last the whole day (8-10 hours).

“Wherever you want to go in the 3 Guianas, Pejego Tours makes it possible!”