The Jewish Community of Curaçao

The first Jews arrived in Curaçao as early as 1651, not long after the Dutch captured it from Spain. The Sephardic community, founded under the name Mikve Israel, was the largest Jewish community in the Americas until 1825. Upon their arrival, the Jewish settlers built a synagogue, which was quickly enlarged and replaced to make room for the growing community. 

Entries in the Posen Library by This Creator

Primary Source

Acordos (Regulations): On Unruly Boys

Public Access
Text
On the 28th of Tisry, yr. 5468 [1707], the gentlemen of the Mahamad and their councillors met to correct the disorders caused in this Holy House by the big boys and lads who do not attend the Medras…

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Acordos (Regulations): Against Libelous Verses

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Text
The gentlemen of the Mahamad [board of governors—Ed.] have received a letter from the very illustrious gentlemen of the Mahamad of the Holy Congregation of T: T: [Talmud…

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Acordos (Regulations): On Synagogue Behavior

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Text
In the name of the blessed God. By virtue of the Regulation made and published on the 18th of Sivan, Yr: 5471 [1711], holding those [boys] of the age of 16 years subject to the orders of the…

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Curaçao Cemetery, Gravestone Inscriptions

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Text
Italics indicate that the text was written in Hebrew, not Portuguese.