The Jewish Presence in the New World

During the years the Moors controlled most of Spain, the Jewish population thrived. Iberia was a land of relative tolerance and opportunity.

In the early 11th Century, the Berber Invasion broke down the Centralised government in Cordoba. Some Jews were made viziers and served in high rank in the military.

This was of brief duration.
In 1066 came the Granada massacre, where Islamic fanatics from North Africa killed 4,000 Jews.

In the 1300s relationships between the Jews and the Christians was good. Jews were considered Spaniards first, then Jews.

This changed in 1391 with the massacre in Seville.

By 1480 Jews were in barrios, forced to convert to Christianity or be killed.
In 1492, all Jews were ordered to leave Spain.

The majority of Jews who left Spain, about 90,000, went to Turkey.
25,000 went to Holland, England, Scandinavia and Hamburg and bout 20,000 went to Morocco.

Only about 5,000 went to the Americas.

Those that remained in Spain either became Catholics or were killed.

As Spain claimed more land in New World, Conversos (those who had converted to Catholicism) traveled to find a refuge.

Many arrived in the West Indies and formed business alliances with their relatives who had remained in Spain. A large portion of the shipping and importing industry of Spain fell into the hands of the Conversos and their Jewish relatives elsewhere. (It must be remembered that at this time in history being a 'merchant' was disdained).

Holland, being tolerant, became a beacon for Jews. As their number increased, the toleration began to decrease and most were requested to emigrate to Dutch overseas territories as Curacao, Northern Brasil and Suriname. Jews thrown out of England went to Jamaica, Barbados and other English colonies.

Considering the fact that the Jews spoke Hebrew, (those from Spain would also speak Ladino) the ability of communication between a Jew in a British colony with one in a Portugese colony is undoubted.

Considering the positions of Jews as merchants, and their placement in every colony, the decline of Spanish commerce in the seventeenth century was due in large measure to the activities of the Jewish merchants, many of whom aligned with British Privateers (Pirates) and helped bring down the Spanish Empire.

Conversos or Marranos , Jews who appeared to have converted to Catholicism, settled in the Spanish Territories. Many maintained their true religion and worshipped in Secret.
In the Dutch colonies Jews could practice openly.

In Recife, which was under Dutch control, Kahal Zur Israel (Rock of Israel), was founded in 1630. This is considered the oldest synogogue in the Western Hemisphere.

When the Portuguese took that part of Brasil, the Jews had to flee. Many went first to Barbados where they brought the knowledge of the growing of sugar cane.

Although some stayed in Barbados until the early 20th century, many others went to another British colony; South Carolina.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, South Carolina was almost an 'island' in the Caribbean. It was settled by diverse people as its constitution specifically granted liberty of religious practice.

Jamaica was a Spanish colony until 1655 when it was captured by the English. Many of the Marranos and Conversos remained as freedom of religion was granted.

The sand on the floor of the Shaare Shalom synagogue in Kingston, Jamaica represents the time Jews had to practice their religion in secret.

Curacao also has sand on the floor of their synagogue for the same reason.

During the 1500s - 1700s Piracy, or Privateering as it was called, was practised against Spanish Shipping.

A glance at a map will show Curacao perfectly placed to track the movements of the Spanish Armada when it collected South American silver from Venezuela.

Considering the fact that many Jews were merchants on the Dutch islands, and in communication with Jews in the rest of the world, the information as to where and when ships would leave and the routes they would take was shared with pirates, (or privateers to be polite).

The English privateers were very successful in so weakening the Spanish Empire that it was no longer a threat by the 1700s.

The majority of Jews in the New World were Sephardim; coming from Spain and aligned regions. The Ashkenazim, those from central Europe, did not cross the Atlantic until the  mid 1800s.

Jews were not newcomers to the New World.  Seven traveled with Columbus on his first voyage.