Jewish Heritage of Curacao

Jewish Heritage of Curacao
Price: $169.00
Choose Options My Cruise Itinerary
Summary
Shore Excursion Size ? Standard
Shore Excursion Type Cultural, Scenic
Shore Excursion Duration 3 Hours
Activity Level ? Easy
Shore Excursion Leaves From ? Cruise Ship Pier
Food/Beverage Provided Water is included.
Recommended Dress We recommend wearing comfortable, seasonal clothing and walking shoes. A hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen is also recommended.
Restrictions Guests must be able to step in and out of the vehicle.

Jewish Heritage of Curacao

Curacao holds the dubious distinction of being the major slave port in the Americas in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was a hub from which more than a half million enslaved Africans were sold on the docks and shipped to plantations in North and South America. Curacao also played a pivotal role in another major movement of people from one part of the world to another, one that offered opportunity rather than oppression.

In 1651, Curacao's Jewish Congregation was founded by twelve Sephardic families who came to the island seeking the freedom to practice their faith, as well as pursue economic possibilities. The Sephardic Jews fled Portugal with the entrance of the Inquisition, and by coincidence, the Low Countries - now The Netherlands and Belgium - had around that same time won their 80-Years War against Spain and Catholicism, by defeating the Spanish Armada. Being liberated from the Catholic kings subsequently allowed them to open their borders to non-Catholics. They assured the Jews that they would respect their desire for freedom of worship, which had been forbidden by the Catholic kings. The Jews that settled in the Low Countries, primarily in Amsterdam, were then sought out when the Dutch West Indies Company recruited colonists to settle on Curacao, many of the Sephardim followed the Dutch flag as this guaranteed them religious freedom.

Today in Curacao there are two Jewish congregations: the Sephardim, who practice reconstruction Judaism, and the Ashkenazim, who practice modern orthodox or traditional Judaism.

Your first stop is the Beth Haim Jewish cemetery, consecrated in 1659, it is the oldest Caucasian cemetery on the island and in the Western Hemisphere. The site is also a Curacao National Monument.

Then you will visit another historic site also created as a peaceful sanctuary, the Rooi Catootje plantation house. It dates to about 1820 and was originally known as "Rust en Vrede," which translates as "Rest and Peace." The house has been the property of the Maduro family since 1853, when S.E.L. Maduro brought it as a gift to his wife Rebecca Curiel from her parent's estate. The house has now been preserved as a museum.

Continue to the 17th-century plantation house Chobolobo, owned by a Jewish family, where Curacao liquor is produced. Tour the house and learn more about the family name and history. Before leaving take the opportunity to enjoy samples of this famous local product.

The final part of your excursion will end with a drive through the old Jewish neighborhood of Scharloo. Make a stop at a synagogue for an up-close look at religious life in Curacao. The Jewish faith has been practiced here without interruption since 1732 and one congregation itself is even older, having been established in 1651. The very fear of persecution is what drove many of Curacao's earliest Jewish residents to relocate to the island in the first place. They were rightfully more than a little guarded about their beliefs, even upon founding their congregation and building their synagogues nearly a century later.

5 Stars4.9 / 5  |  18 ReviewsReview This Tour
Curacao
January 15, 2022
This tour was extensive and all encompassing. It was well worth the expense to learn the history of the Portugese Sephardic population that were accepted by the Dutch and settled here. They thrived & drove the island's economy making Curacao a shining example in the Carribean. Synagogue was first Jewish house of worship in the new world.
Reviewer: Marf
5 Stars
Jewish Heritage of Curacao
March 13, 2020
Our guide Jude was great. He was full of interesting information and made this tour one of the highlights of the cruise.
Reviewer: arlene wenokur
5 Stars
touir
March 12, 2020
the guide was excellent
Reviewer: BENEDICT ADELSON
5 Stars
Interesting and worthwhile
May 30, 2019
We enjoyed our personal tour in the tour guides own car. Only the two of us. Would have liked a bit more of the other interesting things in Curacao beside the Jewish history tour. The meeting place to find our tour guide was too confusing and too far from where tours were meeting. Not the guides fault, but it needs to be addressed so that tourists do not have to walk so far. It's governed by Curacao's rules for tours for ship, I believe.
Reviewer: Barbara Morrison
5 Stars
Jewish Heritage tour of Curacao
March 30, 2019
Our guide was excellent. Sadly I don't remember her name, but I believe she is the only person doing the Jewish historical tours. It was just my husband and me, so we got a very extensive and comprehensive tour.We were surprised to learn our guide was actually Roman Catholic as her knowledge of Judaism and the Jewish community in Curacao was so extensive.. I'd highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in the Jewish heritage of Curacao
Reviewer: Karen Weinberger
5 Stars
very informative and friendly
December 03, 2018
We were extremely happy with the shore excursion. The person who did it, actually knew what she was talking about and took everything to heart. Our whole group (the full bus load) was very thankful for your knowledge on the subject. Highly recommend this sight. I have used to use the cruise sight before and I will try to go this sight first for now on.
Reviewer: sherri lieberman
5 Stars