Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue Curacao

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Where ancient Jewish history and ritual meet in the Dutch Caribbean

Mikvé Israel-Emanuel

The Mikvé Israel-Emanuel synagogue in Curaçao was consecrated in 1732. It is the oldest synagogue in continuous use in the Americas. The synagogue connects you to Spanish and Portuguese Jewish roots that can be traced back to the Iberian peninsula of the 1500s. Worshippers come together for regular weekly Shabbat services Friday evenings at 6:30 and Saturday mornings at 10:00 as well as on all Jewish holidays.

The harbor and inner city of the island’s capital Willemstad were designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1997. The city features colorful and historical Dutch colonial architecture, which includes Mikvé Israel-Emanuel synagogue. It is one of the island’s prime historical monuments with its unique architecture, ancient mahogany furniture and magnificent chandeliers, gleaming silver and brass ornaments and symbolic sand floor. Immerse yourself in almost 400 years of history. The Mikvé Israel-Emanuel synagogue, where Jewish history and ritual meet Curaçao’s cultural history and monuments.

Congregation’s History

Curaçao’s Jews moved to the walled city of Willemstad in the late 1600s and turned to trading and shipping instead of agriculture. As a result of their success and many more Jews settling on the island from Europe and the region, the community steadily grew. Larger houses of worship were necessary. In 1730 construction began on a much larger synagogue The interior of the new synagogue is a replica of the Portuguese synagogue of Amsterdam, the Esnoga. The local word for the synagogue is Snoa, likely derived from Esnoga

In the middle of the 1800s there were varying petitions to the synagogue board by congregants to introduce reforms to the orthodox ritual. A rift emerged in 1863 between the orthodox and reform-minded members of the community. In 1864 the pro-reform members left Mikvé Israel and formed the Dutch Reform Emanu-El congregation. They built their own house of worship, the Temple Emanu-El, consecrated in 1867. The Mikvé Israel and Temple Emanu-El co-existed in close proximity to each other for a hundred years.

As both congregations suffered from dwindling attendance over time, the two re-connected in the early 1960s. After a hundred years apart, they merged in 1964 and became the United Netherlands Portuguese Congregation Mikvé Israel-Emanuel and adopted the Reconstructionist ritual, with services held at the original Mikvé Israel building. The Temple Emanu-El building was later sold and currently houses the Public Prosecutor’s office.

The synagogue

Hours & Tickets

The synagogue is open for worship Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. We are open Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 16:30 for visitors. (LAST ENTRY AT 15:30)

Tickets can be purchased for weekday visits at the entrance for US$ 10 or 18 Guilders and include entrance to the Jewish Cultural Historical Museum. Visitors need to show a legal valid ID for entry. Entrance is free for Curaçao residents with proof of ID.

Accessibility:

The sanctuary is wheelchair accessible in the courtyard and on the ground-floor. Do bear in mind there is sand on the floor in the sanctuary, which can make it more difficult to traverse for persons who use wheelchairs, walkers, and canes

Religious services

To attend Shabbat services on Friday evenings at 18:30 and Saturday mornings at 10:00 there is no charge. Services are also held on all Jewish holidays.

Our services are egalitarian and there is no assigned seating other than for members of the Congregational board. Men are required to wear head covering in the synagogue. Women are encouraged to wear head covering and are required to do so when receiving an honor on the Thebah or at the Heychal.

Our dress code is casual but neat dress for attendance at our synagogue services. For men, this includes slacks/khakis with a short sleeve dress shirt or polo shirt. For women, we suggest skirt or slacks, blouse that preferably covers up the shoulders. No faded or torn jeans, no shorts, no flip-flops for men or women. Please note there is no drinking or eating in the sanctuary.

Visitors need to show a legal valid ID for entry.