About Virgin Islands
The U.S. Virgin Islands are a group of Caribbean islands and islets. A U.S. territory, it's known for white-sand beaches, reefs and verdant hills. St. Thomas Island is home to the capital, Charlotte Amalie. To the east is the island of St. John, most of which comprises Virgin Islands National Park. St. Croix Island and its historic towns, Christiansted and Frederiksted, are to the south. The Virgin Islands were originally inhabited by the Arawak, Carib, and Cermic, almost all of whom are thought to have perished during the colonial period due to enslavement, foreign disease, and mass extermination brought about by European colonists as is the case in the rest of the Caribbean. There are many beaches in and around St Thomas and much of the tourism is based around these beaches with water sports boat trips and beach life. Many cruise ships also dock in St Thomas and the passengers explore the Island.
Jewish History, POI & Kosher Establishments in Virgin Islands
Jews first settled in the Virgin Islands in 1655 when it was ruled by Denmark. These were mainly traders in sugarcane, rum and Molasses. One of the first Jews in the Virgin Islands was Gabriel Milan, whom King Christian of Denmark sent in 1664 to be governor, the first of three Jews who have served as governors. In 1685, the Jews and Catholics were granted freedom of religion and about two centuries later, in 1850, the Islands' Jewish population hit its peak, numbering 400 and making up half of the white community. In 1796, the Jews of St. Thomas founded a synagogue that is now considered the oldest continuous-use synagogue under the American flag (the Virgin Islands are an American territory). The present-day Synagogue building was built in 1833 with the help from worldwide Jewry and the entire island community. Sabbath religious services have been held there every week since 1833 with only one exception: September 15, 1995, when Hurricane Marilyn devastated the island. Today, the synagogue is affiliated with the Reform movement. The low wooden walls in the Synagogue served as a m'chitzah to separate the women from the men during the early years when the Congregation was Orthodox. Since the Synagogue is the only one on the island, it serves the religious needs of a diverse Jewish population. The first Confirmation ceremony in the Western Hemisphere took place at the synagogue on October 14, 1843. There is also a Chabad centre that is being built and will bring kosher food to those that need it. In the year of the bicentennial, 1995-96, a small museum was added to the synagogue, named after the late Johnny Weibel, a member of the congregation. The museum demonstrates the history of the congregation and the synagogue and displays some of the artifacts of the Jewish history on the island.
