THE
JEWISH HISTORICAL CULTURAL MUSEUM
Crossing
the Cabana, one passes from the Synagogue courtyard through an open doorway,
into the patio of the Jewish Historical Museum which was established in
1970.
The Museum occupies two buildings which date back to 1728. These were originally the Rabbi’s residence and the “Bath-house”. When the “Mikvah” or Ritual Bath fell into disuse in the middle of the 19th century, the buildings were sold and for many years occupied by non-Jews. During their recent restoration by the Curaçao Foundation for the Preservation of Monuments, the “Mikvah”, lost for generations, was sought . . . and uncovered! It is now the first thing which draws the visitor’s attention as he enters the Museum’s patio.
Lining
the patio walls are nine replicas of a number of the beautifully-carved
tombstones in the 17th century “Blenheim” cemetery. The two buildings,
reconstructed in their original colonial style, provide an appropriate
setting for the great variety of priceless ceremonial and cultural objects
collected during the over 350 years of Jewish life on Curaçao. Among
them:
- a Torah scroll brought by the first Jewish settlers to Curacao (believed to be from the time of their expulsion from Spain in 1492);
- a large, battered, 200 year old silver tray from Holland, still used for the smashing of the wineglass during wedding ceremonies in the Synagogue. (It is the custom at Mikvé Israel for the groom to dash a crystal goblet down onto the tray rather than to crush it beneath his foot);
- two “Chairs of Elijah” (circumcision chairs) -one (over 300 years old) belonging to Cong. Mikvé Israel, and the other (over 100 years old) from former Temple Emanuel -both of intricately carved, lustrous mahogany that belies their age.
- a silver Havdallah spice-box dating back to 1704.
- unique, hand-wrought silver K’tarim (Torah crowns) from the first half of the 18th century;
- colorful, hand decorated Ketubot (marriage contracts), the oldest dated 1739;
- and countless other small, but no less significant memorabilia, such as coins minted by local Jewish families, commemorative stamps honoring famous Curaçao Jewish enterprises and culture, plaques and brooches made with the hair of deceased relatives, amulets, etc.
A
complete Seder table, set with all the ritual objects and symbols for the
Festival of Pesach (Passover), is the centerpiece of the second floor exhibit
area.
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