WORSHip

One of the blessings of our Jewish community of Curacao being a cosmopolitan crossroads and destination is the ability to pray with both our local community and our visitors and friends from around the world.

How we worship

We are a liberal progressive synagogue rooted in Sephardic culture and tradition.

We are affiliated with both the Reconstructionist Movement and the World Union for Progressive Judaism.

We pray in Hebrew and English and retain a variety of our traditional Portuguese elements.

We use the Mishkan T’filah prayer book along with our traditional Sephardi Torah service booklet.

All are welcome Jewish and non-Jewish

Prayer Services Protocol

One of the blessings of our Jewish community of Curaçao being a cosmopolitan crossroads and destination is the ability to pray with both our local community and our visitors and friends from around the world. All are welcome – Jewish and non-Jewish. Whether you grew up in the synagogue or this is your first time. We invite you to join us in this sacred space and share with you our protocols to help orient you to our sanctuary and customs.

Participation

We welcome visitors to join our services. We expect guests to arrive on time and stay for the full service. We invite you to stay for kiddush afterwards so that we can get to know one another better. Please note there is no drinking or eating in the sanctuary.

Attire

Our dress code is casual but neat dress for attendance at our synagogue services.

Ladies: please have your shoulders covered (no spaghetti straps). No miniskirts or shorts allowed. Pants are allowed.

Gentlemen: please wear long pants, shorts are not allowed. Shirts can be short-sleeved, dress, or polo shirts.

When receiving an honor during a religious service (such as an aliyah), both ladies and gentlemen are required to wear a head covering (kippah) as well as a tallit.

Ritual Attire

A head covering (kippah) must be worn by men. Women are also welcome to wear a kippah. They are available at the sanctuary entrance, next to the prayer books.
A head covering is required for all honors during a service.

Additionally, a head covering and tallit (prayer shawl) are required for honors which involve the Torah.

Egalitarian Seating

We are fully egalitarian and have mixed seating. Men and women are able to sit together.

Technology

Photography and videography are not permitted during services. If you would like to take photos of the sanctuary, we invite you to return during the week for a tour of the synagogue and visit to the museum.

Thank you for respecting our customs and community and helping to create and maintain our holy space. We cannot wait to meet you and share Shabbat and Holidays together.

Shabbat &
Holiday services

We hold regular Shabbat and holiday services throughout the year and visitors are always welcome to join us.

Shabbat Services

Please join us for Shabbat services each week:

Friday evenings: 18:30 to 19:45, followed by kiddush.

A Family Service is held the second Friday of the month. It is an intergenerational service with stories and activities for young kids.

Saturday mornings: Torah service 10:00 to 12:00, followed by kiddush.

holiday services

We hold holiday services throughout the year.

International Lifecycle Celebrations

We celebrate life cycle events, such as Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, Weddings, and Vow renewals. Please contact us to discuss your celebrations.

We wish to note that the placement of photos in this gallery has been approved by the people portrayed on them.