The Neveh Shalom Synagogue ( he, בית הכנסת נווה שלום, lit. ''House of Peace'') is the only
synagogue of the
Ashkenazi community in
Suriname.
History
The lot on
Keizerstraat 82 was acquired in 1716 by
Sephardi Jews
Sephardic (or Sephardi) Jews (, ; lad, Djudíos Sefardíes), also ''Sepharadim'' , Modern Hebrew: ''Sfaradim'', Tiberian: Səp̄āraddîm, also , ''Ye'hude Sepharad'', lit. "The Jews of Spain", es, Judíos sefardíes (or ), pt, Judeus sefa ...
. The original building was completed in 1723.
The first Surinamese synagogue was located in the
Jodensavanne
''Jodensavanne'' (Dutch, "Jewish Savanna") was a Jewish plantation community in Suriname, South America, and was for a time the centre of Jewish life in the colony. It was established in the 1600s by Sephardi Jews and became more developed and wea ...
, originally built of wood between 1665 and 1671 (but already rebuilt with bricks), however many had moved to Paramaribo.
Originally, the synagogue was for both the
Ashkenazim
Ashkenazi Jews ( ; he, יְהוּדֵי אַשְׁכְּנַז, translit=Yehudei Ashkenaz, ; yi, אַשכּנזישע ייִדן, Ashkenazishe Yidn), also known as Ashkenazic Jews or ''Ashkenazim'',, Ashkenazi Hebrew pronunciation: , singu ...
and the Sephardim community.
The synagogue was sold to the Ashkenazim in 1735, and the Sephardim formed a separate community known as
Tzedek ve-Shalom.
The two communities have merged in the 1990s, and hold services in alternating buildings and alternating rites.
The current synagogue on the Keizerstraat 82 lot, designed by architect J.F. Halfhide, was completed in 1842. Construction started on 3 July 1835 in the presence of
Prince Henry of the Netherlands.
The synagogue contains a small museum about the
history of the Jews in Suriname.
Over the years the synagogue has transitioned from Orthodox to liberal, accepting interfaith couples and non-Jews.
The
Mosque Keizerstraat is adjacent to the synagogue.
Gallery
File:Israel DSC08889 (9626416231).jpg
File:Suriname Synagogue (8528811623).jpg
File:Synagoge-Keizerstraat-Suriname.jpg
File:Israel DSC08891 (9626417549).jpg
See also
*
History of the Jews in Suriname
References
External links
*
*
Neve Shalom Web site
Washington Post, February 18, 2011
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1843 establishments in Suriname
1723 establishments in the Dutch Empire
18th-century synagogues
Ashkenazi Jewish culture in South America
Ashkenazi synagogues
Buildings and structures in Paramaribo
Orthodox Judaism in South America
Orthodox synagogues
Religious buildings and structures completed in 1723
Neoclassical synagogues
Reform Judaism in South America
Reform synagogues
Sephardi Jewish culture in South America
Sephardi Reform Judaism
Sephardi synagogues
Synagogues completed in 1843
Synagogues in Suriname