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hstrybuf
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Posted: Sun Mar 18th, 2007 11:30 pm | 1st Post |
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Updated: 7:37 p.m. CT March 16, 2007
CHARLOTTE AMALIE, U.S. Virgin Islands - Weddings aren’t the only major life event Americans are traveling for these days.
Now there are destination bar and bat mitzvahs.
American adolescents and their families are increasingly traveling to the Caribbean’s historic synagogues to mark the coming-of-age rituals that are among the most significant events in Judaism.
Jewish boys and girls typically participate in the ceremonies when they are 13 years old, when they go before their congregations to read from the Torah.
The St. Thomas Synagogue in the U.S. Virgin Islands has recorded a tenfold increase in celebrants in the last four years — with reservations stretching into 2009, said Rabbi Arthur Starr. The congregation, which started serving the small Jewish community on the island near the end of the 18th century, oversees about 30 bar and bat mitzvah celebrations each year — up from just two or three in 2002.
“We’ve never advertised that we do this. People just hear about it,” said Starr, whose synagogue is a National Historic Landmark.
The Mikve Israel-Emanuel Synagogue in the Dutch Caribbean island of Curacao has seen a similar increase. The congregation, founded in 1732, is likely the oldest in the Western Hemisphere and was a hub from which Sephardic Jews — the name for Jews of Spanish and Portuguese descent — fanned out across the Americas.
“Some come with a large group of family and friends to have the celebration somewhere different and get a lovely vacation at the same time,” said Hazzan Avery Tracht, one of the 275-year-old synagogue’s spiritual leaders.
More here:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17611280/
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Deb
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
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Luvs Free Style Croozn
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Posted: Wed Aug 22nd, 2007 01:19 am | 2nd Post |
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This was a very interesting post to read about Jewish people having their Bar/Bat Mitzvah in ST Thomas.
I had a good time there but I am sure where I was on the island, there were no Synagogues. I was looking for one but mainly there are churches.
It is great to know the Rabbi performs 30 Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. I hope it continues.
Thanks for posting about this.
Luvs Free Style Croozn
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bragstarr
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Posted: Sun Aug 26th, 2007 05:18 pm | 3rd Post |
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| I haven't made it to St. Thomas yet, but this is definitely on my to visit list if I ever get there. I read about this synogogue before. This probably would have been more fun to do than our typical Long Island bar-mitzvahs, and to boot, the Rabbi's last name is Starr, which is the same as mine!
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hstrybuf
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Posted: Mon Aug 27th, 2007 04:40 am | 4th Post |
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Here's some additional information from the synagogue's web site:
You can find us on "Synagogue Hill" in downtown Charlotte Amalie, just a few short blocks up from the Waterfront and Main Street. Just take Raadet's Gade from Main Street (H. Stern is on that corner) up to the top of the hill, turn left and the Synagogue is the second building on the right.
If you want to reach us beforehand, call 340-774-4312, write us at PO Box 266, St. Thomas, USVI, 00804, or e-mail us at hebrewcong@islands.vi.
Please come visit us -- and enjoy our beautiful island!
http://www.onepaper.com/synagogue/
____________________
Deb
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Thomas Jefferson
My pics: http://community.webshots.com/user/hstrycrsr
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Luvs Free Style Croozn
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Posted: Mon Aug 27th, 2007 03:22 pm | 5th Post |
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Hi:
It was nice to receive your reply about the Synagogue in St Thomas. I was never at this shul in St Thomas but would like to see it. All shuls are different and I bet this one is, too.
It is great families take their kids and get them Bar/Bat Mitzvah their. What a happy time. I have been to Bar/Bat Mitzvahs but I am sure in ST Thomas it might be different.
Have fun croozn. I don't know why I spelled it like that for my log in name, but thought it would be different. I guess it is. Happy Travels.
Luvs Free Style Croozn
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Spirit 4/07-5/07 b2b
Spirit 10/07 ctn
Crown Last Voyage 10/07-11/07 7 Days
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Spirit 3/08-4/08 Repo 14 Days
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