[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17981]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



           ST. THOMAS SYNAGOGUE--A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK

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                       HON. DONNA MC CHRISTENSEN

                         of the virgin islands

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 12, 2000

  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the St. 
Thomas Synagogue, formally, the Synagogue of Beracha Veshalom 
Vegemiluth Hasidim, or in English, ``the Synagogue of Blessing and 
Peace and Acts of Piety,'' located on Synagogue Hill overlooking 
Charlotte Amalie Harbor in the Federal Historic District of Charlotte 
Amalie, the capital of the United States Virgin Islands.
  Today, September 12, 2000, marks the 167th Anniversary of the 
consecration of the St. Thomas Synagogue. This synagogue, a well-
preserved structure, built 167 years ago today in 1833, is indeed rich 
in history, culture and architecture. It is the second oldest synagogue 
in the Western Hemisphere and the oldest in continuous use under the 
American flag.
  For many Virgin Islanders, the St. Thomas Synagogue is a reminder of 
tolerance and equality, as well as of European expansion into the new 
world during the Spanish Inquisition of 1492. Practicing Jews were 
expelled from Spain during that period. As a result of this exodus, 
many Jewish families established themselves in the then Danish West 
Indies which are now the U.S. Virgin Islands. Some of the surnames 
which date back to that time are still present in the Virgin Islands 
today such as: Maduro, Castro, Sasso, Levin, Bornn, and Monsanto.
  The St. Thomas Synagogue is also revered as among one of the most 
architecturally interesting buildings on St. Thomas. This one story, 
three-bay front building measures forty feet by fifty feet, is 
rectangular in shape. Its foundations, made of masonry with lime mortar 
and plaster, and its walls, made of brick and cut stone load-bearing 
masonry walls with lime mortar and plaster, are still strong and sound. 
Its interior is emaculate with preserved artifacts and furniture 
centuries old. The most fascinating aspect is its flooring--13" marble 
tiles and covered with one inch of loose sand, a poignant reminder of 
the time when they had to worship in secret. The sand on the floor is a 
remnant of the days of the Marranos, Jews during the Spanish 
Inquisition who were forced to convert to Christianity but who secretly 
practiced their Judaism. Since practicing their faith was punishable by 
death, they met in cellars with sand covering the floor in order to 
muffle the sounds of their prayers.
  On Friday, September 15, 2000, the United States Department of 
Interior will honor the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Hebrew Congregation 
of St. Thomas at a ceremony formally designating the St. Thomas 
Synagogue as a National Historic Landmark.
  On behalf of the Congress of the United States of America, I 
congratulate the Hebrew Congregation of St. Thomas on attaining this 
honor and salute them for their dedicated service and contributions to 
the United States Virgin Islands.

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