Subject: [History, Heritage] The Jewish Immigrants

Article:

The first Jewish immigrants came from Brazil and settled in Torarica (no longer a settlement). They were of Portuguese origin. Later German, French and a smaller number of Dutch Jews came to Suriname. They were farmers and managers or owners of plantations. They grew first sugar then cocoa and coffee on their plantations. They were considered bad farmers and too stern of plantation owners for the many slaves they had. With the decline of the plantations the Jews moved to Parmaribo in the 18th century. Soon there after they disappeared completely from rural Suriname. The jews specialized now in commerce and intellectual professions. Since the middle of this century fewer and fewer Jews stayed in Suriname and only a few hundred still live in Suriname. Some well known Jewish families in Suriname are: Fernandes, DaCosta, De La Fuente, Jessurun, Gomperts, Nassy, Robles, Morpurgo, Polak, de Vries, de Miranda, Del Prado, Gonsalves etc. ---------


Met dank aan Albert Buys