Suriname
Suriname, the smallest country in South America, is home to one of the oldest surviving Jewish communities in the Western Hemisphere. Founded in the 1600s by Sephardic Jews fleeing the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions, the Jewish presence in Suriname once flourished in the plantation town of Jodensavanne, known as “Jerusalem on the River.” Over centuries, the community weathered colonial conquests, economic decline, migration, and civil unrest. Yet in recent years, an inspiring revival has taken root—led by local dedication and the efforts of international supporters, including Kulanu.
Once isolated, today’s Surinamese Jews are reconnecting with the wider Jewish world. Visits by volunteer rabbis, the restoration of sacred spaces, and Jewish education programs are rekindling Jewish life in Paramaribo and beyond. What survives today is not just historical memory, but a living, breathing community deeply committed to its heritage, despite its small numbers and limited resources.
Location
Paramaribo
Denomination
Liberal Judaism
Community size
130 Members
Languages
Dutch (official), English, Sranan Tongo
Kulanu Support Since
Since mid-2000s
Discover Suriname
Hidden Practices and Rediscovered Roots
The legacy of the Marranos—Jews who practiced their faith in secret during the Inquisition—echoes through Suriname’s Neve Shalom Synagogue, whose sandy floors evoke both the Exodus and the covert rituals of the past. Ancestral customs are finding renewed expression: for some community members, the arrival of a rabbi marked the first Jewish wedding they had ever witnessed, even after 50 years of civil marriage. The community continues to unearth forgotten practices, from Torah study to Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies, affirming centuries-old traditions with new meaning.
Community Life in the Capital and Beyond
Suriname’s Jewish community is diverse and inclusive, shaped by African, European, and South American influences. In Paramaribo, Jews of Sephardic and Ashkenazi ancestry worship side by side in the unified Neve Shalom congregation. Worshippers span racial and ethnic backgrounds—including Black Jews, Hindustanis, and those of mixed descent—mirroring Suriname’s multicultural society.
Kulanu’s Transformative Impact
Kulanu has played a vital role in bridging Suriname’s Jewish community with the global Jewish world. In 2010, Kulanu helped bring Rabbi Haim Dov Beliak to Suriname—the community’s first rabbi in 40 years. His three-month stay sparked a cascade of renewal: officiating a long-awaited Jewish wedding, teaching Torah, leading services, and igniting spiritual energy. Adult education classes, bar mitzvah prep, Hebrew studies, and Torah discussions flourished under his guidance.