Suriname
Suriname, the smallest country in South America, is home to the oldest surviving Jewish community in the Americas. Until recently, the Jewish community was disintegrating. Now, with help from Kulanu volunteers, the Jews of Suriname are working to reconnect with the Jewish past, and with the wider Jewish world (see below for links to more information about this community).
In order to support this renaissance, the Jews of Suriname hope to send a group of its young people on Birthright Israel. There, Suriname's young Jewish leaders will have the opportunity to see Israel, connect with Jews from all over the world, and learn Torah. Then, they are committed to returning to Suriname and bringing back what they have learned in order to strengthen and revitalize their community. Click here to read more about this group and their trip, and go to www.kulanu.org/donate to make a contribution toward their Birthright trip to Israel now!
For more photos and bios of some of the participants and a more detailed proposal, click here.
- Young Suriname Jews Realize Dream (2010)
- Suriname’s Jewish Community Welcome First Rabbi in Forty Years (2010)
- Chai Vekayam: The Neve Shalom Synagogue Chai Members Newsletter (December 2009)
- Chai Vekayam: The Neve Shalom Synagogue Chai Members Newsletter (June 2009)
- Chai Vekayam: The Neve Shalom Synagogue Chai Members Newsletter (February 2009)
- Among Maroons: Discoveries of Color, Judaism and Slavery Shai Fierst (2008)
- The Surprising Discovery of Suriname’s Jewish Community Jacob Steinberg (2008)
- The Jewish Community in Suriname Arny Belfor
- Suriname Jewish Community, the Oldest Existing Community in all of the Americas!