The Jewish Presence In Belize: A Historical Overview

Belize is a country in Central America with a population of 310,000. While Christianity is the dominant religion, with around 40% of the population identifying as Catholic, there is a small Jewish population in Belize. It is estimated that there are up to 100 Jews scattered across the country, with a Jewish cemetery located in Belize City. Belize has also been a trading place for Jews from Jamaica, and some Jewish families settled in Belize following the destruction of the Jewish community of St. Eustatius in the 18th century. However, there are no synagogues in Belize, and those seeking support are advised to contact the Jewish community in Guatemala.

There are perhaps up to 100 Jews in Belize

Belize is a small country in Central America with a population of around 310,000 people. While the dominant religion in Belize is Christianity, there are perhaps up to 100 Jews scattered across the country. This makes the Jewish community in Belize very small, but it does exist.

Historically, Belize was a trading place for Jews from Jamaica. Some Jewish families settled in Belize after the destruction of the Jewish community of St. Eustatius in the 18th century. The most prominent Jewish family in Belize was the Benveniste family. Solly Wolffson, a notable figure, exported Belize timber, and the Ackerman family settled in Corozal.

Today, there is no established Jewish community in Belize, and no synagogues in the country. The old Jewish cemetery is located along the Belize River, between Belize City and the International Airport. It has a few tombstones of Spanish-Portuguese Jews who originated from Germany.

For visitors who are Jewish and wish to visit Belize, there are no kosher facilities in the country. However, fresh fish and fruit are readily available on the coast. It is recommended to double-wrap the fish in foil and have any seaside BBQ place cook it.

Belize City is described as a place with many drug addicts roaming the streets, but the countryside is pleasant, the locals are welcoming, and the diving off the coast is superb.

Belize has no kosher facilities

Belize is a country located on the northeastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, Guatemala to the south and west, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. With a population of only 333,200 inhabitants and a land area of 22,960 square kilometres, Belize has the lowest population density in Central America.

Belize has a diverse society, comprising many cultures and languages. It is the only nation in the region with a British colonial heritage, but it also shares a common heritage with the Caribbean portions of other Central American countries. Belize is considered a Central American nation with strong ties to both the Caribbean and Latin America.

While the country's population is predominantly Christian, there is a small Jewish presence in the country, with up to 100 Jews scattered throughout the country. There is a Jewish cemetery located south of Belize City, containing the tombstones of some Spanish-Portuguese Jews who originated from Germany. However, there is no established Jewish community in Belize, and the country lacks any kosher facilities.

Due to the absence of kosher options, Jewish visitors to Belize are advised to purchase fresh fish from the coast, double-wrap it in foil, and have it cooked at any seaside BBQ place. The country also offers an abundance of fresh fruit. For any support or assistance, visitors are advised to contact the Jewish community in neighbouring Guatemala.

While Belize may not have specific kosher facilities, it boasts superb diving off its coast, pleasant countryside, and welcoming locals. The country's diving spots are considered some of the best in the world, offering a unique experience for those seeking adventure.

Belize has no synagogues

Belize is a country in Central America with a population of 310,000 people. While there is a small Jewish population in Belize, there are no synagogues in the country. The Jewish population in Belize is estimated to be around 100 people, scattered across the country. The lack of synagogues in Belize may be due to the small number of Jews in the country, as well as the historical circumstances of the Jewish community in the region.

The history of the Jewish presence in Belize is not well documented, but it is known that Jewish families settled in Belize after the destruction of the Jewish community of St. Eustatius in the 18th century. Belize was also a trading place for Jews from Jamaica, and some prominent Jewish families, such as the Benvenistes and the Wolffsons, were involved in the export of timber. The old Jewish cemetery in Belize is located along the Belize River between Belize City and the International Airport, and it has tombstones of Spanish-Portuguese Jews who originated from Germany.

The small Jewish community in Belize does not have any established kosher facilities or community organizations. However, fresh fish and fruit are readily available on the coast, and it is possible for Jews to practice their dietary restrictions by preparing their meals with these ingredients. While there are no synagogues or organized religious services, Jews in Belize can contact the Jewish community in Guatemala for support and guidance.

The religious landscape of Belize is diverse, with Christianity being the dominant religion. The largest denomination is the Catholic Church, but there are also significant populations of Pentecostals, Seventh-day Adventists, Anglicans, and Mennonites. Additionally, a notable proportion of the population practices indigenous religions, such as the Maya religion, or Afro-Caribbean religions like Garifuna, Obeah, and Myalism. The Constitution of Belize upholds the freedom of religion and prohibits religious discrimination.

Belize has an old Jewish cemetery

The old Jewish cemetery is located along the Belize River, between Belize City and the International Airport. The cemetery is a quiet, secluded place, deep in the jungle. It is thought to contain the graves of Spanish-Portuguese Jews, originating from Germany, with the image of the Star of David engraved on the headstones.

The exact origins of these Jewish settlers are unclear, but it is believed that some refugees from the island of Sint Eustatius settled in Belize after their community was destroyed by the British in 1781. The Jewish Online Worldwide Burial Register (JOWBR) lists four out of five known Jewish graves in Belize, but the names on the graves are not listed. It is a mystery who these Jews were, and what they were doing in the jungle. One theory is that they were secret Jews, or 'Conversos', who had fled the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal, and continued to practise Judaism in secret.

Belize was also a place of refuge for Jews during World War II. In 1939, 85 British Jews escaping the war reached Belize, but sadly they were turned away by the British colonial government. There is also evidence of two German-Jewish doctors who fled to Belize in the 1930s, but they too were deported when the war broke out because they were German.

Belize has never had a large Jewish community, and today there are perhaps only up to 100 Jews scattered across the country. There are no synagogues, and no kosher facilities. However, there is a Chabad in Belize, located on Caye Caulker, and the Jewish community of Guatemala offers support to Jews in Belize.

Belize has a rich history of religious diversity, with freedom of religion enshrined in its constitution. While Christianity is the dominant religion, there are also many followers of the Maya religion, Afro-Caribbean religions, and small numbers of Hindus, Buddhists, and Muslims.

Belize was a trading place for Jews of Jamaica

Belize was a trading place for Jews from Jamaica, who settled in the country after the destruction of the Jewish community of St. Eustatius in the 18th century. The most prominent Jewish family in Belize was the Benveniste family, and the country was also a trading location for Solly Wolffson, who exported Belize timber, and the Ackerman family, who settled in Corozal.

The history of the Jews in Jamaica dates back to migrants from Spain and Portugal, with many Jews fleeing Spain from 1509 onwards due to persecution from the Holy Inquisition. When the English captured Jamaica from Spain in 1655, Jews who had been living as conversos began to practice Judaism openly. Jews from Amsterdam, Bordeaux, and Bayonne moved to Jamaica, mostly settling in Port Royal, which even had a street named Jew Street. Port Royal became a successful centre for trade, attracting Jewish merchants who traded in commodities such as gold, silver, porcelain, embroidery, and silk. The Jews in Kingston provided four Mayors, many Justices of Peace, members of Parliament, and countless builders, dentists, doctors, teachers, lawyers, and actors.

The Jewish population in Belize is small, with perhaps up to 100 Jews scattered around the country. There are no synagogues in Belize, but there is a Jewish cemetery located to the south of Belize City, with tombstones of some Spanish-Portuguese Jews who originated from Germany. Belize is predominantly Christian, with the largest denomination being the Catholic Church, which made up about 40.1% of the population in 2010.

Frequently asked questions