Jewish arrival in New Amsterdam facts for kids

The Jewish arrival in New Amsterdam in September 1654 was a very important event. It was the first time a group of Jewish people came to North America in an organized way. This group included 23 Sephardi Jews, who were families "big and little." They were fleeing persecution by the Portuguese Inquisition after their home in Dutch Brazil was taken over. This arrival is often seen as the start of Jewish history in New York and Jewish-American history.

Journey from Brazil

The Jewish families started their journey from Recife, a city in Brazil. They sailed on a ship called the Valck. This ship was one of at least sixteen that left Brazil, mostly heading for the Netherlands, at the end of the Dutch–Portuguese War. However, the Valck was blown off course. Instead of reaching the Netherlands, it ended up near Jamaica or Cuba.

Captured by Pirates

After being blown off course, the group faced more trouble. According to historical accounts, they were captured by Spanish pirates for a while. In Cuba, they eventually managed to board another ship called the St. Catrina. Later historians have called this ship the "Jewish Mayflower" because of its importance. The St. Catrina then took them to New Amsterdam.

Life in New Amsterdam

When the new Jewish community arrived in New Amsterdam, they faced challenges. The Director-General, Peter Stuyvesant, was the leader of the colony. He was against their settlement. There was also a money problem with the captain of the St. Catrina. The captain wanted more payment for the journey. This problem needed a decision from the Dutch West India Company, which ran the colony.

Help from Others

Luckily, the new arrivals got help from some Ashkenazi Jewish traders. These traders had arrived just a month earlier. They came on a ship called the Peereboom from Amsterdam, after stopping in London. This group included Jacob Barsimson, and possibly Solomon Pietersen and Asser Levy. Asser Levy has also been mentioned in older stories as one of the original 23.

Founding a Community

Despite the difficulties, this new community was strong. They founded Congregation Shearith Israel. This congregation is still active today and is known as the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States.

Original Records

An important document from that time tells us about their arrival. It's from the Court Minutes of New Amsterdam in 1654. It says that the ship's captain, Jacques de la Motthe, asked the court for payment. He said the Jews owed him money for their trip from Cape St. Antony. He wanted to sell their belongings to get the money.

A Jewish man named Solomon Pietersen spoke in court. He said that some of the money had been paid. He also explained that there were 23 people, "big and little," who all had to pay equally. The court ordered the Jewish families to pay what they owed within two days. Their belongings were kept as security until the debt was paid.

Remembering the Arrival

The arrival of these 23 Jewish families has been remembered many times throughout history.

Major Anniversaries

• The 250th anniversary was celebrated a year late in 1905.
• The 300th anniversary was a big event in 1954. It was celebrated for eight months, from September 1954 to May 1955.
• For the 300th anniversary, two special monuments were created.
  • One monument was designed by Abram Belskie. It was placed in Peter Minuit Plaza in Manhattan's Battery.
  • Another monument was designed by Carl C. Mose. It had a wave shape with pictures showing the Four Freedoms. These freedoms were inspired by verses from the Hebrew Bible. It also included a picture of what the St. Catrina ship might have looked like. This monument was placed in St. Louis' Forest Park.

Forest Park Monument Details

The monument in Forest Park has pictures and words on its sides:

• Front Side:
  • A picture of the St. Catrina ship (what artists think it looked like).
  • Words: "Who Shall Ascend into the Mountain of the Lord" (This relates to Freedom of worship and is from Psalm 24).
  • Words: "Proclaim Liberty Throughout the Land" (This relates to Freedom of speech and is from the idea of Jubilee (biblical)).
• Back Side:
  • A dove (a symbol of peace) and plants.
  • Words: "And None Shall Make Them Afraid" (This relates to Freedom from fear and is from the idea of Figs in the Bible).
  • Words: "For the Widow...For the Stranger...For the Fatherless" (This relates to Freedom from want and is from the Deuteronomist teachings).

Recent Commemorations

The 350th anniversary was celebrated for a whole year, from September 2004 to September 2005. There were special exhibitions at the Library of Congress and the American Jewish Historical Society. These celebrations also led to the start of the first yearly Jewish American Heritage Month in May 2006.