Sand On The Floor Of Synagogues

The sand floor tradition is one of the last remaining manifestations of dutch portuguese jewish life in this area but it is also a tradition that could hold the key to mikvé israel emanuel s.

Sand on the floor of synagogues. Historians rabbis and congregants take us through time from the congregation s spanish inquisition roots through its. At any given time there is about an inch and a half of sand on the synagogue floor. Thomas the first thing you notice indeed it would be hard to miss is the powdery sand strewn all over the floor of the st. Sand on the floor uses the living history of the oldest synagogue in under the us flag as a vehicle to journey deep inside the jewish heart and mind.

Synagogue in continuous use under the us flag as a vehicle. The portuguese synagogue in amsterdam explains that covering the floor with fine sand is an old dutch tradition meant to absorb dust moisture and dirt from shoes over and above muffling the noise. Sand floor synagogues can be found in four other locations in jamaica in surinam in saint thomas and in the portuguese synagogue of amsterdam. The very first sand floor synagogue was built in amsterdam by the sephardic community in 1675.

The building is in very good condition and. Sand covering the sanctuary floor at mikvé israel emanuel synagogue in willemstad curaçao has symbolic and historical meaning to the congregation. To take you deep inside the jewish heart and jewish mind. Contrary to what you may imagine the sand does not become dirty or unusable.

Photo by brennan linsley ap photo like an act of moving meditation the synagogue attendant smooths over a week s worth of footprints on the sand floor of mikvé israel emanuel in willemstad. As already mentioned only five synagogues in the world have a sand floor. Fine sand was scattered over a wooden floor for preservation of building materials but this could also be used to help conceal judaic practices by muffling sounds of worship and prayer. American reform present to its uncertain future.

A synagogue with a floor of sand sand covering the sanctuary floor in a curaçao synagogue muffles sound but speaks volumes to the history of judaism in the caribbean. Sand on the floor uses the living history of the oldest.