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Welcome to our online collection of stories!
For nearly 375 years, Curaçao has been home to Jewish families from around the world—people who arrived seeking safety, opportunity, and connection. From the first settlers who fled the Inquisition to later arrivals escaping persecution and war, their stories form a rich tapestry of resilience and belonging.
At the Jewish Museum Curaçao, we believe history lives through the people who lived it. Since 2022, we’ve been gathering short personal histories—moments passed down through families, letters, and memories. These ‘One Story at a Time’ (OSAAT) pieces invite you to step into Curaçao’s Jewish experience through stories of migration, faith, identity, and everyday life.
Each OSAAT is first exhibited in the museum—either in our Community Roots building, the WWII Wing, or occasionally in special displays like the Museum Shop. When new stories rotate in, earlier ones remain permanently available here online, creating a growing digital archive of Curaçao’s Jewish life.
Explore them below and discover how individual lives come together to tell the larger story of our community.
Curaçao Jews:
The heart of our story begins here, in Curaçao’s vibrant Jewish community—Sephardic and Ashkenazi families whose energy and enterprise shaped the island for centuries. These stories highlight the people who built businesses, raised families, and enriched the island’s cultural and economic life. From local innovators to family recipes and childhood memories, Community Roots reveals how everyday lives shaped Curaçao’s Jewish identity.
Stories from the exhibition on the second floor of the Community Roots building highlight centuries of Jewish life on the island. Meet the merchants, entrepreneurs, and community leaders whose drive and creativity helped shape Curaçao’s cultural and economic story.
Food is memory—and in Curaçao’s Jewish homes, every dish tells a story. This collection celebrates the flavors, cooks, and family traditions that have nourished generations. Discover recipes and memories that continue to bring comfort and connection.
From local heroes to larger-than-life characters, these in-depth portraits spotlight individuals whose journeys stand out in Curaçao’s Jewish history. Presented as large-format posters, each one reveals a unique legacy that continues to inspire.
During Curaçao’s 2007 Culture Week, the community shared stories of their beloved yayas—women who helped raise Jewish children with love, language, and Curaçaoan wisdom. These tributes honor the lasting bonds between families and the caregivers who shaped them.
When Europe was engulfed in war, Curaçao became both a sanctuary and a witness. Refugees arrived by sea, oceans separated families, and Curaçaoans—Jewish and non-Jewish—found courage in extraordinary times. The stories in this section capture what it meant to live through uncertainty, displacement, and solidarity during the Second World War—on the island, in Europe, and far beyond.
When war erupted in Europe, Curaçao became a crossroads for refugees and a frontline of defense. These stories capture life on the island during those uncertain years—moments of fear, faith, and the quiet strength of a small community at war’s edge.
Some Curaçao Jews found themselves in Europe as war broke out—some escaped, others survived in hiding, and too many never returned. Their stories reveal courage, loss, and endurance in the face of unimaginable danger.
As war approached, Curaçao’s authorities detained “enemy nationals,” including Jewish refugees who had fled Europe. These accounts from the Bonaire internment camp shed light on a little-known chapter of wartime Curaçao.
In 1941, after nearly a year at sea and repeated rejections, 86 Jewish refugees aboard the Cabo de Hornos were finally allowed to land in Curaçao. Their odyssey across the Atlantic stands as a testament to perseverance and hope.
These are the stories of Curaçao’s “Righteous Among the Nations”—brave men and women who risked their lives to save Jews during WWII. Their courage reminds us that compassion can triumph even in the darkest times.
Some stories don’t fit neatly into a single category—and that’s what makes them special. Side Series brings together a mix of creative projects, older community collections, and story collaborations that show Curaçao’s Jewish life from unexpected angles. Whether it’s a student’s discovery, a family heirloom, or a reflection on the Snoa, these stories add texture and surprise to the bigger picture.
Inside the Museum Shop, heirloom pieces donated by Curaçao’s Jewish families tell intimate stories of memory, migration, and heritage. Each object connects the everyday to the extraordinary—a tangible link between past and present.
Students from Penn State Hillel visited Curaçao in 2023, interviewing community members and creating posters of the “18 Things They Learned.” Their fresh perspectives continue to grow through returning visits and new collaborations with Hillel chapters at other universities.
Written by museum friend and historian Ron Gomes Casseres, these short reflections explore the history and heart of Mikvé Israel-Emanuel—the Western Hemisphere’s oldest continuously active synagogue.
Created for International Museum Day 2003, this early series celebrates families and individuals who helped shape the congregation’s story. Though small in number, these posters offer timeless glimpses into Curaçaoan Jewish life.
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CuracaoJews.org is an initiative of the Jewish Cultural Historical Museum, functioning as the Jewish Museum Curaçao, as we celebrate 375 years of Jewish life documented on the island of Curaçao.