Sosua - A Refuge for Jews in the Dominican Republic

[CFA123]

For anyone in the New York area, you might want to visit the Museum of Jewish Heritage to see their exhibit on the immigration of Jews from Germany back in 1940. Exhibit runs Feb 17 - Jul 25th, 2008. http://www.mjhnyc.org/final/index.htm

and an article in the Wall Street Journal
Strange Migration: An Unlikely Haven For Refugees - WSJ.com

"The story of this strange migration is being told at New York's Museum of Jewish Heritage. "Sosúa: A Refuge for Jews in the Dominican Republic" ... presents the fascinating and little-known tale of the Jews saved from the Holocaust by a genocidal Caribbean dictator."

[CFA123]

Some images of the 1940's in Sosua from the exhibition...

[CFA123]

"In one group photograph in the exhibit, young people on a ship that is taking them away from their families but also away from Hitler smile with delight. An equally telling photograph shows some settlers on the day after their arrival in Sosúa: Young men and women stand looking around with dumbfounded expressions on their faces; the women are wearing high heels and carrying handbags -- hardly farm-appropriate gear. Their new predicament is aptly summed up in a quotation from refugee Walter Allison that appears between the pictures: "I could repair shoes, but I didn't know how tomatoes grow." Another refugee, Edith Gersten, humorously recounts a priceless Alice-in-Wonderland moment: "We stared at the cow. What happened next? Does one get hold of the tail and pump until somehow the milk comes out?"

Must be a fascinating exhibit.

[SKY]

For those who may not know, there is a permanent museum next to the Synagogue in Sosua detaling the settlement here.

[Mr. Lu]

Here is a DR1 article about Jews in the DR and the SD synagogue. Enjoy

Jews in the DR

[sbsuib]

Are there services now in Sosua or Santiago regularly?
Thanks
Stevi

[qgrande]

Originally Posted by sbsuib

Are there services now in Sosua or Santiago regularly?
Thanks
Stevi

In Sosúa yes (once a month at least, and depending on local initiative every week), in Santiago no.

[sbsuib]

is it possible to find out when services are in July in Sosua? or when they are in Santo domingo? thanks

[2LeftFeet]

I went to this exhibit today in NYC. It was good. Small but interesting. In 1941 there were 63 single men in the colony to 12 single women. I don't remember how many married couples there were but they said that there were a lot of affairs.

After the war was over some of the jews left and went to the US. One person stay and continued working his farm until he died.

People were given 10 cows if they were single. If they had a wife they got an extra one. If they had a child they got one more.

The refugees made cheese and sold it around the DR as well as the milk.

One of the men married a Dominicana.

I bought the book.

Are any of the buildings still standing? What happened to the farms? Were they sold off or are they still there too?

[sbsuib]

is the exhibit returning to Sosua?
When?