Did Brazilian Jews Found New York?

Did you know that a group of Brazilian Jews helped found New York? The truth is that few are aware, and historians have not given proper attention to this episode.

Jewish immigration to Brazil dates back to the time of its discovery, when Sephardic Jews (descendants of Portuguese and Spanish Jews) and New Christians (Jews converted to Catholicism) settled in the largest Portuguese colony.

According to the IBGE website, they integrated very well into local society, conducting business, attending churches, and marrying among themselves. Despite being prohibited from participating in the administration of the colony, they held political positions and high-ranking positions in the bureaucracy.

With the arrival of the Inquisition to the colony (1591–1595), many of them were denounced for maintaining certain practices, unaware of the origin of the rituals. Only in prison would they discover that the custom of baking bread or cleaning the house on Fridays was part of Jewish tradition.

But this story continues with the occupation of the Brazilian northeast by the Dutch West India Company in February 1630, marking the arrival of Jews living in the Netherlands and inaugurating a new chapter in Brazil's history.

This was a remarkable period of peace and prosperity, thanks to the administration of Governor Maurício de Nassau, starting in 1637. But growing tension between local inhabitants and the Dutch eventually led to a series of conflicts.

The turning point came in 1645 with the Pernambucan Insurrection. This movement, which involved various segments of society, ended Dutch rule in the region, culminating in the Battle of Guararapes in 1649.

One of the leaders of this movement was Filipe Camarão, a Potiguar Indian, who assisted in the fight against the Dutch with hundreds of Indians under his command. The natives' contribution was crucial to the victory in the Battle of Guararapes in 1649.

In 1654, after a series of conflicts, the settlers, supported by Portugal and England, managed to definitively expel the Dutch from Brazilian territory, and many Jews were expelled or chose to leave the region.

A group of 600 people left Recife, in Pernambuco, aboard the ship Valk, bound for the Netherlands. But a storm diverted the ship from its course, and the group ended up being taken to Jamaica, where they were detained by the Spanish Inquisition.

Freed thanks to Dutch intervention, some went on to Europe. For economic reasons, 23 people chose to settle in New Amsterdam, a Dutch colony in North America, which later, under English rule, would be called New York.

Arriving in the southern part of Manhattan Island on September 12, 1654, the group faced resistance from Governor Peter Stuyvesant, who created a series of obstacles, such as charging fees exclusively to the Jewish community.

They refused to pay the fees and offered to serve in the military, which would make them citizens. The action was not appreciated because, in 1664, the English took over the colony, which became New York.

Under the surrender agreement, all inhabitants were granted religious freedom. Jews could maintain their cultural and religious identity and contribute to the development of American society, but they did not have the right to vote, hold public office, or own certain types of property.

With the enactment of the Imperial Naturalization Act of 1740, Jews in North America could cease to be considered immigrants. But to obtain citizenship, they had to swear an oath that included the phrase "through the true Christian faith."

In 1753, the Jewish community in London pressured Parliament to enact a law that exempted Jews from including that phrase in the naturalization ceremony. Known as the "Jew Bill," this law remained in force for only one year.

With the entry into force of the first Constitution of the United States on March 4, 1789, guaranteeing the principles of equality and freedom for all, Jews were able to achieve full citizenship regardless of religious creed.

The influence of the Jewish people was vital to the development of New York, a city with the second-largest Jewish population in the world, surpassed only by Tel Aviv, Israel. Their contribution is invaluable and continues to be felt to this day.

In New York, there is a monument called the Jewish Pilgrim Fathers, located in Battery Park, which honors this group of pioneers. To get there, take the 4 subway line at Lexington Avenue/59th Street and get off at Bowling Green station. Another option is to take the 1 subway line at 86th Street and get off at South Ferry station.

There is also a historically significant cemetery known as Shearith Israel Cemetery or Chatham Square Cemetery. It houses the graves of some of the earliest Jewish settlers and is located in the Chinatown neighborhood of Manhattan.

To get there, depending on where you are, take the 6, J, or Z line and get off at Canal Street station. Then, walk south to St. James Street and turn right. The cemetery is located on the left side of the street.

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February 25, 2024

Davilmar Santos