Luis de Torres Synagogue

The Freeport Hebrew Congregation is a former Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue, that was located in Freeport, in the Bahamas. Completed in 1972, the synagogue closed in 2021, with its demise attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was the only synagogue in the Bahamas.[1]

Freeport Hebrew Congregation
Religion
AffiliationReform Judaism (former)
RiteNusach Sefard
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSynagogue (1972–2021)
StatusAbandoned
Location
LocationEast Sunrise Highway, Freeport
CountryBahamas
Luis de Torres Synagogue is located in Bahamas
Luis de Torres Synagogue
Location of the former synagogue in the Bahamas
Geographic coordinates26°31′01″N 78°40′53″W / 26.51704°N 78.68132°W / 26.51704; -78.68132
Architecture
Completed1972

History

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The synagogue is named after Luis de Torres, identified by Meyer Kayserling's 1894 book Christopher Columbus and the participation of the Jews in the Spanish and Portuguese discoveries as a Sephardic Jew who sailed with Christopher Columbus at the beginning of the European colonization of the Americas. The former synagogue is situated on East Sunrise Highway, between the Lutheran Church and the Roman Catholic "Mary Star of the Sea.".[2] The synagogue functioned from 1972 to 2021 when it shut down because many members (mostly non nationals) left because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[citation needed]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Krusch, David. "The Bahamas". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved May 29, 2007.
  2. ^ "Synagogue History". Luis de Torres Synagogue. Archived from the original on July 3, 2007. Retrieved November 22, 2018.