From today's Sosua News:
[h=5]After the arrival of the first Jewish settlers in 1940 the supporting organization behind this new colony, (DORSA), commissioned the construction of five barracks. One of these barracks was reserved for the establishment of a synagogue. It actually was the reconstruction of an existing building that the previous owner, the United Fruit Company, left behind in Sos?a.[/h]
[h=5]According to Franklin Hess, the son of one of the first pioneers of Sos?a, they were very conservative in matters of faith. The women and men were strictly separated for example. The synagogue was the religious center for the colony where the Rosh Hashanah, the Yom Kippur, Bar Mitzvah, and also weddings and anniversaries were celebrated. Because in Sos?a there was no rabbi available, Rabbi Steinmetz came all the way from the capital Ciudad Trujillo (Santo Domingo) to Sos?a to perform the services. Later, the services were provided by Ernst Fialla with the assistance of David Schweitzer and Moses Arnoldi. The visitors of the services came by foot or by horse and wagon to the synagogue. The synagogue is now the enduring symbol for the so remarkable history of Sos?a. Besides the synagogue, there is also a museum of Jewish history which can be visited for a small fee every day.[/h]If you understand German, you can listen to Franklin Hess tell the story here:
Franklin Hess uber die Judische Synagoge von Sosua - YouTube
[h=5]After the arrival of the first Jewish settlers in 1940 the supporting organization behind this new colony, (DORSA), commissioned the construction of five barracks. One of these barracks was reserved for the establishment of a synagogue. It actually was the reconstruction of an existing building that the previous owner, the United Fruit Company, left behind in Sos?a.[/h]
[h=5]According to Franklin Hess, the son of one of the first pioneers of Sos?a, they were very conservative in matters of faith. The women and men were strictly separated for example. The synagogue was the religious center for the colony where the Rosh Hashanah, the Yom Kippur, Bar Mitzvah, and also weddings and anniversaries were celebrated. Because in Sos?a there was no rabbi available, Rabbi Steinmetz came all the way from the capital Ciudad Trujillo (Santo Domingo) to Sos?a to perform the services. Later, the services were provided by Ernst Fialla with the assistance of David Schweitzer and Moses Arnoldi. The visitors of the services came by foot or by horse and wagon to the synagogue. The synagogue is now the enduring symbol for the so remarkable history of Sos?a. Besides the synagogue, there is also a museum of Jewish history which can be visited for a small fee every day.[/h]If you understand German, you can listen to Franklin Hess tell the story here:
Franklin Hess uber die Judische Synagoge von Sosua - YouTube
