The St Thomas Synagogue

A Jewish community formed on St Thomas in the eighteenth century, largely Sephardic families from Europe and elsewhere in the Caribbean, and the congregation has held services continuously since 1796; the present building dates from 1833 after a fire, and it is the oldest synagogue in continuous use anywhere under the American flag and the second oldest in the western hemisphere. Its floor is sand, a feature found in a handful of Caribbean synagogues, generally explained as a memorial to the desert or to the years when Sephardic Jews in Iberia worshipped in secret and muffled their footsteps. Mahogany benches, an 1833 ark and hanging lamps fill the small interior.

What you actually see

• The sand floor - the Sephardic feature the synagogue is known for.
• The 1833 building - in continuous use since, after an earlier fire.
• The mahogany interior - benches, ark and hanging lamps.
• The small museum - the congregation's history alongside.

When to go

Year-round; open to visitors on weekdays with limited hours and closed for Shabbat and holidays. Mornings are quietest. Modest dress is expected and men are asked to cover their heads, with coverings provided.

Honest expectations

It is small and takes half an hour. Hours are limited and it closes for services and holidays, which catches out visitors. It is a working congregation rather than a museum, and photography inside is restricted. The hill up from the waterfront is steep.

Nearby

The 99 Steps are a few streets east; Fort Christian is on the waterfront.