In celebration of Black History Month and Interfaith Harmony Week, the Canadian Caribbean Association of Halton (CCAH) and the Interfaith Council of Halton shared a delicious lunch at Shaarei-Beth El synagogue on Sunday February 12, and learned about a “hidden” history of the Holocaust narrative, and the internment of nearly 1,000 Jews in Jamaica at the end of the second world War.
Presenting the information from York University Professor Cooper -Clark’s book “The Holocaust Internment: Jewish Refugees in Gibraltar Camp. Jamaican Jews andSepahrdim” we learned that nearly 1,000 Jews were housed at the Gibraltar refugee camp near Kingston in Jamaica, between 1942-1945. At the time Jamaica was part of the British Empire and Britain had built camps for Europeans that they were hoping to extract from the danger of Germany’s grasp.
After the informing chat, guests were treated to a kosher meal of Jerk chicken, fried chicken and other Jamaican dishes as well as some amazing Jewish side dishes and desserts from our community. We ended with fun music from the Parange! May the future only hold more happy events!