Jewish Pirates: History of the Caribbean Jews

The story of Jewish pirates in the Caribbean is a fascinating chapter of resilience and revenge. Driven from Spain and Portugal by the Inquisition, many Sephardic Jews sought refuge in the New World, where some took to piracy to fight back against their persecutors. Figures like Moses Cohen Henriques, who helped capture a Spanish treasure fleet in 1628, and Samuel Pallache, a diplomat-turned-privateer, embodied this audacious spirit. These "Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean" not only plundered Spanish ships but also aided Jewish refugees and established trading networks that linked the Americas, Europe, and Africa. Flying the Lion of Judah on their flags and observing Jewish traditions at sea, they turned piracy into an act of survival and defiance, leaving a legacy as unexpected as it is intriguing.

In 1492, while Christopher Columbus was preparing to sail into the unknown, another exodus was underway. The Spanish monarchs Ferdinand and Isabella, triumphant after the Reconquista, issued the Alhambra Decree, expelling Spain's Jews. Many fled to Portugal, and when Portugal followed Spain’s example in 1497, they scattered further—across Europe, North Africa, and eventually the New World. Among those who reached the Americas were Sephardic Jews who would leave an indelible mark on the Caribbean, shaping its trade networks, its culture, and, intriguingly, its pirate lore.

From Expulsion to Opportunity

When Columbus set sail, one of his interpreters was Luis de Torres, a converso (a Jew forcibly converted to Christianity). Fluent in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Arabic, de Torres was tasked with facilitating communication with any "oriental" peoples Columbus expected to encounter. De Torres may have been the first European Jew in the Americas. He, like many others, sought new beginnings in the Spanish and Portuguese colonies, where the Inquisition’s reach was still nascent.

Jamaica became a key refuge. By the early 16th century, secret Jews—practicing their faith under the cloak of Catholicism—had established themselves on the Spanish-controlled island. When the British seized Jamaica in 1655, they permitted religious freedom, and Jamaica’s Jewish community flourished openly for the first time. The Jews quickly established themselves as merchants, bankers, and traders, financing the island's sugar economy. Their contributions endure in landmarks like the Hunt’s Bay Cemetery, one of the oldest Jewish burial grounds in the Americas.

The Curious Case of Jewish Pirates

In one of history’s odder footnotes, some Sephardic Jews turned to piracy. Their motivations were pragmatic—revenge against Spain, the country that had exiled them, and profit from the treasure-laden galleons of the New World. These “Jewish Pirates of the Caribbean” operated with the blessing of Spain’s enemies, including the Dutch and English.

One standout was Moses Cohen Henriques, who worked with the Dutch admiral Piet Hein to capture the Spanish treasure fleet off Cuba in 1628. The haul—a then-staggering 11.5 million guilders in silver—helped fund Dutch efforts in the Eighty Years' War against Spain. Henriques later established a pirate haven on a Brazilian island, where he and his crew lived and operated.

These buccaneers were not without their quirks. Some flew the Lion of Judah on their flags and recited Hebrew prayers before boarding enemy ships. They not only plundered but also smuggled Jewish refugees to safety, turning piracy into an improbable form of resistance.

Commerce, Synagogues, and Sand in Curaçao

The Dutch West India Company played a pivotal role in Jewish migration to the Caribbean, particularly to Curaçao, which became a hub for Sephardic Jews in the 17th century. Fleeing Portuguese persecution in Brazil, these Jews brought with them experience in trade, finance, and sugar cultivation. Curaçao became the beating heart of Caribbean Jewish life, and its synagogue, Mikvé Israel-Emanuel, established in 1651, remains one of the oldest still in use in the Americas.

The synagogue’s sand-covered floors—a nod to the secret prayers of Jews in Spain and Portugal during the Inquisition—are emblematic of the community’s resilience. Curaçao’s Jews became intermediaries in global trade, connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas. They traded in goods ranging from sugar to slaves, and later became outspoken abolitionists, illustrating the moral contradictions of their age.

A Legacy of Influence

The contributions of Caribbean Jews extended beyond commerce. They were pioneers in medicine, law, and education, often bridging cultural divides. Their influence seeped into the region’s cuisine—fusing Sephardic traditions with local flavors—and even its languages. Curaçao’s Papiamento, a creole language, carries traces of Hebrew.

This legacy is best illustrated through the stories of figures like Samuel Pallache, a Moroccan Jew who straddled the worlds of diplomacy and piracy, or Moses Henriques, who embodied the improbable mix of commerce and corsairing. These individuals, and the communities they helped build, turned the Caribbean into an unlikely but enduring refuge for Jewish life.