Jodensavanne - Travel & Tourism Guide Jodensavanne - Suriname

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Jodensavanne (meaning "Savannah of the Jews") was the site of Suriname's first Jewish community around 1650, the largest Jewish settlement in this hemisphere. At the time, they were welcomed to Surinamese territory first by the British in 1665 and later by the Dutch. To attract this workforce, the British settlers in Suriname granted them privileges, such as freedom to practice their religion, freedom to own land and the right to their own Court of Justice. Jewish merchants were particularly sought after for their expertise in international trade.