Jewish Refugees From WWII In Jamaica?

The Times Of Israel

The Intriguing, Little Known Story

Jamaica, that lush tropical island with breathtaking mountain vistas, beautiful white sand beaches, home of reggae, dreadlocks and Bob Marley? Jamaica, a refugee for tormented European Jews fleeing the Holocaust?

Yes, some 300 Polish Jews and 500 Dutch Jews found sanctuary from the Nazi’s evil reach when the U.S. was no longer accepting Jewish refugees.

This tiny island provided a safe haven for these frightened refugees from 1942 until 1945.

Miriam Stanton, a 28 year old refugee documented their island stay in her diary, now an archival post-script in Israel.

Miriam said the refugees were housed in “Gibraltar Camp” outside Kingston. They were treated warmly, served kosher food, had their own place of worship, etc.

Jamaica’s open arms as a sanctuary for fleeing people is documented in history books. Pirates fled Britain in the 17th Century escaped to Port Royal, then…