A letter from Jewish leaders in the Caribbean island of Curacao, 1798. Image by Christie’s

By Aiden Pink November 26, 2017

An upcoming auction of historical items at Christie’s in New York includes a 1798 letter from leaders of the Jewish community of the Caribbean island of Curacao protesting the anti-Semitism of the French colonial ruler.

The two-page manuscript, written by community leaders David Cohen Henriquez and Jacob de Castro, protested a statement from the French colonial representative in the Caribbean, Victor Hughes, calling Jews “the scum of the entire people and universally despised.”

Henriquez and de Castro wrote a public letter in response, turning the words of the French Revolution against anti-Semites within the revolutionary leadership.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“You treat the Jews as the scum of all nations, feelings very much contrary to the principles of a nation of which you have the honor to be the representative, the conquering friend of liberty and equality which it has established everywhere its invincible arms triumphed and that has so wisely destroyed fanaticism, the scourge of the universe and preserve of the intolerant,” they wrote to Hughes. “Have you considered, citizen, that by using an expression so general you have offended your sovereign, the French people?”

The leaders added that Jews would be particularly loyal to France, which in 1791 became the first country in the world to give equal rights to Jews.

“Is it not in the interest of the Jews to devote themselves to a nation that prides itself on rendering men equal without distinguishing between religions?” they wrote. “Because is one really more man, more citizen, worthier of consideration for having a particular belief? Isn’t it more in our interest, we say, to love and cherish a nation that promises us the end of our sufferings, and to abolish vexations unjustly born?”

Christie’s estimates that the letter will be sold for $10,000 to $20,000.

Contact Aiden Pink at [email protected] or on Twitter, @aidenpink

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount