Jewish pirates go back to as early as the Roman times; during this period they seized or attacked roman ships during the Bar kochba revolt. Jewish pirates during the 16th and 17th centuries respectively were involved in trading both sugar and rum. While there are many famous jewish pirates during this time period, one of the most well known is perhaps Moses Cohen. The name pirate was a term to indicate a sort of misbehavior at sea; with the root of the word originating from the Greek Pirates were primarily divided into several subcategories. The name Pirate comes from Greek meaning " one who attacks"[1].
Buccaneers: These were pirates that dominated a lot of the Spanish Caribbean. This classification of Pirates were primarily operating near the Pacific coastline and Central America.[2]Buccaneer illustrationThe Corsairs or Barbary Corsairs were mainly Muslim Pirates operating from the Barbary states ( an area near the Western part of North Africa). The term Corsair is very closely tied to the Mediterranean.[3]
Privateers were semi- Pirates in that they were on quasi military operations. In essence these were Pirates licensed by specific governments to carry out missions. These Pirates had official papers and often there was a gray area between these subcategories of Pirates; what they were officially authorized to do and what actually happened often differed.[4]
Sugar trade as central to piracySugar trade as central to piracy
Sugar played a key role in the lives and pursuits of Pirates. While sugar was introduced to crusaders centuries earlier. It was in the 1500's that it became a valuable commodity because it could be planted nd harvested in most of Europe. Items such as Molasses made sugar easier to be shipped [5]. One reason why sugar was so important to pirates was that it had a very high value. While silver was a central item to Spain sugar was equally as important to the British. Oftentimes it was referred to as "white gold" because of its high value.
One reason there was so much Rum aboard Pirate ships is that it was a strong form of currency. Pirates could use it to not only their drink of choice but also to trade with. Rum[6] also acted as a preservative in keeping water fresh during the long voyages Pirates would often take. A key element of sugar during the age of Pirates was that sugar grew far better in tropical conditions - those such as the Caribbean - versus the harsher European climates such as in England [7].
Piracy as freedom from sugar plantationsPiracy as freedom from sugar plantations
Slaves in Barbados.
Many Pirates took advantage of sugar as a key part of trade, and ingredient in Rum but were also sugar plantations escapees. Indentured slaves looking to escape the harsh sugar plantation conditions would escape onto pirate ships.
Piracy as freedom of expressionPiracy as freedom of expression
Jewish Pirates in particular openly expressed who they were through the naming of their ships. The names given to ships operated by Jewish Pirates included but were not limited to:
The Queen Esther,” after Queen Esther from the Jewish story of Purim.
“The Prophet Samuel,” after one of the prophets stemming from the Biblical prophecies.
“The Shield of Abraham.” after one of the main forefathers in the old testament.
The first minyan needed to pray according to Jewish law met in the home of Samuel Pallache in Amsterdam .
Jamaica as a hub of tradeJamaica as a hub of trade
Towards the middle of the 17th century Jamaica became a focal point for trade. For both Pirates and the newly transplanted Jews of the island there was a desire to trade sugar plantations, which represented the harshest conditions within the realm of indentured slavery. The Jews wanted to live and worship freely as a people and Pirates wanted to operate freely. Jamaica provided this freedom through the protection of England and Oliver Cromwell. [8]
Growth as a common goalGrowth as a common goal
Oliver Cromwell
Both the Jews and Pirates of Jamaica had a strong desire to grow. The Pirates wanted to grow their wealth while the Jewish residents of Jamaica wanted to increase their ability to move around freely. Freedom of movement was something that the Jewish people did not have during the Spanish Inquisition or for that matter under the British Crown for several centuries. Neither residence nor the ability to worship freely was allowed in England between 1275 and 1655. This was something instituted by King Henry III of England[9] and ended with an informal resettlement by Oliver Cromwell[10].
Both Jews and Pirates worked together in Jamaica. Pirates looted wealth from Spanish ships and sold it to Jewish Merchants. Jewish merchants would sell goods stolen by Pirates for a profit; so came to be a mutual cooperation between the Jewish residents of Jamaica and the Pirates given safe haven there.
Caribbean Jews and the growth of the sugar industryCaribbean Jews and the growth of the sugar industry
BarbadosBarbados
Hubs of sugar production during the mid and late 17th century included Portuguese Brazil and the French Caribbean. One of the key figures in Barbados that discovered a new and more efficient way to grow sugar was David Raphael De Mercado[11]. While this was a great place for sugar production, at the time there were significant limits on the freedom of Jews in Barbados. Limits on Jews in Barbados only eased in 1802 when most freedoms were restored to the remaining Jewish population of Barbados.
Jewish piracy in the MediterraneanJewish piracy in the Mediterranean
Sinan Reis was a Jewish Pirate that operated in the Mediterranean and commanded a vast fleet of 100 ships[12] . With a background stemming from the Spanish Inquisition, Sinan ( also known as "The Great Jew") helped to conquer a key port in Greece called Preveza and also destroy a large portion of the Spanish naval fleet in the process. He was essential in assisting in many Ottoman Empire victories while in battle.
List of synagogues created by Jewish PiratesList of synagogues created by Jewish Pirates
