The island’s Jewish congregation dates back to 1651 when Joao Ilhao arrived from Portugal. Soon afterwards Jewish immigrants came from Amsterdam. In 1659, they created a cemetery. It is now oldest Jewish cemetery in the Western Hemisphere. Their first house of worship was purchased in 1674 and their second was consecrate in 1692. The current Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue was built in 1730. This makes Snoa the oldest synagogue in the Americas. It became a National Monument in 1995. Inside is a fascinating Jewish Cultural Historical Museum.