Bon Siman and Oy Vey: Jewish Papiamentu and Curaçao Yiddish with Michèle Russel-Capriles and Phyllis Meit
Michèle Russel-Capriles and Phyllis Meit of the Jewish Cultural Historical Museum in Curaçao discuss their roots as Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jews on the island. Michèle details her 15th-generation Sephardic heritage and the unique Jewish Papiamentu vocabulary her grandmother documented. Phyllis describes her Ashkenazi background, tracing her family from a Romanian shtetl to the Caribbean, and notes the survival of Yiddishisms within her community. Through their work, they preserve and showcase the island’s diverse cultural history. They conclude by reflecting on their multilingual upbringing and the importance of keeping ancestral languages alive.
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Michèle Russel-Capriles is a cultural historian, curator, museum leader, and visual artist based in Curaçao. .. She has led the Jewish Cultural Historical Museum (Jewish Museum Curaçao) since 2001, overseeing its collections, exhibitions, educational programs, and transition into the digital age. .. Her work centers on heritage preservation, public history, and the Jewish and Caribbean narratives of Curaçao. .. Alongside her museum practice, she maintains an active visual art practice and has held leadership roles in cultural foundations, heritage sites, and public institutions, connecting research, creativity, and community engagement.
