History of the Jews in Latin America and the Caribbean

The history of the Jews in Latin America and the Caribbean began with conversos who joined the Spanish and Portuguese expeditions to the continents. After the Alhambra Decree of 1492, many Jews in Spain were forced to convert to Catholic faith or leave. Some of these converted Jews, called conversos, traveled to the New World, pretending to be loyal Catholics to stay safe. They often kept their Jewish beliefs in secret, even as they lived in places like Mexico and New Mexico.

Some of the very first Jews arrived with explorers like Christopher Columbus, including people such as Rodrigo de Triana and Luis De Torres. Over time, more Jewish families moved to the Americas from places like the Netherlands, France, and Italy. By the late 1500s, organized Jewish communities appeared in areas such as the Portuguese colony of Brazil, the Dutch Suriname and Curaçao, Spanish Santo Domingo, and English colonies like Jamaica and Barbados.

In the mid-1600s, the biggest Jewish communities were in Suriname and Brazil. Many more Jews came to Latin America and the Caribbean in the late 1800s, especially from eastern Europe. After World War II, large numbers of Ashkenazi Jews also moved to South America for safety. Today, fewer than 300,000 Jews live in Latin America, mostly in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, and Uruguay.

Argentina

Main article: History of the Jews in Argentina

Further information: Jewish gauchos

Jews came to Argentina to find safety and fairness. Some Portuguese traders may have practiced Jewish traditions secretly, but no big community formed after Argentina became independent. Later, more Jews arrived, especially after 1810, from places like France, Eastern Europe, Russia, and Poland.

Many Jewish families moved to Argentina before and after World War II to stay safe. Today, about 250,000 to 300,000 Jewish people live in Argentina, mostly in cities like Buenos Aires, Rosario, Córdoba, Mendoza, La Plata, and San Miguel de Tucumán. Argentina has one of the largest Jewish communities in the world. Jewish holidays like Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Passover are celebrated there.

Bahamas

In 2022, there were about 200 Jewish people living in the Bahamas.

Bolivia

Main article: History of the Jews in Bolivia

Jewish families began to live in Bolivia when Spain ruled the area. Some families with hidden Jewish traditions moved to places like Santa Cruz de la Sierra and felt safer there because they were far from strict rules.

Later, more families came, especially during the 1900s. Many settled in cities such as La Paz and Cochabamba. Even today, some people in Bolivia still honor old family customs from these traditions. Today, there are small Jewish communities in several cities, with most living in Santa Cruz de la Sierra.

Brazil

Main article: History of the Jews in Brazil

Further information: Amazonian Jews

Jews came to Brazil very early, especially in areas ruled by the Dutch. In 1636, they built a synagogue in Recife, the first in the Americas. Most of these Jews were conversos who had escaped from Spain and Portugal to find religious freedom in the Netherlands after the Inquisition began there in 1536. In 1656, when Portugal took back control of Brazil, many Jews moved to Caribbean islands and New Amsterdam, which later became New York City.

After Brazil gained independence in the 19th century, it became a welcoming place for Jewish immigrants. Many Jews left Europe due to pressures there, and Brazil saw increased Jewish immigration during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Even when other countries limited immigration, Brazil still accepted many Jews, especially after serious problems arose in Europe. Today, Brazil has one of the largest Jewish communities in the world. Brazilian Jews are active in many areas of life, including politics, sports, and business, and they live mainly in São Paulo, with other communities in Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais, and Paraná.

See also: Israel-Brazil relations

Chile

Main article: History of the Jews in Chile

Jews are a small part of Chile's religious groups, but they have been important in the country's history, both before and after Chile became independent in 1810. Today, most Jewish people in Chile live in Santiago and Valparaíso, with communities also in the north and south.

Some well-known Jewish Chileans include Mario Kreutzberger, known as "Don Francisco" for hosting Sábado Gigante, one of the world's longest-running TV shows. In arts and culture, Alejandro Jodorowsky is famous worldwide for his work in literature and film. Others like Nissim Sharim, Shlomit Baytelman, and Anita Klesky have made their mark in acting. Volodia Teitelboim, a poet and former leader of the Chilean Communist Party, is another Jewish figure who held an important political role.

In sports, tennis player Nicolás Massú won gold at the Athens 2004 Olympics. Many major companies in Chile, especially in retail and commerce, were started by Jewish people.

Colombia

Main article: History of the Jews in Colombia

Many Jewish families, called "New Christians," left the Iberian peninsula in the 1500s and 1600s to find freedom and fair treatment. Some settled in what is now northern Colombia, then called New Granada. Most joined Colombian society, but some kept small Jewish traditions alive in their families.

In the 1700s, Jewish families from Jamaica and Curaçao came to Colombia. They could live freely there under English and Dutch rule. They began to practice their religion openly, even though it was not officially allowed. After Colombia became independent, Judaism was recognized, and the government gave Jews land for a cemetery.

Many Jewish families who arrived in the 1700s and 1800s became important in Colombian society. Some married local people and chose to hide or lessen their Jewish identity. This included famous people like author Jorge Isaacs and industrialist Santiago Eder, as well as families like De Lima, Salazar, Espinoza, Arias, Ramirez, Perez, and Lobo, who settled in the Cauca Valley region. Over time, most of their descendants followed Christian traditions.

In the early 1900s, many Jewish families came to Colombia from Greece, Turkey, North Africa, Syria, and Eastern Europe. A large group arrived after unfair laws against Jews were introduced in Germany in 1933. However, from 1939 to the end of World War II, immigration slowed due to restrictions in Colombia.

Colombia allowed Jewish families who were considered refugees to stay, even when others from Germany were asked to leave. The Jewish community grew quickly in the 1950s and 1960s, with synagogues, schools, and social clubs opening in major cities.

By the early 2000s, Jewish communities were mainly in Bogotá, Barranquilla, Cali, and Medellín. There are 14 official synagogues across the country, and Bogotá is home to many Jewish cultural and religious centers.

Costa Rica

Main article: History of the Jews in Costa Rica

The first Jewish people in Costa Rica were likely conversos, who traveled with Spanish groups in the 1500s and 1600s. Later, in the 1800s, merchants from Curaçao, Jamaica, Panama, and the Caribbean settled in the Central Valley. They married local people and became part of everyday life.

More Jewish families arrived before World War I and during the 1930s, escaping danger in Europe. Many came from a town in Poland called Żelechów. The first synagogue, Shaarei Zion, was built in 1933 in the capital, San José. Today, the Jewish community includes people from America and Israel who live and work in the country.

Cuba

Main article: History of the Jews in Cuba

Jews have lived on the island of Cuba for many years. Some Cubans can trace their Jewish roots to people called Marranos who left during the Spanish Inquisition.

In the early 1900s, many Jews moved to Cuba. A big Jewish place of worship, Beth Shalom Temple, was built in Havana.

Before 1959, there were about 15,000 Jews in Cuba. Many left after the Cuban revolution.

In the 1990s, many Cuban Jews moved to Israel in a plan called Operation Cigar. By 2007, around 1,500 Jews lived in Cuba. Most of them lived in Havana, where Beth Shalom Temple still serves the community.

Curaçao

Main article: History of the Jews in Curaçao

Curaçao has one of the oldest Jewish communities in the Americas, starting in 1651. The island is also home to the oldest synagogue in the Americas, used since 1732. This community helped support Jewish groups in places like New York City and Newport, Rhode Island, where the Touro Synagogue was built. Later, many Jews from Curaçao moved to countries like Colombia and Venezuela. During difficult times in 1856 and 1902, some Jews returned to Curaçao for safety.

Dominican Republic

Main article: History of the Jews in the Dominican Republic

Many Jewish families, called conversos, came to southern Hispaniola in the 1400s, 1500s, and 1600s. They were leaving hard times in Spain. Over many years, these families mixed with others. Some changed their religion, but many still kept parts of their old traditions.

Later, in the 1700s and 1800s, more Jewish families came from Curaçao to live in the Dominican Republic. In the 1930s, Jews left a troubled time and started a small town named Sosua near Puerto Plata. The leader of the country, Rafael Trujillo, let them come because of their skills. Today, Sosua has a special building for religious meetings and a museum about Jewish history. You can still find descendants of these families in many towns in the north of the island.

Ecuador

Main article: History of the Jews in Ecuador

Many Jewish families in Ecuador came from Spain. They spoke a special language called Judaeo-Spanish. Later, more Jewish families came from Germany and Poland.

In the 1930s and 1940s, many Jewish families moved to Ecuador from Europe. They settled in cities like Quito and Guayaquil. Today, the Jewish community in Ecuador is small. These families have helped in education, art, and culture.

El Salvador

Main article: History of the Jews in El Salvador

The first Jews arrived in El Salvador as early Spanish settlers in the 16th century. They practiced Judaism in secret. Bernardo Haas, from Alsace, is thought to be the first recognized Jewish immigrant, arriving in 1868. Later, other Jewish families came from Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, Spain, and France. During World War II, the Jewish community helped some families escape from Europe. Some had to move to other countries like Brazil, Ecuador, Guatemala, and Panama. In 1948, the community started a school called "Colegio Estado de Israel." This school is still open today. Today, about 100 Jews live in El Salvador, mostly in the capital city of San Salvador. Most of them have Sephardic roots.

French Guiana

"History of the Jews in French Guiana" redirects here.

Jews first came to French Guiana with help from the Dutch West India Company. In 1659, more Jews arrived from Dutch colonies in Brazil. The company chose David Nassy to lead a special Jewish settlement in an area named Remire or Irmire on the western side of the island of Cayenne.

Between 1658 and 1659, Paulo Jacomo Pinto talked with Dutch leaders in Amsterdam to let Jews from Livorno, Italy settle in the Americas. In 1600, over 150 Sephardic Jews left Livorno and moved to Cayenne. The French allowed this, which was unusual for French colonies at that time. But most of these people later moved to the Dutch colony of Suriname.

Over time, many Jews from Cayenne moved to Suriname. In 1667, British forces took over and moved the remaining Jewish community to either Suriname or Barbados to work in sugarcane fields. Since the late 1600s, only a few Jews lived in French Guiana. In 1992, about 20 Jewish families from Suriname and North Africa tried to start the community again in Cayenne. Today, there are about 800 Jews in French Guiana, mostly living in Cayenne, with a Chabad group helping keep Jewish traditions alive.

Guatemala

"History of the Jews in Guatemala" redirects here.

The first Jewish people to live in Guatemala were hidden followers of Judaism who had converted to Christianity. They came during the time when Spain ruled the area.

Later, in the mid-1800s, Jewish people from Germany moved to Guatemala. After that, more Jewish families came from places in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, especially during the early 1900s and World War II. Today, about 900 Jewish people live in Guatemala, mostly in Guatemala City.

Haiti

Main article: History of the Jews in Haiti

When Christopher Columbus arrived in Santo Domingo, one of his crew members was Luis de Torres, a Jewish interpreter. He was one of the first Jews to live there in 1492. Later, when France took control of the western part of the island in 1633, more Jewish families arrived from places like Curaçao and English colonies such as Jamaica. They became important in trading and business.

After Haiti became independent in 1804, life became hard for many, and some Jews left the country. In the 1800s, more Jewish families came from places like Poland, Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt. They worked as traders in port cities. In the 1900s, Haiti allowed some Jewish families to come and live there during a difficult time for Jews in Europe. By 2010, only about 25 Jewish people were known to live in Haiti, mostly near Port-au-Prince.

Honduras

Main article: History of the Jews in Honduras

Many Jewish people moved to Honduras during the 20th century, especially until the 1980s. They came from countries such as Russia, Poland, Germany, Hungary, and Romania. Some also came from Greece, Turkey, and North Africa. In the 1970s and 1980s, Jewish people from Israel joined the community too.

Over the past twenty years, Jewish life in Honduras has grown. Jewish groups in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula have become more active. In 1998, Hurricane Mitch damaged a synagogue, but the Jewish community worked together to rebuild it. Today, most Jewish people in Honduras live in Tegucigalpa.

Jamaica

Main article: History of the Jews in Jamaica

The history of Jews in Jamaica began in the late 1400s when many Jews from Portugal and Spain fled unfair treatment. When the English took control of the colony of Jamaica in 1655, some Jews who had hidden their beliefs started to practice their religion openly again. In 1719, a special place for worship called Kahal Kadosh Neve Tsedek was built in Port Royal.

Today, many Jamaicans are descendants of Jewish families who came from Portugal and Spain. Some still follow Jewish traditions, and many have last names like Abrahams, Alexander, Isaacs, Levy, and Lindo. In 2006, a special center opened to honor Jewish life in Jamaica.

Mexico

Main article: History of the Jews in Mexico

Jews first came to Mexico in 1521, but only a few stayed because of the strong Catholic Church.

In the late 1800s, many Jewish families from Germany moved to Mexico when invited by the leader Maximilian I. Even more came later, escaping unfair treatment in Russia and Eastern Europe. After that, Jewish families also arrived from Turkey, Morocco, and parts of France when their countries had difficulties. During World War II, many Jewish families left dangerous situations in Europe and found safety in Mexico. Today, Mexico has about 67,476 Jewish people, making it the third largest Jewish community in Latin America.

In recent years, Jewish communities have grown in places like Cancún and Playa del Carmen, where they have opened centers to support Jewish traditions and learning.

Nicaragua

Main article: History of the Jews of Nicaragua

In the 20th century, most of Nicaragua's Jewish community came from Eastern Europe and arrived after 1929. Most of them lived in Managua. They helped the country by working in farming, making things, and selling goods.

In 1972, a big earthquake damaged many Jewish businesses, and some Jews left because of this and because of fighting during the 1978-1979 Sandinista Revolution. After the leader Anastasio Somoza left in 1979, almost all the Jews left Nicaragua because they were worried about the new government.

Some Americans tried to get support for a group called the Contras by saying the new government did not like Jews, but many groups did not find proof of this. After Daniel Ortega lost an election in 1990, some Jews began to return to Nicaragua. By 2005, there were about 50 Jews in the country. In 2017, 114 people in Nicaragua chose to become Jewish.

Panama

Main article: History of the Jews in Panama

The history of Jewish people in Panama began with families who changed their religion to fit in with Spanish and Portuguese explorers. After a law in 1492, some of these families moved to Panama during the early days of exploration.

In the early 1500s, many Jewish families came to Panama with Spanish leaders. Some important leaders in Panama had Jewish family members. Later, when Portugal joined with Spain, more Jewish families came from Portugal. They tried to keep their traditions secret because leaders were watching for people who still practiced Judaism.

In the 1800s, when Panama was part of a larger country, new Jewish families arrived. They spoke many languages and helped with trade and communication. More Jewish people came during difficult times in Europe and the Middle East. Today, Panama City is the center of Jewish life in Panama, with many Jewish people living there. Panama is special because it had two Jewish leaders become president in the past.

Paraguay

Main article: History of the Jews in Paraguay

In the 19th century, Jewish people came to Paraguay from places like France, Switzerland, and Italy. During World War I, more Jewish families arrived from Palestine (especially Jerusalem), Egypt, and Turkey. Later, in the 1920s, many Jewish people came from Ukraine and Poland. Between 1933 and 1939, many Jewish families moved to Paraguay to find safety. After World War II, more people came to Paraguay. Today, about 1,000 Jewish people live mainly in the capital city, Asunción.

Peru

Main article: History of the Jews in Peru

In Peru, many Jewish families, called conversos, came when the Spanish Conquest began. At first, they lived safely because the Inquisition had not yet arrived. Later, when the Inquisition came, these families had difficult times. Over time, their descendants mixed with local people in places like Cajamarca and parts of Piura. In more recent times, especially around World War II, many Jews from Eastern Europe moved to Lima. Today, these communities are important in Peru's economy and politics.

Puerto Rico

Main article: History of the Jews in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico has the largest Jewish community in the Caribbean today, with more than 3,000 Jewish people. They have four places of worship. Three are in the capital city, San Juan, for Reform, Conservative, and Chabad traditions. There is another Satmar group in the town of Mayagüez. Many Jewish families lived secretly on the island, hiding their traditions. Later, during a war in the late 1800s, Jewish American soldiers joined local Jewish people for religious services. After a big war, many Jews from Central and Eastern Europe also came to live there.

Suriname

Main article: History of the Jews in Suriname

Further information: Jodensavanne

Suriname has one of the oldest Jewish communities in the Americas. During hard times in Portugal and Spain around 1500, many Jews moved to the Netherlands and Dutch colonies to find safety. Some of these Jews were called New Christians or conversos because they had changed their religion.

Many of these Jews first lived in Recife and grew cocoa, but later they moved to The Guyanas and settled in Suriname in 1639. During World War II, many Jewish people from the Netherlands and Europe came to Suriname to stay safe. Today, about 2,765 Jewish people live in Suriname.

Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago, a former British colony, has a Jewish community of more than 500 people.

Uruguay

Main article: History of the Jews in Uruguay

Uruguay has one of the biggest Jewish groups in Latin America, especially for its size. Jewish people first arrived during the time when Spain ruled the area. Some had changed their religion to escape trouble.

Later, many Jewish families came from nearby places and from Europe.

By the early 1900s, Jewish communities built schools and lived in areas like the Villa Muñoz neighborhood in the capital, Montevideo. Some families also lived in the countryside. Many more Jewish people moved to Uruguay in the 1920s and 1930s. The country also welcomed Jewish people who had to leave after World War II. By the 1950s and 1960s, about 50,000 Jewish people lived in Uruguay.

See also: Israel-Uruguay relations

Venezuela

Main article: History of the Jews in Venezuela

The history of Jewish people in Venezuela likely started in the mid-1600s, when some Jewish families lived in Caracas and Maracaibo. During the early 1800s, when Venezuela was fighting for independence from Spain, a leader named Simón Bolívar and his sister received help from Jewish families living on the nearby island of Curaçao. After Venezuela became independent, more Jewish families moved from Curaçao to a town called Santa Ana Coro, where they were allowed to practice their religion freely.

By the late 1800s, about 247 Jewish people were recorded as citizens in Venezuela. Over time, more Jewish families arrived, especially after World War II. By 1950, the Jewish community had grown to around 6,000 people. In recent years, many Jewish people have moved away from Venezuela because of political problems. Today, about 10,000 Jewish people live in Venezuela, most of them in the capital city, Caracas.

Reported Jewish populations in the Americas and the Caribbean in 2014

¹ CIA World Factbook, with most estimates current as of July 2014; Jewish Virtual Library: Vital Statistics: Jewish Population of the World (1882 – Present).