History of the Jews in Nicaragua
| Regions with significant populations | |
|---|---|
| Managua | |
| Languages | |
| Spanish and Hebrew | |
| Religion | |
| Judaism |
Jewish Nicaraguans or Nicaraguan Jews (Spanish: Judío Nicaragüense) are Nicaraguans of Jewish ancestry who were born in or have immigrated to Nicaragua. They are part of the ethnic Jewish diaspora.
History
The first Jewish immigrants to arrive in Nicaragua came from Eastern Europe after 1929.[2] The Jews in Nicaragua were a relatively small community, the majority lived in Managua. The Jews made significant contributions to Nicaragua's economic development while dedicating themselves to farming, manufacturing, and retail sales.[3]
The Congregacion Israelita de Nicaragua was the central Jewish organization until 1979. The community maintained a synagogue and social center, as well as a B'nai B'rith lodge and a Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO) chapter. Also, prior to 1979, the small Jewish community had a synagogue but it was later bombed and turned into a school. Sometime after, the land where the synagogue and school once stood was turned into a funeral home.[2]
The Jewish community encountered anti-semitism by individuals, the majority who claimed that Nicaraguan Jews were responsible for Israeli arms sales to the Somoza regime. Many of these individuals were part of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN).[4] There was much hostility between the Sandinista government, which came into power in 1979, and the Jews. This was mostly due to the Sandinista governments close relationship with the Palestine Liberation Organization.
Emigration
It was approximated that the highest number of Jews in Nicaragua reached a peak of 250 in 1972. [2]However, that same year a devastating earthquake hit Managua and destroyed 90% of the city,[5] it prompted many Jews to emigrate. Shortly after the earthquake the Sandinista government confiscated all Jewish property and imprisoned the community leader, Abraham Gorn, which later managed to escape and fled the country.[2] The Sandinistas also sequestered the only synagogue in the nation, they had it bombed and turned into a school. In fear of persecution and imprisonment by the Sandinista National Liberation Front, all the remaining Jews fled Nicaragua,[6] they went into exile mainly in the United States, Israel, and other countries in Central America.[4]
The Jewish community today
After the Daniel Ortega ran and lost the presidential elections in 1990 a small amount of Jews returned to Nicaragua.[6] The current Jewish population is estimated at around 50 persons. Prior to 1979 the Jewish community had no rabbi or briss. The Jewish community now includes 3 brises,[7] however, as of 2005, the community does not have an ordained rabbi or a synagogue.[1]
The Jewish community, although small, has had a couple of Jewish Nicaraguans in high ranks, most notabley in politics. Herty Lewites was the former mayor of the capital city, Managua, and his brother, Israel Lewites was a Sandinista leader, they both joined and supported the FSLN. The Lewites brothers were the sons of a Jewish immigrant from Poland.[8]
Notable persons
- William Abdalah
- Keith Gould, Honorary Consul of Israel, Physician
- Herty Lewites, Nicaraguan politician
- Israel Lewites, Sandinista leader
- Laszlo Pataky, writer
- Sergio Torres, former military commander, judge and now lawyer
See also
References
- ^ a b "International Religious Freedom Report 2005". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b c d "World Jewish Communities - Latin America - Nicaragua". World Jewish Congress. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ "Persecution and restrictions of religion in Nicaragua - transcript". US Department of State Bulletin,. 1984. p. 2. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ^ a b "Persecution and restrictions of religion in Nicaragua - transcript". US Department of State Bulletin,. 1984. p. 3. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help)CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link) - ^ "Deadly history of earthquakes: 23 December 1972". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-08-19.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b "2001 International Religious Freedom Report". U.S. State Department. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Gould, Keith. "The Jews of Nicaragua: Three brises mark a growing and vibrant community". Jewish Independent. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
{{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Kinzer, Stephen. "Herty Lewites, 66, Ex-Sandinista, Dies". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-08-30.
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External links
- World Jewry In Nicaragua, a Community That Fled Sandinistas Makes a Return.