Publican en Toronto breve guía de la Comunidad Judía de México (en Inglés)

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And we’re off, to anywhere and everywhere, as we say ‘Shalom’ every week to different global travel destination. World cities, provincial towns, and even the most unassuming of suburbs are infused with Jewish history and culture, some of which is waiting to be discovered.

For the pious follower, the curious traveler, or the intrepid adventurer, we’ll unearth the best of what to do and where to go. Be it an emerging subculture, a historical landmark, or simply a triumph of art in any form, Jewish experiences are found around the world; and likely as well in your backyard.


It may be in the destination, the journey, or the company, but there is much to uncover and celebrate near and far, so hurry up and get going.

Shalom, Mexico City

The nomadic history of Jewish populations – settling in one land only to be forced to another—means that, on whole, physical foundations are built and left in one area, while religious and cultural ideals are taken and spread throughout the world.

Mexico City is special. With a Jewish population only in the hundreds at the onset of the 20th century, the numbers now tally roughly 50,000. Culture is booming, as Jews that live in the densely-populated metropolis haven’t been relegated to just a confined area; instead they have spread and thrived, already leaving a mark throughout the Mexican capital as they continue to grow.

Mexico was one of the many countries around the world that saw an influx of Jews in the 15th century. The Spanish Inquisition of 1492 forced the hand of many, as Jews were made to decide whether to convert to Christianity or flee the country – with no guarantee of safety in either case. While many spread throughout Europe, some sought hope and refuge in the New World, crossing the Atlantic Ocean during the Age of Exploration.

Waves of immigration followed throughout history, and freedom and tolerance were still centuries away. Jews found their way to Mexico following Russian pogroms, the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the rise of Nazi Germany. The Presidency Porfirio Diaz in the late 19th century actively invited Europeans to immigrate to Mexico.

While there have been documented cases of anti-Semitism during World War II in Mexico, it’s more recent history is defined by free speech and religious tolerance. President Vicente Fox passed a law in 2003 forbidding discrimination, including anti-Semitism, making into legislation a practice that had been in effect for decades.

Following the war, Jewish life expanded in Mexico City. The neighbourhood of La Condesa (one of the main thoroughfares of the area, as it were, was Calle Jesús María – Jesus Mary Street) made up the heart of the Jewish community in the 1940’s and 50’s, and while museums, synagogues, and libraries from that generation are still there today, residents have flocked to other parts of the city. The mid part of the century, the hub of the Jewish community went westward to areas such as Las Lomas, Bosques, and Polanco.

Jews spread to other towns, and while there may be no centuries-old edifices around the city, they still have left their mark. Their presence was not erased, and there even still exists a sculpture of Albert Einstein in La Condesa with an inscription that reads, “A gift from the Israeli community.”

Mexico City features roughly two dozen synagogues, the oldest dating back ninety years. The Sephardi, built in 1923 by Syrian Jews, was first a house, with apartment upstairs, and a downstairs that was used for praying, collect donations for the poor, and other religious activities.


Mexico City Tolerance Museum

Another tourist stop includes a pair of important museums. 1970 saw the foundation of the Tuvia Maizel Museum of Mexico City, a reflection on the Holocaust and Mexico, as well as a history of Jewish culture around the country. In addition, the Memory and Tolerance Museum, a beautiful, architecturally innovative building, completed in 2010, features fascinating cultural, social, historic, and religious exhibits.

Founded in 1938, the Jewish Central Committee of Mexico (JCCM), at the time helped Jews flee from Europe and live safely across the ocean. Now, it promotes open relations with the Mexican government while its offshoot, the Tribuna Israelita, engages and educates communities.

Today, Jewish life in Mexico City runs roughly along community lines, and 90 per cent of Mexican Jews attend Jewish school and marry within their faith. There are two distinct Syrian neighbourhoods, an Ashkenazi population, a Sephardi group, as well as two more conservative Judaic communities. They are all brought together, however, by the Centre Deportivo Israelita.

The expansive Jewish Community Centre – the largest in the Diaspora, is truly a bustling hub of activity. Established in 1950, it is here where people come together to practice and compete in a wide range of sports, including baseball, basketball, swimming, gymnastics, karate, and of course, soccer.


CDI Pool

There is a library and activity centre for children, along with ongoing events and festivals, with lavish ceremonies and spectacles, as well as cultural fairs and expos. The CDI unites the Jewish population of Mexico City and currently boasts a membership of about 20,000 members, even though years ago it tallied roughly 30,000.

Part of the reason that membership is down is a growing number of youth that seek to break free from tradition and have become more involved in Mexican culture and lifestyle. The younger generation is just as organized with such active groups as the Mexican Federation of Jewish Students (FEMUJ), but more and more they are not content with keeping to their own community. The future sees a blending of Jewish and Mexican culture.


CDI Children’s Event

Jewish culture is alive and well in Mexico City, and continues to grow from the roughly 130 Jews accounted for in the year 1900. From kosher restaurants to brand new museums and even the Mexican International Jewish Film Festival established in 2004, Jewish Mexico City makes for an enjoyable and exciting place to live and visit.

If you have any questions, please visit www.diariojudio.com

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