Although Jews have lived on the island nation of Cuba for hundreds of years, their numbers today are greatly diminished largely due to emigration. In 2007, it was estimated there were approximately 1,500 Cuban Jews, the vast majority in Havana. Since then, hundreds of those have reportedly left for Israel. To learn more about this Caribbean Jewish community — past and present — click on the links below.
Quote: “Cuban Jews or Cubans of Jewish heritage have lived in the nation of Cuba for centuries. Some Cubans trace Jewish ancestry to Marranos (forced converts to Christianity) who came as colonists, though few of these practice Judaism today. More than 24,000 Jews lived in Cuba in 1924, and more immigrated to the country in the 1930s. But during and after the 1959 communist revolution, 94% of the Jews left for the United States and other countries.”
Sources: Wikipedia
Learn more about the history of the Cuban Jews and their descendants on Wikipedia. >>
Watch “Jews of Cuba” [25:33]. >>
Watch “Inside Jewish Cuba: A JDC Entwine Experience” [15:00]. >>
Photo: The Atlantic
Amazing Jews
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