Tribuna Israelita

The Jewish Community of Mexico

The Jewish Community of Mexico

The Jewish presence in Mexico dates back to 1519, when the first Spanish conquerors arrived to the country; nevertheless the organized Jewish Community began to settle at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th when Jews, mainly from Europe and the Ottoman Empire, fled their countries looking for new horizons due to instability and Antisemitism.

In Mexico, Jews organized in communities according to their countries of origin.

The first community formally established in Mexico was the Monte Sinai Community, founded in 1912 with the purpose of helping Jewish immigrants. In 1914 the land for the first Jewish cemetery was bought, signaling the new community’s desire to settle down in this country. Today, this community includes Jews who came from the city of Damascus in Syria and from Lebanon.

In 1922, Jews from Central and Eastern Europe established the Ashkenazi Community. In 1938, the Maguen David Community, integrated by Jews from Aleppo, Syria, was created. Shortly after, in 1941, the Sephardic Community, formed by Jews from Greece, Turkey and the Balkans, was formally organized. All these communities maintain an Orthodox religious affiliation.

In the mid of the 20th Century, the largest institution of the Mexican-Jewish Community was created: the Jewish Sport Center, which gathers members of all the communities.

In 1957, English speaking immigrants, mainly from the United States, established the first Conservative community in Mexico, Beth Israel Community. Lastly, in 1961 the Bet El Community, also of Conservative affiliation, was formed by Spanish-speaking Jews. Simultaneously, other Jewish communities were created in Guadalajara, Monterrey and Tijuana, and more recently in Cancun and San Miguel de Allende.

All of these communities provide religious, social, cultural, and educational services, as well as social care and conciliation and arbitration services.  A large variety of newspapers, magazines and digital media are published, reflecting the different ideological trends of the communities and the institutions.

The first community formally established in Mexico was the Monte Sinai Community, founded in 1912 with the purpose of helping Jewish immigrants. In 1914 the land for the first Jewish cemetery was bought, signaling the new community’s desire to settle down in this country. Today, this community includes Jews who came from the city of Damascus in Syria and from Lebanon.

In 1922, Jews from Central and Eastern Europe established the Ashkenazi Community. In 1938, the Maguen David Community, integrated by Jews from Aleppo, Syria, was created. Shortly after, in 1941, the Sephardic Community, formed by Jews from Greece, Turkey and the Balkans, was formally organized. All these communities maintain an Orthodox religious affiliation.

In the mid of the 20th Century, the largest institution of the Mexican-Jewish Community was created: the Jewish Sport Center, which gathers members of all the communities.

In 1957, English speaking immigrants, mainly from the United States, established the first Conservative community in Mexico, Beth Israel Community. Lastly, in 1961 the Bet El Community, also of Conservative affiliation, was formed by Spanish-speaking Jews. Simultaneously, other Jewish communities were created in Guadalajara, Monterrey and Tijuana, and more recently in Cancun and San Miguel de Allende.

All of these communities provide religious, social, cultural, and educational services, as well as social care and conciliation and arbitration services.  A large variety of newspapers, magazines and digital media are published, reflecting the different ideological trends of the communities and the institutions.

In 1938, due to the intense persecution of European Jews under the Nazi threat and changes in the General Law of Population which restrained Jewish immigration to Mexico, the Central Committee was founded as a pro-refugee institution. Six years later, Tribuna Israelita was established to counteract Antisemitism.

Today, the Central Committee is the representative institution of the Jewish Community of Mexico. Its main duty is to establish and maintain a relationship with national authorities at all levels, federal, state and municipal, as well as with political and social players in the country. It actively participates in the national agenda in fields such as security, human rights, anti-discrimination and social work concerning the most needy.

The Central Committee is also part of the World Jewish Congress and works jointly with Jewish institutions of the United States, such as the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League on issues of bilateral interest. It maintains close relations with Jewish communities worldwide as well, particularly with those in the United States, Canada, Latin America and Israel.

Tribuna Israelita

Through Tribuna Israelita, it establishes ties with the media, social networks, religious, intellectual and academic groups, portrays a real image of the Jewish Community and helps eliminate prejudices and stereotypes.

 

Community Security’s Committee

Through its Community Security’s Committee, it oversees institutional security and civilian protection programs.

 

 

 

Social Action Committee

The Social Action Committee supports community members who are victims of delinquency, working in coordination with the national authorities. The Strategic Analysis Committee was created with the goal of planning for the future generations and establishing policies and actions to face the most urgent problems.

Education has always been a central issue in Judaism. In Mexico, more than 95% of Jewish school- aged children attend Jewish Day Schools. The Jewish education network is affiliated to the Secretary of Public Education and follows the official national curricula. In addition, Jewish Days Schools provide the Jewish education that allows us to maintain and transmit our ancestral values to future generations. Simultaneously, children and young adults in our community participate in social and cultural organizations, which provide an adequate environment for their integral development and reinforce their Jewish Mexican identity.

Likewise, college students are active in their campuses, and work together with Tribuna Israelita, organizing Jewish Cultural Programs in their universities, to provide greater and better understanding of Judaism in general and of the Jewish Community of Mexico in particular. The Mexican Federation of Jewish Youth gathers and represents all these organizations.

Aware of its environment the Jewish Community promotes and participates in many innovative social projects that improve the quality of life in the most in-need sectors. Through institutions dedicated to promote relations between Israel and Mexico, academic, cultural, technological and commercial exchanges between both countries, are implemented.

New needs and new challenges have prompted the creation of different organizations within the community where thousands of volunteer participate. These organization work on preventing and treating  addictions, domestic violence, inclusion of people with disabilities to society, technological education, business training, entrepreneurship promotion,  health programs and activities for the elderly.

La educación ha sido siempre un pilar central en el judaísmo. En México, más del 95% de los jóvenes de la comunidad en edad escolar asisten a alguno de los colegios que integran la red judía. Todas las escuelas cumplen con la currícula oficial y están incorporadas a la Secretaría de Educación Publica. Además, proporcionan la educación judía que permite mantener nuestros valores ancestrales y transmitirlos de generación en generación.

Paralelamente, los niños y jóvenes de la comunidad participan en organizaciones que les brindan un marco adecuado para su desarrollo integral y que refuerzan su identidad judeomexicana. Los universitarios, por su parte, activan en sus respectivos centros de educación superior, organizando en conjunto con Tribuna Israelita “Jornadas Culturales Judías” que permiten un mayor conocimiento del judaísmo en general y de la comunidad de México en particular.

La Comunidad Judía de México cuenta con una amplia red de instituciones femeninas que trabaja activamente en beneficio de los sectores más necesitados de nuestro país, brindado apoyo a hospitales, asilos, escuelas, orfanatos, guarderías, Cruz Roja y dependencias de trabajo social gubernamentales para mejorar el nivel de vida de la población y ofrecer la posibilidad de desarrollo a nivel individual y grupal.

Nuevas necesidades y nuevos desafíos dieron pie a la creación de diversas organizaciones intercomunitarias, que trabajan en la prevención y tratamiento de adicciones, violencia intrafamiliar; integración a la sociedad de personas con alguna discapacidad; reactivación económica; educación tecnológica; programas de salud y actividades propias para adultos mayores.

With more than a century of organized life, the Jewish Community stands firm, united, active, and vibrant, integrated to the social and cultural life of Mexico.