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The Virtual Jewish History TourPuerto Rico |
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The Development of a Community
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When Puerto Rico was ceded by Spain to the United States at the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898, there were no Jews living on the island. The first Jewish immigrants to Puerto Rico came in the 1930's and were refugees from Nazi occupied Europe. The majority settled in the island's capital, San Juan, and, in 1942, they established the Jewish Community Center of Puerto Rico.
The economic boom of the 1950's attracted a considerable number of Jewish families from the U.S. mainland, who were joined after 1959 by an influx of Jewish emigres from Castro's Cuba. In 1953, the Jewish community officially affilited itself with the Conservative movement and changed its name to the Jewish Community Center-Shaare Tzedek Synagogue. A Hebrew School was established in 1959. By 1970, there were 600 members of the synagogue, a Hadassah chapter, and B'nai Brith and Young Judaea youth groups. A Reform synagogue was established in 1967.
Jews have served in high positions in the government and public institutions. A. Cecil Snyder was chief justice of the Puerto Rican Supreme Court, Max Goldman served as director of the Board of Tax Exemptions, and David Helfeld was dean of the University of Puerto Rico law school.
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Temple
Beth El |
Today, most of Puerto Rico's 3,000 Jews live in the capital; however, there are a few families in Ponce and Mayaguez. San Juan has three synagogues, one Reform, one Conservative, and one Chabad. There is also kosher food available. Hebrew school classes are held at the Jewish Community Center.
Contacts
Rabbi Mendel Zarchi
Chabad Lubavitch of Puerto Rico - Serving the Caribbean
Shul Address: 18 Rosa Street, Isla Verde
Postal address:
PMB 122
5900 Isla Verde Ave. L-2
Carolina, PR 00979
Tel 787-253-0894
Email: rabbi@chabadpr.com
Kosher food can be ordered through Chabad.
Sources: “Puerto Rico," Encyclopedia Judaica
Puerto Rico photo courtesy Amiga in a Box
Synagogue photo courtesy Jewish Sightseeing
Temple Beth El photo: HaChayim HaYehudim Jewish Photo Library (Jono David Media)
Map: CIA-World Fact Book
