Everything about Jewish Communities and congregations, and a list of all Jewish Communities in the world
Afghanistan
Algeria
Jewish population in 1948: 140,000
Jewish population in 2004: Less than 100
Jewish settlement in present-day Algeria can be traced back to the first centuries of the Common Era. In the 14th century, with the deterioration of conditions in Spain, many Spanish Jews moved to Algeria. Among them were a number of outstanding scholars, including Rav Yitzchak ben Sheshet Perfet (the Ribash) and Rav Shimon ben Zemah Duran (the Rashbatz). After the French occupation of the country in 1830, Jews gradually adopted French culture and were granted French citizenship.
On the eve of WWII, there were about 120,000 Jews in Algeria. In 1934, Muslims, incited by events in Nazi Germany, rampaged in Constantine, killing 25 Jews and injuring many more. Starting in 1940, under Vichy rule, Algerian Jews were persecuted socially and economically. The Jews averted total destruction through their initiative and participation in the resistance. Their resistance activities helped neutralize Algiers while the Americans landed in the country. In 1955 there were 140,000 Jews in Algeria.
After being granted independence in 1962, the Algerian government harassed the Jewish community and deprived Jews of their economic rights. As a result, almost 130,000 Algerian Jews immigrated to France. Since 1948, 25,681 Algerian Jews have immigrated to Israel.
Most of the remaining Jews live in Algiers, but there are individual Jews in Oran and Blida. Jews practice their religion freely, and Jewish community leaders are included in ceremonial state functions. There is no resident rabbi.
In 1994, the terrorist Armed Islamic Group - GIA declared its intention to eliminate Jews from Algeria; thus far, no attacks have been reported against the Algerian Jewish community. Following the announcement, many Jews left Algeria and the single remaining synagogue was abandoned.5 All other synagogues had previously been taken over for use as mosques.
Source: Jewishviruallibrary.org
Argentina
Armenia
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahamas
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
History and Community
Some Jews have lived on the island since the 17th century, but a congregation was formed only in the 20th century. The permanent Jewish population is often outnumbered by many Jewish tourists from Britain, the US and Canada, and Jewish personnel attached to the US military base on the island. Religious services, conducted by a lay reader, are held once or twice a month and also on the High Holy Days, in different locations.
Bolivia
Rabbi: Palti Somerstein
Email: somerstein@bisnet.tfnet.org
Circulo Israelita de Bolivia is the highest synagogue on earth, located at an altitude of more than 12,000 feet in La Paz, Bolivia. The synagogue serves 700 Jews in a country where the citizens are predominantly Catholic. Shabbo services are held every Friday night and every Saturday morning and afternoon. Classes are also held twice a week in the synagogue where children are taught Hebrew and Jewish history. Its rabbi, Palti Somerstein, has served at the synagogue for four years. Circulo Israelita, without a rabbi for 20 years, faces an uncertain future if Somerstein leaves (Source: Northern Light.)
Circulo Israelita (CI)
Obrajes,
Calle 1 No. 307,
Esquina Av. Hector Ormachea
La Paz
Bolivia
Tel: +(591 2) 2785083 or +(591 2)2786512
Fax: +(591 2) 2785371
e-mail : cibolp@acelerate.com
Embassy of Israel
Avenida Mariscal Santa Cruz No. 21
Edificio Esperanza, 10 Piso
Casilla 1309.1320, La Paz
Tel. 591 2 391 126, Fax 591 2 391 712
Bosnia
Brazil
Bukhara
Bulgaria
Burma
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Chile
China
Colombia| Name : Mikvah
- Bogota
Address : Calle 79 n. 9-66 City : Bogota Country : Colombia Phone : 562 629 Institution : Mikveh |
Name : Mikvah
c/o Comunidad Judia de Cali
Address : POB 8918 City : Cali Country : Colombia Phone : 601 930 Institution : Mikveh Rabbi Pinjas Aloof |
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| Casa Lubavitch-Baranquilla
click here to email us Rabbi Yossi Liberow tel: 57-5-358-5268 fax: 57-5-355-23-87 CRA. 57 # 79 -304 Barranquilla, COLOMBIA Orthodox Chassidic Chabad Lubavitch |
Casa Lubavitch-Bogota
click here to email us Rabbi Yehoshua Rosenfeld tel: 57-1-635-8251 fax: 57-1-635-4065 Calle 94 #9-52 Bogota, COLOMBIA Orthodox Chassidic Chabad Lubavitch |
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| Embassy of Israel, Bogota | The Marranos | |
| Guía de cashrut de Colombia | ||
Costa Rica
Israel Embassy
Calle2, Avenidas 2 y 4
City : San Jose
Country :
Costa Rica
click here to
email us Phone : 21-60-11
Croatia
Curacao
El Salvador
FijiGP 797,000 ~ JP 40
History and Community
Nearly all Jews in Fiji live in Suva, the capital. Jewish settlement in Fiji can be traced back to the arrival from Australia of 20-year-old Henry Marks in 1881. Marks laid the foundation of what became one of the most extensive commercial enterprises in the Western Pacific. Marks was later joined by Jews from India and elsewhere in the Middle East and the Orient. Until very recently, there was no organized Jewish life. However, this changed with the creation of a communal organization called the Fiji Jewish Association. Religious life has been confined to a communal seder organized by the Israeli embassy and attended by 50 to 60 people.
Israel
Israel and Fiji enjoy full diplomatic relations. The Israeli ambassador in Canberra, Australia, represents Israeli interests in Fiji.
Fiji Jewish Association
Carpenter Street, P.O. Box 882 GPO, Suva
Tel. 679 387 980, Fax. 679 387 946
Embassy Joske Street. 69 Parade Building, P.O. Box 15249, Suva Tel. 679 303 420, Fax. 679 300 415
GibraltarA. Edery - Butcher and Deli
26 John Mackintosh Square
Gibraltar
Tel : 75168
Fax : 42529
Email : edery@gibnet.gi
Supervision: Check kashrut!
Uncle Sam's Deli/Grocery/Caterer
62 Irish Town
Gibraltar
Tel: 51236, 51226
Fax: 42516
Email: dabamick@gibnet.gi.com
Supervision: Glatt. Check kashrut!
I & D Abudarham - Grocery Store
Opening Hours : 10am -1pm and 3pm -7pm
32 Cornwall's Lane
Gibraltar
Tel : 78506
Fax : 73249
Email : djabudar@gibnet.gi
Supervision: Check kashrut!
Leanse - Restaurant and the Jewish Social and Cultural
Club
Opening Hours : 11.30am-3.30pm, 8.00pm-12.00
pm
7 Bomb House Lane
Gibraltar
Tel : 41751
Fax : 41751
Email: asuissa@gibnet.gi
Cuisine: Meat. Moroccan. Shabbat meals
Supervision: Chief Rabbi Chasid
Deli Express Ltd.
Glatt - Halak Beth Yoseph Strictly Kosher Supermarket
Bomb House Lane
Gibraltar
Tel. 00 350 200 75168 - Mr David Edery
Mobile. 00 350 5886 0000
Email- dedery@hotmail.com
Under the Supervision of Rabbi Hassid - Gibraltar
GuatemalaThe Jewish organizations are united under the Consejo Central. The three main Jewish groups are the Sociedad Israelita de Guatemala (Beth-El), which is Reform and mainly of German origin; Magen David, which is Sephardi; and the Centro Hebreo, which is composed of people with roots in eastern Europe. Each of the organizations maintains its own synagogue. There is also a B'nai B'rith lodge, a Maccabi club, and a branch of WIZO, all of which function under the Consejo Central umbrella. The Consejo operates a Jewish kindergarten.
Communal and Religious Life
The Jewish organizations are united under the Consejo Central. The three main Jewish groups are the Sociedad Israelita de Guatemala (Beth-El), which is Reform and mainly of German origin; Magen David, which is Sephardi; and the Centro Hebreo, which is composed of people with roots in eastern Europe. Each of the organizations maintains its own synagogue. There is also a B'nai B'rith lodge, a Maccabi club, and a branch of WIZO, all of which function under the Consejo Central umbrella. The Consejo operates a Jewish kindergarten.
Israel
Israel and Guatemala enjoy full diplomatic relations.
Embassy
13a Avenida 14-07, Zona 10,Guatemala City
Tel. 502 363 5674, Fax 502-333-6950
HaitiOfficially the Republic of Haiti, Haiti occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Today, few if any Jews remain in Haiti.
- The First Jews
- Modern Times
- 2010 Earthquake
- Community Contacts
The first Jew to settle in Haiti, Luis de Torres, arrived in 1492 as Christopher Columbus’s Converso interpreter. After Haiti was conquered by the French in 1633, many Dutch Jews emigrated from Brazil in 1634. Most of these Jews were Marranos. Many became employees of French sugarcane plantations and further developed the industry.
In 1683, Jews were expelled from all French colonies, including Haiti. Nevertheless, a few Jews remained as leading officials in French trading companies. After a few decades, in the mid-1700s many Jews, who had been expelled from Haiti, returned to the country. In 1804, during the slave revolt of Toussaint L’Ouverture, much of the Jewish community was murdered or expelled from Haiti. A few years later, many Polish Jews arrived in Haiti due to civil strife in Poland.
Most youth did not grow up with a Jewish education due to the lack of a Sunday school or Jewish communal life. Children had to conceal their Judaism, because only Catholics could attend public school.
Jews tended to settle along the shoreline, in port cities. Most Jews were involved in commerce and trade, therefore, establishing communities in major industry centers. A few years ago, archaeologists discovered an ancient synagogue of Crypto-Jews in Jeremie, the only one discovered on the island. Several Jewish tombstones have also been uncovered in port cities such as Cap Haitien and Jacmel.
By the end of the 19th century, approximately 30 Jewish families arrived from Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt. During this period, a French law was enacted that gave French citizenship to minorities in the North American region; therefore, many Jews from the Middle East felt secure moving to Haiti. These Jews brought with them their Sephardic customs and traditions. By the time of the American occupation in 1915, roughly 200 Jews lived in Haiti. During the 20 years of American occupation, many Jews left Haiti for the United States and South America.
In 1937, the Haitian government began issuing passports and visas to approximately 100 Eastern European Jews escaping Nazi persecution. According to the Joint Distribution Company, “Haiti played a small, yet critical, role in saving Jewish lives during the darkest chapter in the Jewish story.” The JDC's organizational records show that up to 150 Jewish refugees managed to escape Europe to come to Haiti. Unfortunately, though, it seems that more Jews were unable to acquire visas to Haiti due to the cost. Prof. David Bankier, of the Institute of Contemporary Jewry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said that after 1938, “the cost [of a visa] was outrageous: If you wanted to go to Haiti, you had to pay $5,000.”
Most of these European Jews remained in Haiti, grateful to the government, until the late 1950s. Many of the Haitian Jewry left, however, so their children could marry Jews and not assimilate, and to find greater economic opportunity. The 21st century witnessed a continued departure of Jews from Haiti, for the United States and Panama because of the poor economy and civil violence. Even after so many decades of living in Haiti, Jews are still considered foreigners in the country. Today, only 25 Jews remain in Haiti, predominately residing in Port-au-Prince.
The community is led by Gilbert Bigio, a retired well-to-do businessman. Every Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, services are held in his house. The last Jewish wedding in Haiti occurred 10 years ago, Bigio’s daughter, and the last bris was Bigio’s son, more than 30 years ago. Bigio owns the only Torah in all of Haiti, which he provides to the community for services.
Israel and Haiti maintain full diplomatic relations. In 1947, Haiti voted for the United Nations’ partition of Palestine and the creation of the State of Israel. Many Haitians have a lot of admiration for Israel and its struggles. The Israeli ambassador in Panama represents Israeli interests in Haiti. Israel maintains an honorary consulate in Port-au-Prince. Currently, George Bigio is the honorary consul of Israel in Haiti, and flies a massive Israeli flag outside his home.
In January 2010, after a devastating earthquake destroyed much of Haiti's capital, Port au Prince, killing more than 300,000 people and leaving nearly a million more homeless and without food or water, Israel was one of the first countries to send crews to assist in the aftermath. The IDF sent both search and rescue teams to try and find remaining survivors among the many rubbled building as well as medical teams to assist in caring for the survivors.
The medical team succeeded in setting up the first fully functioning field hospital, inclusive of a plethora of advanced equipment. During its stay in Haiti, the delegation treated more than 1110 patients, conducted 319 successful surgeries, delivered 16 births including three by Cesarean sections and saved many from within the ruins. Following the conclusion of the IDF medical and rescue team operations in Haiti on January 27, the Israeli government decided to continue its official assistance to Haiti as part of the global effort of reconstruction of the country.
The ongoing effort is being coordinated through MASHAV - Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Jewish Community of Haiti
P.O. Box 687
Port-au-Prince
Tel. 509-1-20-638
Honduras
LibyaJews had a presence in Libya at least since the time of Hellenistic rule under Ptolemy Lagos in 323 B.C.E. in Cyrene. Once home to a very large and thriving Jewish community, Libya is now completely empty of Jews due to anti-Jewish pogroms and immigration to Israel.
A savage pogrom in Tripoli on November 5, 1945, killed more than 140 Jews and wounded hundreds more. Almost every synagogue was looted. In June 1948, rioters murdered another 12 Jews and destroyed 280 Jewish homes.
Thousands of Jews fled the country after Libya was granted independence and membership in the Arab League in 1951. After the Six-Day War, the Jewish population of 7,000 was again subjected to pogroms in which 18 were killed, and many more injured, sparking a near-total exodus that left fewer than 100 Jews in Libya.
When Col. Qaddafi came to power in 1969, all Jewish property was confiscated and all debts to Jews cancelled. In 1999, the synagogue in Tripoli was was renovated, however, it was not reopened.
The last Jew living in Libya, Esmeralda Meghnagi, died in February 2002. This marked the end of one of the world's oldest Jewish communities, which traced its origins to the 3rd century B.C.E.
Monaco The Association Culturelle
Israelite de Monaco
Association Culturelle
Israélite de Monaco
15, av. de la Costa
Tel. (+377) 93 30 16 46
ParaguayHistory and Demography
GP 4,960,000 ~ JP 1,000
The great majority of Jews live in the capital, Asuncion
Communal and Religious Life
The Paraguayan community is publicly represented by the Consejo Representativo Israelita de Paraguay. There are at least ten other Jewish organizations, including WIZO, B'nai B'rith, and several youth movements. There are three synagogues: one Ashkenazi, one Sephardi, and one affiliated with Chabad that distributes kosher food to the community. These institutions function without a rabbi. The community maintains a Jewish school, the Colegio Integral Estado de Israel, which provides both primary and secondary education for the majority of Jewish children. There is a Jewish museum with a Holocaust memorial in Asuncion.
Israel and Paraguay maintain full diplomatic relations.
Embassy
Calle Yegras C/25 de Mayo
Edificio San Rafael, 8 piso
P.O. Box 1212, Asuncion
Tel. 595 21 495 097, Fax. 595 21 496 355
Consejo Representativo Israelita de Paraguay
Casilla de Correo 756
(General Diaz 657), Asuncion
Tel. 595 21 441 744, Fax. 595 21 448 289
Fed Sefaradi LatinoAmericana
Caballero 896
Asuncion
Inf: Dr Jacob Cohenco
Centro de Investigacion y Difusion de la Cultura
Sefardi Paraguay 1535,
1061 Buenos Aires, Argentina
Russia Jewish Agency in Kazan
Coordinator: Olga Feyfer
Address: 15, Profsoyuznaya Street, Kazan Tatarstan 420111 Russia
Phone: 7-843 292-0903
E-mail: ofeyfer@gmail.com
Region: 16 Republic of Tatarstan
Profile: 4.3 Additional education
Corporation: JAFI
Kazan Jewish Community (Chabad)
Chairman: Mikhail Skoblionok
Chief Rabbi of Kazan and Tatarstan: rabbi Yizchak Gorelik
Address: 15, Profsoyuznaya Street, Kazan, Tatarstan 420111 Russia
Phone: 7-843 292-5602, 292-1724
Fax: 7-843 292-5622
E-mail: kazan@fjc.ru; kazan-sinn@fjc.ru
Url: www.fjc.ru/kazan
Region: 16 Republic of Tatarstan
Profile: 2.2 Jewish Congregations
Corporation: Chabad
Kazan Jewish Community (Orthodox)
Chairman: Mikhail Skoblionok
Address: 15, Profsoyuznaya Street, Kazan 420111 Russia
Phone: 7-843 292-1724
Fax: 7-843 292-1724
E-mail: elina@knet.ru
Region: 16 Republic of Tatarstan
Profile: 2.2 Jewish Congregations
Corporation: Orthodox
Kazan Jewish Day School "Mishpahteynu" at school #12
Principal: Olga Troupp
Address: 38, Mardjani Street, Kazan, Tatarstan 420022 Russia
Phone: 7-843 293-4812, 292-5504
E-mail: otroupp@mail.ru
Url: www.kazan.ort.ru
Region: 16 Republic of Tatarstan
Profile: 4.4 Schools
Corporation: ORT
Kazan ORT Technological Center
Director: Semyon Vainer
Address: 38, Mardjani Street, Kazan, Tatrstan 420022 Russia
Phone: 7-843 293-4812, 292-5504
E-mail: kazan@ort.ru
Url: www.kazan.ort.ru
Region: 16 Republic of Tatarstan
Profile: 4.3 Additional education
Corporation: ORT
Kazan Youth Jewish Center Afifon (Hillel)
Address: 15, Profsoyuznaya Street, Kazan Tatarstan 420111 Russia
Phone: 7-843 292-6073
Region: 16 Republic of Tatarstan
Profile: 3.2 Youth and Sport organizations
Corporation: Hillel
Naberezhnye Chelny Jewish Community (Chabad)
Chairman: Leonid Kolodner
Address: 4-40, Shkolny Bld, Naberezhnye Chelny, Tatarstan 423801 Russia
Phone: 7-8552 443489
E-mail: nabchelny@fjc.ru
Region: 16 Republic of Tatarstan
Profile: 2.2 Jewish Congregations
Corporation: Chabad
Tatarstan Jewish Community and Welfare Center "Hesed Moshe"
Chairman: Vladimir Rozenshtein
Director: Anna Smolina
Address: 15, Profsoyuznaya Street, Kazan, Tatarstan 420111 Russia
Phone: 7-843 292-1724
E-mail: elina@knet.ru
Region: 16 Republic of Tatarstan
Profile: 3.1 Jewish Community and Welfare Centers
Corporation: JCC/Hesed
Tatarstan Jewish National and Cultural Autonomy
President: Mikhail Skoblionok
Executive Vice-president: Alexander Velder
Address: 15, Profsoyuznaya Street, Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan 420111 Russia
Phone: 7-843 292-1724
E-mail: elina@knet.ru; avelder@veld-group.ru
Region: 16 Republic of Tatarstan
Profile: 1.1 Federations
Corporation: JNCA
Scotland| Name | Address | Rabbi | Phone | Notes |
| Mikvah c/o Edinburgh Synagogue | 4 Salisbury Road Edinburgh EH16 5AB,Edinburgh | Bill & Val | +44 (0) 131 667 3144 | Recently refurbished under supervision of Dayan Gukovitsky. Contact by E-mail or phone for details: mikveh@ehcong.com |
| Mikvah c/o Giffnock & Newlands Synagogue | Marryville Av |
SingaporeSpain
Tahiti1822-1866 ALEXANDER SALMON (England-Tahiti)
While on a trip to the south seas, he met and fell in love with the beautiful 20 year old princess of the Teva clan, Princess Arrioehau. According to Tahitian law it was illegal to marry a foreigner. Queen Pomare IV abrogated the law by royal decree for 3 days by which time Salmon was given the title Ariitaimai and they married. Their daughter was the last queen of the Island and their son befriended Robert Louis. He became a spokesman for the islanders and his memoirs were published by the historian, Henry Adams.
TaiwanRabbi Dr. Ephraim F. Einhorn
16 Min Tsu East Road, Second Floor
Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Rabbi Dr. Ephraim F. Einhorn
Sheraton Taipei Hotel, Room 577.
12 Zhongxiao East Road, Section 1,
Taipei 100.
Tel: +886-2-2321-5511.
Fax: +886-2-2394-4240.
Email: Sheraton@sheraton-taipei.com
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