The Jews of Brazil
Who are the Jews of Brazil?
The Jewish population of Brazil is estimated to be between 100,000 – 130,000 people. Roughly 60-70,000 live in Sao Paulo (the commercial hub of Brazil). 20-30,000 live in Rio, and another 20-30,000 are dispersed between other geographic areas in Brazil.
The oldest and first Jewish community in the Americas was established in Brazil, where Sephardic Jews founded the first synagogue in Recife in 1636.
The Jews of Recife tie into North American Jewry as the first Jewish congregation in North America (New Amsterdam) was established by 23 Jewish refugees from Recife, Brazil.
How did they get to Brazil?
Between 1492-1497 Spain and Portugal evicted the Jews living there and forcibly converted many to Christianity. The Jews who secretly practiced Judaism were called Marranos. Many Conversos settled in Brazil.
In the 1600’s, the Dutch defeated the Portuguese in Northeastern Brazil and began to establish a Dutch settlement in New Holland where they enjoyed religious freedom. Many Portuguese Conversos began to settle there so they could openly practice Judaism. This is when the first congregation was established
The Jews established businesses in New Holland and were very involved in the Brazilian sugar industry.
The Jews in Brazil fared reasonably well in Brazil until 1654 when the Portuguese drove the Dutch from Brazil. This is when they established congregation in North America
In 1773 a Portuguese decree abolished Jewish persecution. As a result, Jews gradually began moving back to Brazil.
The next big wave of Jewish migration to Brazil was from Morocco in the early 19th century.
In the 1920’s many Western European Jews (mostly Germany) migrated to Brazil to escape antisemitism. Unfortunately, by the late 1930’s antisemitism had followed them to Brazil. Jewish organizations, institutions, and newspapers were closed by 1938. New Jewish immigration was curtailed.
After WWII, Brazil became more democratic and Jewish migration once again increased. By the 1960’s, Jewish life in Brazil was thriving.
What does Jewish Brazil look like today?
Today, Brazil is the ninth largest Jewish community in the world, and the 2nd largest Latin American population behind Argentina.
In 2002, Congregation Kahal Zur in Recife reopened for the first time since the mid 1600’s.
In Dec 2021, a Jewish museum opened in Sao Paulo in the former Temple Beth-El building. The museum not only traces the origins of the congregation, the history of the Jews of Brazil, but includes modern-day issues that Jewish Brazilians face as well.
The three most important Jewish institutions in Brazil today are the Brazilian Israelite Confederation, Albert Einstein Israelite Hospital, and Hebraicas: Jewish sports clubs. Sao Paulo’s Hebraica boasts close to 18,000 members.
Today, Brazil is home to both Ashkenazi and Sephardi Jews.
