While visiting Jewish communities and organizations in Uruguay, Fellowship staff met with Ricardo, the president of a Sephardic synagogue. This community has existed for more than 100 years, dating back to the 1920s, when Jewish immigrants from Turkey—including Ricardo’s grandparents—arrived in Uruguay when Turkey was torn apart by war and revolution. The synagogue was built by these early community members. Families flourished, businesses grew, and community members took pride in the Jewish lives they were able to build.
However, Ricardo describes the synagogue as now being too large for the community it serves. Jewish communities across South America have been shrinking, and the Sephardic and Ashkenazic communities of Uruguay are no exception. Ricardo remembers a time when more than 20,000 Jews lived in the country. Today, he says, the population is much smaller, and it has become increasingly difficult to sustain such a large synagogue with reduced budgets and the need for additional fundraising.
“Today, the main challenge we face is the increase in anti-Semitism. That is why we are trying to improve our security measures and to bring our people closer together. We need them to understand that the community is the best shelter. Day by day, people feel this more strongly, and we are working hard to stay united,” said Ricardo.
Ricardo recalls that anti-Semitism in Uruguay has often been politically motivated. Whenever there is conflict in Israel, he says, there is a noticeable shift in rhetoric about Jews. He has seen anti-Israel graffiti in his hometown and realized how easily such sentiments can spread. In response, the Sephardic synagogue believes a secure, community-based approach is the best way forward.
The Fellowship also met Rabbi Daniel Dolinski of the New Israeli Congregation of Montevideo, as well as leaders from the Uruguayan branch of Women for Peace. Dolinski shared that some members of his community had relatives in Israel at the time of October 7. Women for Peace had expected solidarity and support from their human rights organization partners afterward, but instead experienced distancing and hostility due to their connection to Israel. Despite these challenges, Uruguay’s Jewish community remains determined to live openly.