The aliyah process from South American countries presents unique challenges, and Colombia is no exception. With only 5,000 Jews in the entire country, there are very limited resources for Jewish life or for those seeking to pursue Jewish life abroad. Edwin reflects that the community is so small that many people don’t truly understand what it means to be Jewish. This is one of the reasons why, with help from The Fellowship, Edwin, his wife Angela, and their nine-year-old daughter Hannah are scheduled to make aliyah next month.
Edwin and his family are from Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, which is home to an elderly and dwindling Jewish population. Although the city’s three historic synagogues still stand, sustaining Jewish life has become increasingly difficult. Edwin explains that while leaving the place where he was born and raised is not easy, aliyah has become a necessity.
“Our daughter will be 10 years old soon –we want to give her a Jewish upbringing, with Jewish education and with friends of her age with whom she can share her Jewishness. We also want a larger family, and it’s important for us to enable our children to be proud of their Jewish heritage and pass it along to their children.”
Safety is another major motivation for the family’s move. Edwin remembers when Colombia was historically welcoming to Jews. However, the period following October 7 has made many Jewish families nervous about letting their children play outside. The Jewish community remains tiny, and the current government has been openly anti-Semitic. In Cali, Jews must be cautious in public.
“We are looking for somewhere safe. Some people may find it strange that we are going to Israel looking for safety after what has happened there during the past two and a half years, but we know that in Israel it’s possible to walk around freely without fear of crime, and that children can go out to the street on their own,” said Edwin.
Edwin learned about The Fellowship through a friend who made aliyah from Panama with our help. Coming from a remote Jewish community, this support was exactly what his family needed. They chose to live in Karmiel for its natural surroundings. After their time at the absorption center and learning Hebrew, both Edwin and Angela plan to work in the health sector.
“We found so many resources and words of encouragement, and we truly could not be more grateful to The Fellowship, its staff, its donors, and everyone who makes this possible,” Edwin says.
