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    • Nicaragua breaks off relations with Israel: Impact on the Jewish community
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    Nicaragua breaks off relations with Israel: Impact on the Jewish community

    Kathleen William Posted on

    Nicaragua's decision to cut diplomatic ties with Israel, announced Saturday, could have a significant impact on the country's small but resilient Jewish community.

    In a statement, the Nicaraguan government justified the break by condemning Israel's military actions in the Palestinian territories and calling the Israeli government “fascist” and “genocidal.” This abrupt break in relations has raised concerns about the future of Jewish life in Nicaragua, a country where the Jewish community was already facing major challenges.

    The Jewish presence in Nicaragua dates back to the early 19th century, when Jews arrived from France. Over the decades, the community grew, reaching its peak in the early 1970s with around 250 members, most of whom lived in Managua and contributed to the country's economic development.

    However, political unrest following the rise of the Sandinista government in 1979 led to persecution and near collapse of the community. The government, anti-Jewish due to Israel's past support for the Somoza regime, expropriated the community's synagogue and forced most Jews to flee, many emigrating to Israel, the United States or other Latin American countries.

    Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Valdrack Ludwing Jaentschke Whitaker speaks about the “Summit of the Future” in the General Assembly Hall at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, United States, on September 23, 2024. (Source: REUTERS/David Dee Delgado)

    In the 1990s, after the Sandinistas lost power, the Jewish community began to slowly rebuild. According to the World Jewish Congress, the Jewish population is currently about 175. Many of the current members are descendants of Sephardic Jews who were forced to convert during the Spanish Inquisition, and many others have converted to Judaism in recent years, including a wave of 114 conversions in 2017, made possible by New York-based nonprofit organization Kulanu. as reported by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

    Community at risk after ties are severed

    Despite its small size, the community has maintained its traditions through the Congregación Israelita de Nicaragua and a Chabad center in Managua. Community members hold regular Shabbat services in private homes, and cultural life is slowly coming back to life with communal Passover Seders and holiday celebrations. However, due to the limited size and geographical dispersion of the community, forming a minyan (prayer quorum, which requires at least 10 men) remains a challenge.

    Historically, Nicaragua's relations with Israel have been significant; It was the second country to recognize the Jewish state in 1948. However, diplomatic relations fluctuated over the years, particularly during the Sandinista era. Despite the restoration of relations in 2017, the recent decision to cut ties with Israel threatens to further isolate Nicaragua's Jewish community. The break in relations with Israel may also limit access to kosher foods, religious resources and the broader global Jewish community, making it difficult for Nicaragua's Jews to maintain their heritage and connection to Judaism.

    Additionally, the Nicaraguan government's rapprochement with nations like Iran and its hostility toward Israel could lead to a rise in anti-Semitism reminiscent of the persecution Jews faced there in the late 1970s.



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    Kathleen William
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