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1 PAGE 4RH THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE October .1, 1986 BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY NATIONAL WOMEN’S COMMITTEE Atlanta Chapter laion nnio naw 1 ? Atlanta Bureau of Jewish Education, Inc. (An Affiliate of the Atlanta Jewish Federation. Inc.) Sunny Stern President Dr. Leon H. Spotts Executive Director Miriam Stadtler Rosenbaum Assistant Director Jev'ish Education Director’s Council Richard Becker. Chairman Mexican Jewry's rich past by Ben G. Frank Enrique Beraha is a high otficial of the Mexican Jewish commun ity. As he sat in the lavish Jewish sports center in Mexico City which encompasses more than 20 acres, he lamented the fact that Ameri can Jews, know very little about Latin American Jewry . To counter this, he told me in an interview, he was sending a mes sage to American Jews:“Estaessu casa.” (“this house is yours”), he declared with a wave ot the hand covering the expanse of this vast Jewish center in Mexico City, pro bably the largest city in both North and South America, with approx imately 15 million people and still growing. On a given Sunday. Jews from all walks of life move about this complex: sunbathe on manicured lawns, swim in several pools, attend lectures and classes: study and do research in an up-to-date library; go to hobby sessions like photo graphy; or have a snack or meal at the restaurant or snack bar located at Boulevard Comacho 620 Here's where you will meet Mexico's Jews. Beraha. this writer believes, did not make this offer out of hand “We need to show what's going on here.” he declared “V S Jews simply know very little about Mex ico City Jewry.” Mexican Jews have a different outlook on events than American Jews. There are common threads, but. for example. Mexican Jews teel their role in politics is different than their am:eos up north. Jews here prefer not to be involved directly in politics American Jews more and more are runnme as candidates and are active in the I S electoral process. Mexican Jews prefer to stay outside the sys tem. to influence candidates, ves. but not become pan of a system where you really almost have to have a Spanish name to be a suc cessful candidate. 1 was told About 40.000 Jews live in Mex ico City, for it is the hub of Jewish life in the country. And except for the unusual outburst, Mexico Jewry has a rich past in this country' of about 70 million persons. Jews were here from the begin ning The first Jewish settlers were Marranos. those descendants of baptized Jews suspected of secret adherence to Judaism. They and others arrived with the conquista dors early in the 16th century. In the 16th and 17th centuries. Jews, secretly or not, came here to live a quiet life and surv ive economically. Marranos and later Jews shunned the Inquisitional Tribunal which w as set up and w hich would remain active for two centuries. But they were not alway s successful. Indeed, w e have records of tw o being burned at the stake in 1528. It was not until the beginning of the 19th century that Jews were allowed to partici pate in their religion in the open Thus, despite the unsettled con ditions in the countryside, a few Jewish adventurers and itinerant peddlers made their way to Mexico in the early years of independence. They were able to become citizens only alter 1843 when President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna repealed the law that limited citi zens to Roman Catholics. Sephardic Jews came in 1909 from Aleppo. By 1910. there were 10.000 Jews in the country, though their synagogue was not built until 1931 It was not until pretty much after the first World War. that the buik of Ashkenazim arriv ed. Over the last 50 years. Jews have served as a catalytic agent in the economic life of Mexico. Jews pioneered in the industrial development of the country espe cially in the manufacturing of tex tiles. electrical appliances, plastics, metals and clothing Many were also engaged in minor commercial activities, some were tailors, shoe makers and jewelers. About 10 percent were in the professions. Next stop Acapulco. It's called the Riviera of the Pacific—this resort area of hotels, beaches and cliff dwellers. During the winter season, this town of 20,000 swells to 200,000 and many of the latter are Ameri can Jews who come here to enjoy the sun and the beaches. It’s not hard to find American Jews here. They proudly wear “Jewish stars,” or “Chai” medal lions. And it’s not difficult to locate Mexican Jews, either, though there are few living in this resort. Per haps there are eight to 10 Jewish families, the Ashkenazim. There are another six Sephardic families. They are counted separately because Ashkenazim and Sephardim are still not as close in Mexico as in other countries. It is reported that even in Mexico City, the past ten sions between Ashkenazim and Sephardim may not have been re duced completely. Walk down the main street in Acapulco, the Costera Miguel Aleman, and many of the jewelry stores are owned by Jews. Signs that say, “Yiddish and Hebrew spoken here," pieces of jewelry with the letters “Shalom” engraved on them are all part of the scene. Unlike their compatriots in Mex ico City, Jews settled here not because of the large community or fine Jewish schools for w hich the Mex ican Jewish community is well- known. These Jews came here be cause of Acapulco’s history and glory, a glory w hich one can see in its harbor, its sun and its good life. It hardly ever rains in the winter season. Still, they want to remain Jews. “Religion is in our heart and we surviv e even if it means trav eling to Mexico City frequently. And they do. for it is only less than an hour to the capital on Mexicana Air lines." said Luiz Garfmkle. Founded in the early 1500s by > the Spanish. Acapulco soon became the major port of entry for trade from the Orient. Silks, porcelains and ivories arrived here from Asia They were then packed overland Continued next page. THE EPSTEIN SCHOOL WISHES THE COMMUNITY A YEAR FILLED WITH BLESSINGS and JOY Cheryl R. Finkel Headmaster Gary Snyder President of the Board