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A Brief History of the Sephardic Presence in Cuba

In 1492, when Christopher Columbus arrived to Cuban shores, his first assistant, Luis de Torres , became the first Jew to set foot on Cuban soil. From then on, there are no data of Jewish presence in Cuba, since it has not been possible to check the Catholic Church archives.

The closing years of the nineteenth century bear witness to the Spanish Cuban war. In 1898, the United States, unilaterally, declared war on Spain.

In 1906, several Jewish American officers who were part of the Liberation Army of Cuba, and others who were involved with the sugar cane industry and the railroads, decided to found the first Jewish congregation under the name of United Hebrew Congregation.

Later on, in 1908, the first Sephardic immigrants arrive, mostly from Turkey and, to a lesser degree, from Syria and Greece.

In 1914, the first Sephardic synagogue was founded. Its name was Shevet Achim Hebrew Union. It functioned until 1995, when it became necessary to close its doors due to its state of disrepair.

Successive waves of immigration took place around the First and Second World Wars.

Before 1959 the Sephardic presence can be felt throughout the country.

During the early sixties, about 90% of the members of the Jewish Community of Cuba emigrated, mostly from the upper class.

At the time this happened, there were already in existence in the capital of Cuba two Sephardic synagogues. One of them, founded in 1954, the Sephardic Hebrew Center of Cuba, is still functioning at present. It is the only Sephardic synagogue in Havana City.

Nowadays, besides the Sephardic Hebrew Center in Havana City, there are two Sephardic synagogues in the interior of the country: Hatikvah in Santiago de Cuba, and Tiferet Israel in Çamaguey. There are also groups of Sephardic Jews in Guantanamo, Manzanillo, Campechuela, Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Caibarien and Sancti Spiritus.

Presently, approximately 65% of the total Jewish population of the country are Sephardic.

The Sephardic Hebrew Center of Cuba occupies a modern building in the heart of downtown Havana. Its members hold Kabbalat Shabbat services every week, and on Saturday mornings (Shacharit). They also celebrate all Jewish festivals. A community Sunday School for Adults functions in this Center, as well as a Hebrew Teachers School to upgrade the skills of the educators.

The congregation is composed of 80 families. They have a choir, as well as an Israeli dance group, both integrated by the youth members of the congregation.

The old Hebrew Union Shevet Achim synagogue has donated five Torah scrolls to the Center, the oldest ones in existence in Cuba. Therefore, at the present time, the community has nine Torah scrolls that constitute the greatest asset of the congregation. None of Cuba’s synagogues has the services of a Rabbi nor a Cantor. The congregation members lead religious services.

The Jewish Community of Cuba is affiliated with the Conservative Movement.