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Mexican Indian Jews Get Gift of Torah from U.S. Navy Chaplain

October 25, 1955
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A special ceremony in the synagogue of Mexican Indian Jews was held here when Dr. Mordecai Shoshkes, Jewish writer, presented a Torah to their group, known as “B’nai Elohim.” The Torah was a gift from Capt. Joshua Goldberg, chief Jewish chaplain of the United States Navy.

The leader of the Indian Jews, Baltasar Laureano Ramirez, thanked the donors of the Torah on behalf of the group. Mexico’s Indian Jews claim descent from the forced converts of Mexico, who were compelled to hide their Jewishness by the Inquisition, The ceremony, which was attended by many of Mexico’s Askenazic Jewish community, heard addresses by Dr. Joseph Kessary, Israel Ambassador to Mexico, A. Z. Berebitzez president of the Jewish Central Committee, and Marcos Mauss, president of the United HIAS Service here.

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