Ameeting of representatives of Jewish communities from Central America has concluded that the “Nicaraguan process” poses a potential threat to the well-being of Jewish communities in the region. But the communities are not in any immediate danger the World Jewish Congress reported today.
The llth convention of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Central America and Panama (FEDECO), the affiliate of the WJC here, concluded its three-day session this week. There were 100 delegates and guest, with representatives from the Jewish communities of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama, as well as representatives from the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Jewish Agency, HI AS, and the Anti -Defamation League of B’nai B’rith.
The convention took place against the backdrop of the explosive general situation reigning in Central America and the uncertainty regarding the future of the region. Among the Jewish leadership three was the conviction that if the “Nicaraguan process” were to extend to other countries, the possibilities for the survival of the Jewish communities would disappear.
An analysis of the Jewish situation in the region showed two stable and dynamic communities: Panama (5,000-6,000) and Costa Rica (2,000-3,000 In addition, Guatemala (some 1,000 Jews) is a community reduced. by emigration but organized and active. EI Salvador and Honduras have some 40 Jewish families each.
NOT ON EDGE OF EXTINCTION
Despite the potential dangers arising from the general political situation, the Jews of Central America did not see themselves as being on the eve of a massive exodus or the extinction of their communities.
On the contrary, a great part of the discussions at the FEDECO convention and of the resolutions that were adopted had to do with the internal reinforcement of the communities, the maintenance of Jewish identity and spiritual life, and continuity between the generations. Among other specific subjects, the delegates underlined the need to overcome divisiveness within the communities and to make more of their members active.
GOVERNMENT MINISTERS ADDRESS THE CONVENTION
The government of Guatemala was represented at the opening and closing sessions of the convention by two of its ministers.
The Minister of Agriculture, Rodolfo Perdomo, spoke at the opening, praising his county’s friendship with Israel. At the closing, Foreign Minister Fernando Androde Diaz Duran presented a full political overview of his country.
He stressed: the guerrillas in Guatemala are under control and lack popular support; United States policy toward Guatemala is not equitable; friendship and cooperation with Israel; Guatemla opened its doors to Jews who succeeded in leaving Cuba and Guatemala is ready to receive Jewish immigrants from any part of the world.
At this convention, Pinkos Rubinstein of Costa Rica completed his term as president of FEDECO, and Marcel Ruff of Guatemala was elected as its new president. The convention honored two people for their contribution to the success of FEDECO’s activities: within the region, former FEDECO president Moises Mizrachi of Panama, and outside the region, Manuel Tenenbaum, director of the Latin American Branch of the WJC.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
