Manhattan Gets ‘Latin Torah’

By Mariana Cristancho – Univision and COLlive
Photos by Levik Hertzel

Nearly 300 Latin American Jews gathered on the evening of December 4 to celebrate the inauguration of their first community Torah of the Jewish Latin Center in New York City.

There were representatives from nearly every country of Latin and Central America. Most members of the Latin Jewish Center are immigrants from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Venezuela who moved to the United States to continue with graduate studies and launch professional careers.

Many are descendants of Holocaust survivors. Some have made the U.S. their new home and even have started their own families.

Dozens of members as well community leaders and philanthropists, had a chance to write their letters on the Torah, leading up to dancing and celebrating on the streets of Manhattan.

As Rabbi Mendy Weitman told the jubilant participants, “The reason for the Jewish Latin Center’s success is the support, commitment and dedication of each member of our growing Jewish Latin community.”

Brazilian-born Weitman and his wife Frumie had the idea to create the Jewish Latin Center in 2009 as a place to connect members of the Latin Jewish community, and with the goal of becoming a home away from home for Latin American Jews living in New York.

Since then, the organization has flourished. Members often gather for Shabbat services and dinners, Torah classes, cultural events, children programs, to celebrate the Jewish Holidays and for social and networking events.

The Center has now an active community of over 900 members.

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