Centro Hebreo Sefaradi Synagogue Explained

Building Name:Centro Hebreo Sefaradi Synagogue
Image Upright:1.4
Map Type:Cuba
Map Size:250
Map Relief:1
Location:Havana
Country:Cuba
Religious Affiliation:Conservative Judaism
Rite:Nusach Sefard
Status:Synagogue
Functional Status:Active
Groundbreaking:1957
Year Completed:1960

The Centro Hebreo Sefaradi Synagogue is a Conservative Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in Havana, Cuba.

History

Construction began in 1957 and the synagogue was completed in 1960[1] with a 726-seat sanctuary.[2] The main sanctuary was later rented out to the Afro-Cuban band Síntesis for their rehearsals while weekly religious services were held in a small room next door.[1]

In 2007 Centro Hebreo Sefaradi Synagogue was described as “…the only remaining institutional legacy of the Sephardic presence in Cuba.”, the synagogue had eighty families constituting 320 members. The majority of congregants were 60 or older.

Centro Hebreo is affiliated with the Conservative movement in the United States.[1] There is a small Holocaust memorial at the synagogue with quotations from José Martí.[3]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Behar . Ruth . An Island Called Home: Returning To Jewish Cuba . 2007 . Rutgers University Press . New Brunswick, NJ . 9780813541891 . 65-68 .
  2. News: Harris. Liz . Sephardic majority, but numbers dwindling . The Jewish News of Northern California . January 7, 2020. San Francisco, CA . December 24, 2010.
  3. News: Goodman . James Stone . The Remnant: Cuban Jews face challenges with hope . St. Louis Jewish Light . January 7, 2020 . St. Louis, MO . December 17, 2015.