Some of the most vibrant Jewish neighborhoods in North America exist “South of the Border” in Mexico, where over 40,000 Jews have created a close-knit, distinct community.
Here are some surprising facts about North America’s least-known Jewish centers.
Early Jewish Haven
When Hernan Cortés first conquered Mexico for Spain in 1521, he did so with a number of secret Jews amongst his men. Judaism was banned at the time in Spain, and soon many secret Spanish Jews departed for “Nueve Espana” in the New World to try and live a more Jewish life. In fact, Spain’s first Viceroy in Mexico, Antonio de Mendoza, possessed a Jewish surname, and historians suggest he was possibly one of the secret Jews who moved to the new territory.
King Phillip II of Spain soon established the Kingdom of Nuevo Leon in Mexico (and parts of what is today Texas), and appointed Don Luis de Carvajal – a well-known Portuguese-Spanish nobleman who was born to Jewish converses, or forced converts – as Governor of the new territory. Carvajal welcomed both Jews and Catholics into his land. His nephew, Louis Rodriguez Carvajal, embraced his Jewish identity in the new kingdom, and encouraged other secret Jews to do the same.
Inquisition in Mexico
The Spanish Inquisition, which forbade any Jewish practice, spread to Mexico in 1571. Many of the new territory’s Jews fled to neighboring Peru. Jews who chose to remain faced torture and execution if it was discovered that they continued to practice their faith.
Some of the earliest victims of the Mexican Inquisition were family members of the Governor Louis de Carvajal. His sister Francisca was arrested on charges of being a Jew, tortured, and burned at the stake, along with four of her children – Isabel, Catalina, Leonor, and Luis – in 1596. In 1601, another daughter, Mariana, was burned at the stake for the crime of being Jewish as well. Governor de Carvajal himself was arrested on charges of practicing Judaism and died in prison in 1595.
Jews were soon pursued throughout Mexico. “Suspicious” activities that could brand someone a Jew included bathing on a Friday and afterwards putting on clean clothes; draining and disposing of blood after slaughtering a bird to eat; fasting on Yom Kippur; eating tortillas (which are unleavened) during Passover; and circumcising sons. Anyone guilty of these “crimes” faced drastic punishments including torture, imprisonment, forced wearing of a sanbenito, a knee-length yellow gown, or a dunce-cap, and execution. (Visitors to the Zocalo, the main plaza in the center of Mexico City today, might be unaware that this was the main location where generations of Jews were publicly burned at the stake for the “crime” of being Jewish.)
By the time the Inquisition was abolished in Mexico in 1821, approximately 100 Jews had been killed and many more imprisoned.
Cinco de Mayo, the Struggle for Mexican Independence, and Mexico’s Jews
Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Battle of Puebla when a small Mexican force led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin defeated a much larger French army, on May 5, 1862. (The area of Puebla might have been home to a thriving secret Jewish community of its own; see the section on Jewish-Mexican food, below.)
Despite this victory, French forces went on to conquer Mexico, and set up the short-lived Second Mexican Empire. In 1864, Emperor Maximilian I declared himself ruler and though he never consolidated his reign over all of Mexico, the short-lived monarch did make one remarkable change in Mexico: he issued an edict of religious tolerance and invited German Jews to settle in Mexico. When Maximilian was deposed and executed in 1867, his successor, Mexican nationalist President Benito Juarez, continued to enforce a separation of Church and State, ensuring that Mexico remained a haven for Jewish immigrants.
Jewish refugees began to pour in to Mexico. Ashkenazi Jews fleeing pogroms in Russia and Eastern Europe came in the 1880s, establishing Mexico’s first synagogue in Mexico City, in 1885. Sephardi Jews soon followed, fleeing persecution in the crumbling Ottoman Empire. (Sephardi Jews had an added incentive to immigrate to the new nation; they spoke Ladino, a Spanish-derived Jewish dialect that helped them feel at home in Spanish-speaking Mexico.)
Lithuania, Damascus and Aleppo in Mexico City
Mexico’s oldest standing synagogue is the Sephardi Synagogue, built in 1923 in the heart of Mexico City, at 83 Justo Sierra Street. Although the Jewish community has long since moved to the suburbs, Jews who work downtown still frequent the congregation during the working week. Down the street is Mexico’s first Ashkenazi synagogue, Justo Sierra, built in 1941 as a replica of a magnificent Lithuanian synagogue. Builders worked from a photograph, copying the ornate details faithfully. Fear of crime and terrorism haunt Mexico’s Jews, making them highly security-conscious and wary of maintain the safety and security of their synagogues and other communal buildings.
Today’s Mexican Jewish community is tightly-knit and contains several distinct strands: two separate Syrian communities thrive, each with their own traditions, from Aleppo and Damascus. Ashkenazi Jews maintain the traditions they brought with them from Eastern Europe. Another group of Mexican Sephardi Jews hails from the Balkans, and keeps those memories alive through family recipes and customs. Finally, a fifth group has made its mark on Mexico’s Jewish community in recent years: immigrants from the United States, who call Mexico home now and have brought their own distinct traditions from North of the Border to Mexico.
Jew-Mex: Jewish-Mexican Cuisine
A few of Mexico’s best-known dishes turn out to have surprising Jewish origins. Bunuelos, the quintessential Mexican winter holiday dish of golden, deep-fried balls of cheese-infused dough, originated as a Sephardi Hanukkah dish. The oil used to fry these savory snacks was originally meant to invoke the miracle of the oil.
Some theorize that the springtime Mexican dish Capirotada – a rich bread pudding infused with sweet cheese and drenched in syrup – also originated with Mexican Jews, as a way of disguising their consumption of unleavened bread during Passover.
Pan de Semita, the iconic sesame-seed-studded roll of Mexico’s Puebla region (the area where the Battle of Puebla, celebrated in Cinco de Mayo celebrations), has been linked to secret Jews who possibly ate it as an unleavened alternative to regular bread during Passover. Another iconic Mexican regional dish – roast suckling goat, enjoyed in and around the Mexican city of Monterrey (which also contains an established Jewish presence) – was likely Jewish in origin, as a way for secret Jews to avoid eating the roast suckling pig so popular in much of Mexico.
Culinary influences have gone both ways. Mexican Jewish cooks have adapted the bright flavors and fresh fruits of Mexico to traditional Jewish dishes, adding chilies to gefilte fish and tropical spices to chicken soup. In Mexico City today, kosher consumers can enjoy Mexican staples embraced by the Jewish community such as quesadillas (corn tortillas that are filled, folded and fried), flautas (tortillas that are rolled and fried), sopes (fried circles of cornmeal dough), chalupas (cups of fried cornmeal) – all filled with Mexican delicacies such as queso (cheese), nopales (cactuse), frijoles (refried beans), salsa, and guacamole. Even street food has been available at kosher stands in Mexico City, ensuring that Mexico’s Jews don’t miss out on their country’s delicious snacks.
Tight-Knit Community, Bright Future
Jewish organizations reach every corner of the community’s life, providing independent ambulance services, welfare organizations, social groups – even a dedicated anti-kidnapping response group.
Intermarriage rates are among the lowest in the world: 94% of Mexican Jews marry other Jews. Approximately 95% of Mexican Jews are affiliated with the Jewish community, and about 95% of children attend one of the community’s sixteen different Jewish schools.
Rates of anti-Semitism remain low. In June 2003, then-President Vicente Fox passed a law that forbids discrimination, including anti-Semitism, adding a greater level of security for Mexico’s 40,000+ Jews. Jewish community leader Renee Dayan-Shabot was in the Mexican Senate the day the law was passed. “It came time for any arguments against the law,” she recalls, “and there was complete silence.” Then, as now, Mexico embraced its small but vibrant Jewish population.
(35) Jack Solka, July 10, 2020 8:52 PM
Born in Mexico but moved to the USA in 1945 at the age of ten.
My parents came from Germany (Mother) in 1926 and Poland (Father) in 1923. We moved to the USA in 1945 to be closer to my father's family all of which came to the USA in the late teens and 20s. All of my mother's family still lives in Mexico. Thus, they keep me aware of the Jews in Mexico.
(34) raffaele david, May 6, 2019 2:01 PM
NICE TO KNOW ABOUT THE JEWS OF MEXICO
NICE
(33) Charles, July 16, 2018 9:35 PM
Jews in Cotija
In the western part of Michoacan the city of Cotija had a Jewish population and supposedly even a secret synagogue.
(32) Aldo Navarro, June 27, 2018 9:09 AM
Hi,
We are producer of Grape Juice Kosher certified OU and we are looking for a distributor in Mexico, Can you help us to find somebody. We thank you in advance hoping to have your news.
Best regards, Shalom.
Aldo Navarro
(31) Reva Leizman, March 9, 2018 3:29 PM
such an interesting article
I wonder if there are any Leizmans or Bialoskys in Mexico. Bialosky is my maiden name. We have never been to Mexico, but are interested in the Jewish life there. Thank you for sharing this article with us.
Reva and Archie Cleveland Ohio
(30) Orfa Salinas, June 5, 2017 5:47 AM
Capirotada and Pan de semita
Capirotada and pan de semita are both made with leveaned bread.
(29) Miriam Solon, March 30, 2017 1:45 PM
Reestablishung contact with Mexican cousins
I briefly corresponded with a distant cousin who is the grandson of my mother's 1st cousin, in the 1990s, Alfredo Wezner-Spatz. I may have the wrong spelling for Wezner. His mother was Frances Spatz Kobak, born in Chicago. I would appreciate any help reestablishing contact with him or other members of his family. I can communicate in Spanish, if that will be easier.
Brevemente, en los 1990 tuve correspondencia con el nieto de la prima de mi madre, Alfredo Wezner-Spatz. (Posiblemente deletreo el apellido mal). La madre de Alfredo se llamaba Frances Spatz-Kobak, y fue nacida en Chicago. Me gustaría restablecer las
comunicaciones con Alfredo y/o sus familiares. Puedo comunicar con en Inglés o Español, el cual convenga más.
(28) Esmael Carbjal, March 12, 2017 9:44 PM
Sephardic surnames
Mendoza is a Basque (vasco) surname...mendi is mountain in euskara(basque language) mendoza means= cold mountain
Im a Carvajal from Jalisco, Mexico, Im not genetically middle eastern or jewish...Haplogroup I, the celtic group of europe, is what my Ydna results are..fathers father, etc
Carbajal Carabjal Carvajal Carvalho Cabral all the same surname...means one from the Oak or Oaks...its from the Galician (galego) language, similar to portuguese. Its the area of spain once ruled the celtic tribes, the romans didnt get to rule some spots of northern spain, becasue the celtic tribes there.
so just because you're hispanic, and have a sephardic surname, doesnt mean you're Jewish
Modern Mexicans genetic make up is generally....40-60%western european...spain portugal ffrance, germany, UK
native american 17%-50% African 1-7% Middle Eastern 3-10% Asias 1-5% (trace amounts natives and asian are similar in some cases
(27) Viviana Grosz, January 18, 2017 4:04 PM
Wrong info regarding the fate of Luis de Carvajal, the Young
Ms Miller gives wrong information regarding the fate of Luis de Carvajal, the Young when she writes that "...Luis committed suicide in prison rather than face more torture". Contrary to what Ms Miller writes, Lupus s de Carvajal, the Young died at the stake in the Inquisition on Dec. 8, 1596, after being tortured and denouncing (and then recanting his confessions) his entire family.
There are many books and articles in English and Spanish about the Carvajal family and about Luis de Carvajal, the Young and the crypto Jews in New Spain. For starts, , interested English speaker readers can consult Seymour B. Liebman.
(26) Mary, November 10, 2016 11:49 PM
Names
Hi I have always wondered about my last name too. My mothers maiden is also Hernandez but my fathers last name is Virgen. Just recently my sister tested her DNA and we had some ashkenazi genes which was pretty surprising. My family is from Guadalajara I believe and we all tend to be light haired, light eyed and/or skin. Pretty interesting.
(25) Pauline Sonboleh, July 5, 2016 12:11 AM
meeting Marranos descendants of Jews from the inquisition
I had Judaic gift shops in San Diego for 18 years .Because of the proximity to Mexico,I had many customers of Marrano ancestry,who told me the most fascinating stories about their families, and how they found that they were actually Jews who had been raised Catholic. I am putting their collected stories into a book.Not too many Jews are familiar with Marranos and the Inquisition,an interesting part of Jewish history
(24) Victoria Villaleyva, May 19, 2016 8:00 PM
Than you for the informatio on Mexican jews. I was born in Mexico and raise jewish, talking of. Strange world.
(23) Julio Don Carlos, April 6, 2016 11:26 PM
nothing about the Native American Jewsin mountains, or the millions of Marranos, some who are slowing returning.
(22) Neicee, February 25, 2016 6:14 PM
Interesting
As a child in California where we had lots of immigrants from Mexico we had one family that stood out. They were from Guadalajara, their surname was Hernandez. They'd just lost their mother so mine would have them to dinner 3-4 times a week, always sending home a plate to the father. They had excellent table manners, always washing their hands before eating, bowing their heads before and after and silently saying thanks to G-d for his blessings.
Years later I was told that surnames with a z were probably conversos.
Jackie Bourq, March 22, 2016 11:54 PM
To help find LATINO's heritage, you can direct them at:
www.sephardim.org
All their surnames are there!
Blessings!
Anonymous, April 19, 2016 8:00 AM
My grandfathers surname
My fathers, father, or my grandfather's surname is Gutierrez. I didn't discover this fact until a year ago.
(21) Anonymous, February 12, 2016 5:10 AM
Peru?
Great article, but Peru is not neighboring Mexico. Actually New Mexico was founded by Jews fleeing the inquisition.
Jose Pineda, February 25, 2016 12:07 AM
Not even in colonial times was Peru on Mexico's borders
Absolutely correct. In colonial times, between the Viceroyalty of New Spain (colonial Mexico) and the Viceroyalty of Peru stood the Viceroyalty of New Grenade (ancestor of the Great Colombia and thus to modern Colombia, Venezuela, etc.)
So Mexico and Peru have never shared a border. Movement between both was constant, though - well performing viceroys in New Spain were usually offered by Spain's king to quit and accept the same post in the Viceroyalty of Peru, as it was more prestigious (being the source of most of the money Spain extracted off her American colonies) even though New Spain was by far bigger and with more population - they usually accepted and brought their whole working team with them. Elites and wealthy individuals frequently moved back and forth between Mexico and Peru as well.
(20) Jeri Hallberg de Tamez, January 13, 2016 2:06 AM
LAST NAME TAMEZ from Montrrey Mexico
any possibility of being Syrian Jewish lineage?
(19) Marie Castellanos, November 29, 2015 9:05 AM
DNA
I recently had a DNA test done, and I was quite surprised with the results.
I am from the State of Jalisco Mexico from a region called Los Altos de Jalisco (Highlands of Jalisco). My results came back as having Ashkenazi and Sephardic ancestry.
It turns out that a good portion of the population in this area have Jewish roots. Results came back as 81% European, (most from the Iberian region) some middle eastern and about 10% North American Indian. From what I understand a good portion of this population from Jalisco have very similar results. My family has been in the same region since about 1592.
My father had very distinct customs that made me think that we were probably Jewish. He never mixed eating meat with milk, he would used different knives to cut food, he rarely ate pork and any meat we ate had to be of the best quality. My grandfather always wore a long beard and dressed with a black suite, hat and white shirt (this was in the late 1800) and was a smart literate man living in the countryside with extraordinary knowledge about many things that were advanced for his time.
So this is another population that probably needs to be researched because of it's unique customs.
(18) Devorah, November 28, 2015 11:58 PM
Mexico's Jewish Population.
I traveled to Tijuana, Guadalajara, Nogales, Rocky Point, Cancun, Mexico City in the 80's. I heard of the Mexican Jewish Community and traveled to find them. In Mexico City a man named Gonzalez made himself a sort of Tour Guide. Towards the end of the day I told him I was disappointed because I traveled so far to meet the Mexican/Sephardic Jewish Community. He informed me that I did. We laughed even cried. Wish to return someday. I want more time with them as they are simply captivating! Vincenzo Fox is a superb human being and I thought a good el Presidente. The warmth of the people is worth gravitating towards.
(17) Deborah DeLaGarza, October 3, 2015 10:29 PM
my grandparents were Dr. Antonio or Alfoso DeLaGarza of Mexico City My grandmother Isabella Gonzalez of Monterey, Mexico
The DeLaGarza family I believe we're Sephardic Jews from the Basque region of Spain and can
to New Spain in the 1500's, I know that the Gonzalez family also crypto Jews living in. Monterey . My father was their son Rudolfo, does anyone know anything. About these families?
(16) Barajas, July 26, 2015 4:51 AM
? mexico has alot of jewish history but more people prefer the history of the jews in the united states. Oh you forgot to mention that flour tortillas are actually a jewish invention . i call it the mexican matzah since the aztecs ate corn jews brought flour to mexico. The reality is that the jews are the founding fathers of modern day mexico. My family originates from the spanish jews who setteled in michoacan mexico during the mexican inquisition sponsored be the spanish government in the 1900s shalom
Josue, September 11, 2015 3:45 AM
Although many customs came from jews like the use of a "poncho" for example (derivated from tzitzis), tortilla is not one of the adds to the mexican food, Toltec misticism incorporates this food before Teotihuacan, and "metates" exists long time ago before "spanish" man reach Tenochtitlan.
(15) Horacio, July 1, 2015 4:59 AM
My last name is Gamboa
Does anyone know amy Sephardic jews with this name. Living in Zacateca Mexico or Jerez to be exact?
(14) Rafael A. Delgado Simonet, May 12, 2015 2:40 AM
My children maternal Jewish Ancestors from the State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico
For the past five years I had a neighbor that his family, last name De la Garza, was from Monterrey, Mexico. He told me that his father, born in Monterrey, prior to his death, told him of a family secret- they were of Jewish faith and had practiced their religion in Secret. At a family gathering he told his family who quickly tried to deny it and were angry at him for making the statement. He and his son researched the subject and confirmed the facts about the De la Garza/Garza Jewish ancestors. In researching my childrens maternal genealogy I discovered that they were also descendants of De la Garza and Gonzalez from the State of Nuevo Leon. My friend told me to buy the book "The Conquistadores and Cryoto Jews of Monterrey" by David T. Raphael and to read about it. I did and was overwhelmed by the facts and the History of the Jews in Mexico. Shalom... as I am a Sephardic Jew myself.
(13) Sherri, April 28, 2015 9:10 PM
Great article--two additional resources
I learned a lot from the article and I want to add the only 2 things I know about the Jews of Mexico.
Pati Jinich, the host of the PBS cooking show, Pati's Mexican Table, has often talked about her paternal grandparents who came to Mexico to escape the persecution in their Polish shtetl. At her website, she has an article about her grandmother Bobe who made traditional white gefilte fish along with gefilte fish in a spicy red sauce (Veracruzana) every Friday night. "Which do you want, mamele, white or red?" Invariably, after you chose, she asked, "you don't like the way I make the other one?" The recipe is included and sounds delicious.
Also, there's a Mexican movie on DVD called Rita's Will, about Jews in Mexico City, that is well worth watching and very moving. Yes, there's food in this as well!
(12) Jorge Luis Tovar y Vera, April 28, 2015 7:04 PM
Respeto y admiración por la verticalidad y aportación judía a nuestra historia.
Repudio a toda discriminación y esfuerzos de ideologías unificadoras en base a sectarismos de todo tipo.
Bella aportación histórica sobre la presencia judía y orgulloso por el afecto de mis amigos de ascendencia hebrea.
(11) erl the gerl, April 28, 2015 3:58 AM
not my experience
I have found Mexican Jews to carefully guard their Jewishness, afraid someone -- even a fellow Jew like myself-- might find out. I also met people who didn't know that "Hebrews" still exist.
Anonymous, April 29, 2015 7:54 PM
We try to keep a low profile.
As victims of persecutions in Europe for at least 1,000 years, Ashkenazic Jews in Mexico tend to keep a low profile. Ashkenazi synagogues barely display any Jewish-related symbols. You can see that right away on the Mizrahi and Ashkenazi synagogues on Justo Sierra street. The former has a Star of David prominently displayed, while the latter is actually built behind a facade that disguises the Temple itself. The same goes for synagogues such as Nidkhei Israel, eth Itzhak or Ramat Shalom, all Ashkenazic, while a Synagogue in one of the city's most important avenues, of the Aleppo community, dislpays a huge Star of David. In general, Ashkenazi Jews tend not to dislpay their Judaism while Aleppo and Damascus Jews in the country have a more open attituted toward this.
(10) Mily zagha, April 28, 2015 2:46 AM
I'm proudly belong to the Jewish community in Mexico. My grand parents stablished here long ago they came from Aleppo Siria we keep from up today the traditional food but we as the article says, we added some chile to the Arabic food. We adapted to kosher almost evrything. Come to visit us Mexico is beautiful and our community also. Our temples are so beautiful.
(9) Jose, April 27, 2015 5:18 PM
are you familiar with the jewish community in Pachuca, Hidalgo?
I enjoy reading your article.
(8) isaac schmidt, April 27, 2015 3:56 PM
antisemitism is on the rise
There is evidence that anti-Semitism is on the rise. There has always been some racial tension, where anti-Semitic language was always tolerated by the majority.
(7) Anonymous, April 27, 2015 2:20 PM
Greetings from Mexico.
Sadly, the Asknenazic community is on the way of extinction in Mexico, since there are fewer births than deaths every year, plus Ashkenazis have a tendency to migrate to other countries, mostly the USA and Canada. Also, Yiddish is no longer taught in Ashkenazic schools and not long ago, an Ashkenazic school had to close because it was no longer viable. There is an assimilation problem as well which is a matter of concern, although it hasn't reached the magnitude of what's going on in the USA. But other communities are thriving.
(6) Steve Rosenzweig, April 27, 2015 11:35 AM
Passover in Mexico 1982
Thanks for the short and sweet article.Years ago, I chaperone a trip to Mexico (students from Skokie, IL). We had the good fortune to be able to arrange our attendance and participation in Passover Seder at the Guladalajra Jewish Comm. Center. What a wonderful surprise! Guadalajara's community welcome us with open arms.We felt remarkably close to our Jewish bretheren.
(5) Anonymous, April 26, 2015 11:39 PM
Very tolerant country
Why many European Jews did not try to enter Mexico in 30's?
Anonymous, April 27, 2015 1:53 PM
They did try.
The vast majority of Ashkenazi Jews came to Mexico in the 1930s, with the idea of emmigrating later to the US and some did. Others decided to stay. Over the years, many Ashkenazid Jews emmigrated to the USA, especially during the financial crises of 1976, 1982 and 1994-95.
(4) Johnny/Yochanan Gutierrez, April 26, 2015 10:42 PM
"Sababa" my dads family hail from Jalisco via Galicia!
Good article a little short but good info. none-the-less. I'm trying to trace my Jewish Roots so this article gives me hope. Todah!
(3) Anonymous, April 26, 2015 6:40 PM
Mexican Jewish statistics
Current statistics quote figures in the neighborhood of 67,000 Jews in Mexico. Despite its small size, the Mexican Jewish community continues to grow, unlike the American Jewish community, which is shrinking due to assimilation and intermarriage. My own interest in the Mexican Jewish community go back to my student days at the UNAM in the1960's.
Readers who wish to keep up with Mexican Jewish Life should subscribe online to the "Diario Judio" which reports on Mexican and international news items of interest to Jews as well as identifying Jewish births and obituaries and Jewish activities and features notable people in the Mexican Jewish community. I have subscribed to this publication for some time and I eagerly await its appearance in my email every day.
(2) Manuel Perelman, April 26, 2015 4:46 PM
I am mexican born, that moved to U.S.A.more than 50 years ago
Being a jew born in Mexico City I enjoyed your article about the Jews in Mexico, but I am sorry that it was so short, and did not included much more details. I live in Brownsville, Texas now, and would like to send my best regards to all my old friends in Mexico City. Sincerely, Manuel Perelman.
(1) Ra'anan, April 26, 2015 3:18 PM
Mexican Jewish Guests in Jerusalem
Years ago, here in Jerusalem, we were blessed to have a group of Mexican Jewish students as our guests for shabbath. I think that they were are favourite guests ever. They were sweet, very well-mannered & so warm. One thing that stuck us was their amazing unity.