Fragments from History of Jews

tiz

a dormant Jewish conscious-
ness. This probably marked the
beginning of the development
of an organized c o m m u n i t y
which was realized several
years later.
the first
In 19
agogu
nity ecognize
conducted
was rmed w
and announced
p is ser
blic
in the
it exi
gs
m these begin
ress.
grew tlie phila
and the purpo
bilities h
e in
munity
the
develo e b
Jewish
creation o
raelita, in
school, Co
1924.
st 20 years, an-
For t
p of Mexicans has
a ed the attention of many
visitors from the United States.
These Mexicans have come to
be known as "Indian Jews."
urately, they are mes-
mixed Indian and
cestry) rather than

tory of Mexican Jewry is fas-
cinating and still filled with
blanks, questions and mysteri-
ous events. It is also filled with
the great inspiration of our
people everywhere, — the de-
termination to preserve their
aith, though death may be the
rice.

self-discipline is developed and Jews of this country.
A woman who was pregnant
applied.
Seven Arts Feature
in her sixth month was impri-
It may surprise many people
Jewish communities of Mexi- to know that 133 years before soned and four quarts of water
co (about 30,000 people in Asher Levy and his companions were forcibly. poured down her
round numbers) are well estab- founded the first Jewish set- throat each day and even her
shrieks and imprecations were
lished and expanding..
tlement in the United States in
In Mexico City, there is an 1654, there. were Jews living in faithfully recorded. Each small
suspicion of heresy was noted
Ashkenazi Kehilla which pro- Mexico.
and accumulated evidence of
vides for the religious and cul-
In 1521, the year of the con- minor suspicions often resulted
tural needs of its members from quest of Mexico by Cortes,
youth to the aged. The Sephar- there was in his company, one in burning at the stake. One of
dim are divided into three Hernando Alonso, a Jew. Alonso the important contributory fac-
groups — those from Greece,. was a soldier and a shipwright. tors in the conviction of Her
Turkey, Spain, Italy, etc.; the He was rewarded with an en- nando Alonso was the tes
second is the Aleppo and the comienda (a tract of land) on mony by one person that
third is called the Arabs which which he began to raise cattle. witnessed Alonso wiping
DEVELOPED & UNDEVELOPED
represent the Damascus or Sy- He rapidly climbed to a posi- baptisimal water off the h
If You Own Land or Real
of his new born son after
rian Jews.
Estate in Israel We Can Buy
tion of importance and power brought him home from Chur
The Comite Central is the in Mexico City. Added tragic
It From You Here and Pay
One of the more famous co
dachsverband or umbrella group significance was given to his
You in Americad Dollars.
composed of representatives historical lore in the New versos was Don Luis de Carva-
Please Reply Giving Details
from 23 principal organizations World when he acquired the jal de la Cuecas, known as a
and it determines general policy distinction of being the first to conquistidor as was Corte. Under
for the total community on mat- be burned at the stake in 1528 a royal grant, he conquered the
The Jewish News
ters affecting the entire popu- in the same city. He was con- area which was called Nue
17100 W. 7 Mile Rd.,
lace.
demned for heresy, practising Reino de Leon and was it
Detroit 35, Mich.
The Zionist Federation is the Jewish rites, by an episcopal ernor. His territory
largest single organization and inquisition. Another person, re- over 100,000 square
ampico,
ran
from
what
is
it consists of Zionist bodies of puted to be Alonso's brother,
onio, Texas.
shared the same fate on the Mexico, to San are of the dis-
every ideology.
(Texas
is
n
A Mexican is the president same day for the same reason. tinction
has of having a
of the Latin America District They had been conversos and Jew
NOW WITH
ov or in 1585, which
- of Bnai Brith which runs the Church held that once a wa
y before the first
from the Rio Grand (called Catholic always a Catholic. Con-
ement- in the U.S. wa
the Rio Bravo by Mexicans versos who reverted secretly to
tablished
at Jamestow
to tierra del Fuego. He is practising Judaism were know
on L
Having
no
child
also a vice-president of the as Marranos. They did not
o (
nephew Don L • e
Zionist Federation. In Mexico quire equal right with of
parent.
h
younge
Catholics
until
4
or
5
ge
organizational loyalty is sub-
ddl of
Fro
ordinated to the welfare and tion had passed.
iddl of
18th t th-
Between 1521 and
purposes of the total commu-
, little is k
19th c
many Marranos came it
nity.
who 1.
about
ly
to
Mexico
to
escap
Most of the present Jewish
the
wever
Mekic
population had its origins in Inquisition (El Tribun
an and
comin of Maxi
waves of immigration that be- Santo Oficion) which
dally dur-
Carlot and e
gan in 1901. The largest portion separate body and had b
orfirio Diaz,
ing
the
reign
er
powers
than
the
ordi
came after World War I. The
o appear Aub-
Jews beg
intervening years have seen the bishop who operated • un
e scene again.
his
episcopal
powers.
When
establishment of nine private
In February of 1889; • ere
Jewish schools throughout the knowledge of the fact that
country with a total pupil enroll- the number of eonversos in suddenly appeared •
SUBURB
on called
ment of over 4000 which in- the New World was great City a new publ .
o"
(The
Se-
came
to
the
attention
of
Pope
"El
Saba
cludes several hundred non-
•lished by Pro-
Paul III, he issued a Bill bar- cret
Jewish students.
ring them from going to the fe Fra co Rivas Puig-
There are nine orthodox syna- Indies. In 1543, Prince Philip
er, to er of Greek and
gogues for the Ashkenazim and ordered the expulsion of all
her cl cal langua: (he
Sephardim in Mexico City and conversos and their descend-
new ew very well at the
one for the American Conserva- ants (heresy did not have t
MOTOROLA
Lori
Escuel Nacional Pr
tive Center which has its own exist) from the New Wor
ez
found by President
American rabbi. He conducts However through ship's
is
1867 as one
SERVICE STATION
late Friday evening services but tains and with more or
a-
• Dumont • Silvertpne
to establi
Magnovox •Westinghouse
has Saturday morning services organized help, they
•
n- tion. Th
a
Pe=
• v-11
• CiosleY •
infrequently. The Ashkenazim tinued to enter illegal'
dedi-
• Hot Point • Olympi c
a it
as riodi 1 ate •
Airline
•
s'Webeor
are serviced by "stadt-rab- did other Jews into Pale
dim of
to th • 'Sep
e cate
bonim" at present and the almost 400 years later.
as used
Ame
V Rentals
Lubavitcher sends shelichim
and de-
ebrew
h many
Written
1569, a separate br
"SINCE'. 1938"
for the High Holy Days. There of In the
Guarantee on
ethod
to
mimic
iqu
vised a
Inquisition in Sp
Repairs
ALL
is a haham at the Monterrey
Dexter
Television
Co.
ave no equivalent
tters
made famous by Torquema
• License No. 216
'12 11 DEXTER
(Sephardic) Temple.
oman alphabet.
was decreed for Mexico and it
The community supports six began to function in 1571. The
As far as is known, this was
PHONE
periodicals printed in Yiddish years between 1574 and 1788 the first "Jewish" periodical in
and Spanish. Guadalajara and were brutal and bloody for the Mexico and it served to awaken
Monterrey are the other two im-
portant Jewish communities but
much smaller. Except for size,
they are a replica of the com-
munity in the Capital.
Mexico has a branch or
chapter of practically every
worldwide or American organ-
ization. There are reputed to
be 96 in all. Nidjei Yisroal,
the religious branch of the
Ashkenazi Kehilla, soon is
to commence the erection of
a 10-story building which will
house the offices of the larg-
est bodies. At present, the
via BOAC's R Is Royce 707 Jets
Kehilla maintains a club-
house, Kadimah, for meetings
ou can t direct from Detroit to
Only $787.60* Round-Trip to Tel Aviv. For
and smaller functions. No
n
for venient connections to Tel
mention of the Central De-
so little, you could be standing beside the iant
iv. At • xtra fare, you can stop-over in
portivo Israelite is made be-
Menorah which fronts on the Knesset in ru-
cause it is so well-known and
n cities enroute. Of course, aboard
salem. Or visit the many amazing Kibb
is unique in Jewish commu-
t,
you're treated to British Cabin
which have sprung up in this wondro
nity life.
ce. It's the best in the world...all
Yet, enjoy it as you will, you'll say
The Jewish community of
over the world.
Mexico is different from the
on your airfare when you jet there in
average Jewish community in
rvations. Or call BOAC direct.
Ask your Travel Agen
the United States in three sign-
ificant areas. It is "lay-con-
trolled," with the stadt-rab-
ALL OVER THE WORLD
bonim coming to public func-
tions as honored guests but not
BRITISH OVERSEAS AIRWAYS CORPORATION
appearing on the program. The
1239 Washington Blvd.,. Detroit 26
rabbis confine their activities
to religious and spiritual mat-
Offices in all principal cities
ters as servants of the com-
munity. The other two more
*17-Day Economy Excursion Fare from Detroit. In effect
basic differences are that Jew-
ish religion and culture are ac-
from October 1st to March 31st.
TAKES
GOOD
CARE
OF
YOU
corded greater respect and that
the structure of the community
is the medium through which

By S. B. LIEBMAN

-•

As with so many other as-

0 . pects of Mexican life, the his-

ISRAELI LAND
AND REAL ESTATE
WANTED

•

•

BOX 514

JOHNNY LEBOW

KELLY

-

FAST CAR RADIO SERVICE

TE 4-2858

Fall is thrift time
to Israel

•

I

•