History of the Jews in Chile
inces belong to it. In 1941, the
Central -Jewish Committee was
founded. which joined the World
Jewish Congress. Still, after for-.
mation of the Jewish -Committee,
the other Jewish organizations re-
mained members of the Zionist
federation.
The Zionist Organization does
cultural and Zionist work and or-
ganizes Hebrew classes for adults
while the Central Jewish Commit-
tee represents the Jews before
the authorities.
Other major Jewish organiza-
tions in Santiago are the Israeli
Cultural Society. Sefardi Com-
munity of Chile. Israeli Commun-
ity Ashkenazi of Santiago the he-
Hevra Kadisha, Polish Is-
raeli Union, Bessarabian Union.
Bukowina Jewish Society. The
Hevra Kadishha. which has offi-
cial status with the government. is
the owner of the unique Jewish;
cemetery in Santiago.
The Kehilla was founded to '
join the several Ashkenazi so-
cieties and communities into one
community. It has had an official
designation from the Government
One of the first organizations
since April, 1964. The Ashkenazi
of Jews was the Jewish Circle
groups which have joined the Ke-
started in 1906 to provide a
hilla are the Jewish Kadischa, the
minyan. Out of this grew the
Polish group. the Bessarabian
present Israeli Circle which has
oroup and the Bukowina society.
a larger building near the cen-
The Kehilla now has 800 family
ter of Santiago. In this build-
members.
ing are also the headquarters of
A small group of German-
the organizations of Jewish
speaking Jews founded the Bnai
Youth and of the Zionist or-
l'israel Community in 1938. It
ganization of Chile.
This Zionist federation. founded has 1.300 family members, a com-
in 1919, has a special character. munity center with a synagogue.
possibly unique in the Jewish two rabbis and a religious school.
There are about 30,000 Jews
world. From its organization. all
vid 10 per cent Sefardi. The
Jewish organizations and institu-
and 10 percent Sefardi. The
tions in Santiago and the prov
SANTIAGO, Chile — With the
first Spanish conquerors to Chile
came the Marranos. fleeing from
the Jewish persecutions ordered
by the Inquisition. The descend-
ants of these concealed Jews are
widely present in the Chilean aris-
tocracy. •
The first immigration from
Europe to Chile started at the end
of the 19th Century but it was an
immigration of scattered indi-
viduals not of groups. Among
them was a Russian Jew named
Braun who settled in Magallanes.
south of Chile, who founded a
sheep farm, exported wool and
made a great fortune. He later
married a Catholic. The Catholic
descendants of the Brauns today
belong to the richest Chilean fam-
ilies. The similarly Catholic de-
scendants of the Bernstein family.
East European Jews, are among
the present day industrial powers
and diplomats. The larger immi- ,
gration of Jews began at the start
of the 20th Century as a conse-
quence of the pogroms in Rus-
sia. Poland and Rumania.
Hanukah Greetings
Joe Valvona Excavating Company
BR 3-1654
15472 Marlowe
Holiday Greetings
TASTY BAR B-Q
2 l ocations to serve you
DI 1-9440
KE 3-7120
12745 W. 7 Mile Rd.
20115 W. 8 Mile Rd.
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Hanukah Greetings
PINCUS MEN'S CLOTHING & TAILORING
18278 Wyoming
Between
UN 4-1069
Curtis and
Pick.ford
The Finest Clothing and Quality Tailoring
Mr. and Mrs. Pincus
By EMANUEL HUTSCHNECKER
(Copyright 1964 JTA, Inc )
the contrary, Senator Frei has re-
latter arrived more than 30 i made It famous. He has frequently
peatedly referred in campaign
years ago from Turkey. Nearly f been invited to conduct orches-
speeches to Israel as an example
10 000 Jews came from Europe ; tras in other countries and is
scheduled to do so soon in Israel. of a small country, most of it bar-
in the 1938 to 1940 years, flee-
There are also Jewish writers and ren desert, which has achieved ex-
ing from Hitler.
There are two homes for the 9omposers of high standing in traordinary economic development
'by its own efforts.
hile's cultural life.
Jewish aged. One was built for
Nearly all Jews in Chile have
German-speaking Jews and has 50
The small anti-Semitic groups
adopted Chilean nationality and
residents. The Ashkenazi home
which have popped up during the
take part in politics. Senator . past 30 years have had little im-
has 76 occupants in a modern
building. Half of the residents! Angel Faivovich, a member of
pact. - Recently, the government
the • Radical Party. is widely
ordered the dissolution of a tiny
pay the full fees.
known for his legislative accom-
The Maccabi sport club boasts
Nazi party founded in 1963 by
plishments. He has been presi-
a covered stadium with ball
Franz Pfeiffer-Richter. Chilean
dent of the Israeli Circle and is ' Jews also recall that soon after
grounds, tennis courts and fields
active
in
Jewish
life.
A
Radical
for virtually every other sport.
Hitler took power in 1933, the
Party member, A. Schaulsson,
and a swimming pool in a beauti-
House of Representatives adopted
was president of the House of
ful park. The club has many large
a resolution condemning Nazi per-
Representatives and is active in
meeting rooms where one week-
secution of the Jews.
Jewish life.
end more than 1.000 families spend
The history of the Jews in Chile
the day in relaxation.
Generally Jews in Chile have is a • living testimony to Chilean
In addition to small Jewish been able to develop into full citi- democracy.
scohols in the suburbs. there is the zenship and have taken part in the
Institute Hebreo with a collection industrial. economic and cultural
of buildings, which is recognized life of the country. They are testi-
HANUKAH GREETINGS
by the government as a complete mony to a line from the Chilean
YOUNG'S
school from kindergarten to col- National Anthem: "Chile is the
lege undergraduate level. The refuge against oppression."
WY-7
CLEANERS
school has 1.350 students. In the
The electoral campaign ended
Mr .and Mrs. Charles Young
regular examinations of the Minis- on Sept. 4, with the election of
8914 W. 7 Mile Rood
try of Education, the students of Senator Frei as president. None
UN 1 ,-6688
the Institute Hebreo do very well of the candidates ever used _anti-
For example. usually about 50 per Semitism as a political tool. On
cent of students at other schools
pass the bachelor examinations.
In the Institute Hebreo the ave-
rage is 70 to 90 per cent. Tuition
Happy Hanukah
is free but well-to-do families
make contributions. The principal
language is Spanish. Other Ian-
guages used in the Institute Heb-
7 Mile and Wyoming
reo include Hebrew, English and
French.
Most Chilean Jews are com-
AL GENDEL'S COLLISION
fortable economically. In 19 49 .
the German-speaking Jewish
community made a survey show-
ing that 48 per cent worked in
industry as employers or em-
ployes. 40 per cent were in com-
merce as wholesalers and re-
tailers. 7 per cent were profes-
sionals and 5 per cent were
farmers.
The Jews in Chili founded sev-
eral new industries. More than 30
years ago, Jews from Hungary
founded the first and still most
important plastics firm. The most
important clothing factory in
' Chile was developed 25 years ago
by a Jewish immigrant from Ber-
lin. Many leather, jersey and
other clothes factories belong to
Jews who began then with small-
scale production. They have also
developed electrical industries and
I laboratories.
Salomon Sack, a Jewish immi-
grant from Lithuania, came as a
worker 60 years ago and made a
fortune in iron. Ten years ago, he
contributed 51.000,000 for a foun-
dation at the University of Chile.
He was active in Jewish affairs
and served as president of the
Jewish Circle.
In Southern Chile, Jews founded
a sawmill which provides work for
more than 2.000 men.
Much of the current genera-
tion. the grandchildren of the
original settlers, have studied in
universities and now work as
architects, doctors, lawyers and
teachers. They are active in the
intellectual life of Chile.
One of Chile's leading musi-
cians is a Sefardi Jew, Victor Te-
vah, who, as conductor of the
Symphony Orchestra of Chile, has
Wishing You A Happy Hanukah
MIAMI BAKE SHOPP,E
Hanukah Greetings
T. J. Patti Beauty Salon
862-4111
18965 Wyoming near 7 Mile Rd.
Holiday Good Cheer
SHAW & SLAVSKY, INC.
Detroit, Michigan
13821 Elmira
HAPPY HOLIDAY
MR. ARNOLD'S
BEAUTY COLLEGE
825 W. Nine Mile Rd.
Ferndale, Mich.
LI 8-7850
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
38—Friday, November 27, 1964
HAPPY HANUKAH
Best Wishes for
A Happy, Healthy and
Joyous Hanukah
PEPSI-COLA
Bottling Company
of Detroit
20021 Exeter
FO 6-5050
NATIONAL COAL
& OIL CO.
9141 Monica
WE 3-4444
iZt,KAHGRINGs
° (juul f il
WAYNE. FENCE
& SUPPLY
27605 Schoolcraft
Livonia, Mich.
KE
7-0220
Hanukah
Greetings to All
Amsterdam Press and
White Color Card Co.
Established 1890
467 Amsterdam
TR 1-6060