Mexican-Jewish Heritage at the National Library of Israel

1912 – Sociedad de Beneficencia Alianza Monte Sinaí

The first Jewish community in Mexico. Later regrouped to form a Shami (Damascene) Community.

1922 – Kehila Ashkenazi

Founded by Ashkenazi Jews from Central and Eastern Europe who separated from Monte Sinaí over religious rites.

1923 – Comunidad Sefaradí

Formed by Jews from Greece, Turkey, and the Balkans.

1938 – Comunidad Maguén David

Established by Jews from Aleppo, Syria. Began with a synagogue in the early '30s and formally organized in 1938.

1950 – Centro Deportivo Israelita

The largest intercommunal Jewish institution in the country, made up of members from all sectors.

1938 – Comité Central de la Comunidad Judía de México

Unifying body that also serves as their official voice to the Mexican government.

1957 – Beth Israel Community Center

The first Conservative congregation in Mexico, founded by English-speaking Jews from the United States.

1961 – Comunidad Bet El

A second Conservative congregation, made up primarily of Spanish-speaking Ashkenazi Jews.

Family photographs are integral to the historical and cultural heritage of communities. The National Library of Israel’s archives preserve a wide range of family photographs that depict Jewish life in Mexico across generations.

The Jewish Community of Mexico has undertaken numerous projects to preserve its oral history, interviewing a diverse group of Mexican Jews. These vivid testimonies—both personal and institutional—bring alive Jews’ experiences in Mexico. The National Library of Israel preserves dozens of these oral histories, including those of the communities’ most prominent figures, like journalist Jacobo Zabludovsky, philanthropist Max Shein, and community leader Jaime Mitrani.

The National Library of Israel’s archive includes photographic collections that help illuminate the relations between Mexico’s Jewish community and Israeli society. These include photos from state visits, press coverage, and business meetings attended by entrepreneurs from both countries.

The National Library of Israel’s collection of maps includes several of Mexico, from different eras. These maps are not only historical and artistic artifacts, but also valuable tools for understanding the broader historical context in which Jewish communities in Mexico took root.

The Ephemera Collection at the National Library of Israel consists of documents originally intended for temporary use, such as posters, advertising brochures, and commercial advertisements. The documents related to Mexico in the Library’s Ephemera Collection help reconstruct the evolving trends, ideologies, cultural practices, and social norms of the Jewish community in Mexico. 

Among its treasures, the National Library of Israel houses numerous works of Mexican literature translated into Hebrew. These include Pedro Paramo by Juan Rulfo, The Death of Artemio Cruz by Carlos Fuentes, Vision of the Vanquished by Miguel León Portilla, and a selection of works by Octavio Paz, with a foreword by Yehuda Amichai.

The history and culture of Mexico’s Jewish community is richly documented in numerous newspapers and magazines, going back to the first Jewish newspaper published in Mexico, El Sábado Secreto, in 1889. Newspapers in Spanish, Yiddish, and Hebrew chronicle the experiences of Jews and the fate of their communities. Some of these publications are still in circulation, with copies added to the Library’s collection as they are issued.

With special gratitude to the Metta Saade Foundation. To Marcos, Vivian, and their children — Carlos, Tere, and Tania — whose generous contribution made it possible to initiate the project for the preservation of Jewish Heritage of Mexico at the National Library of Israel.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of:

Jaime and Lili Bernstein

For more information about the Mexican Jewish Historical Preservation Project, please contact:

Enrique Chmelnik

[email protected]