Centro Hebreo Sefaradi Synagogue

Centro Hebreo Sefaradi Synagogue
The synagogue sanctuary, in 2019
Religion
Affiliation	Conservative Judaism
Rite	Nusach Sefard
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Synagogue
Status	Active
Location
Location	Havana
Country	Cuba
Location of the synagogue in Cuba
Geographic coordinates	23°08′16″N 82°23′31″W / 23.1377°N 82.3919°W / 23.1377; -82.3919
Architecture
Groundbreaking	1957
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 with a 726-seat sanctuary. 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.

In 2007 Centro Hebreo Sefaradi Synagogue was described as “…the only remaining institutional legacy of the Sephardic presence in Cuba.” As of 2010, 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. There is a small Holocaust memorial at the synagogue with quotations from José Martí.

Gallery

Front entrance

References

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