El Centro de Estudios Judíos

While 70% of American Jews can trace their backgrounds to Ashkenazi descent, there are an increasing number of Sephardic and Crypto Jews in the United States as well. Immigration to the U.S. of Jews from Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina alone has tripled in the last ten years. And an increasing number of Crypto-Jews or “Marranos,” who were forced to convert from Judaism to Catholicism during the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisitions, are returning to learn about their heritage. In response to these growing populations and a desire among Latino Jews for a place to congregate, socialize and pray that reflects their cultural and linguistic backgrounds, El Centro de Estudios Judíos was formed. 

This New York community of Latino Jews found Rabbi Rogoberto Emmanuel Vinas, a Miami-born Jew of Cuban descent, while he was restoring “the Honduran Torah” after Hurricane Mitch hit Honduras. With initial support from Rabbi Avi Weiss of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, a Joshua Venture fellowship, and a grant from UJA-Federation of New York, El Centro gained traction. Now, a flourishing multi-racial, multi-ethnic, multi-lingual community extends out of Lincoln Park Jewish Center. Its quarterly, national, Spanish language Jewish newspaper, Torah Tropical, reaches 15,000 readers throughout the U.S. and Mexico, and El Centro cannot keep up with the increased demand for its services. 

To participate in this hub of activity or to learn more about this dynamic “unorthodox Orthodox” leader in the diversity movement, do not hesitate to be in touch with humble yet charismatic Rabbi Manny Vinas.