Earlier this Spring, in a significant display of unity and cooperation, Jonathan Chait, Consul General of Mexico in Miami and American Jewish Committee’s new Director of Strategic Partnerships, Michael Teichberg brought together 16 Latin American consulates for a comprehensive update on Jewish-Latino relations by Dina Siegel Vann, Director of American Jewish Committee’s Belfer Institute for Latino and Latin American Affairs (BILLA) based in Washington, D.C.
AJC’s update included both the historical overview of Jewish-Latino relations and shed light on the current state of affairs. Siegel Vann’s insightful presentation left a lasting impact on the attendees, particularly the Consul General of Brazil in Miami, Andre Odenbreit Carvalho. Inspired by the gathering, Consul General Carvalho expressed his desire to connect with the thriving Brazilian Jewish community of Miami, which comprises over 500 families and continues to grow.
Jack Sterenberg, a Brazilian member of AJC’s Latin American Task Force worked with Teichberg and Rabbi Dovi Begun to organize a special evening reception held on May 9th for the Consul General to formally meet the Brazilian Jewish community in their new center.
Centro Judaico de Miami (CJM), located in North Dade, is the Brazilian community’s new vibrant institution representing the Brazilian Jewish diaspora. As the only Brazilian Jewish organization located outside Brazil and Israel, CJM serves as a vital hub for the community’s cultural and religious activities. Rabbi Begun and CJM President Luciano Lautenberg, alongside Sterenberg moderated a Q & A in Portuguese, allowing for an authentic and meaningful exchange of ideas.
