The sixteenth century Conversos in Uruguay where the last of any Jewish community until later in the nineteenth century when Jews on their way to Argentina used Uruguay as a stop-over on their journey. Emigrants from Eastern Europe and the Middle East aided the twentieth century rise in Jewish population leading to the opening of a synagogue in 1917. The country had tight immigration laws aimed at resisting the entry of European Jews escaping Nazism, but between 1939 and 1940, Jews numbering 2,500 slipped in. After the war, still more Jews entered the country from Hungary and the Middle East.
Uruguay is home to numerous Jewish organizations such as Zionist and women’s groups, synagogues as well as Jewish institutions that host kosher restaurants.
I was offered a job in Uruguay to help build Jewish Scouting. I did not end up taking it for a number of reasons, though I liked the community in Montevideo very much. There is a Chabad house as well as a modern Orthodox Dati Leumi community.
I spent part of Pesach there one year and got to meet many of the community. Uruguay int itself I don’t think is so interesting to visit, though it is worth saying ‘hi’ to the Jewish community there.
MONTEVIDEO
There are approximately 10,000 Jewish families in Montevideo which is the capital city of Uruguay. This is almost the entire Uruguay Jewish population. There is a strong Modern Orthodox Jewish family as well as a Chabbad house. A kosher bakery and some Jewish sites.
COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS
Beit Chabbad
Avenida Brasil 2704, CP 111300
Telephone: (2) 709 3444; 708 5169
Fax: (2) 711 3696
Email: rabino.shemtov@jabad.org.uy
Website: www.jabad.org.uy
Comite Central Israel ita Del Uruguay
Rio Negro 1308, P.5 11100
Telephone: (2) 901 6057; 902 9195
Website: www.cciu.org.uy
SYNAGOGUES
Comunidad Israelita Hungara
Durazno 972
Telephone: (2) 900 8456
Sociallsralite Adat Yeshurun
Alarcon 1396
Ashkenazi
Comunidad Israel ita de Uruguay
Canelones 1084, Piso 1
Telephone: (2) 902 5750
Fax: (2) 902 5740
Conservative
Nueva Congregation Israelita
Wilson Ferreira Aldunate 1168
Telephone: (2) 902 6620
Fax: (2) 902 0589
Orthodox
Vaad Ha’ir
Canelones 828
Telephone: (2) 900 6106
Mobile Phone: marebisSephardi
Comunidad Israelita Sefardi
Buenos Aires 234, 21 de Setiembre 3111
Telephone: (2) 710 179
Templo Sefardi
de Pocitos L. Franzini 888
GROCERIES
Mercadito Casher – Meat, Dairy, Vegetarian,
Parve
Ellauri 696
Telephone: (2) 707 5360
Supervision: Local Rabbinate
I had some great pastries here the day after Pesach. they have Glatt/non Glatt and CholovYisael. Check for current opening hours.
HOTELS
Kosher, Restaurant
Best Western Armon Suites
2885 21 st September Road 11300
Telephone: (2) 712 4120
Fax: (2)712 4117
Website: www.armonsuites.com.uy
MIKVAOT
Beit Jabad
Auda, Brasil 2704
Telephone: (2) 709 3444
Email: jabad@chasque.net
Website: www.jabad.org.uy
MUSEUMS
Centro Recordatorio del Holocausto
Canelones 1084, PJ 11100
Telephone: (2) 622 7223
Fax: (2) 622 7223
RESTAURANTS
Kasherisssimo
Camacua 623
Telephone: (2) 915 0128
Fax: (2) 208 1536
Supervision: Chief Rabbi Yosef Bitton (may have changed)
